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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Tunnels close for filming of ‘Z Nation’

A pair of underpass tunnels on Thorpe Road just west of U.S. Highway 195 will be closed today from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m. for filming of the “Z Nation” science fiction television series, according to a city of Spokane news release.

Whooping cough on rise in Washington

SEATTLE – Whooping cough is at an epidemic level in Washington, with nearly 400 reported cases so far this year.

The Seattle Times reported that there have been 387 cases this year, compared to 85 cases this time last year. Health officials released the data Tuesday and said babies too young for vaccination and teens with waning protection were particularly at risk.

Pertussis rates range widely among counties, with Walla Walla, Jefferson and Kitsap counties reporting at least 34 per 100,000 people, and King County reporting only 2.7 cases per 100,000 people. Fifteen counties have seen no cases of pertussis.

An outbreak in 2012 ended with almost 5,000 reported cases and one death.

During elephant move, lion cub escaped

SEATTLE – Elephants at the Woodland Park Zoo weren’t the only ones looking for a change in scenery: A lion cub escaped from its exhibit.

The Seattle Times reported that a 6-month-old cub walked out of its exhibit through an open door April 15, the same day handlers moved elephants Bamboo and Chai for their journey to the Oklahoma City Zoo, where they’ll be able to socialize with a herd. A storm interrupted that trip, and the two are at the San Diego Zoo for now.

The cub roamed the service area in the feline building for about an hour before being returned to his exhibit.

The escape fuels an ongoing legal battle. It was used as evidence of a pattern of unsafe handling in a complaint filed this week by a group that wants Bamboo and Chai moved to a sanctuary, not a zoo.