In brief: Seniors face choice under WASL rules

High school seniors who haven’t passed the Washington Assessment of Student Learning have until Friday to tell their school whether they want to turn in a collection of evidence to be used for an “alternative assessment” of their knowledge – considered a tougher alternative to the WASL.

The portfolio won’t be due until Feb. 15 and will be graded by early May.

As of Monday morning, 7,334 students statewide had signed up to create a collection of evidence for reading, writing or math this academic year, according to the state Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction. Last year 776 submitted portfolios, with 354 judged sufficient for graduation.

– Associated Press

Spokane County

Freed inmates due help finding jobs, housing

Hundreds of inmates released from Spokane County jails and mental health court defendants may receive help through a three-year program aimed at decreasing homelessness and preventing recidivism.

Funded by a $3.2 million state grant announced Tuesday, the Spokane Homeless Assistance Response and Prevention Partnership would look to provide some participants with permanent housing and place others in jobs, according to a county proposal. The program, which the county hopes to launch this spring, also would offer “intensive case management.”

Homelessness became a political issue this fall after the closure of several low-income apartments in downtown Spokane. And people who have been incarcerated tend to be the most difficult to house, said Christine Barada, department director.

The program probably won’t include sex offenders at first, she said.

– Parker Howell

County rejects proposed rural convenience store

Spokane County commissioners took about two hours of testimony Tuesday night and rejected a proposal to allow gasoline convenience stores in rural areas.

The decision upheld the unanimous recommendation of the County Planning Commission to reject Chattaroy businessman Steve Smart’s proposal to amend the zoning code so he could add a convenience store to the landscaping, nursery and coffee shop businesses he operates at the corner of Bigelow Gulch and Argonne roads.

Unable to win a zone change, Smart hired attorney Stacey Bjordal to draft the zoning code amendment that was before commissioners Tuesday. But land planning consultant Dwight Hume complained that the county planning staff allowed the proposal to go forward with a “fatal flaw” that opened the door to more stores than intended.

Commissioners Todd Mielke and Mark Richard said they’d be willing to entertain a revised proposal, but Commissioner Bonnie Mager, said “it appears to have been vetted over and over and yet Mr. Hume pointed out it’s still fatally flawed. Perhaps the whole idea is just fundamentally flawed.”

About 60 people attended Tuesday’s hearing, and most opposed the proposal.

– John Craig

SEATTLE

Morning-after pill ruling appealed

The American Civil Liberties Union, Planned Parenthood and the Northwest Women’s Law Center are appealing a federal judge’s ruling that Washington pharmacies do not have to sell “morning-after” birth control pills if their pharmacists have moral objections.

A federal court judge in Tacoma issued an injunction last month preventing the state from enforcing a rule that pharmacies make the drug available. The organizations appealed to the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals this week, saying the ruling misconstrues legal precedent, and they asked the judge to stay the injunction.

Sold as Plan B, the drug can lower the risk of pregnancy if taken within 72 hours of unprotected sex. It is a high dose of a drug found in many birth- control pills. Plan B’s manufacturer, Barr Pharmaceuticals Inc., got approval last year to sell the drug over the counter.

Critics consider the pill tantamount to abortion, although it has no effect on women who already are pregnant.

– Associated Press