Jonathan Brunt

Kyle Baragas hasn't seen snow in Texas since moving there from Redmond, Wash., six years ago. This weekend, however, he could be in the midst of one of the largest snow dumpings to hit Spokane in the past decade, as drum major for the Sam Houston State marching band, which is coming to town for a football playoff game Saturday in Cheney.

Kyle Baragas hasn't seen snow in Texas since moving there from Redmond, Wash. six years ago. This weekend, however, he could be in the midst of one of the largest snow dumpings to hit Spokane in the past decade, as drum major for the Sam Houston State marching band, which is coming to town for a football playoff game Saturday in Cheney.

A few Inland Northwest ski hills plan to open this weekend – if the weather cooperates. Forecasts, however, indicate that a significant snowfall may not fall in time. "They're being optimistic," said John Werner, a National Weather Service meteorologist. "There's nothing really strong on tap for a good snow producer, just showers."

When population growth is taken into account, Spokane's police staffing next year will fall to where it was two decades ago. And while the numbers will be low compared to national averages, they're not far from similar-size cities in the region.

Relatives of the man killed this week in a downtown Spokane apartment are mourning the second death of a family member since September. Jim Johnston, 40, was killed Tuesday night while visiting an apartment above the Red Lion Barbecue & Pub, 128 1/2 N. Division St. Earlier in the day Johnston had stopped Robert T. Spencer from beating a woman, witnesses told police. Police believe Johnston was assaulted by Spencer and shot by a man with Spencer, Bryan M. James.

Two people wanted in connection with a downtown Spokane killing were apprehended by police Wednesday evening at a North Spokane home. A third man turned himself in to the Spokane County Jail an hour later. Jim Johnston, 40, was shot in his abdomen about 10:45 p.m. Tuesday at an apartment at 1281/2 N. Division Street. He was found dead by police upon their arrival soon after the shooting, said Lt. Scott Stephens, commander of the Major Crimes Unit.

Two robbers stole a woman's purse on Nov. 10 as she was walking to her car in a parking lot in east Spokane, the Spokane Police said. The victim was walking to her car about 6 p.m. at Kmart, 4110 E. Sprague Ave., when a man ran up to her and grabbed her purse, said police spokesman Dick Cottam in a press release. She was able to hold on until another man shoved her against her car. After she let go of the purse, the two fled on foot. They were pursued by witnesses who notified police of their likely whereabouts.

Police were called Saturday to maintain order outside of a Democratic rally in downtown Spokane because of a confrontation between Democratic and Republican supporters, Spokane Police spokesman Dick Cottam said. Democratic candidates – including gubernatorial candidate Christine Gregoire, attorney general candidate Deborah Senn, U.S. Sen. Patty Murray and 6th district state Senate candidate Laurie Dolan – spoke to a crowd estimated by police to be about 250 at the Spokane Intermodal Center, part of which the Democrats had rented for the event. The rally started around 9:30 a.m. and lasted a half hour, before some of the candidates boarded a train to begin a whistlestop campaign.

A man and woman were arrested last Thursday after detectives seized marijuana and a small amount of methamphetamine from a north Spokane home, the Spokane County Sheriff's Office said. Child Protective Services was called to take custody of the woman's 7-year-old daughter.

Friday's presidential debate may have been entertaining, but it didn't change many minds – at least for a group of seniors who gathered to watch the debate at Spokane Falls Community College. After an hour and a half of ideas, barbs and banter, only one of more than 60 people assembled by the AARP said the contest had made her decide how to cast her ballot.

Two men were charged Wednesday with first-degree murder in a case that's gone unsolved for 17 years. Tina E. Phillips was found dead on Sept. 11, 1987, near Ninth Avenue and Ivory Street in Grant Park. An autopsy determined that she died from stab wounds to her chest and also suffered injuries to her neck and head.