Thursday, August 27, 2015

In the news, Wednesday, August 5, 2015


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AUG 04      INDEX      AUG 06
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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
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from The Inlander

SMALL TOWNS 2015: DON'T TURN LEFT 
In Priest River, more has stayed the same than has changed

SMALL TOWNS 2015: LIVING HISTORY
A newspaper museum keeps Palouse close to its roots, and serves as a community centerpiece

SMALL TOWNS 2015: A PLACE FOR ALL SEASONS
Chewelah: From booming mining town to small town with a family-like business community

SMALL TOWNS 2015: 'IF YOU WANT TO CHANGE, YOU CAN'
The grasshoppers, beer and forefathers of an unexpected Shangri-La in Republic

SMALL TOWNS 2015: TIME TRAVEL
Harrington is home to more than a century of history

SMALL TOWNS 2015: BY THE LAKE
Hard-hit by a wildfire, Bayview didn't lose its spirit

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from The Spokesman-Review

Spokane Valley Fire mourns loss of firefighter
The Spokane Valley Fire Department is mourning the loss of firefighter and paramedic Capt. Steve Hatcher, who died today after having a medical issue while off duty. Hatcher had been with the department for more than 20 years.

New fire burning north of Spokane Valley
The Department of Natural Resources and Spokane County Fire District 9 are battling a fire on MacMahan Road east of Forker Road. The fire is currently estimated at 7-10 acres and two tanker planes dropped water on the fire before night fell. Two homes are threatened and one outbuilding was destroyed. No roads are closed and no evacuations have been ordered.

After consumer complaints and safety concerns, ‘Slide the City’ cancels Spokane event
Plans to set up a 1,000-foot waterslide that would have cooled thrill-seekers near Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena this weekend were scuttled because of safety concerns.

Spokane County’s top pot shop robbed in ‘takeover-style’ crime
Spokane County’s leading store in marijuana sales was robbed Monday night in what Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich called a “takeover-style” crime. Greenlight, at 10309 E. Trent Ave., routinely reports sales of around $20,000 daily to the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board. General Manager Brandon Mulvey said two people came into the store armed with guns, handcuffs and zip ties at closing time Monday night. Two employees and a customer were bound inside the store while the robbery occurred. An undisclosed amount of cash and weed was taken in the robbery. Mulvey said it’s the first time the store has experienced any criminal activity since opening in September.

New fire near Bayview grows to 250 acres
A wildfire in Bonner County near Bayview grew today to about 250 acres in heavy timber. The Three Sisters fire broke out Tuesday afternoon edged within a mile of homes. The fire is about 3 miles northwest of Bayview and a mile and a half north of the area where the Cape Horn burned earlier this summer, destroying six homes overlooking Lake Pend Oreille.

Race to face Fagan in November remains close
The top finishers in two local races changed in the second day of counting ballots in Tuesday’s primary. In the race to face incumbent Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan in the November election, Randy Ramos, a student recruiter at the Spokane Tribal College, edged ahead of Ben Krauss, a crime analyst with the Spokane Police Department. In another close race that might not be decided for days, former Franklin County Sheriff Richard Lathim edged ahead of former Othello City Councilman Kenneth Caylor for the right to face incumbent state Rep. Mary Dye in the general election.

$1,000 reward for info on Spokane man accused of child rape
Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is offering a reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to the arrest of a Spokane man wanted for charges of child rape and child pornography. Douglas Scyphers, 46, was last seen driving a family member’s white 1993 Jeep Cherokee with Washington license plates AOB6460, according to the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office. He’s described as white, 5-feet-10-inches tall, about 160 pounds, with brown hair and green eyes.

Suspect dead after report of gunshots at Nashville-area theater
A suspect wielding a hatchet and a gun inside a Nashville-area movie theater died after exchanging gunshots with a SWAT team that stormed the theater, police said Wednesday. The suspect, who was not identified, was armed with a gun and a hatchet at the Carmike Hickory 8 theater in Antioch, a spokesman for Metro Nashville police said. One person may have suffered a hatchet wound. Three people were treated for exposure to pepper spray, and one of those people had a superficial wound that could have been caused by a hatchet. No one was taken to a hospital.

