In brief: Snow, rain, wind coming our way
A winter storm approaching the Inland Northwest is shaping up to be a meteorological “bomb,” a forecaster at the National Weather Service said Thursday.
A deepening low-pressure system migrating from Alaska was expected to park itself off the coast today, triggering a succession of snow, rain, wind, drizzle, freezing drizzle, more snow and arctic winds – roughly in that order – through Sunday.
“It’s a bomb,” forecaster John Livingston said. “It’s a rapidly deepening system, very vigorous.”
Arctic air and northeast wind are expected to make Sunday, Monday and Tuesday brutally cold, with highs struggling to reach 10 degrees.
Wind chills could reach minus 27 degrees in Spokane and elsewhere Monday morning, and low temperatures could bottom out Tuesday morning at minus 15 if skies are clear overnight.
The Weather Service issued a winter storm warning for much of the Inland Northwest, predicting nearly 11 inches of snow in Spokane and 9 inches in Coeur d’Alene. The heaviest snow should come overnight tonight into Saturday morning.
Cold is expected to persist throughout next week.
City issues new policy for meetings
Three days after a citizen called him a “mediocre attorney” at a council meeting, Spokane City Council President Joe Shogan on Thursday issued what he’s calling a “No Tolerance Policy” for anyone who speaks a “personal attack” during a hearing.
In recent weeks, Shogan has gotten in several tense deliberations during public testimony. Last month, for instance, he gaveled former City Councilman Steve Eugster after Eugster called Mayor Mary Verner a liar.
On Monday, in testimony that criticized the Cowles family, which owns The Spokesman-Review, one-time Spokane Valley City Council candidate David Elton called Shogan a “mediocre attorney.” Shogan allowed him to continue, but he eventually gaveled Elton for speaking longer than three minutes. He didn’t leave the podium until after Shogan signaled for a police officer to approach.
Shogan issued the policy Thursday in a city news release.
“From now on, any person who engages in a personal verbal attack on any other citizen, city staff, the mayor or any member of the City Council will be told by me as council president to cease such behavior and to leave the podium,” Shogan’s statement said. If the “behavior continues” the person will be “removed from the council chambers.”
Shogan’s statement says those who aim their attacks at “actions or policies” rather than people will not be affected by the policy.
Spokane Valley
Woman bruised after shots fired into home
Shots fired into a Spokane Valley home Wednesday left a woman with a bruise on her thigh after one of the bullets deflected off a ceiling and hit her, according to police.
The 52-year-old woman called 911 about 9:45 p.m. after two shots were fired into the front of her home in the 10800 block of East Mallon Avenue, police said.
The victim didn’t know why someone would shoot at the home, police said. Anyone with information regarding the shooting is asked to call (509) 242-TIPS.