In brief: Scientists say meteoroid broke over Oregon
A fireball seen across the Northwest Tuesday didn’t crash into Earth despite reports that it appeared to hit in Eastern Washington, scientists said Wednesday.
The meteoroid probably disintegrated about 19 miles above the ground near La Grande, Ore., said Vince Stricherz, a spokesman for the University of Washington.
Scientists used readings from motion-wave detecting instruments around the Northwest to triangulate the meteoroid’s location. The same method was used in 2004 to locate another widely observed meteoroid.
Tuesday’s flash was reported about 5:30 a.m. by early risers in Washington, Idaho, Oregon, Montana and British Columbia. Some, in Eastern Oregon and southeastern Washington, also reported hearing what sounded like a sonic boom.
– Jody Lawrence-Turner
Laurier Port of Entry
Skinhead leader guilty in woman’s transport
The founder of the Eastern Washington Skinheads has pleaded guilty to transportation of an alien across the U.S.-Canadian border near the Laurier Port of Entry, north of Spokane.
James Douglas Ross will remain in jail until he’s sentenced May 20 in U.S. District Court, Senior Judge Frem Nielsen ruled last week, when he took the defendant’s guilty plea.
Ross, 25, was arrested Dec. 14 and indicted by a grand jury four days later on the alien transportation charge.
In pleading guilty, Ross admitted to assisting Angela L. Kierstead, 32, of Lakeville, New Brunswick, illegally enter the U.S. The two communicated online before she attempted to travel to the U.S., court documents say.
As she attempted to enter the country in a remote area, Kierstead became lost. She sent text messages to Ross, who replied with directions before he picked her up on a remote road in his Dodge truck, the documents say.
Authorities say Kierstead, who has ties to white supremacy activities in Canada, was held for deportation after a charge of illegal entry was dropped.
– Bill Morlin
Spokane County
Ballots going out for votes on jail, more
Spokane County will start mailing ballots today for the March 11 special election, even as workers continue to count votes from Tuesday’s presidential primary, Auditor Vicky Dalton said.
Voters will be asked if they want to continue paying a 0.1 percent sales tax that pays for jail operations. The tax raised about $8.2 million in 2007 and funds Geiger Corrections Center, the Spokane County Jail and the county’s juvenile detention center.
Voters in several school districts, including Mead, East Valley and Cheney, will also be asked to approve tax measures. Voters in Spokane Valley, Millwood and surrounding unincorporated areas will be asked to pass a bond to build new libraries.
Dalton said voters who still have unused primary ballots should make sure to use the envelope that comes with the new ballot. Unlike the envelope used for the primary, the special election envelope will not ask voters to declare their party affiliation.
– Jonathan Brunt