Region in brief: Health care reform is topic of Web chat

Washington residents can chat online about health care reform today with Sen. Patty Murray and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius. They’ll be answering questions about health care submitted live during the online session as well as those collected on Murray’s Web site.

The session can be watched live starting at 12:45 p.m. at www.whitehouse.gov/live. Questions can be submitted live through the White House’s Facebook page, at http://apps.facebook.com/ whitehouselive, or in advance at Murray’s site, http://murray.senate.gov/ healthcarereform/.

Firefighters control Liberty Lake blaze

A fire in timber and brush threatened to force evacuation of some Liberty Lake residents early Tuesday, but firefighters brought the blaze under control quickly, officials said.

The 1:25 a.m. fire at Garry Avenue and Clarke Street destroyed an old shed and spread across a 100-by-100-foot area, said Bill Clifford, fire marshal for Spokane Valley Fire District No. 1. Crews warned residents of the threat, though no evacuations were called.

Wind whipped the fire into the trees and caused it to spread hot spots across the ground and onto the roof of a garage, Clifford said. An engine company stationed at Liberty Lake got the fire under control before it could damage other structures.

No injuries were reported. The cause was under investigation.

Forum for youth attracts candidates

The youth have spoken.

Almost 50 teens Tuesday selected their choices to represent them on the Spokane School Board and the Spokane City Council following a two-hour debate. All 10 candidates participated.

The annual forum, held in the Spokane City Council chambers, is sponsored by the Chase Youth Commission.

Spencer White, vice chairman of the commission and a University High School junior, said the debate’s goal is “to raise awareness with the candidates about the issues youth are facing.”

In a season full of election forums, the Chase debate is the only one that is followed by a vote tallied by the Spokane County Elections Office. Spokane City Council candidate Jon Snyder, who won the youth tally handily in his race, called the vote “the second most important vote of the season.” The results:

Spokane School Board, position 3

■ Jeff Bierman, 39

Heidi Olson, 8

Spokane School Board, position 4

■ Rocky Treppiedi, 33

Laura Carder, 14

Spokane City Council District 1

Mike Fagan, 14

■ Amber Waldref, 33

Spokane City Council District 2

Mike Allen, 15

■ Jon Snyder, 32

Spokane City Council District 3

■ Nancy McLaughlin, 39

Karen Kearney, 8