Family of inmate who died files $6.5M claim against Spokane County
The family of a man who choked to death on his own vomit while being booked into Spokane County Jail in May has filed a wrongful death claim requesting damages of $6.5 million. Lorenzo Hayes, 37, is one of four inmates who has died at the jail in recent weeks, prompting calls for an outside investigation. The Spokane County Medical Examiner determined Hayes’ death was a homicide earlier this month, and the Spokane Investigative Regional Response team, headed by the Washington State Patrol, is conducting an investigation to determine if criminal charges will be filed.

Moscow shooting suspect pleads not guilty to three murder counts
A 29-year-old northern Idaho man authorities say shot and killed three people and wounded another has pleaded not guilty to three counts of first-degree murder and one count of aggravated battery. John Lee of Moscow made the plea Tuesday in 2nd District Court in Latah County.

Arson fire takes two buildings, one car in North Spokane
Investigators are combing the scene of an arson fire that destroyed two garages and a car early Wednesday in North Spokane. Firefighters were called around 4 a.m. to the intersection of East Baldwin Avenue and North Columbus Street, where they found several apparent fire starts and labeled the blaze suspicious. At least one gasoline can was found in the vicinity.

Condon and Lichty advance in mayor race
Spokane Mayor David Condon had the best primary election night of his elected life Tuesday, taking 66 percent of the vote to advance to the Nov. 3 general election. Shar Lichty, Condon’s progressive challenger, came in a distant second with 24 percent of the vote and will face Condon in November.
Council District 1: Incumbent Councilman Mike Fagan handily won the most votes, despite controversial comments he’s made over the last year about vaccines and women serving in the military or working as police officers. Fagan captured 49 percent. The two men who shared the ballot with Fagan – Ben Krauss and Randy Ramos – are separated by just one vote.
Council District 2: The southern District 2 had three candidates running to replace Mike Allen, who is not seeking re-election. LaVerne Biel won with 38 percent of the vote. She will face Lori Kinnear, who finished second with 35 percent.
Council District 3: District 3 voters, in northwest Spokane, gave the day to Councilwoman Karen Stratton, who was appointed to the council when Steve Salvatori quit for work in Texas. She won with 42 percent of the vote. Evan Verduin, a young architect who owns his own firm, came in behind Stratton with 32 percent.
Results of Spokane propositions:
Proposition 1: With more than 80 percent of the vote, this measure allows the city’s Salary Review Commission to set the mayor’s pay as it does that of City Council members and municipal court judges. Proposition 2: Nearly 73 percent of voters agreed to enshrine the city’s Municipal Court in the City Charter, the city’s guiding document that can only be amended by a vote of the people. Previously, the court was described only in the municipal code, which can be undone by a City Council vote.

Valley library bond falls short
Spokane Valley voters again appear to have rejected a bond issue to build or refurbish libraries in their portion of the county. The $22 million proposal needed a 60 percent super-majority but was falling short of that mark in the election night tally, and supporters acknowledged they were unlikely to close the gap. In other primary election results, Republican Mary Dye, who was appointed to an open legislative seat in southeastern Washington, will advance to the Nov. 3 general election but her opponent might not be known for several days. A maintenance and operations levy for Spokane County’s Fire District 8 was easily passing, and long-time Spokane School Board member Rocky Treppiedi topped challengers in his quest for a new term.

Boulder-White Clouds wilderness passes U.S. Senate
The Boulder-White Clouds Wilderness in central Idaho was approved Tuesday by the U.S. Senate in a unanimous vote. The action – which follows more than 40 years of debate among ranchers, recreationists, environmental groups and politicians – protects more than 275,000 acres of public land as wilderness, the country’s most restrictive federal public land designation.  No motorized vehicles or equipment or even mechanized gear such as bicycles are allowed in wilderness areas.

