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

In brief: Hanford landfill set to expand

From Wire Reports

TRI-CITIES – About $100 million of the nearly $2 billion in federal stimulus money for Hanford will pay to expand the low-level radioactive waste landfill on the nuclear reservation.

The landfill now takes an average of 250 20-ton containers of waste a day. Energy Department project director Mark French said that could go to 600 containers a day.

The landfill opened in 1996 and has mostly taken soil and debris cleaned up from along the Columbia River.

The waste operations director for Washington Closure Hanford, Bruce Covert, said the expansion should prepare the landfill to operate another 10 to 15 years.

Police recommend stalking charges

BOISE – Police in eastern Idaho are recommending prosecutors charge a prominent activist in the state and national Republican Party with misdemeanor stalking of his ex-girlfriend.

A judge earlier this month extended a restraining order sought by a woman seeking protection from 56-year-old Blake Hall. Idaho Falls police Sgt. Phil Grimes said Thursday the agency has recommended Hall be charged in the case. So far, no charges have been filed.

Hall, a former state Board of Education member, also operates a law practice in Idaho Falls. He has been ordered to stay at least 900 feet from the woman and her residence through Sept. 9, 2010.

Holdup attributed to ‘River Rat’ robber

VANCOUVER, Wash. – The FBI said it believes the “River Rat” robber has struck again, this time displaying a black revolver at a Chase Bank branch in Vancouver and demanding cash.

FBI spokeswoman Beth Anne Steele said the agency believes Thursday’s holdup was the seventh bank robbery for the man. The FBI gave him the “River Rat” nickname because he is believed responsible for not only bank robberies but as many as 10 robberies at check cashing businesses on both the Oregon and Washington sides of the Columbia River.