Man charged with killing pregnant wife

The husband of a pregnant woman whose body was found in their burned apartment has been charged with killing his wife and their unborn baby.

Moscow, Idaho, police arrested 25-year-old Silas Parks on Wednesday. He also faces an arson charge in the June 24 fire, the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reported.

Firefighters found the body of 28-year-old Sarah Parks after extinguishing the flames. She was 20 weeks pregnant, and authorities consider the case a double homicide.

An autopsy found that Sarah Parks was dead when the fire started, and authorities say the fire was suspicious.

According to a story last week in the Moscow-Pullman Daily News, Idaho court records show that Silas Parks, from Kendrick, Idaho, was charged in 2006 with domestic abuse and battery.

He pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of disturbing the peace and paid a $159 fine, court records show.

Associated Press

Colvilles agree to tax cigarettes

OLYMPIA – The Colville Confederated Tribes have signed an agreement with state officials to impose a tribal tax on cigarettes.

The Colvilles are the 23rd tribe to negotiate such an agreement. Others include the Spokane and Kalispel tribes.

Under the new compact, the Colvilles agreed to charge $2.44 in tribal tax. That’s how much state and local sales taxes would be.

Such agreements save the state from cat-and-mouse games with non-Indian buyers avoiding taxes by buying at tribal smoke shops. They also eliminate much of a tribe’s competitive advantage in tobacco sales, although the tribes keep all the taxes raised.

One compact, with the Yakama Nation, was terminated after tribal smoke shops allegedly kept selling cigarettes without the tribal tax. The Yakamas and the state are in federal court over the issue.

Richard Roesler

Humane Society has plenty of cats

To ease overcrowding at the shelter, the Spokane Humane Society will try to adopt out 100 cats and kittens from today until Monday.

There are nearly 150 felines who need homes, officials said. All the cats and kittens have current shots, are spayed or neutered, and have been microchipped for easy identification.

People who don’t wish to adopt but want to help underwrite the cost of care can sponsor an animal, shelter officials said.

For information on adoption and fees, contact the shelter at (509) 467-5235 or www.spokanehumane society.org. The shelter will be closed Saturday but will be open Sunday.

Sara Leaming