Stories by Thomas Clouse for the Spokesman-Review

News > Crime/Public Safety

Federal judge in Spokane sentences Nespelem man for domestic assault

Wed., Jan. 15, 2020

A Nespelem man was sentenced to two years in federal prison Wednesday after he previously pleaded guilty to assault resulting in serious bodily harm.

News > Business

Iconic Spokane watering hole Checkerboard Bar on East Sprague closed pending sale

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 14, 2020

The pool table has fallen silent. The liquor bottles, many half full, remain at attention. But, the padlock on the door and the massive “For Sale” sign at one of Spokane’s iconic watering holes foretells a different future.

News > Idaho

Federal criminal trial of Post Falls state representative nears completion in Texas

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 13, 2020

The federal criminal trial of Idaho state Rep. John O. Green, R-Post Falls, appears to be nearing an end in Texas, as the defense has begun presenting witnesses in the case in which Green is charged with helping a wealthy Texas couple hide assets to avoid paying income taxes.

News > Spokane

Friday snow dump causes more than 100 collisions in Spokane, cancels classes

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 10, 2020

The first major snowstorm of the season brought more than half a foot of powder to the Spokane area on Friday, creating hazardous driving conditions, prompting colleges to cancel afternoon classes and forcing Spokane Public Schools to call off after-school activities.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy shoots, kills man Friday after pursuit

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 10, 2020

A man was shot and killed Friday morning by a Spokane County Sheriff’s deputy following a pursuit that ended in the backyard of a North Spokane home.

News > Spokane

Changing funeral industry leads to sale of iconic Hazen & Jaeger building in Spokane

Fri., Jan. 10, 2020

The shifting landscape of the funeral industry has led to a business opportunity for someone seeking to purchase a very large, iconic building in Spokane that has two chapels, three apartments and its own crematorium.

News > Spokane

Developer plans four new Browne’s Addition homes on slope above Peaceful Valley

Thu., Jan. 9, 2020

Steep slopes, views and a “high potential” for disturbing Spokane Tribe burial remains tend to attract attention when a developer proposes building four new homes in a forested area just above Peaceful Valley and just below the rim of Browne’s Addition in Spokane.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Two co-defendants in insurance fraud scheme sentenced to prison; Ron Wells sentencing scheduled in February

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 8, 2020

Two defendants, who were tied to an insurance-fraud scheme that included Spokane developer Ron Wells, were sentenced to federal prison Wednesday and ordered to pay restitution to help cover the cost of the insurance payouts.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Blu-ray pitchman Erick Hansen dies serving federal prison term in California

Sat., Jan. 4, 2020

A business pitchman who claimed to have deals with the father of Michael Jackson and came to Spokane in 2007 with promises of turning the Lilac City into a DVD-making giant has died in federal prison. Erick H. Hansen was 62.

News > Spokane

‘I do what I want when I want’: Hayden Lake transplant Don Larsen leaves ‘perfect game’ legacy

Fri., Jan. 3, 2020

Donald “Don” James Larsen, an imperfect pitcher whose perfect game in the 1956 World Series cemented his legacy, spent the last 25 years of his life at Hayden Lake pursuing fish rather than fame.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Kalispell man dies following head-on crash Thursday south of Coeur d’Alene

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 24, 2019

An 85-year-old Kalispell man has died following a Thursday collision on U.S. Highway 95 between Coeur d’Alene and Worley, Idaho.

News > Spokane

National gun sales reach record while new laws slow gun purchases in Spokane

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 5, 2019

Background checks on gun purchases in the U.S. are climbing toward a record high this year, reflecting what the industry says is a rush by people to buy weapons in reaction to the Democratic presidential candidates’ calls for tighter restrictions.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane felon pleads guilty to human trafficking-for-sex charges

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 6, 2019

A Spokane felon, who earlier was charged in connection to a human trafficking-for-sex investigation, pleaded guilty Thursday to related charges that could result in a sentence of 20 years in federal prison.

News > Spokane

Spokane Valley for-profit school pays fine to resolve allegations it defrauded VA

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 4, 2019

A Spokane Valley company and its general manager have agreed to pay more than $120,000 to resolve allegations that it was defrauding the Department of Veterans Affairs as part of its for-profit school.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Former Spokane business executive sentenced to federal prison for tax evasion

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 4, 2019

A former Spokane business executive was sentenced to a year in federal prison Wednesday for federal income tax evasion and was ordered to pay a substantial sum to reimburse his former company for improper billing.

News > Agriculture

Bad weather causes potato shortage everywhere, except in Washington

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 3, 2019

Washington potato growers could double what they earn from this year’s crop because of shortages in Idaho, the Upper Midwest and Canada caused by bad weather in October that forced some producers to leave their spuds in the field.

News > Spokane

Spokane provides London scenes and production crew for new movie

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 2, 2019

English actor James Faulkner, who apparently is fine after that minor incident with dragon fire in Season 7 of the HBO mega-hit “Game of Thrones,” walked among other Londoners on Monday in a smoky pub. However, Faulkner was not in the city by the River Thames. The scene Monday was actors enjoying a fake pint in downtown Spokane.

News > Spokane

Longtime Spokane retailers stick to roots to make Black Friday success

Fri., Nov. 29, 2019

Three of the longest-tenured Spokane retailers have taken different approaches to make Black Friday a sales boost, but not necessarily a game-changer, for their overall success.

News > Spokane

Preparation can turn the wild turkey nuisance into Thanksgiving glory

Thu., Nov. 28, 2019

The turkey, be it a commercially raised yard bird or a South Hill nuisance clipped by a Honda Element, retains its high place as the centerpiece of most meals on Thanksgiving Day.

News > Spokane

Coeur d’Alene Tribe member sentenced to prison for assault on Colville Reservation

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 25, 2019

A federal judge sentenced a member of the Coeur d’Alene Indian Tribe to more than three years in federal prison after he pleaded guilty to attacking his girlfriend on the Colville Indian Reservation.

News > Spokane

Patsy Clark mansion for sale – to the right buyer

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 25, 2019

John Allison, a partner in Eymann Allison Hunter Jones, P.S., said the firm, which purchased the iconic Spokane home in 2003, first put the refurbished home up for sale in July. But only last week did John L. Scott Realty list a price for the mansion at $2.1 million.

News > Spokane

Post Falls man convicted by federal jury of dealing meth from home

Fri., Nov. 22, 2019

A federal jury this week convicted a Post Falls man of possessing 230 grams of methamphetamine that officials claimed he was selling out of his home.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Bonner County prosecutor declines charges against officers in Rambo shooting

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 21, 2019

The Bonner County Prosecutor’s office has declined to file criminal charges against the eight Coeur d’Alene Police officers who chased and shot a suspect more than 10 times on July 4 in City Park.

News > Spokane

Grand jury indicts man of kidnapping, assault on Colville Indian Reservation

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 21, 2019

A man who lives on the Colville Indian Reservation appeared Thursday after he was indicted this week on six counts, including kidnapping and attacking a woman last September on the reservation.

News > Spokane

Federal judge halts execution of killer, Spokane City Hall bomber Lee

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 21, 2019

A federal judge has temporarily halted the first federal execution in 16 years that would have ended the life of convicted killer and white supremacist Danny L. “Cyclops” Lee, who also set off a bomb outside Spokane City Hall in 1996.

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