Saturday, May 2, 2015

In the news, Tuesday, April 21, 2015


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APR 20      INDEX      APR 22
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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from Allen West
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Marines may be forced to lower standards to appease Obama

4 signs Obama is the modern-day Nero
1. His lame response to the latest ISIS slaughter
2. His inability to make any real progress against militant Islam
3. Conveniently forgetting who let Libya fall to pieces
4. Acting like any deal with Iran will stick

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from The American Conservative

Long Live the Personal Library
Why collecting books is a timeless and life-altering pursuit

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from Associated Press

Jeb Bush prepares to give traditional campaign a makeover
The traditional presidential campaign may be getting a dramatic makeover in Jeb Bush's bid for the White House as he prepares to turn some of a campaign's central functions over to a separate political organization that can raise unlimited amounts of money.

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from Bloomberg

Obama Kept Iran's Short Breakout Time a Secret
The Barack Obama administration has estimated for years that Iran was at most three months away from enriching enough nuclear fuel for an atomic bomb. But the administration only declassified this estimate at the beginning of the month, just in time for the White House to make the case for its Iran deal to Congress and the public.

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from Breitbart

OBAMA DECEIVED AMERICANS ABOUT IRAN’S NUCLEAR BREAKOUT TIME
Eli Lake at Bloomberg View reports that President Obama’s administration has confirmed that Iran is “two to three months” away from developing a nuclear weapon, contradicting the White House’s rebuttal of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s assertion that Iran is months away from the breakout.

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from CNSNews.com (& MRC & NewsBusters)

CNN's Cuomo Cracks 'Brain Damage' Joke About Republicans

Iranian VP: Iran Not Acting ‘Aggressive’ When Chanting ‘Death to America’
In an interview with CNN, Iranian Vice President Masoumeh Ebtekar discussed ongoing nuclear talks between the U.S. and Iran, claiming that, despite continued outward hostility toward America by Iran’s supreme leader and military, “the general population is looking forward to an agreement which is just and is balanced” – that will bring “peace and stability” to the world.

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from Conservative Post
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Helicopters Just Flew To Closed Walmarts – Here’s What’s Taking Place Inside
Last week, 2,200 Walmart employees all over the U.S. were laid off and given just a few hours notice as their stores were shut down for unknown reasons. Conspiracy theorists soon linked the closings to the government, suggesting that they were shut down so the stores could be used for military training operations.

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from The Guardian (UK)

Barack Obama will not label 1915 massacre of Armenians a genocide
US president abandons campaign promise to acknowledge genocide of Armenians by Ottoman Turks due to opposition from State Department

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from MSN News

Anger at acquittal of Chicago policeman in shooting of woman
A judge's surprise acquittal of an off-duty Chicago police officer in the shooting death of an unarmed woman called into question prosecutors' decision not to charge the man with murder, and set off protests outside the courthouse and near the site of the killing.

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from National Catholic Register

Pope Francis: ‘How Many Stephens There Are in the World!’
‘The true history of the Church is that of the saints and the martyrs,’ the Holy Father said at daily Mass on April 21, reflecting on the persecution of Christians.

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from National Review
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

To End Racism, Toni Morrison Wants to See Bad Things Happen to White People

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from The Spokesman-Review

Spokane County unemployment rate falls to 6.8%
There were 6,000 new jobs added in Spokane from March 2014 to March 2015, driving down the jobless rate from 7.9 percent to 6.8 percent, said state labor economist Doug Tweedy. In March 2010 the jobless rate in Spokane County was 11.3 percent.

Spokane police hope liquor board continues ban
Spokane police hope the state Liquor Control Board will continue to ban the sale of certain high-alcohol beverages in the downtown area, though department data about the ban’s effectiveness is limited.

US lets in Thai fish caught by slaves despite law
In its first report on trafficking around the world, the U.S. criticized Thailand as a hub for labor abuse. Yet 14 years later, seafood caught by slaves on Thai boats is still slipping into the supply chains of major American stores and supermarkets. The U.S. has not enforced a law banning the import of goods made with forced labor since 2000 because of significant loopholes, The Associated Press has found. It has also spared Thailand from sanctions slapped on other countries with weak records in human trafficking because of a complex political relationship that includes cooperation against terrorism.

Penalty phase opens in Boston Marathon bombing trial
The life-or-death phase in the trial of Boston Marathon bomber Dzhokhar Tsarnaev got underway Tuesday with a prosecutor showing the jury a photo of Tsarnaev giving the finger to a security camera in his jail cell three months after the attack.

Migrant ‘death voyages’ denounced
Prosecutors said today that they arrested the captain and a crew member of the boat in which as many as 900 people are feared to have drowned while seeking to escape from war-torn Libya. Even as the search continued for victims of the weekend disaster, coast guard ships rushed to respond to new distress calls on the high seas – two off Libya and a third boat that ran aground near Greece. Decrying what he called an “escalation in these death voyages,” Italian Premier Matteo Renzi urged Europe to put the focus on preventing more boats from leaving Libya, the source of 90 percent of migrant traffic to Italy.

