In brief: City imposes Fairchild protections

The Spokane City Council voted unanimously late Monday to provide new land-use protections inside the city limits on the east side of Fairchild Air Force Base.

In adopting a new zoning code near the base, the council agreed to a series of amendments approved by the Spokane County commissioners last month.

Airway Heights and Medical Lake are considering similar plans.

The local governments are tightening land-use rules near the air base to protect the military mission from encroachment by civilian activity on the growing West Plains.

Under the new rules, land uses will be limited at the ends of the runways; soundproofing will be required in new buildings; and lighting and building heights will be controlled.

Owners of newly developed property would sign “avigation” easements acknowledging Fairchild’s use of the airspace in the area. The rules are intended to reduce noise complaints to the Air Force. The number of people living and working beneath the flight approaches would be limited under density rules.

Man found stabbed in Garland alley

A man was found with stab wounds to his head and torso in an alley in the Garland District in north Spokane Tuesday.

The man, who police said is about 30, is expected to survive and could be the best witness police have to identify his assailant.

A resident called 911 after finding the man badly injured in an alley in the 600 block of West Garland Avenue, near North Howard Street, before 6:30 p.m., said Spokane police Sgt. Mark Griffiths.

Police have not publicly identified the man. They said he remains in serious condition at a local hospital.

Griffiths said detectives still were investigating the details of the assault Tuesday evening.

“When we get a chance to talk to him we’ll probably learn a lot more,” Griffiths said.

Jail bond scam targets businesses

Spokane businesses are being targeted for cash in a scheme that involves someone posing as a jailer to collect bail bond money for a supposedly arrested employee.

At least three businesses Tuesday reported phone calls from a man claiming to be a sheriff’s corrections deputy seeking bail money for an employee jailed for a drunken-driving crash, said Deputy Craig Chamberlin, spokesman for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

The scheme involves a man who claims to be a jailer named James Sullivan telling business owners that an employee is in jail for a drunken-driving crash and needs $16,000 bond.

One business owner’s son was at the bank trying to withdraw money to send to the man when bank employees grew suspicious of the scenario. Another business owner was at a Wal-Mart ready to send two $800 money orders when he told the man he would only send the money to a business address, and the man hung up.

Anyone targeted by the scam is asked to call Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Mother finds missing woman safe

A 20-year-old Spokane woman missing since April 24 has been located safe.

Cambrea “Cammie” Bishop’s mother located her at a motel, said Deputy Craig Chamberlin, spokesman for the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.

Major crimes detectives had been investigating her disappearance, but Chamberlin said Tuesday foul play is not suspected.

Science grant benefits tribal pupils

The University of Idaho has received a $1.1 million National Science Foundation grant to help expose students from the Coeur d’Alene and Spokane tribes to hands-on learning through watershed and health studies.

The three-year program targets fourth- through sixth-grade students through after-school and summer activities. The curriculum incorporates native culture with projects that expose students to additional learning in math, science, technology and engineering.

The University of Idaho Extension is a partner in the project, along with both tribes and UI’s faculty in curriculum and instruction.

Drug smuggling suspects arrested

Three suspected drug smugglers have been arrested near the U.S.-Canadian border in Pend Oreille County with 58 pounds of cocaine.

Jose Daniel Gonzalez-Rodriguez, 26, and Jose Luis Alfredo Castro-Meji, 25, were booked into the Spokane County Jail early Tuesday after being arrested near Metaline Falls late Monday.

Border agents tracked down a third suspect, Jose Galicias, in the woods Tuesday afternoon, according to the U.S. Border Patrol.

Gonzalez-Rodriguez and Castro-Meji appeared in U.S. District Court on Tuesday and were ordered to remain in jail.

Officials valued the cocaine at $585,860.