Dog helps woman escape abductor

An excited pit bull mix distracted its owner enough to allow his kidnapping and assault victim to escape Saturday, according to Coeur d’Alene police.

But the attacker got away, too, and now police are asking for help finding him.

A man approached a 31-year-old Coeur d’Alene woman about 2:30 p.m. in the parking lot of Lakewood Animal Hospital, 272 W. Hanley Ave., and asked for help putting a collar on his dog, according to police.

The man shoved the woman into a white van as she approached, locking her inside with the pit bull before driving to an unknown location and opening the back while partially undressed, the woman told police.

He punched her a few times before his dog got excited and the woman let it off its leash, which distracted the man and allowed the victim to escape, according to police.

The man was described as 28 to 30 years old, tall, about 180 pounds, and clean shaven with buzzed blond hair. He wore dark-blue jeans and a button-down shirt. His white van had grass stains and other discolorations, oversized heavy-terrain tires and dark-tinted windows. Anyone with information is asked to call police at (208) 769-2320.

spokane

City rules near for county judges

New rules that would allow county-elected judges to continue to rule on city of Spokane laws may be ready for City Council consideration in the next two weeks, Mayor Mary Verner said in a newss release Monday.

Last year, a state appeals court tossed two DUI convictions because judges who handled the cases were elected countywide and not just within city limits.

Since then, state law has been changed, and city leaders believe maintaining a system in which the city contracts with county-elected judges may be legal.

City Attorney Howard Delaney said Verner believes that “a regional approach to criminal justice” is a more effective way to use resources, in part because services would not have to be duplicated.

‘Light Up America’ coming to Spokane

Cheech and Chong, the geriatric kings of stoner comedy, are bringing their “Light Up America” reunion tour to Spokane.

Tickets go on sale Friday at 4:20 p.m. – that’s an inside joke among marijuana users, meaning time to start smoking – for the Jan. 24 show at the INB Performing Arts Center. They’re $59.50 and $39.50, through TicketsWest outlets (509-325-SEAT, 800-325-SEAT, www.ticketswest.com).

Richard “Cheech” Marin, 62, and Tommy Chong, 70, announced in July that they were launching their first tour in more than 25 years. From 1972 to 1985, they released nine comedy albums (including one Grammy winner) and starred in eight feature films.

Bigelow Gulch, Forker closed

Bigelow Gulch and Forker roads will be closed today through Thursday for maintenance work.

Signs have been posted to alert motorists of the closures, said Spokane County spokeswoman Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter.

Progress Road at Forker also will be closed today through Thursday as workers rebuild the intersection, officials said.

For more information about the maintenance or repairs, call (509) 477-7458 or (509) 477-7195.

Car hits girl, 16, at Crestline, Walton

A 16-year-old girl suffered a skull and leg fracture after a car struck her in a Spokane intersection Monday night.The girl will spend the night in the hospital, where she was taken by ambulance about 7:50 p.m., according to Spokane police.

The incident occurred at Crestline Street and Walton Avenue, and the driver, who was southbound on Crestline, was ticketed for failing to yield to a pedestrian, according to police.

The girl was alert and talking at the hospital, but nurses wanted to watch her overnight because of the skull fracture, said Officer Tracie Meidl.

Genetics residency program at SHMC

Sacred Heart Medical Center has received accreditation for a new residency program for physicians specializing in clinical cytogenetics and molecular genetics.

The program will be directed by Dr. Bassem Bejjani, the chief medical officer at Signature Genomics, which along with Inland Northwest Genetics Clinic is a Sacred Heart partner in the program.

Genetics is now recognized as a medical specialty and requires the passing of a board exam by the American Board of Molecular Genetics.

The two-year program is open to medical doctors along with scientists specializing in genetics.

Seattle

E.coli suspected in 14 illnesses

Fourteen suspected cases of E. coli illness have been reported in Snohomish County.

No common source had been identified Monday, but all those involved became ill this month. One person was hospitalized briefly.