Stories by Thomas Clouse for the Spokesman-Review

News > Education

Investigation of Eastern Washington volleyball uncovers series of concerns

Sat., June 2, 2018

The Eastern Washington University volleyball program is in tatters following a school investigation into an alleged improper payment to a player, fired coaches, missing cash from a program account and student athletes abandoning the team.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Spokane attorney charged with forging judge’s signatures

Thu., May 24, 2018

A Spokane attorney pleaded not guilty Wednesday to six felony charges relating signatures on court orders from Superior Court Judge Maryann Moreno, who later told police investigators were forged.

News > Agriculture

Chinese middle class could be boon for Washington ranchers

UPDATED: Wed., May 23, 2018

The prices that small-operation ranchers in Washington get for their cattle is tied to the global economy, making it about as hard to predict as the prairie rain.

News > Agriculture

Ranchers wrangle a living history out of Eastern Washington scablands

UPDATED: Wed., May 23, 2018

Tucked within miles of barbed-wire fences and basalt columns southwest of Spokane reside what’s left of the American West: Ranchers who scratch out a living from hard work and prairie grass.

News > Spokane

Judge rules prosecutors can use Caleb Sharpe’s statements following Freeman High School shooting

UPDATED: Mon., May 21, 2018

A judge ruled Monday that all the statements that Caleb Sharpe gave Spokane County sheriff’s detectives just minutes after the Freeman High School shooting can be used in the hearing to determine whether he faces a murder charge as an adult.

News > Spokane

Declination hearing delayed again for suspected Freeman shooter Caleb Sharpe

UPDATED: Thu., May 17, 2018

The hearing required by law to be held within 14 days to determine whether suspected Freeman shooter Caleb Sharpe is tried as a juvenile or as an adult has been delayed again to this summer, some 11 months after the shooting that killed Sam Strahan.

News > ID Government

State Rep. Heather Scott wins re-election

UPDATED: Wed., May 16, 2018

Controversial Idaho State Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, was trailing in early Bonner County results from Tuesday’s Primary election, but she began to pull ahead as the votes began to be counted and voters gave her the victory.

News > ID Government

Bonner County voters advise against Scotchman Peaks Wilderness

UPDATED: Wed., May 16, 2018

With only absentee votes counted, an advisory vote for the supporting Scotchman Peaks Wilderness designation held an early lead.

News > Spokane

VA officials hold grand opening Monday in Spokane that helps homeless vets

Tue., May 15, 2018

A twenty-something woman in sunglasses had her phone pressed to her face Monday as she complained that her friend with the fix didn’t show. Then she marched down the sun-drenched downtown Spokane sidewalk in a pair of worn leopard-print shoes..

News > ID Government

Three North Idaho Republicans race to replace retiring State Sen. Shawn Keough

Sun., May 13, 2018

A retired sheriff’s deputy and two construction company owners are trying to convince Bonner and Boundary county voters that they have the credentials to replace the longest serving Idaho State Senator in state history.

News > ID Government

Idaho state Rep. Heather Scott facing challenger in Republican primary

Fri., May 11, 2018

Voters in North Idaho’s most northern district get a chance next week to either endorse the ultraconservative, headline-grabbing political maneuvers of Rep. Heather Scott, or select longtime Sandpoint resident Mike Boeck in the Republican primary election.

News > Agriculture

Not your grandparents’ dairy: Washington operation shows scale of modern milk production

Sun., May 6, 2018

Case VanderMeulen’s oldest brother inherited his family’s 100-cow dairy in The Netherlands. So the younger brother came to America and built a fortress of milk that never sleeps.

News > Spokane

Federal judge in Spokane halts Trump cuts to Planned Parenthood teen pregnancy program

UPDATED: Tue., April 24, 2018

A federal judge in Spokane granted a permanent injunction Tuesday in favor of Planned Parenthood that will prevent the Trump administration from cutting grants that pay for the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Program in several western states.

News > Spokane

California man gets 4 years in prison over local energy credit scam

UPDATED: Fri., April 20, 2018

A California man was sentenced to more than four years in prison Friday after he previously pleaded guilty to defrauding millions of dollars from the government through the sale of false energy credits.

News > Spokane

Freeman students march in unity to honor memory of slain classmate Sam Strahan

UPDATED: Fri., April 20, 2018

Drenched in sunshine and a sharp spring wind, more than 70 students marched Friday out of Freeman High School behind a “Freeman Strong” banner to the same football field where they sheltered in fear last September following the shooting that killed 15-year-old Sam Strahan and injured three girls.

News > Spokane

Ferris’ Mandy Manning named National Teacher of the Year

UPDATED: Fri., April 20, 2018

Ferris High School’s Mandy Manning was named the National Teacher of the Year.

News > Spokane

Sam Strahan’s mother recounts loss, urges change at event calling for gun reform

Fri., April 20, 2018

Students around the Inland Northwest will step out of school Friday to honor those killed in recent shootings. Meanwhile, Ami Strahan will celebrate what should have been her 22nd anniversary with her husband, Scott.

News > Education

Lewis and Clark junior strives to keep student voices alive in debate over school shootings

UPDATED: Thu., April 19, 2018

Dylan Soth wants to keep momentum going among the young voices calling for change following the shooting in Parkland, Florida.

News > Education

Washington implementing new system for judging schools

UPDATED: Thu., April 19, 2018

Parents have a new way to examine how schools are doing in Washington state. State Superintendent Chris Reykdal said the new system will help administrators, teachers and parents identify deficiencies in all schools, including those that may get among the best scores.

News > Spokane

Obermiller faces lengthy prison term despite being found innocent of child killing

UPDATED: Tue., April 17, 2018

Having been acquitted last year for the beating death of a 2-year-old girl, Jason J. Obermiller still faces several years in prison before the convicted felon can call himself a free man.

News > Spokane

$60,000 split among top students in Spokane County; Lewis and Clark represented in each category

UPDATED: Tue., April 17, 2018

Connor Cremers only remembers one lesson from his kindergarten class. It was a math lesson with snowmen. He was hooked. Recognized as the top science student in Spokane County, he walked home from the Spokane Scholars dinner with a $4,000 check.

News > Education

Lewis and Clark student’s survey helps persuade committee to delay new sex ed curriculum for Spokane Public Schools

UPDATED: Thu., April 12, 2018

With the ongoing debate over how Spokane students should be taught sex education, a senior from Lewis and Clark High School sat down Wednesday and delivered her research project that essentially stole the moment.

News > Education

Locking classrooms becomes latest safety measure in Spokane schools

Mon., April 9, 2018

When the 2,000 students return from spring break Monday at Lewis and Clark High School, they will be part of the next generation of school safety: studying in classes behind locked doors.

News > Spokane

Jury convicts Dwayne Thurman of second-degree manslaughter

UPDATED: Tue., April 3, 2018

Dwayne Thurman yelled out and slapped the back of his attorney Tuesday when he heard “not guilty” twice as the juror read the verdict. But his elation ended about three seconds later when it was made clear the jury had convicted Thurman of second-degree manslaughter for shooting his wife in 2016.

News > Spokane

Jury deliberating manslaughter case against Dwayne Thurman

UPDATED: Mon., April 2, 2018

Dwayne Thurman cried and took gasps of breath through his open mouth Monday as he struggled to tell a jury how he shot his wife in the heart as he was trying to break down the weapon to clean it.

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