In brief: Press problem delays newspaper delivery
The delivery of The Spokesman-Review was delayed in many locations Saturday because of a software problem in the newspaper’s presses.
Printing started about two hours late because of a malfunction in the software that runs the presses’ water system, said Laurie Lunzer, director of production and IT.
Delivery was missed in the Pullman and Lewiston areas. The Saturday edition will be delivered today to those subscribers.
Navy plans war exercises
FORKS, Wash. – The U.S. Navy hopes to post three camper-size trucks with electromagnetic-radiation equipment on the Olympic Peninsula to conduct war exercises with military aircraft from 15 sites.
The Navy plans to post warning signs and barriers near the trucks when the machines are operating because getting exposed at close range to the radiation could be dangerous, according to the Peninsula Daily News. The machines that emit the radiation would let the Navy simulate modern electronic warfare, according to a draft environmental assessment for the project posted on a U.S. Forest Service website.
Officials hope to begin the war games next year in Clallam, Jefferson and Grays Harbor counties. The exercises would be conducted at 12 sites in the Olympic National Forest and three sites on state Department of Natural Resources land.
The deadline to comment on the draft environmental assessment for the Forest Service permit is Oct. 10.
Policewoman wins lawsuit
ABERDEEN, Wash. – Superior Court Judge David Edwards ruled last week that the city of Aberdeen violated a female Aberdeen police officer’s rights to equal pay and gender discrimination protection.
Edwards handed down the ruling last week in favor of Aberdeen patrol Officer Kristi Lougheed, who is the only female officer on the force. Lougheed, who had 15 years of experience when she was hired in 2010, sued in October 2013 for back wages and damages. She claimed she was started at a lower salary than male officers with similar experience.
Water tainted by E. coli
MERCER ISLAND, Wash. – Residents of the wealthy Seattle suburb of Mercer Island are being told to boil their tap water before drinking because tests have found E. coli in the city’s water.
City officials said there had been no reports of illness as of Saturday afternoon.
The city’s water provider, Seattle Public Utilities, routinely tests more than 800 water samples for bacteria around the region each month, including 18 samples from Mercer Island. Samples collected on Mercer Island on Friday showed the presence of E. coli.
Mercer Island water should be boiled for at least a minute before using it. Public health officials have closed down the city’s restaurants until the boil water advisory is lifted.
Aside from Mercer Island, all other Seattle Public Utilities water is safe for drinking. The utility provides water to much of King County.