In brief: Bus-motorcycle crash investigated
Spokane police on Friday said they are investigating the cause of a traffic accident in which a man riding a motorcycle crashed into the rear of a Spokane Transit Authority bus.
The motorcycle rider was injured in the collision at Fifth Avenue and Altamont Street about 8 p.m. on Thursday. His name and condition were not released.
Collision reconstruction investigators were assigned to the case, and they were going to determine whether drugs or alcohol may have been involved, said Officer Teresa Fuller.
Book sale to benefit health programs
Project Health, the nonprofit Panhandle Public Health Foundation, will hold its annual used book sale to help fund low-income health programs in Idaho’s five northern counties.
The annual sale will be Feb. 11-12, from 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. at the Panhandle Health District, 8500 N. Atlas Road, in Hayden. Free H1N1 vaccinations will be given at the Feb. 12 event, from 1:30-3:30 p.m.
The sale raises money for grants that help Project Health sustain programs for low-income residents, including a clinic for the uninsured and underinsured in Bonner County, an oral health project for 600 children, the Senior Companions program, colon cancer screening, and a program to prevent child sexual abuse, and child abuse and neglect.
State penitentiary lockdown continues
WALLA WALLA – A state spokeswoman says nearly 800 Washington State Penitentiary inmates will remain on lockdown through the weekend as prison officials continue their investigation of a fight involving nearly 50 inmates.
Guards used pepper spray to break up the fight Tuesday evening.
The lockdown affects four units at the Walla Walla prison.
Spokeswoman Shari Hall said an initial fight between two inmates broke out in a commons area of one of the prison’s close-custody living units. She said guards resolved that fight but a second fight involving multiple inmates broke out within minutes.
Several prisoners reportedly were injured but none required transport to a hospital. Hall said no significant staff injuries were reported.
Senator disciplined by Republicans
OLYMPIA – State Sen. Pam Roach has been banned from the Senate Republican caucus.
The Seattle Times reported that Senate GOP leaders sent the Auburn senator a letter, saying she’s repeatedly mistreated staff and needs anger management counseling.
Roach told the Times she is being singled out by Senate Minority Leader Mike Hewitt, R-Walla Walla, and other leaders because she has criticized them.
She has been warned or reprimanded several times over the years about how she treats staff.
The recent reprimand was sparked by an alleged incident in which Roach berated a Senate attorney.