In brief: Downtown vigil aims at human trafficking
A candlelight vigil will be held at 5:30 p.m. today to raise awareness of the crime of human trafficking.
The event at River Park Square in downtown Spokane is part of a network of similar events taking place nationally to observe Human Trafficking Awareness Day.
“Human trafficking is a form of slavery that hurts vulnerable people, women, children, and men. For too long this crime and its victims have remained invisible,” said a news release from Lutheran Community Services Northwest’s anti-human-trafficking program. The organization is hosting today’s vigil, at 808 W. Main Ave.
Elected officials, students, community members and nonprofit group representatives are expected to attend.
The U.S. government estimates that about 27 million men, women and children are victims of human trafficking globally. Crimes under that umbrella include forced labor, debt bondage, involuntary servitude and sex trafficking.
State snowpack less than half of normal
MOUNT VERNON, Wash. – A dry start to winter has left the snowpack in Washington far short of normal.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s snow survey office in Mount Vernon said that as of Jan. 1, snowpack readings were 45 percent of normal for that time of year.
The “water year” starts in October, and by January about half of the annual snowfall should be on the ground, but it was only 18 percent.
Water supply specialist Scott Pattee said this weekend’s rain and snow should help a little, but it looks like dry weather will return for the rest of the month.
The state depends on the mountain snowpack to supply water for fish migration, irrigation and power generation through the year.
Guilty plea in taking of Victoria Clipper
SEATTLE – A prosecutor’s office said Samuel K. McDonough pleaded guilty Friday to burglary and theft charges for trying to steal the Victoria Clipper ferry on the Seattle waterfront.
King County prosecutors are recommending more than two years in prison when the 33-year-old is sentenced Jan. 24 in Seattle.
McDonough was able to break away from the dock Dec. 1 but didn’t know how to operate the vessel, which was spotted drifting in Elliott Bay.
He was arrested by a SWAT team that boarded the ferry.
Injured crewman rescued at sea
SEATTLE – A Coast Guard helicopter airlifted an injured crewman from a cargo ship in the Pacific Ocean about 10 miles west of Grays Harbor, Wash., on Friday.
Petty Officer 3rd Class Jordan Akiyama said the crewman rescued by a helicopter crew from Astoria, Ore., had suffered a head injury. He was reportedly conscious when he was transferred to the care of medics in Astoria. The man was taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
An agent for the cargo ship Star Delta said the man was injured when the ship encountered heavy seas.