Ten gear up for first GOP debate; seven hopefuls left on sidelines
Billionaire businessman Donald Trump will be front and center in the Republican Party’s leadoff presidential debate, scoring the top spot in Thursday’s prime-time faceoff. Fox News on Tuesday announced the 10 GOP candidates who will take part in the debate at 6 p.m. PDT Thursday in the crucial swing state of Ohio. Beyond Trump, those selected among the top 10 – based on recent national polls – include Bush, Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, Texas Sen. Ted Cruz, Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, retired neurosurgeon Ben Carson, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie and Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Those who didn’t qualify for the first debate include Fiorina, the GOP’s only female presidential candidate, Perry, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, former New York Gov. George Pataki and former Virginia Gov. Jim Gilmore.

Study shows fathers younger than mid-20s have higher mortality rate
After analyzing health records of more than 30,000 fathers from Finland, researchers determined that men who had their first child before age 22 were 26 percent more likely to die between the ages of 45 and 54 than men who waited until they were at least 25. The youngest fathers were about 50 percent more likely to die early than men who put off having kids until they were at least 30.

Nineteen killed as two trains derail in central India
At least 19 people were killed when two passenger trains derailed in central India as monsoon rains flooded a track, officials said today.

Sandra Bland’s family files wrongful death lawsuit
The family of a black woman found dead in a Texas jail three days after a confrontation with a white state trooper filed a wrongful-death lawsuit Tuesday against the officer and other officials, saying it was a last resort after being unable to get enough information about the case.

In brief: FBI investigates Clinton email security
The FBI is looking into the security of the private email server that Hillary Rodham Clinton used when she was secretary of state, according to the Washington Post. In addition, the FBI has asked Clinton lawyer David Kendall about the security of a thumb drive, containing copies of Clinton’s emails, that Kendall possesses, the newspaper reported.
Toxic algae problem bigger than expected
A vast bloom of toxic algae off the West Coast is denser, more widespread and deeper than scientists feared even weeks ago, according to surveyors aboard a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration research vessel. This coastal ribbon of microscopic algae, up to 40 miles wide and 650 feet deep in places, is flourishing amid unusually warm Pacific Ocean temperatures. It now stretches from at least California to Alaska and has shut down lucrative fisheries.
Milwaukee archdiocese reaches $21 million deal
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Milwaukee said Tuesday that it will pay $21 million to more than 300 victims of clergy abuse in a settlement that would end a four-year bankruptcy proceeding.

Despite rhetoric, border’s security is better in 2015
In the weeks leading up to Thursday’s first debate of the 2016 presidential race, Republican candidates have sought to distinguish themselves from each other – and President Barack Obama – with ever-tougher positions on border security and illegal immigration, claiming current measures are failing. And yet by many standards, the situation is not nearly as urgent as it was during last summer’s crisis and has improved steadily and markedly in some respects over the past decade or so – partly because of actions taken by the U.S. government, but also because of factors beyond Washington’s control.

Week-old wildfire continues to threaten homes in Northern California
A predictable but painful summertime ritual played out in half a dozen resort communities near California’s largest freshwater lake on Tuesday as an erratic, week-old wildfire that has wiped out dozens of buildings continued to threaten nearly 7,000 more. As firefighters and equipment from outside the state poured in to battle the blaze burning 10 miles from Clear Lake, more than 13,000 people were required or urged to leave their homes, vacation cabins and campsites. State and federal fire officials said the stubborn fire had consumed more than 101 square miles after flames jumped a highway in several places. Firefighters made some progress Tuesday afternoon with some help from light rain that fell in the area.

Russia seeks U.N. approval on claim to Arctic territory
The Russian government on Tuesday announced that it had delivered “ample scientific data” to the United Nations to back its claim to more than 460,000 square miles of Arctic territory and the wealth of energy, gems and precious metals believed to lie within.
Flag on the ocean floor
In 2007, Moscow staked a symbolic claim to the Arctic seabed by dropping a canister containing the Russian flag on the ocean floor from a submarine at the North Pole.

More Senate Democrats support Iran nuclear deal
The proposed Iran nuclear deal earned the support of three more Senate Democrats on Tuesday, locking in key support for President Barack Obama’s top foreign policy priority. California Sen. Barbara Boxer joined Sens. Tim Kaine of Virginia and Bill Nelson of Florida in expressing support Tuesday while on the other side of the Capitol, a resolution aimed at blocking the multinational agreement was formally introduced in the House. The moves come as Obama prepares to deliver a major address today to build support for the agreement, which was finalized last month in Vienna between Iran and a group of world powers led by the United States.

