In brief: Cell towers may aid homicide probe

Detectives are seeking cellphone tower location information for phones belonging to a Spokane homicide victim and two men with romantic ties to her.

 Kimberly Rae Schmidt, 34, was found dead of a gunshot wound to her head Jan. 1 in what the Medical Examiner’s Office has ruled a homicide.

According to court documents filed Tuesday, a man with whom Schmidt had past romantic ties told detectives they recently began rekindling their relationship and that he was to spend New Year’s Eve with her, but she canceled about 10:40 p.m.

The man told detectives he knew Schmidt was seeing another man that night, documents say. The second man told detectives he last saw Schmidt about 4 a.m. when she was sleeping in her bedroom. Both men allowed detectives to review their cellphones. Detectives say the men had exchanged “numerous text” messages with Schmidt on Dec. 31.

Now Spokane County sheriff’s Detective Mike Drapeau is seeking cell tower information for the three phones that could help him determine where the three were about the time of the murder. Results have not been released.

Agency extends comment on caribou

Citing requests from Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, the Kootenai Tribe of Idaho and Boundary County officials, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Tuesday a 60-day extension for public comment on a proposal to designate critical habitat for woodland caribou in the Selkirk Mountains.

The federal agency also scheduled a public hearing on the proposal for April 28 in Bonners Ferry.

The woodland caribou that range from North Idaho and a sliver of northeastern Washington north into British Columbia are listed as an endangered species.

Federal biologists have proposed designating 375,565 acres of high-elevation critical habitat in Idaho and Washington for the caribou. They say the designation would have little impact on protections that already are in place.

FWS is reopening the comment period on the proposal until May 21.

Bomb suspect’s trial delayed until June

A Clarkston man who faces federal bomb charges, including attempting to provide material to support terrorists, had his trial delayed Monday to June.

Joseph J. Brice, 21, came to the attention of federal authorities after he seriously injured himself with a homemade bomb in 2010. In court records, they allege that Brice posted several videos of explosions to YouTube under the name StrengthofAllah and discussed in an email plans to rob a bank in Lewiston after planting bombs near a school to distract police.

Brice injured himself with a bomb that prematurely exploded on April 18, 2010, and has been in custody since May 3, 2011. In addition to the terrorism charge, Brice faces charges of manufacturing an unregistered firearm and distribution of information relating to explosives, destructive devices and weapons of mass destruction.

His trial was originally scheduled for April 9, but U.S. District Court Judge Lonny Suko agreed with a defense request to delay the trial until June 4.

Bill on gold, silver narrowly fails House

BOISE – After much debate, the Idaho House of Representatives killed Rep. Phil Hart’s gold and silver coin bill on a 35-35 vote Tuesday.

The bill, HB 578a, sought to declare gold and silver coins legal tender in Idaho, and Hart, R-Athol, said it would allow people to conduct transactions like buying a car in gold and silver coins.

Hart told the House, “Gold and silver has been money for 6,000 years. I think the state of Idaho ought to be recognizing it as money today.” Opponents, however, raised questions about the measure and its provisions.

Rep. Lenore Barrett, R-Challis, said, “We used to be on the gold standard, worked a lot better than what we have now. If I understand what I hear on the news, our dollar isn’t worth piddly.”

Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, responded, “If there is anybody who thinks their folding money isn’t worth very much, just send it my direction.”

Speaker announced for Our Kids kickoff

Our Kids: Our Business kicks off its sixth annual event with a breakfast featuring a speech by education expert Mark Milliron.

Milliron spoke to an annual meeting of Greater Spokane Incorporated last year, and was such a hit that Our Kids: Our Business organizers invited him back, said Amy Knapton, executive director of the Vanessa Behan Crisis Nursery.

Our Kids: Our Business is a monthlong event focusing on the prevention of child abuse and neglect that involves many local social service organizations and businesses.

Milliron’s talk, “Pathways to Possibilities for our Kids,” will be held on March 30 at Gonzaga University’s Martin Centre, from 7-9 a.m. The cost is $30 per person, and registration closes Friday.

Milliron is chancellor of Western Governors University Texas, a nonprofit online university. He was deputy director for post-secondary improvement at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation in Seattle.

For information or to register for the breakfast, visit www.ourkidsspokane.org, or call (509) 838-6581.

Tickets still available for Queen Latifah

Queen Latifah will be in Spokane Thursday to talk about challenges and triumphs in her life, in an event called “A Conversation with the Queen: A Night of Triumph with Queen Latifah.”

The event is a fundraiser for the YWCA. It was spearheaded by Judy Cole, a board member of the nonprofit organization. It takes place at the INB Performing Arts Center at 7:30 p.m.; tickets range from $50 to $200 and are still available at the Arena Box Office (720 W. Mallon Ave.) and through all TicketsWest outlets.

Earlier in the day, 100 women who participate in YWCA programs will be treated to a day of pampering at Northern Quest Resort and Casino.