More West e-mails disclosed

The lead story for tomorrow’s Page 1 is about the release today of another batch of e-mails from Mayor Jim West’s computers.

The e-mail confirms that West was using his city computer to offer an internship to a fictitious young man he’d met online on Gay.com. Also, the second batch of e-mails show that some city business leaders now calling for West to step down were offering him support shortly after the abuse of power scandal broke in early May.
The e-mails released so far also contradict the mayor’s assertions last month that public response was running 2-1 in his favor. About half his e-mail still hasn’t been released by the city attorney’s office.

Also tomorrow:

—Right now Spokane area drivers are suffering through the side-effects of efforts to heal area streets. Ragged pavement, winding detours and stalled traffic are the results of drastic street surgery that many say is long overdue. Some of the work was made possible only by voters who approved last year the city of Spokane’s $117 million street bond issue.

—An autopsy concluded that a 7-year-old Stevens County boy whose adopted mother claimed he had a bizarre drinking disorder died of dehydration last winter. Tyler DeLeon died on his birthday, Jan. 13, after arriving at a Spokane hospital reportedly suffering from the flu. He weighed just 33 pounds and was severely dehydrated.

—In Idaho, we’re reporting on a possible drowning in Hauser Lake.

—The sole provider of human blood for Spokane-area hospitals has cut its hours and will lay off four workers to offset a drop in revenue.

— A bizarre story from the animal kingdom. A 12-year-old girl who was abducted and beaten by men trying to force her into a marriage was found being guarded by three lions who apparently had chased off her captors.

—A former Klansman was convicted of manslaughter in a 41-year-old Mississippi case.

—The U.S. Senate endorsed President Bush’s policies on climate change.