In brief: Lovely evening forecast for annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade

The 74th annual Armed Forces Torchlight Parade – the culmination of the annual Lilac Festival – starts this evening at 7:45.

Earlier in the day, the Cruzin’ the Falls car show takes place along Spokane Falls Boulevard.

Cars participating in the show drive the parade route at 6 p.m. to mark the start of the evening’s festivities.

The weather should cooperate; the National Weather Service is forecasting a high near 68 in Spokane today, dipping to 45 tonight.

For more information, visit www.spokanelilacfestival.org.

WSP investigating fatal crash as crime, says details ‘aren’t adding up’

The Washington State Patrol is handling a deadly crash in north Spokane early Friday as a crime because the only victim in the vehicle may not have been driving.

Jesse A. Cox, 19, was found dead outside the 1997 Dodge Ram pickup near U.S. Highway 395 and Ballard Road, about four miles north of Spokane, around 5:30 a.m., according to WSP.

The truck appeared to have been headed south on Highway 395 when it rolled off the west side of the road, crashed through a fence and came to rest in a yard.

Cox died after being ejected from the truck. But investigators believe he may not have been driving when the truck crashed.

“There are a few things that aren’t adding up,” said WSP Trooper Troy Briggs.

The investigation is ongoing.

Mason, Sophia 2011’s most popular baby names in Washington

Mason and Sophia were the most popular names for babies born in Washington in 2011.

In Idaho, the top names for newborns were Mason and Emma, the Social Security Administration said Friday.

Here are the top five names for boys and girls born last year in each state:

Washington boys: Mason, Liam, Alexander, Jacob, Ethan.

Washington girls: Sophia, Olivia, Emma, Isabella, Emily.

Idaho boys: Mason, Jacob, Liam, Benjamin, Alexander.

Idaho girls: Emma, Sophia, Olivia, Ava, Emily.

Nationwide, Sophia and Jacob were the most popular baby names in 2011.

Jacob has been the nation’s top boy name each year in since 1999.

Before that, Michael was the most popular name from 1961 to 1998.

For girls, Emily was the top name nationally for 12 years, from 1996 through 2007.

Another long streak was Jennifer: 1970 through 1984.