In brief: Mixed weather conditions expected for holiday weekend

The four-day holiday period likely will bring a mix of weather conditions to the Inland Northwest as a push of warmer air today gives way to a modified arctic cold front Friday night.

The high in Spokane today could reach 50 degrees, with 48 degrees expected in Coeur d’Alene.

Rainfall today should be light, but it is likely to pick up on Friday, with a quarter to a half inch in the National Weather Service forecast. Gusty southwest winds will continue, peaking in Spokane at 30 mph.

The cold front moves into the region from north to south on Friday night, with temperatures dropping below freezing by around dawn on Saturday.

Snow chances in Spokane are minimal compared with the mountains of North Idaho, where another significant snowstorm is possible on Friday and Saturday. Lookout Pass on Interstate 90 could see deep snow by midday Saturday.

The cold front could bring frigid northerly winds to the region by Saturday, but also a likelihood of sunshine Saturday and Sunday.

After a couple of cold days in Spokane and Coeur d’Alene with highs below freezing, the region should see moderating temperatures early next week.

Police look at victim’s phone

Spokane police are examining the phone of shooting victim Zachary Lamb in hopes it might yield information about his killer.

Police obtained the phone Nov. 20 after filing a search warrant. According to the warrant, they hope Lamb may have communicated with his killer prior to the shooting on Nov. 7.

Witnesses said the shooter and Lamb got into an argument outside the 10th & Elm apartments where Lamb lived on the South Hill. The warrant says Lamb was shot twice in the torso with .32-caliber bullets. Three .32-caliber shell casings were found at the scene.

Lamb had been out celebrating with his girlfriend, and friends said they thought the shooter may have followed him home from the bar. The shooter fled the scene in a dark-colored SUV.

Police have not publicly identified a suspect in the case.

SUV injures pedestrian

A pedestrian was seriously injured Wednesday when he was struck by an SUV in downtown Spokane.

Police said an SUV was traveling west on Second Avenue and struck a man in the crosswalk at Browne Street as it turned south on Browne around 11 a.m. The pedestrian suffered life-threatening injuries, police said.

The Northern Kentucky University basketball team’s bus was in the area when the collision occurred. Two of the team’s staff members, including the team trainer, got off the bus and provided first aid for the pedestrian. The team was in town to play Eastern Washington University on Wednesday night.

The SUV’s driver remained at the scene and was cooperative with investigators, police said.

Burglary suspect faces charges

One of two men accused of breaking into a neighbor’s apartment and stabbing him in September appeared in court Wednesday, facing charges of first-degree assault and first-degree burglary.

Cody J. Hill, 20, lived in an apartment at 29. S. Thor Street with his mother at the time of the fight. They were neighbors of the victim, who is a level-three registered sex offender. The victim told police that Hill, Hill’s mother and her nephew forced their way into his apartment on Sept. 14, according to court documents. The victim told police that Hill yelled obscenities while Hill’s cousin, identified as Ryan H.J. Arevalo, 19, assaulted him.

The victim told police that Hill and Arevalo kicked in his door and that Arevalo was armed with a knife and made several stabbing motions toward him, according to court documents. The victim was stabbed in his stomach.

Hill’s mother told police that she was mad at the victim because she thought he had stolen some items from her, according to court documents. She also told police that she had driven her son and nephew to Post Falls immediately after the alleged assault.

Festivities begin in CdA

Coeur d’Alene kicks off its holiday festivities Friday with a parade downtown, followed by the annual candle-lighting ceremony, community caroling and fireworks show over Lake Coeur d’Alene.

The parade on Sherman Avenue starts at 5 p.m. and will run about an hour. Floats are lighted, and most feature music. School marching bands will perform as well.

The resort each night also offers 40-minute Journey to the North Pole lake cruises for visits with Santa Claus. Information is available at (855) 956-1977 or cdacruises.com.