Region in brief: Man injured in Highway 395 crash

A 53-year-old Spokane man was injured Monday in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. Highway 395, the Washington State Patrol reported.

Christopher T. Birr was northbound about nine miles north of Spokane in a 1998 Pontiac, when a southbound Ford pickup driven by Danny R. Cable, 43, of Otis Orchards, crossed the centerline about 5:20 p.m. They collided in the southbound lane, the WSP said.

Birr was taken to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center, where he was listed in satisfactory condition.

Neither Cable nor his passenger was injured. The cause of the crash appeared related to a medical condition, the WSP said.

$1 million bail ordered in infant’s death

BELLINGHAM – A Custer, Wash., man was ordered held on $1 million bail Monday for investigation of second-degree murder and felony assault as a probe continues into the death of his infant son.

According to court documents, the Whatcom County medical examiner found that 2-month-old Jon “Cecil” Anthony Frazier suffered a broken femur and massive blunt force trauma to his head.

Whatcom County prosecutors allege that the father, 42-year-old Jonathan V. Frazier, left the baby’s body in some woods. They say Frazier has offered varying accounts of what happened, after initially claiming the infant had mysteriously vanished while the father slept.

The baby’s body was found Sunday; he was initially reported missing Friday.

Panel rejects lawmakers’ exemption

OLYMPIA – The state’s Sunshine Committee says the Legislature shouldn’t have a special exemption from the state’s public records act.

On an 8-1 vote Monday, the committee recommended that state legislators do away with an exemption that allows them to keep some records and communications secret.

The committee’s recommendations are not binding, but because two state legislators are among those who voted yes, it’s likely a bill will be introduced when the regular legislative session begins in January.