In brief: Backers introduce new marijuana bill

OLYMPIA – Supporters of better laws defining medical marijuana procedures are trying a new tack with a bill designed to overcome concerns that led to Gov. Chris Gregoire’s partial veto of earlier legislation.

Sen. Jeanne Kohl-Wells, D-Seattle, introduced a bill that calls for a voluntary registry that would shield medical marijuana patients from arrest and set up a system of nonprofit cooperatives where they could buy their supplies. It would also allow local governments to control where dispensaries can be located. It does not direct state workers to regulate or license any part of the production or sale of medical marijuana.

Senate Bill 5955 is set for a hearing at 10:30 a.m. today in the Senate Ways and Means Committee.

Revenue coming from tax amnesty

OLYMPIA – Local governments should see a jump in tax revenue in mid-May as the state funnels some $57 million from a recent tax amnesty to them, but the exact amount each city and county will see from the program won’t be known for weeks.

A state Department of Revenue spokesman said the increase in revenue from businesses that didn’t pay their sales and use taxes could be roughly equal to each area’s share of the state’s economy. The city of Spokane represents about 3.7 percent of the economy in the state’s most recent figures, and all of Spokane County about 6.8 percent, Mike Gowrylow said.

Using that yardstick, the city could see an extra $2.1 million and all governments around the county a total of $3.9 million. But that assumes businesses that avoided or underpaid taxes until the amnesty was offered are equally distributed throughout the state, and they probably aren’t, Gowrylow said.

“Some communities are going to see bigger bumps. It depends on where the business was located,” he said.

Invasive mussels found on boats

State officials say two boats infested with invasive mussels were intercepted at a North Idaho checkpoint.

In a statement Monday, the state Department of Agriculture said the boats were stopped at a station on Interstate 90 near Wallace last Thursday. The Coeur d’Alene Press reports one of the boats was headed to Lake Coeur d’Alene, while the other was destined for Gig Harbor in Washington.

So far, Idaho waters are free of the invasive species.

‘Night of Stars’ at Silverwood

Silverwood Theme Park will host its 24th annual “Night of Stars” on Friday, offering free admission to people with terminal illnesses or physical or mental disabilities and their guests.

The event takes place from 4 to 8 p.m. and each “star” also is allowed to bring a guest for free. The event is pre-ticketed and all tickets have been sent out for this year. However, agencies seeking information can contact Terri Pritchett at (208) 683-3400, ext. 107 or terri@silverwood themepark.com.

More charges for ‘Barefoot Bandit’

FRIDAY HARBOR, Wash. – Prosecutors in Washington state’s San Juan Islands have filed 16 additional theft and burglary charges in the “Barefoot Bandit” case.

That brings to 17 the number of charges Colton Harris-Moore faces stemming from a two-year crime spree that ended in the Bahamas last summer.

San Juan County Prosecutor Randall Gaylord told the Associated Press he filed the charges Tuesday as plea negotiations with Harris-Moore’s attorneys progress. He is expected to reach plea deals by month’s end that would resolve federal and state charges in several jurisdictions. The charges involve plane, boat and car thefts as well as numerous burglaries.

The new charging documents describe how authorities found bare footprints, fingerprints and DNA at many San Juan locations. They say the young man taunted one sheriff’s deputy who chased him by calling out, “You can’t catch me.”

Climber falls, dies on Mount Rainier

LONGMIRE, Wash. – A Mount Rainier National Park spokeswoman has identified a climber killed Tuesday when he fell more than 100 feet into a crevasse on the Washington peak.

Spokeswoman Patti Wold said four climbing rangers flown by helicopter to the summit of the 14,410-foot mountain descended to the crevasse at about 13,000 feet and retrieved the body of 33-year-old Tucker Taffe. She described Taffe in a statement as an experienced skier originally from New York. His hometown was not immediately available.

Wold said the rangers prepared his body for airlift off the mountain.

The spokeswoman said Taffe was with three other skiers in an independent climbing party when he skied into a crevasse on the upper Nisqually Glacier.