In brief: Illusionist tries to beat Houdini’s escape record
If you’ve ever wanted to see a man in a straitjacket tied upside down with a giant steel trap threatening his vital organs, today’s your chance.
Illusionist and escape artist Jay Owenhouse will attempt to break Harry Houdini’s record for escaping from a straitjacket while hanging upside down. Houdini accomplished the feat in 90 seconds, according to a news release.
Owenhouse’s twist to the trick is that he’ll be suspended in the Jaws of Death, a 1,200 pound trap with 10-inch teeth “strategically positioned to puncture every vital organ in the human body,” according to the release.
The trap will be held open by single rope that will be set on fire. The rope will take about 90 seconds to burn, according to the release.
The event is planned for 2 p.m. at River Park Square in downtown Spokane.
Spokane man suspected in shooting, robberies
The 19-year-old Spokane man suspected in a June fatal shooting has been implicated in a series of armed robberies originating on Craigslist and dating back to March.
Issiah Schauman faces two counts of first-degree robbery for his involvement in separate incidents where thieves posing as prospective buyers of Apple computers brandished guns and made off with the loot. Schauman has been charged with first-degree murder in the shooting death of Fabian McBride, 27, on June 12.
According to court records, Schauman was involved in one such robbery taking place less than 24 hours before police say he shot and killed McBride. Schauman initiated the June 11 robbery in Liberty Park because he didn’t have money, according to an unnamed police informant.
The state requested $100,000 bond for the two robbery counts Schauman faces. He remains in Spokane County Jail awaiting an expected murder trial Oct. 7.
Idaho unemployment highest since Sept. 2012
BOISE – Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate rose two-tenths of a percentage point in August to 6.8 percent.
The Department of Labor says the state’s jobless rate has risen seven tenths of a percentage point since April, one of the largest rate increases among the states in the past four months. Still, the rate is down from 7 percent last August.
The number of Idaho workers without jobs was nearly 52,300, the highest total since September 2012.
Idaho’s unemployment rate remained below the national rate of 7.3 percent for August.