In brief: Whale led from glitzy marina
Argentine authorities have successfully guided a whale out of the marina of a glitzy area in Buenos Aires and hope that it will now return to sea. They said the whale appears to be a 2-year-old humpback likely making its first migration without its mother and got disoriented.
Chopper crash kills 16 police officers
Sixteen Colombian police officers died Tuesday when their Black Hawk helicopter crashed while taking part in a manhunt for the nation’s most-wanted drug trafficker, the second deadly air accident affecting the U.S.-trained military in less than a week.
India lifts ban on porn websites
Bowing to a public outcry, the Indian government on Tuesday said it would lift a days-old ban on hundreds of pornographic websites after critics accused the government of encroaching on personal freedoms. Over the weekend, Indian authorities ordered Internet providers to block 857 websites deemed to carry pornographic material, saying the ban was needed to protect public morality. But the order drew outrage and ridicule, particularly after many of the websites were found not to feature any pornography, and even Indian officials acknowledged the ban could be subverted by readily available Internet tools. Information and Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said late Tuesday “the ban will be partially withdrawn” and only sites that carry child pornography would remain blocked.

Toronto nightclub shooting leaves at least 2 dead, 3 wounded
A shooting that started early Tuesday at a Toronto nightclub event hosted by rapper Drake and then spilled outside onto the streets left at least two people dead and three others wounded.

Human Rights Commission seeks investigation of Spokane jail deaths
A federal investigation is needed following the deaths of four people at the Spokane County Jail since May 4, the Spokane Human Rights Commission says.

No room for full-day kindergarten at some schools
At the end of the latest school year, Washington had 485 elementary schools that offered full-day kindergarten for at least some of their students. Budget increases approved by the Legislature have prompted school districts around the state to expand that program into 358 more schools this fall, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction reported this week. But not all districts are able to take advantage of the money this school year, which goes first to schools with the highest percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunches. Six districts that qualified for the program had to turn down money the state was offering. Farwell and Brentwood Elementary in the Mead School District don’t have the capacity yet to handle full-day kindergarten, which would mean an extra classroom in each. Space also was a problem at Greenacres Elementary in the Central Valley School District. It won’t offer full-day kindergarten this year but has plans to renovate and build extra capacity with a project starting next March.

Coeur d’Alene School District’s first-year Common Core scores low
The switch to Common Core is having a predictable outcome right out of the chute: Far fewer students are passing the demanding statewide tests aligned to the rigorous new educational standards. It’s the big dip in scores educators expected in the first year of the exams. Instead of the usual pass rates of 70 percent to 90 percent, students in the Coeur d’Alene School District dropped to the low 60s and 50s, and in a few cases below 40 percent, preliminary results show.

Idaho State University distances itself from hunter
Officials with Idaho State University are distancing themselves from one of their accountants who is being criticized for posting photos of large animals she has killed while legally hunting in South Africa. A university spokesman confirmed that Sabrina Corgatelli had been employed at the university since January.

Fire near Lake Chelan grows to more than 25,000 acres
The wildfire along Lake Chelan continued to grow Tuesday and spew smoke across parts of Eastern Washington. The blaze grew by about 1,200 acres and covered 25,634 acres – or 40 square miles – by Tuesday morning.
Roosevelt evacuated
Klickitat County authorities have evacuated the entire town of Roosevelt, Washington, because of a fast-moving grass fire.

