In brief: Legislators to hold meeting at SFCC
Two freshmen state lawmakers will hold a town hall meeting today at Spokane Falls Community College to report on the recent legislative session in Olympia.
Sen. Chris Marr and Rep. Don Barlow, both Democrats from Spokane, will be at the meeting, starting at 2 p.m. in Lounges A and B of the college’s Student Union Building. The college is at 3410 W. Fort George Wright Drive in Spokane.
Marr and Barlow, both of whom ousted Republican candidates in November, represent Spokane’s 6th Legislative District. The crescent-shaped district wraps around northern and southern Spokane, as well as some communities in western Spokane County.
– Richard Roesler
Spokane
Moon, Venus get cozy in night sky again
For the third month in a row, Venus and the new moon will be side-by-side in tonight’s early evening sky if forecasted clouds part long enough to see the two. The moon will pass within 1 degree of Venus.
Under clear skies, the dark side of the moon will give off a faint bluish glow caused by light from the Earth reflecting off the moon’s unlit surface. Look for the conjunction fairly high in the western sky after sunset.
– Mike Prager
Car hits pedestrian, driver arrested
A man suffered a broken leg and other injuries after a driver who police said was intoxicated hit him and dragged him 30 feet.
At about 1:20 p.m., the 56-year-old victim and his wife had pulled off on McClellan between Second and Third avenues to adjust some lumber in the back of their pickup, police said.
While the man was adjusting the lumber, a southbound car driven by Christopher A. McClintock, 34, slammed into him, dragging him down the pavement, said Spokane police spokesman Officer William Hager.
The victim had a broken leg and several other cuts and bruises, Hager said.
Officers said they found McClintock intoxicated and performed field sobriety tests on him. A search found some marijuana on him, and he was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence and drug possession, Hager said.
– Christopher Rodkey
Motorcyclist injured in crash on U.S. 95
A 44-year-old motorcyclist is in critical condition following a crash Friday morning south of Careywood, Idaho.
Patrick K. Halbert was southbound on a 1983 Yamaha motorcycle around 6:20 a.m. when he hit a utility trailer that was being pulled by a Ford pickup headed the same direction on Highway 95, Idaho State Police said.
The driver of the truck, 28-year-old Travis Gallimore, of Spirit Lake, was turning off the highway and into a private driveway at the time of the crash.
Halbert, who was wearing a helmet, was flown to Kootenai Medical Center by helicopter. Gallimore was wearing a seat belt and was uninjured. The crash is under investigation.
– Taryn Brodwater