In brief: Teen in Moses Lake hurt in home explosion

Police responded to the scene of an explosion at a Moses Lake home about 3 p.m. Wednesday.

A 16-year-old was critically injured in the blast, police said, but further details were unavailable Wednesday evening. The boy was taken to a local hospital then airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle for treatment.

At least one other person was in the home, located at 1206 Fairway Drive, and was injured in the explosion. That person was treated by paramedics at the scene.

The Moses Lake Police Department is investigating. The Richland Police Department Bomb Squad also responded. Police have not said what might have caused the explosion.

Woman pleads not guilty to attempted murder

An 18-year-old woman charged with stabbing a boy over an argument about gang affiliation pleaded not guilty Wednesday to a charge of attempted first-degree murder.

Kiana M. Murphy, 18, was ordered to remain in jail on a $150,000 bond by Superior Court Judge Annette Plese. Murphy is charged with the Oct. 30 stabbing at 1807 W. Spofford Ave. in Spokane.

The boy, who was not identified in court records, told Spokane Police that he attended a party at the Spofford Avenue home when he and Murphy began to argue over a gang affiliation.

Witnesses saw Murphy wielding a knife as she chased the boy out of the house. The victim later returned and said Murphy stabbed him twice in the abdomen, according to court records. The boy was transported to Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center where he underwent surgery for his injuries.

Plese set Murphy’s initial trial date for Feb. 21.

Police search continues for child abuse suspect

A child molestation suspect who escaped a manhunt in the Sagle, Idaho, area Tuesday is wanted by Coeur d’Alene police.

Nathaniel R. Howell, 32, ran from police through the woods in the 1500 block of South Sagle Road about 3 p.m. after he saw the officers while visiting relatives nearby.

Howell is charged with four counts of lewd and lascivious conduct with a child and five counts of sexual exploitation.

Howell is 5-foot-10 and 175 pounds with hazel eyes and blond hair. Anyone with information on his location is asked to call Coeur d’Alene police at (208) 769-2320.

Post Falls crews schedule Christmas tree pick-up

Post Falls Sanitation will dispose of Christmas trees for city residents, provided all decorations are removed and they are cut and bundled into 4-foot lengths.

The trees must be placed curbside before 6 a.m. on Jan. 14, a news release from the city said. Pick-up is for trees only, not garbage.

Kootenai County residents also can take trees to the county’s Solid Waste Transfer Stations at 3650 N. Ramsey Road in Coeur d’Alene and 15580 W. Prairie Ave. in Post Falls. Those trees are not required to be cut up.