In brief: 50-acre fire burns near Bayview
A new fire was reported near Bayview, Idaho, Tuesday evening close to where the Cape Horn fire burned more than 1,000 acres and destroyed half a dozen homes last month. The Three Sisters fire was about 50 acres Tuesday evening and was burning just northwest of the Cape Horn fire boundary.
Man survives jump off Monroe bridge
A man jumped from the Monroe Street Bridge and survived Tuesday afternoon, apparently plunging into deep water below Spokane Falls before being pulled onto the rocks by a Spokane police officer.
UW adds doctors to Spokane school
The University of Washington has added eight more physicians to the faculty of its expanding Spokane medical school operations. All are Spokane-area doctors, the university said, and bring to 20 the number of physicians holding faculty positions with the program, which trains doctors from five states. Another 40 family physicians have volunteered to be mentors to the medical students and 360 throughout Eastern Washington are teaching clinical clerkships and electives.
YWCA announces women honorees
The YWCA of Spokane announced the winners of its Women of Achievement awards Tuesday. The six will be honored at the YWCA annual luncheon Oct. 1 at the Spokane Convention Center.
They are: Arts & Culture: Louise Kodis, a nationally recognized artist; Business & Industry: Janet Schmidlkofer, CEO of K&N Electric; Carl J. Maxey Racial & Social Justice Award: JoAnn Kauffman, president of Kauffman & Associates; Community Enhancement: Marty Dickinson, executive vice president of Umpqua Bank; Education: Asa Bradley, physics professor at Spokane Falls Community College; Science, Technology & Environment: Peggy Currie, chief nursing officer, Providence Health Care.

In brief: Avista proposes dip in electricity rate
Avista customers in Idaho could see a small reduction in their electric bills, starting Oct. 1. The credit would amount to about 25 cents on a typical customer’s monthly bill, lowering it from $85.25 to $84.99. The change must be approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission.
Commission votes to raise ferry fares
The cost to ride a ferry in the Puget Sound will be going up Oct. 1. The Washington state Transportation Commission voted unanimously Tuesday to raise ferry fares. Fares will go up 2.5 percent for vehicles and 1 percent for passengers on Oct. 1. At the same time, a surcharge for over-height vehicles that are under 22 feet in length will be eliminated. Next May, another fare increase will go into effect: 2.5 percent for vehicles and 1 percent for passengers.
Seven West Nile cases confirmed in Tri-Cities
Seven people in Benton and Franklin counties have been confirmed to have West Nile virus. The Tri-City cases account for all but one of the confirmed infections in the state so far this year. An eighth person confirmed to have West Nile likely was exposed in Adams County. Nationally, six states have reported West Nile virus infections in humans this year. Last year, 12 human cases of West Nile virus were reported in Washington. The state’s most active year for West Nile virus was 2009, with 38 human cases.
Whale with fish lure in mouth tracked
Federal officials said they’re monitoring a killer whale near the San Juan Islands that appears to have a salmon lure hanging from its mouth.
So-called ‘Up’ house could move to island
A Seattle home that became famous after its owner refused to sell to developers could wind up being moved to Orcas Island – if a nonprofit there can raise the $205,000 needed. Owner Edith Macefield refused a $1 million offer for the home, built in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood in 1900. The builders eventually surrounded the house on three sides with a large commercial building. She died in 2008 at age 86.
Animal control detains pit bulls
Two pit bulls suspected of attacking a woman in Tacoma have been detained.

Mormon church takes step toward transparency
The Mormon church took another step toward transparency Tuesday with the first published pictures of a small, sacred stone it believes founder Joseph Smith used to help translate a story that became the basis of the religion.

EPA cool to permit for oil-by-rail facility
Environmentalists opposed to the construction of the nation’s largest oil-by-rail terminal on the Columbia River in Vancouver say it could be a “game-changer” that two federal agencies have recently expressed concerns about the project, but the companies behind the plan say they believe they can address them.

Justice Department backs Tulalip tribe’s tax fight
The U.S. Justice Department filed a motion on Tuesday asking to join the Tulalip Indian Tribes in a federal lawsuit against the state of Washington and Snohomish County that seeks to stop them from collecting millions of dollars in taxes from non-Indian businesses and people on tribal land so that the tribe can collect those funds instead. The Justice Department said the tribes have a constitutional right to develop reservation resources without “unlawful interference from state and local taxation.”

SEC to OK worker-CEO pay gap disclosure
CEOs make a lot more than the average working Joe or Jane. And in the near future, Americans will find out how big the disparity actually is within publicly traded companies. Federal regulators, under mandate from a 2010 law that reshaped regulation after the financial crisis, will require companies to reveal the extent of their own pay gaps. The Securities and Exchange Commission is scheduled to vote today to formally adopt the rule, which will compel public companies to disclose the ratio between their chief executives’ annual compensation and median employee pay.

