Sara Leaming

The warmest day of the year appeared to be enough to keep crowds from a Friday meet and greet with the three finalists vying to be Spokane’s first police ombudsman. Fewer than a dozen people – including two residents and a few city staff members – showed up in the City Council chambers for the first of three public forums with candidates Tony Betz, Tim Burns and Greg Weber.

The warmest day of year appeared to be enough to keep crowds from a Friday meet and greet with the three finalists vying to be Spokane’s first police ombudsman. Fewer than a dozen people — including two citizens and a few city staff members — showed up in the City Council chambers for the first of three public forums with candidates Tony Betz, Tim Burns and Greg Weber.

Detectives have talked with about 10 people who may have had unprotected sex with an HIV-positive man arrested on a charge of knowingly exposing another man to the virus that causes AIDS. But investigators and Spokane health officials fear the number of sex partners Zuriel Roush exposed to the virus could be as high as 80. If that’s true, the case could create an unprecedented health problem for the Inland Northwest.

With temperatures forecast to hover near 80 degrees this Memorial Day, heavy turnout is expected at lakes and rivers across the Inland Northwest. Authorities in Washington and Idaho are reminding boaters and others to follow the laws and be aware of new regulations.

There’s a first time for everything. In 17 days Justin Materne will be the first member of his immediate family to walk across the stage during high school commencement. Materne, a senior at North Central High School, also will be the first among his parents and four half-siblings to attend college.

Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is offering cash rewards for information that leads to the arrest of four fugitives wanted on suspicion of various crimes. •John Burton, a 42-year-old facing an 11-year prison sentence for drug deliveries, is wanted on a felony warrant for failure to appear. Burton has previous convictions for delivery of controlled substances and for obstructing police.

With his arms outstretched, 6-year-old Tyson Thompson concentrated Sunday on keeping his posture straight and his leg muscles strong as he balanced on the horse moving beneath him. The boy looked miniature perched on the back of the 1,400-pound horse named April. Maintaining steadiness proved even more difficult without a saddle, especially for Thompson, who has cerebral palsy.

A Spokane man in his 40s is among six Washington state residents who probably have swine flu, health officials said Wednesday night. The officials have been unable to interview the man, who hasn’t returned their phone calls. They don’t know if he is married or has children in local schools.

A Spokane family was left homeless and the family’s pets dead Tuesday in a blaze that destroyed a northeast Spokane home. Spokane police officers were the first to arrive at the home at 2932 N. Stone St. about 5:30 p.m. and found several occupants running around outside yelling that a man might have been trapped inside with his dog, said Cpl. Jon Strickland.

Spokane Valley firefighters expected to work through the night to clean up a blaze ignited in a pile of rubble at a scrap metal recycling company. The fire was at Dickson Iron and Metal, 907 N. Dyer Road, the same business where authorities said two similar fires ignited last year in piles of metal recycling waste. Friday’s fire destroyed a large excavator, sending thick plumes of black smoke pouring across nearby Interstate 90, reducing visibility and causing traffic slowdowns.