NW today: AAA: Average price of gasoline in Washington $3.55

BELLEVUE — The AAA auto club reports the average price of a gallon of gasoline in Washington is $3.55. That’s up 9 cents in a week and 23 cents in a month. It’s 6 cents higher than the national average. The average price in Spokane is $3.37. Some other metro prices from the AAA’s Monday survey: Bellingham $3.64, Bremerton $3.55, Seattle-Bellevue-Everett $3.58, Tacoma $3.56, Olympia $3.57, Vancouver $3.52, Yakima $3.50 and Tri-Cities $3.39.

Drier forecast for Washington for mid-week

SEATTLE — The National Weather Service says the steady rains should turn to showers Monday in Washington and the state should dry out with a mostly clear period from Tuesday through Thursday. Flood warnings for the Snohomish, Snoqualmie, Cowlitz, and Skokomish rivers will be ending as they recede. Landslides remain a possibility on soggy slopes. It could feel like spring mid-week when temperatures reach the 50s and 60s under sunny skies across the state. Forecasters say clouds will return Thursday and Friday with a chance of showers.

Salem considers portable toilets for homeless

SALEM, Ore. — While volunteering at a warming shelter this winter, Salem Mayor Anna Peterson says she learned the number one request from the homeless is toilets. She says it’s a basic human need the city hasn’t taken seriously. Now, the city and some downtown churches are talking about installing portable restrooms for the homeless. The Statesman Journal reports the issue will be discussed at two meetings next week: a March 17 meeting of the Safe Streets and Parks Task Force and a March 19 City Council meeting. Downtown property owners also say the toilets are needed to eliminate human waste that has been found in bushes, on sidewalks and parking garages.

Downed Clackamas River bridge to be salvaged

GLADSTONE, Ore. — The tilting old bridge that was pulled into the Clackamas River on Sunday at Gladstone will be dragged out of the water to finish the demolition. The Oregonian reports workers will pull the structure onto vacant land near the Tri-City Water Pollution Control Plant in Oregon City for salvaging. Union Pacific contractors pulled the century-old trolley bridge off damaged footings to prevent it from falling unexpectedly. It became unstable Thursday in rain-swollen currents. The bridge was about a mile upstream from the Willamette River. It once carried trolley traffic between Gladstone and Oregon City.

Man arrested in Billings bank robbery

BILLINGS, Mont. — A 43-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of robbing a Billings bank. The Billings Gazette reports Robert Scollard of Billings was arrested Friday, shortly after the robbery at American Federal Savings Bank. Police say the man entered the bank at about 4:10 p.m. Friday carrying a plastic bag. The man told the teller he had a gun and wanted her to place money in the bag. The teller complied and the robber left through the front doors. Police say witnesses described the vehicle the man drove away in and Scollard was arrested at a nearby gas station. He was jailed on suspicion of robbery and theft.