GM to invest $877M for new body shop at Michigan plant
General Motors will spend $877 million to build a new body shop and assembly equipment at a Michigan assembly plant. The investment at Flint Assembly, about 60 miles northwest of Detroit, is the latest announced portion of GM’s $5.4 billion capital improvement initiative at 40 U.S. plants.

Avista reports dip in 2Q earnings
Avista Corp. has reported second quarter income of $25.1 million, or 40 cents per share, compared to $31.3 million, or 52 cents per share for the second quarter of 2014. Record high temperatures and low rain fall decreased hydroelectric generation during the second quarter. But the early runoff resulted high power generation during January through March. Power generation should be about 94 percent of normal for the year

June factory orders increase 1.8 percent
Orders to U.S. factories increased in June, and a key category that reflects business investment plans posted a modest rise. But the gains weren’t robust enough to suggest the sluggish manufacturing sector is mounting a significant turnaround.
Expectations, China deepen Apple slump
Apple is slumping as the usually high-flying tech stock struggles with the burden of raised expectations. The world’s most valuable public company saw its stock price drop for a fifth straight day Tuesday, falling as much as $5.19, or 4.4 percent, to $113.25 as investors fret over China’s economy and whether Apple can keep growing at the pace it’s maintained over the past few quarters.

Confusion over health care tax credit jeopardizes subsidies for some
About 1.8 million households that got financial help for health insurance under President Barack Obama’s law now have issues with their tax returns that could jeopardize their subsidies next year. Administration officials say those taxpayers will have to act quickly.

July pot sales end hot streak
Marijuana sales in Spokane County dipped in July, the first drop in month-to-month retail receipts since the drug became legal. The county’s 15 shops sold $3.8 million worth of marijuana products last month, according to reports on file with the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board. That total was less than June’s tally of $4.1 million in retail sales and ended a yearlong stretch during which the industry grew unabated.

GOP presidential debate: Who is in and who is out
Fox News has selected the 10 Republican presidential candidates who will participate in the first debate of the 2016 presidential campaign. The two-hour debate is scheduled for 6 p.m. PDT Thursday at Quicken Loans Arena in Cleveland, with a televised forum for the seven candidates not selected to take part beginning at 2 p.m. PDT.

Jeb Bush says he misspoke about funding for women’s health care
As Republicans prepare for their first presidential debate, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush was forced to walk back a statement he made Tuesday questioning federal spending on women’s health care as he appealed to evangelical voters.

Shawn Vestal: People, not city, should vote on workers’ bill of rights

John Crisp: Hunter’s masculinity spans ages

Editorial: Inslee missteps in ditching clean-water standard

Chard offers a rainbow of possibilities
Swiss Chard Dalmatian Style

Perfect picnics
A few tips and recipes can help maximize your outdoor dining experience
Cast Iron Skillet Fried Buttermilk Chicken
Cajun Shrimp and Spinach Mason Jar Salad with Spicy Ranch Dressing
Spicy Ranch Dressing
Spokane Farm Roasted Asparagus and Peach Garden Pasta Salad
Garden Pesto Sauce
Easy Picnic Lemon Ice Box Pie
Almond Butter and Huckleberry Jam Muffins

Good news for grillers: ‘Low & Slow 2’
Bourbon Brine
Gary Wiviott’s Beef Rub
Toasted Mexican Chili Blend
Blueberry-Habanero Sauce

From across pond, chicken recipes aplenty
Roast Paprika Chicken

Jack Spring, professional baseball player and West Valley high school coach, dies
Jack Russell Spring, a left hander who pitched in the same bullpen as Satchel Paige and against Mickey Mantle before returning home and coaching West Valley to the Spokane area’s only state high school baseball championship in 1978, died on Sunday. He was 82.

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from Upworthy

It turns out that bees vaccinate their babies against disease by feeding them a special blood protein called vitellogenin. Before this discovery, we basically had no idea how adult bees transferred disease immunity to their larvae.

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