Jonathan Brunt

Part of Spokane history was erased Wednesday in a small fire that consumed about 700 historical images in the basement of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. The images, taken by prolific Spokane photographer Charles A. Libby or his son in the early part of the 20th century, were in a cold storage area in the museum's basement. Libby operated a photography studio in Spokane for 60 years starting in 1901.

Spokane has the highest crime rate among the state's 10 biggest cities for the first time in the 23 years that the data has been compiled. Last year, Spokane suffered about 97 crimes for every 1,000 residents, according to the preliminary Crime in Washington Annual Report. The rate is up from just under 87 crimes for every 1,000 residents in 2003.

A Spokane County Jail inmate facing charges of failing to register as a sex offender has been accused of raping one of his cellmates. Marcus E. Hardin, 33, faces a second-degree rape charge in connection with the alleged assault of an 18-year-old inmate.

The president of a company that provides care to people with mental disabilities allowed her daughter to manage the personal accounts of clients for four years even though her daughter had a drug conviction on her record and previously had stolen company property. Now, that daughter, Christina A. Davis, is accused of stealing at least $25,000 from Midstream Inc. clients over the course of a few years. Her mother – and boss – says Davis recently told her she has a gambling problem, but has not recently abused drugs.

The empty orange raft floating near rapids in the Spokane River late Saturday afternoon was an ominous sign to water rescuers. "My first thought was we had a body," said Bob Trautmann, a member of Spokane Fire Department's Swift Water Rescue Team.

It may be hard to believe, but there was a Spokane before the neon signs, pavement and traffic jams. Proof in point – as discovered in the last few days – Division Street may have been built over the graves of early settlers.

Two women jumped three fences at Geiger Corrections Center and escaped the minimum- and medium-security jail west of Spokane. One of the inmates, Jaymie C. Fowler, 21, remained at large Wednesday night.

Two boys were critically burned Saturday afternoon in an unusual accident in north Spokane that fire investigators were struggling to explain. The children, about 4 years old, were playing in a neighbor's back yard at 7515 N. Napa Court about 3:30 p.m. when they were burned on or near a plastic slide, said Spokane Fire Battalion Chief Mike Inman.

An infamous Spokane criminal briefly escaped the custody of Geiger Corrections Center Friday afternoon after he was taken to see his public defense attorney. Freddie Joe Hall was not handcuffed at the time of his escape despite Geiger policy that requires that inmates wear waist chains and handcuffs while being transported, said Geiger director Leon Long. The rule was created in April after a Geiger inmate escaped custody while being taken to the corrections center.

Despite calls for his resignation, Mayor Jim West is staying in office, at least in part to defend himself, his attorney said Thursday during a televised forum. "There is no forum for the mayor to respond to other than the court of public opinion," attorney Bill Etter said during a panel discussion about the mayoral scandal that's gripping City Hall and receiving national media attention.

A former financial manager may face jail time after being accused of stealing thousands of dollars from people with mental disabilities. Christina A. Davis, 35, was a financial manager for Midstream Inc., a Spokane company that provides in-home assistance to 26 people with developmental disabilities. Police believe she wrote checks from the accounts of Midstream clients and had two acquaintances cash them for her.

When furloughed felon Jeremy A. Arnold arrived back in the Spokane County Jail on Friday – a week after he was supposed to report back to authorities – two things had changed. First, the potentially good news for Arnold: He has a new wife.

A mining company agreed Wednesday to tighten environmental standards at a mine in northeastern Washington. The company, Teck Cominco American, negotiated the stronger regulations with the state and three groups that challenged a wastewater permit Teck Cominco was issued for its Pend Oreille Mine, north of Metaline Falls.

The man accused in March of raping two adult sisters while impersonating a police officer has filed a $1 million claim against the city of Spokane. All charges against Preston Tensley were dropped April 1 after the women told media and other authorities that they had not been raped. Spokane police, however, still believe the twin sisters were attacked by Tensley, as one of the two indicated in a 911 call.

Opponents of an ordinance that extends benefits to unmarried partners of city employees filed a referendum petition Friday seeking to overturn the measure. Members of a group called Choice of the People now have a month to gather 5,145 signatures to force the measure onto the ballot this year.

The Spokane Community Holocaust Memorial, which was dedicated Thursday evening, honors not just the 6 million Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps, but those who lived. "It was important to remember that there are survivors and families of victims in Spokane," said Pam Silverstein, who led the committee that worked for the memorial. "It wasn't just an event that affected Jews that live elsewhere."