Region in brief: EWU reports record enrollment

Eastern Washington University has a record number of students this fall.

The Cheney school reported 10,504 full-time equivalent students, 379 more than last fall quarter.

That tops the previous record of 2006, when Eastern had 10,288 students.

Eastern’s president said the record enrollment brings challenges, as the university is still adjusting to state-mandated budget cuts of $26 million.

Publicity brings help to needy

A Web site created by a Spokane family to connect people in need with people willing to help has seen a marked increase in use because of recent publicity, the site’s creator said.

Since Sunday, when an article about 2Hands.org appeared in The Spokesman-Review, the site has received 54,000 visits and has helped provide charity to 127 people, Jonathan Bishop said Thursday.

Anonymous donors bought groceries, repaired cars, purchased bus passes and provided a woman with business clothes for work.

The site has helped an estimated 3,000 people since it was founded two years ago, Bishop said.

Fewer youths were arrested in 2008

The number of children 17 or younger arrested in Washington state declined about 6 percent last year.

The Governor’s Juvenile Justice Advisory Committee reported 33,736 juvenile arrests in 2008 compared to 35,865 arrests in 2007.

That’s down from a high of 57,773 in 1994, or 94.9 per 1,000, compared with 47 per 1,000 in 2008.

Two more deaths linked to swine flu

MOSCOW, Idaho – State public health officials say swine flu contributed to the deaths of two more Idaho residents.

Officials confirmed Thursday that a Latah County woman and a Canyon County woman, both in their 50s, died from swine flu complications.

The virus has now been linked to the deaths of four people in Idaho since late September.