In brief: Convict charged in bank robbery
A convicted bank robber was charged Friday in connection with the March 9 robbery of a Kellogg Wells Fargo Bank.
Authorities identified James Michael Hughes as a suspect in the robbery after a teller from a Spokane bank called in a tip on Monday.
An employee of Numerica Credit Union told the FBI that the robber looked like Hughes, who had opened a new account at Numerica days earlier, according to court documents.
The FBI obtained a picture of Hughes from the Washington Department of Corrections and put together a photo lineup to show the Kellogg bank teller.
According to court documents, the teller “immediately identified the photograph of Hughes” as that of the man who robbed her.
Hughes is accused of going into the Kellogg bank, lifting his shirt to reveal a gun and demanding cash, according to court records.
The records indicate that Hughes, whose age wasn’t listed, allegedly fled with $6,500 in cash.
The crime is punishable by up to 20 years in federal prison.
Brewster, Wash.
RV, pickup collide; 2 killed
Two people were killed Saturday when a recreational vehicle and a pickup truck crashed and burst into flames on U.S. Highway 97 near Brewster, Wash., the Washington State Patrol said.
As of late Saturday, investigators were still on the scene of the crash, which occurred about 4 p.m.
The collision and fire closed the highway for several hours.
MOSCOW, Idaho
UI repair needs hit $200 million
The University of Idaho has a backlog of maintenance projects that will cost more than $200 million, a school official said.
Brian Johnson, UI’s assistant vice president for facilities services, estimates that the school is underfunded by $13 million to $15 million a year for maintenance and repairs.
Johnson said the university spends about $5 million annually on routine maintenance and repairs. Another $2 million is added from the state’s Permanent Building Fund for repair and alteration projects. But the list of projects that need work is growing faster than crews can check items off, said Johnson.
Seattle
Couple charged in son’s death
A Shelton couple has been charged in the death of their 6-month-old son, who they say died due to Sudden Infant Death Syndrome while vacationing in California.
Thomas and Lorrie Boettger, both 38, were being held in King County Jail in lieu of $1 million bail each, pending extradition to San Diego, where they’ve been charged with one count each of child abuse.
The couple’s son, Thomas Jr., died Oct. 25, 2006, while the family was on a trip to Disneyland and staying with a niece. The Boettgers, who also have a 10-year-old daughter, had diagnosed the boy with acid reflux and colic and treated him with adult over-the-counter sleeping medications, according to charging papers.