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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Region in brief: Two men arrested in loan store robbery

Two men have been arrested in connection with a robbery at a payday loan store in north Spokane.

The men, who have not been identified, were found after Spokane police and Spokane County sheriff’s deputies responded to Check Into Cash at 555 E. Francis Ave. about 4:15 p.m. on a report of an armed man robbing the store.

They found a suspect a few blocks away near East Lyons Avenue and North Standard Street, said Officer Tim Moses, but the man ran away.

Police set up a perimeter and called in a K9 unit, leading to the men’s arrests.

The stolen cash was recovered, along with the gun used in the robbery, police said.

Meghann M. Cuniff

Riverfront fountain closed for repairs

Spokane’s popular Rotary Fountain in Riverfront Park has been shut down the past two days because of a chemical control problem.

The fountain, a magnet for kids seeking relief from the summer heat, was turned off Sunday and remained off Monday, said Craig Butz, recreation and entertainment division manager with the city’s Parks and Recreation Department. An electrician was called in to inspect a major failure in the chemical control system, he said, and it’s unclear when it could reopen.

The system that monitors and maintains the pH level of the water is putting too much chlorine in the water, Butz said. The water normally is tested three times a day to ensure a proper chemical balance.

Butz said the city’s two new pools and 10 new splash pads “are really taking the load off that fountain. That’s the positive aspect.”

Staff reports

Risch, Crapo voting against Sotomayor

BOISE – Both of Idaho’s U.S. senators, Republicans Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, announced Monday that they’ll vote against confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor.

Both said differences on gun rights and the Second Amendment were among their top concerns.

“There is no question she is a genuinely nice, smart and well-intentioned person,” Risch said. “However, her belief and pronouncement that the Second Amendment is not a fundamental right is something I cannot accept.”

Crapo said he enjoyed meeting her. “However, after having studied her positions and taken careful consideration through the Senate Judiciary Committee hearings earlier this month, I have concluded that I cannot vote to confirm her to a lifetime appointment on the U.S. Supreme Court.”

The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to vote on the confirmation today; a full Senate vote is likely early next week.

Betsy Z. Russell