In brief: Measles warning issued to travelers

The Spokane Regional Health District is warning travelers who flew through Sea-Tac Airport on March 26 that they may have been exposed to measles from another traveler.

A woman in her 20s flew from Amsterdam to Sea-Tac on Northwest Flight 33 and then continued to Portland on Horizon flight 2243. After developing a rash, she returned to the Netherlands on March 29, where a blood test on April 4 confirmed measles.

Health officials say other travelers who may have been on the flights and in the airport on the 26th should be alert for symptoms and see a doctor if they become ill.

Post Falls

Resort wants to expand marina

Templin’s Red Lion Resort wants to expand its marina on the Spokane River because of a shortage of public moorage.

Consultant Ann Bell said the marina has an extensive waiting list for slips, partially the result of many public marinas becoming private.

The Post Falls marina is asking the Idaho Department of Lands for a permit to add a 20-slip dock and a 24-slip dock and expand the shoreline walkway by 234 feet. Combined, the two new docks would cover about 10,016 square feet of river surface. The resort marina currently has 124 slips, 48 of which were added in the 2006 expansion.

The public has until April 28 to comment.

For more information or to comment on the application, contact the DOL at (208) 769-1577.

San Diego

Not guilty plea to torture charges

A 21-year-old transient who was extradited last week from North Idaho pleaded not guilty to felony torture charges Monday in San Diego Superior Court.

Prosecutors say Damian Maple and a second man beat an Australian tourist on Feb. 27, then dumped him in a smoldering beachside fire pit. Robert Schneider, 26, suffered third-degree burns.

Maple, whom federal agents found hiding under a bed in a rural Bonner County home, also pleaded not guilty in a second, unrelated beating. He was ordered held in lieu of $1 million bond.

The second man, Frank Montoya, is awaiting extradition from Oregon, where he was arrested March 31.

WALLA WALLA

Virus threatens wheat crop

A newly discovered wheat virus in Walla Walla County could cause significant losses in winter wheat crops, researchers said.

The soil-borne virus was discovered by Matt Weber and Marshal McKinley, agronomists with the McGregor Co., who were investigating yellow patches in winter wheat in the Mill Creek area.

The virus is transmitted to wheat plants from a fungus found in soil, they said.

McKinley said the infection appears mostly concentrated over 25 acres in the Mill Creek area.

PORTLAND

Death leaves zoo with lone wolf

The Oregon Zoo is down to a lone gray wolf.

Veterinarians recently euthanized Ceann following surgery to remove a tumor from her shoulder. Her death leaves Marcus as the last member of the pack.

The life expectancy of a gray wolf is six to eight years, but those in captivity often live longer. Zoo veterinarian Mitch Finnegan said Tuesday that Marcus just turned 13 and that medical problems hamper his mobility.

Ceann and Marcus were born in April 1995 in Battle Ground, Ind. They arrived at the Oregon Zoo two months later.

HELENA

Montanans pitch Glacier $1 coin

Montana”s congressional delegation has introduced legislation to establish a $1 commemorative coin for the 100-year anniversary of Glacier National Park.

The coin would be minted in 2010 and sold to collectors, with the proceeds going to the nonprofit Glacier Fund.

Sens. Max Baucus and Jon Tester and Rep. Denny Rehberg introduced the legislation Tuesday to allow the minting of up to 200,000 of the 90 percent silver coins.

Congress allows only two $1 commemorative coins to be minted each year.

BLACKFOOT, Idaho

Judge rules in favor of big cat owner

A judge says the Idaho Department of Agriculture acted in an arbitrary manner when it blocked a Nevada man who keeps endangered large cats from moving his operation to eastern Idaho.

Seventh District Judge Ted Wood on Monday ordered the agency to adopt new rules governing permits for groups seeking to possess and breed potentially dangerous and exotic animals.

Peter Renzo is a licensed big cat trainer and president of the Siberians Are Becoming Rapidly Extinct Foundation, based in Carson City, Nev.

He owns five Siberian tigers and a black leopard. In October, he announced plans to move his nonprofit operation to eastern Idaho, where he said he wants to breed the cats and perform live shows.

The state Department of Agriculture blocked the move, questioning Renzo’s qualifications and adding that any such move would require all the cats to be spayed or neutered before entering Idaho.

Renzo said he’s been licensed to exhibit big cats for more than 30 years, and cited the endangered status of his tigers and black leopard as why he will not spay or neuter the animals.

He filed a request for a judicial review of the decision, leading to Wood’s ruling.

Wood said that Greg Ledbetter, former Division of Animal Industries administrator, acted beyond the department’s authority.

“At this stage, it appears to the court that the administrator is basically making up the rules as he goes,” Wood said.