Newsmakers

Sat., April 30, 2011

Traded The Washington Mystics on Friday acquired rookie guard Jasmine Thomas from the Seattle Storm in a three-team trade. Seattle gets guard Katie Smith and center Jacinta Monroe from Washington in the deal, along with the Indiana Fever’s second- round pick in 2012. The Fever get guard Erin Phillips and a 2012 third- round pick from Seattle.

Visited Miami Dolphins wide receiver Brandon Marshall visited the team complex in Davie, Fla., less than a week after his wife, Michi Nogami-Marshall, was charged with stabbing him with a kitchen knife. Marshall was among more than a dozen Dolphins at headquarters after a federal judge declared the NFL lockout illegal and the league lifted restrictions on team contact with players.

Extended The Buffalo Sabres signed longtime coach Lindy Ruff to a multiyear contract extension. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. Ruff previously declined an offer to have his contract extended by Tom Golisano before the former owner sold the team to Pennsylvania billionaire Terry Pegula in February.

• Wisconsin men’s basketball coach Bo Ryan received an extension on his contract that now runs through the 2015-16 season. Terms were not disclosed. Ryan’s teams have made the NCAA tournament every year he’s been at Wisconsin (2001-present) and he is 242-91 with the Badgers.

Upheld The NCAA upheld its punishment for former Southern California assistant Todd McNair for his role in the Reggie Bush case. McNair was punished for what the NCAA claimed was his role in the scandal surrounding the Heisman Trophy-winning tailback. USC was hit with a two- year bowl ban and severe scholarship restrictions, and McNair was prohibited from contacting recruits.

Named Pittsburgh’s Dan Bylsma, Nashville’s Barry Trotz and Vancouver’s Alain Vigneault are finalists for the Jack Adams Award given to the NHL’s coach of the year, the league announced. The trio were chosen in voting by members of the NHL Broadcasters’ Association. The winner will be announced at the NHL awards ceremony June 22 in Las Vegas.

Died Former Olympic and world champion weightlifter Waldemar Baszanowski of Poland has died at 75 after a long illness. The Polish Weightlifting Association says Baszanowski died in a Warsaw, Poland, hospital following a medical procedure.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.

Newsmakers

Jesse Tinsley

Jim Meehan

Molly Quinn

Rob Curley

Updated: WSU football to host open practice, kids clinic in Spokane this weekend

Updated: Vandals get ready to turn up the tempo with quarterback Joshua Wood back under center

'Guys are really buying into what we're saying': The importance of WSU defenders Kaden Beatty and Nylan Brown