Jonathan Brunt

Ten Pasadena Park Elementary students are acting this week as environmental spies. Their targets: parents.

A bottle of Knob Creek bourbon sits empty next to scattered dollar bills, face-down playing cards and a strong hint that something awful has happened: blood spatter staining the kitchen table and wall. The scene was one of five created to test 22 area police investigators Friday as they completed a bloodstain pattern analysis course at the Spokane Police Regional Training Center.

Spokane county leaders are concerned a new state proposal on reducing phosphorus pollution in the Spokane River could delay or even sink plans for a new wastewater treatment plant. Failing to increase sewer capacity in the next four or five years could force a halt in new construction until a solution is found.

Six months after slashing taxes on gambling establishments, Spokane County commissioners might offer even more help. A $7,000 penalty accrued by Aces Casino when it failed to pay taxes on last year's third-quarter gaming receipts would be waived under a proposal that commissioners will consider at a meeting Tuesday. The casino blames its tardiness on cash flow problems it suffered while still paying the older, higher tax rate."I'd hate to see them disappear if there's something we can do to keep them," said Commissioner Mark Richard, who requested board consideration on the penalty. "I think we'd send a very clear message that it will be a one-time occurrence."

From 3 feet of snow to a foot of mud to record-high rivers and widespread blackouts, a series of recent storms brought wild weather to Inland Northwest residents. The Spokane International Airport received three-quarters of an inch of rain for the 24-hour period ending at 4 p.m. Tuesday, said Laurie Koch, National Weather Service meteorologist. Two inches have fallen since the beginning of the year, more than 11/2 inches above average.

The beds of Truth Ministries are back under a hard roof and surrounded by heat. That's no small accomplishment for a financially strapped nonprofit that had to house the homeless in tents for three months while safety improvements were made to its building at 1910 E. Sprague Ave.

The final hours of 2005 in Spokane were counted down by the pounding of drums by hundreds of kids. The city's newest percussionists swarmed downtown streets and sidewalks with their parents Saturday after making and decorating their instruments at Kids' Night Out.