In Brief: Judge sticks with decision to unseal Samuel transcripts
An Idaho District Court judge has stuck with his decision to unseal the court transcripts in the case of a 14-year-old accused of killing his father and brother.
The Kootenai County Public Defender’s office asked Judge Richard Christensen to reconsider his order and keep court hearings and records secret as the case against Eldon Gale Samuel III, charged as an adult with first-degree murder in the death of Jonathan Samuel, 13, and second-degree murder in the death of Eldon Samuel Jr., 46, unfolds. The two were killed March 24 in an emergency housing unit in Coeur d’Alene.
Christensen on Monday said he would direct Magistrate Judge Clark Peterson to open the record within 48 hours after a 14-day stay ends at the beginning of July.
Local TV station KHQ challenged Peterson’s decision to close the hearing. KHQ is owned by Cowles Co., which also owns The Spokesman-Review.
Watercraft registrations expire June 30
Spokane County is reminding boat and other watercraft owners to make sure they have their registrations renewed before they expire June 30.
Registrations can be renewed either online or at a Spokane licensing office. For a list of offices, go to spokanecounty.org/auditor.
The state licensing department no longer mails out renewal notices. Owners can sign up for email notices at dol.wa.gov.
Idaho GOP chair to hold special meeting
BOISE – Idaho Republican Chairman Barry Peterson said he will convene an Aug. 9 special meeting to resolve the growing controversy surrounding the party’s leadership.
The state central committee will vote on a decision where GOP officials agreed that Peterson is the leader.
Peterson’s leadership has been in focus since the state Republican convention concluded recently. Delegates failed to vote on a new state chair or elect any new party officer.
Peterson said Monday that the factions inside the party reminded him of the story of King Solomon. The Bible says the king settled a fight between two women over a baby by calling for the child to be split in half. “Only one showed a mother’s love by offering to give up her child to save his life,” Peterson wrote.
Establishment Republicans have accused Peterson of stacking committees to ensure far-right conservatives serve in key GOP leadership positions.
CdA Tribe honored for education support
The Coeur d’Alene Tribe is being honored by the National Education Association for its contributions in North Idaho and Eastern Washington.
The tribe will receive NEA’s Leo Reano Memorial Award on July 2 at the association’s annual meeting.
Since 1992, the tribe has given $21.4 million to programs ranging from tutoring and Head Start to dual enrollment programs where high school students also earn college credits for classes. The tribe gives at least 5 percent of its net gaming revenues to support education.
Tacoma Rail reveals Bakken oil data
SEATTLE – Tacoma Rail has told Washington state that it moves about three unit trains of Bakken crude oil in Pierce County each week, information that federal transportation officials have ordered released to help emergency responders prepare for accidents.
Tacoma Rail, a short-line railroad owned by the city of Tacoma, disclosed the information to the state this month; it said the three unit trains move only in Pierce County.
The unit trains each consist of 90 to 120 tank cars. A tank car typically carries about 28,000 gallons.
Mount Rainier hiker died of hypothermia
SEATTLE – A 70-year-old hiker who died of hypothermia in rugged terrain in Mount Rainier National Park over the weekend was experienced, prepared and knew the mountain well after having written dozens of stories about treks through the area.
She did not have other injuries and her death was an accident, the Pierce County medical examiner’s office said Monday. Karen Sykes had heart disease, according to an autopsy, but her daughter and others said she was healthy and fit and often hiked twice a week.
Those who knew Sykes said earlier that they believed her death was something that could happen to anyone.
“The mountains are big. There’s a lot going on. She was extremely experienced but experience has nothing to do with any of it,” said Kim Brown, who has hiked with Sykes.
Seattle swears in first female police chief
SEATTLE – A former leader of Boston’s police force was sworn in Monday to run a Seattle department that has been struggling to carry out a reform agreement under federal oversight.
The City Council on Monday approved hiring Kathleen O’Toole as Seattle’s new police chief. The one-time Boston police commissioner and former inspector general for Ireland’s national police force will be Seattle’s first female chief.
O’Toole, 59, takes over a department of about 1,300 officers.
“I want members of Seattle PD to hold your heads high,” O’Toole said Monday. “We will succeed in rebuilding public trust.”
Seattle police have been under scrutiny for years. In late 2011, the Justice Department found officers were too quick to use force.