In brief: Washington ballots in mail for Nov. 4 election

Washington state elections officials began sending ballots to registered voters Wednesday. Spokane County, which is issuing about 275,000 ballots, will have all in the mail by today.

Most voters should have ballots by the weekend, but elections officials said that any registered voter who doesn’t receive a ballot by Oct. 24 should call the local elections office. Ballots must be marked, then sealed inside the security envelope and the mailing envelope, which must be signed. They can be mailed in, with proper postage, or deposited without a stamp in a drop box the county sets up in chosen locations. Spokane County has drop boxes at most libraries, and a few other spots. A list of locations can be found at spokesman.com/blogs/ spincontrol.

Ballots must be postmarked or dropped in a deposit box before 8 p.m. Nov. 4.

Read more about candidates and their qualifications and positions at spokesman.com/elections.

Jim Camden

Man sought in killing at hotel in August

Spokane police are asking for help to find Enrique Pena, 23, who is accused of first-degree murder in a shooting at a Howard Johnson hotel on Aug. 10.

Richard C. Amodio, 32, was killed at the hotel, 3033 N. Division St., at 12:30 a.m. during a drug deal, police have said. Video surveillance shows Amodio and another man meeting with a man carrying a backpack. The two attacked the man in an effort to steal 5 pounds of marijuana. He pulled a pistol and fired as Amodio and his companion ran away.

Police believe that Pena may have left the area, said police spokeswoman Monique Cotton. Anyone with information on his location is asked to call 911 or Crime Check at (509) 456-2233.

Nina Culver

Not guilty plea made in crash fatal to cyclist

Spokane Valley resident Tammy A. Hodge pleaded not guilty Wednesday to leaving the scene of a fatal crash that killed cyclist Robert R. Royer on Sept. 2.

Royer was struck about 1:30 a.m. while riding his bike on the Park Road overpass that crosses Interstate 90, according to a police report. Hodge contacted police about 15 hours later, saying she believed she had struck the cyclist and did not remain at the scene because she was scared.

Investigators impounded the 1996 Saturn she was believed to have been driving at the time of the crash.

Hodge’s next court appearance was scheduled for 10:30 a.m. Dec. 12.

She is not in custody.

Rachel Alexander