In brief: Jailed couple charged in burglary
Authorities connected a married couple to a north Spokane burglary and had no problem charging them because they were already in jail, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office.
Eric and Danielle Rangel are suspected of breaking into a home near the 75000 block of East Bigelow Gulch Road on Feb. 6, but they fled the scene when the homeowner’s 14-year-old son saw the pair in his parents’ bedroom, Deputy Craig Chamberlin wrote in a news release.
The boy provided detectives an excellent description of the duo, Chamberlin said. Investigators identified the Rangels, who were already in custody for a case in Spokane Valley, Chamberlin said.
Both face residential burglary and second-degree theft charges, but Danielle Rangel also faces a charge of first-degree trafficking of stolen property.
The couple could face additional charges as detectives connect them to other incidents, Chamberlin said.
Idaho House OKs cookie tax exemption
BOISE – The Idaho House has voted 59-11 in favor of removing the state’s 6 percent sales tax on Girl Scout cookies.
Idaho and Hawaii are the only states that still tax the annual cookie sales.
The bill now moves to the Senate, where it faces an uncertain fate. The Senate tax committee has been blocking new tax exemptions.
Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, the bill’s lead sponsor, said if the state stops taking 22 cents from every $3.75 box of cookies, more money can go to scholarships and Girl Scout programs. He said only a quarter of the price covers the cost of the cookies; the rest of the sum that’s being taxed is for Girl Scout programs.
Five North Idaho representatives were among the 11 opposing the bill in the House: Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens; Shannon McMillan, R-Silverton; Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d’Alene; Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow; and John Rusche, D-Lewiston.
Sea-Tac security breach disrupts airport
SEATAC, Wash. – Officials at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport say a passenger entered a secure area through an exit lane Tuesday night, causing a security breach and prompting authorities to clear several concourses until the man was located.
Airport spokesman Perry Cooper said that meant 1,000 to 1,500 passengers in the C and D concourses and central terminal had to be rescreened.
Port of Seattle police and Transportation Security Administration officials found the passenger at about 9 p.m. He was questioned and released. Cooper said the issue was a misunderstanding, “not anything of a security concern to passengers.”
After the man was cleared, passengers began the rescreening process. Cooper said the checkpoint backup was cleared by about 10:30 p.m.
Zoo monkey euthanized after injury
SEATTLE – The Woodland Park Zoo said it euthanized a monkey after it suffered a broken leg in a move.
The zoo said the patas monkey named Kyle also suffered a brain injury when it was caught in a net Feb. 28 for a move to temporary cage. The zoo needed to move the monkey to improve its sleeping quarters at the African Savanna exhibit.
The zoo said the move was carefully planned to minimize stress.
KOMO reported the organization In Defense of Animals said the zoo failed to follow proper procedures. It has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Agriculture.