Teenagers plead not guilty in Delbert Belton murder

Two teenagers charged with the robbery and killing of an 88-year-old World War II veteran pleaded not guilty to all charges Thursday.

Demetruis Glenn and Kenan Adams-Kinard, both 16, appeared in Superior Court Judge James Triplet’s courtroom, facing charges on the beating death of Delbert Belton on Aug. 21. Police say they beat Belton to death while he waited for a friend in his car outside the Eagles Lodge.

Glenn and Adams-Kinard face charges of first-degree murder, first-degree robbery and first-degree conspiracy to commit robbery. Both pleaded not guilty to all three charges. Their trial begins Nov. 4 at 9 a.m.

After the hearing, Adams-Kinard’s father, Steven Kinard, lingered to tell reporters that he stood by his son the whole way.

Ted Denison, a close friend of Belton’s, said he’s ready for the boys to take responsibility for their actions.

Kaitlin Gillespie

FCC approves KSPS-TV license transfer to nonprofit

The Federal Communications Commission has approved the transfer of the KSPS-TV license to the nonprofit Friends of KSPS.

When launched in the 1960s, Spokane’s public-TV affiliate was licensed by Spokane Public Schools. The transfer, first approved this spring by the school board, gives the station license and the operation of KSPS to the Friends of KSPS, fundraising arm for the station.

School officials said the change reflects a change in KSPS’ focus, from education programs to mainstream entertainment, news and public affairs programming.

The district paid $642,500 from its capital budget to buy out the Friends’ interest in the KSPS studio. In turn, the Friends will lease the studio, at 3911 S. Regal, from the district for approximately $222,000 per year.

The change allows the school district to cut operating costs by roughly $400,000 per year, according to a district news release.

Tom Sowa

Evidence of modified seeds found in farmer’s alfalfa crop

PORTLAND – An Eastern Washington farmer who intended to grow alfalfa that’s not genetically modified had his crop rejected by a broker that said it found evidence of genetically modified pesticide resistance, the Washington state Department of Agriculture said Thursday.

Agriculture Department spokesman Mike Louisell said the seeds have been turned over to the department, and tests for genetic modification will be completed by today at its Yakima seed lab.

“At this point, it may have been mislabeled,” Louisell said.

Genetically modified alfalfa is legal to grow and sell in the U.S., contrasting this discovery with May’s discovery of genetically modified wheat in an Oregon field. Modified wheat is illegal in the U.S. outside of licensed test fields.

The farmer was seeking to sell unmodified alfalfa. “He was under the impression that it was not a genetically engineered crop,” Louisell said.

The farmer contacted the Agriculture Department in late August, and tests began after Labor Day. The department has not identified the farmer.

Associated Press