In brief: Storms bring hail, flood some streets
A second round of thunderstorms moved through the Inland Northwest on Tuesday, dropping large hail and flooding city streets.
A deluge inundated streets in Coeur d’Alene about 5 p.m. Another storm cell from the west moved across downtown Spokane about 5:20 p.m., causing water to pool along streets.
Earlier in the day, a separate line of thunderstorms in northeast Washington and North Idaho brought large hail to Sandpoint, where the stones measured an inch in diameter.
The National Weather Service received reports from Springdale in Stevens County of hail ranging in size from golf balls to pennies.
Spokane International Airport on Tuesday had only a trace of rain during the afternoon storms, but Felts Field to the east reported 0.26 inches.
Less than 24 hours earlier, thunderstorms caused a series of power outages in the Spokane area. Spokane International Airport recorded 0.13 inches of rain on Monday, while Felts Field had 0.27 inches.
Man dies after truck strikes tree
A 57-year-old man died after his truck struck a tree on Talache Road near Shepherd Lake in Sagle, Idaho, on Tuesday morning, the Idaho State Police said.
Charles D. Corliss was pronounced dead at the scene of the collision, which occurred around 8:30 a.m., according to a news release. The ISP is trying to determine what caused Corliss’ 1986 Chevy pickup to leave the roadway and strike the tree.
The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office is assisting in the investigation. Corliss was wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash, police said.
Judge hears casino poker arguments
U.S. District Judge Lynn Winmill heard arguments from the Coeur d’Alene Tribe and the state of Idaho Tuesday in the state’s bid to shut down the tribe’s poker room at its Worley casino.
The federal judge is considering motions from the state for a temporary restraining order to halt poker play and for injunctive action to block it in the future. The tribe has asked the court to dismiss the lawsuit.
The state contends that all poker is banned in Idaho, both in the constitution and by state law. But the tribe argues that the type of poker it is offering – Texas Hold ’Em tournament play – falls under a legal definition for games of skill, not illegal gambling.
The poker room at the Coeur d’Alene Casino opened May 2, and tribal officials said it has proven popular.
Bicyclist’s condition critical but stable
A 15-year-old cyclist hit by a Spokane County sheriff’s deputy’s vehicle is still in critical condition at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center but is now stable, said Spokane Police Department spokeswoman Monique Cotton.
The investigation into the collision involving Deputy Joseph Bodman on May 23 is being led by the Spokane Police Department because of the severity of Ryan Holyk’s injuries. Little information is being released until the investigation is complete.
Cotton said she can confirm that Bodman had a green light driving west on Sprague Avenue when Holyk entered the street at Vista Road. Witnesses said that Bodman swerved to try to miss Holyk but hit his bicycle and sent Holyk spinning.