Mike Prager

Law enforcement investigators in Idaho on Monday identified the victim of a fatal hit and run as Vonette L. Larsen, 41, of Athol. Larsen was run over and killed as she and other family members attempted to stop a man who had been harassing Larsen's daughters in a road rage incident in northwestern Kootenai County about noon Sunday, sheriff's deputies said.

Seven months of political uncertainty ended Monday night when the Spokane City Council voted unanimously to appoint Dennis Hession to replace recalled Mayor Jim West. The 6-0 vote at 6:36 p.m. came less than four days after the Spokane County election canvassing board had certified the Dec. 6 recall that removed West from office.

Dennis Hession was en route Friday to his son's college graduation today in Omaha, Neb., when he became Spokane's newest mayor. The Spokane County election canvassing board certified the recall of Spokane Mayor Jim West at 9:44 a.m., automatically elevating Hession from his position as City Council president to acting mayor.

Dennis Hession never worries about what he's going to wear. Each morning, Hession puts on a dark suit, white shirt, cautious tie and black shoes before leaving for work from his south Spokane home about 5 o'clock.

Spokane City Council President Dennis Hession on Thursday tried to act like his political life had not changed in the two days since city voters recalled Mayor Jim West for abusing his office. Hession is slated to become acting mayor one week from today when the Spokane County auditor certifies West's ouster, less than two years after West took office. Hession is widely regarded as West's most likely replacement through council appointment, probably in early 2006.

A disheartened Spokane Mayor Jim West, reflecting Wednesday on his historic ouster from City Hall, said no one on the current City Council – including Council President Dennis Hession – is qualified to fill his shoes. "I think there are people in this community that could do a better job than anyone on the City Council," West told news reporters just hours after being recalled by 65 percent of voters who cast ballots.

The recall of Spokane Mayor Jim West is likely to create weeks, if not months, of political jockeying for leadership of Washington's second-largest city. But one thing seemed certain from the ballots counted Tuesday night.

Nearly 350 people turned out over the weekend for a last look inside Spokane's historic Fox Theater before a $22 million renovation begins two weeks from today. When the theater reopens late in 2007, it will be modernized with new heating, air conditioning, seats and restrooms and an expanded lobby. But the historic integrity of the 1931 art deco theater will be preserved in what is slated to become a 1,725-seat venue for the Spokane Symphony Orchestra and other regional performing groups.