Kevin Blocker

For the second time in two years, a South Hill nursing home is in trouble for violating state standards for patient care. Southcrest Subacute and Specialty Care Center at 110 W. Cliff has been ordered to close its doors to new residents. The state Department of Social and Health Services issued the stop-placement order on May 2, 11 days after the facility failed to pass an inspection, state officials said.

Out of the darkness. A MedStar crew heading out on a rescue mission races for its medical helicopter on the lighted, rooftop launch pad at Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane on Friday night. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

The teenage son of the woman who heads Spokane's community policing programs was ordered kept in custody Thursday after a judge called him a "danger to himself and the community." Seventeen-year-old Ryan Steele is accused of attacking a police officer with a pocketknife. The April 30 incident is similar to one two weeks earlier in which a policeman shot and killed a 41-year-old knife-wielding man. Steele, son of Spokane COPS coordinator Cheryl Steele, charged and threw the knife at an officer inside his home in the West Central neighborhood, according to police.

Chris LaFountain is loaded into an ambulance after being taken from the Spokane River. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Darling

Naisla Bailey, 9, helps runners stay hydrated at the corner of Broadway and Nettleton. Photo by Torsten Kjellstrand/The Spokesman-Review

A Spokane policeman acted in self-defense when he fatally shot a man during a domestic violence call, Spokane County Prosecutor Jim Sweetser ruled Wednesday. An investigation indicates officer Rick Dabrow was defending himself and the lives of others when he shot and killed Joseph R. Lawson, 41, at Lawson's north Spokane home April 15, Sweetser concluded.

Pat Escarraz and Kathy Dixon of Grand Forks, N.D., and Sue Everett of Spokane watch "Ellen" at Dempsey's Brass Rail on Wednesday night. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

Gene Kranz, leader of a team of NASA flight directors who brought the Apollo 13 crew safely home, talks about his experiences Tuesday during a visit to Spokane. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Police Chief Terry Mangan picked Capt. Roger Bragdon as his new top assistant Thursday. Starting Sunday, Bragdon replaces Dave Peffer, who served as assistant chief for nine years.

Former California gang member Richard Santana dressed as his former self when he appeared at North Central High School on Tuesday. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

The dean of Gonzaga University's law school said Monday he believes African American students in the school are being harassed by one of their classmates. "It probably is a third-year law student," Clute said. He shared his opinions with 100 students at the school in the basement of the law building.

Trent

The Children's Museum of Spokane got a financial boost when it was presented with a $75,000 grant from the William H. Gates Foundation. Museum officials said the money will go to current fund-raising efforts. They want to raise $500,000 to find a permanent home. So far they've raised 20 percent of their goal.

Spokane Police Chief Terry Mangan said Saturday there was no pressure put on a detective to resign because of a controversial flier she posted at work declaring herself "princess of the Gypsies." Cheryl A. Graves, a respected 27-year-veteran of the police force, officially retired on Friday. Her retirement comes two weeks after news of the posted flier became public.

1. Doug Ell welcomes his son Brad back to the ground. Brad had just completed his first flight ever during Young Eagles Day at Felts Field on Saturday morning. The program is for kids age 8-17 interested in aviation. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. Pilot John Harns of Post Falls explains control of the plane's flaps to Michael Johnson. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review. (This photo appeared in Idaho edition only.)

Spokane County Sheriff John Goldman fired Deputy Tom DiBartolo on Friday. DiBartolo, an 18-year member of the Sheriff's Department, is accused of killing his wife last November.

African American law students at Gonzaga University are once again the targets of racism. On Thursday, an African American student discovered a hate letter stuffed inside the student's backpack, said Gonzaga President Edward Glynn, S.J.

Obney

Authorities are looking for a suspected bank robber with a criminal record who was mistakenly released from the Spokane County Jail. The "Get Out of Jail Free" card handed John B. Obney, 54, was blamed Tuesday on a paperwork snafu.

A Superior Court judge threw out a lawsuit filed by opponents of the River Park Square project on Friday, paving the way for the start of construction. Judge Kathleen O'Connor affirmed the city's use of an emergency ordinance to approve the project and said the City Council has acted in the best interest of the city.

Resemblance? Tim Belty was painting this picture when a friend told him of the image in the tree at Ninth and Ash. He believes it resembles his painting. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review

Loving words. Angelo Reed, 4, can only nod his head as his mother, Angel Reed, tells him " We love you" during a visit at Sacred Heart Medical Center. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review <

As hundreds of residents watched, a spectacular fire destroyed a two-story South Hill home Tuesday night. Twenty-two firefighters battled the blaze for nearly two hours, preventing it from spreading to neighboring homes. There were no injuries. The fire at the home at 1312 E. Newark was reported shortly before 8:30 p.m., Fire Chief Bobby Williams said.