In brief: Higher wage measure likely to get on ballot
Get ready for a contentious debate on Spokane’s November election ballot.
Backers of a plan to force Wal-Mart and other big box retailers in Spokane to pay most workers nearly double the state’s minimum wage say they have enough signatures to force a citywide vote.
Spokane Citizens for a Living Wage turned in 3,871 signatures Tuesday to the city clerk’s office; 2,915 Spokane-voter signatures are needed to secure a spot on the Nov. 6 general election ballot
Unless the Spokane City Council decides to put the issue on the ballot themselves, the county’s elections office will be asked to verify that the signatures belong to registered voters living within city limits.
Paul Brandt, elections spokesman, said most signature drives with 20 percent to 30 percent more signatures than required make the cut. The living wage proposal has 33 percent more than needed.
Under the proposal, companies with 95,000 square feet of retail space would have to pay most workers 165 percent of the state’s minimum wage, which would be about $13 per hour. The requirement would drop to 135 percent for employers who provide health care benefits.
– Staff reports
Driver who struck, killed teen fined
A city recycling truck driver whose rig struck and killed a 16-year-old boy on May 8 has been cited with a traffic infraction, according to a Spokane police news release.
Chris Schoonover, who stopped and then started turning right onto Nevada Street from Magnesium Road with a green light, was fined $163 on Wednesday for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk. After the Spokane city recycling truck struck Andrew Rosell when he was crossing Nevada, Schoonover immediately jumped out to give aid, the release states.
Schoonover was put on paid administrative leave for the investigation but is now back at work with Spokane’s Waste-to-Energy Plant, where he has worked since March 2006.
– Nick Eaton
Murder suspect pleads not guilty
The man accused of killing an adult shop owner and robbing the store pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge of first-degree murder.
Bond is set at $1 million for Jeramie R. Davis, 36, who police said went into Best Buy Adult Entertainment, 123 E. Sprague Ave., and beat owner John G. “Jack” Allen, 74, to death with a baseball bat June 17. Authorities said Davis stole sex paraphernalia with a friend and left, returning about 2 a.m. with his sister to call 911.
Deputy Prosecutor Dale Nagy suggested Wednesday that if bailed out, Davis should have no contact with his sister, Tina Jackson, and not be allowed to possess firearms or pornography.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge Maryann Moreno set Davis’ trial for Oct. 1.
Davis has 12 felony convictions including forgery, trafficking in stolen property and possession of stolen property. He initially was accused of first-degree murder with robbery and first-degree robbery, but he has been charged with murder.
– Nick Eaton