Bird flu infects big Iowa egg farm
Up to 5.3 million hens at an Iowa farm must be destroyed after the highly infectious and deadly bird flu virus was confirmed, the U.S. Department of Agriculture said Monday.

Baumgartner bill targets left-lane slowpokes
Driving under the speed limit while in the fast lane could get pricey under legislation being pushed by state Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, who wants a new crackdown on “aggravated left-lane driving.” Slow left-lane drivers are not only a nuisance but also a safety hazard, forcing other drivers to slam on their brakes or weave around them, Baumgartner said.

CdA wheelchair access advocate dies in crash
A Coeur d’Alene man who recovered from a severe spinal cord injury to lead an active life and advocate for those with physical challenges was killed Sunday when his all-terrain vehicle went over a cliff above Lake Pend Oreille. Thomas W. McTevia, 42, died along with a friend, Tina A. Hoisington, 45, of Lewiston. Both were in the Polaris ATV when it plunged down a 500-foot embankment at Bernard Overlook just east of Farragut State Park, the Idaho State Police said.

NOAA wants to lift humpback protections
The federal government on Monday proposed removing most of the world’s humpback whales from the endangered species list, saying the massive mammals have rebounded after 45 years of protection and restoration efforts.

Seattle Times wins Pulitzer for Oso coverage
The Seattle Times staff took the breaking news award for its coverage of the Oso, Washington, mudslide that killed 43 people and its exploration of whether the disaster could have been prevented.
List of 2015 Pulitzers in journalism and arts

Videos add to debate over police
Killings of unarmed black men by white police officers in the past year have touched off a national debate about police conduct, which has only escalated as additional interactions between police and suspects – lethal or otherwise – are captured on video by law enforcement or civilians.
DETROIT-AREA OFFICER CHARGED IN VIDEOTAPED BEATING
POLICE: BALTIMORE MAN WHO DIED ARRESTED ‘WITHOUT FORCE’
TULSA SHERIFF: VOLUNTEER DEPUTY’S TRAINING RECORD NOT FALSIFIED

In brief: Mother sentenced in newborns’ deaths
A mother who killed six of her newborn babies and hid their bodies in her garage was sentenced to up to life in prison Monday at an emotional hearing in which a prosecutor depicted her as an “incredibly indifferent and callous” murderer.
Cuomo, executives court Cuba business
Cuban officials and New York business executives are exploring ways for companies to do business on the communist-run island despite the long-standing U.S. embargo that makes most trade and investment illegal, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Monday.
Bipartisan Senate bill focuses on cosmetics
Two U.S. senators introduced legislation Monday that would require the Food and Drug Administration to evaluate and report on some of the ingredients used in cosmetics and personal-care products such as shampoo and skin cream.

Minnesota men charged with trying to join Islamic militants
Six Minnesota men of Somali descent are charged with terrorism-related offenses in a criminal complaint unsealed Monday. They are the latest Westerners accused of traveling or attempting to travel to Syria to join the Islamic State group, which has carried out a host of attacks including beheading Americans.

Warships patrolling sea lanes off Yemen
Top Obama administration officials have failed for several days to persuade Saudi Arabia’s government to limit the scope of its airstrikes on cities and towns in Yemen, a campaign that authorities said killed nearly 50 people Monday in Sanaa, the capital. The U.S. effort to restrain the Saudi attacks came as the Pentagon moved the aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt and a guided-missile destroyer into waters off Yemen. Officials said the growing armada is meant, in part, to deter Iran from shipping weapons and other supplies to the Houthi rebels and their allies battling remnants of the central government for control of Yemen, the Arab world’s poorest nation.

In brief: Northern Somalia bombing kills four UNICEF workers
Islamic extremists set off a bomb in a U.N. van in normally tranquil northern Somalia on Monday, killing at least seven people, including four employees of the U.N. children’s agency in an attack that was widely denounced.
Turkey’s prime minister extends condolences
Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoglu on Monday extended condolences to the descendants of Armenians killed 100 years ago by Ottoman Turks, saying Turkey shared their pain, and also announced that a service would be held at the Armenian Patriarchate in Istanbul to commemorate the victims.
Argentina’s president cleared of accusations
An Argentine prosecutor on Monday dismissed accusations against President Cristina Fernandez that she helped shield Iranian officials allegedly behind the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center, effectively putting an end to a case that had exposed deep divisions in the South American nation.
U.S. providing $18 million in non-arms aid to Ukraine
The United States will supply Ukraine with nearly $18 million in aid to provide shelter, food vouchers, potable water and health and sanitation in regions affected by fighting between government forces and pro-Russia fighters.
S. Korea prime minister offers to quit amid scandal
South Korea’s prime minister has offered to resign amid a bribery scandal just two months after he took up the country’s No. 2 post, officials said today, in the latest political crisis to hit President Park Geun-hye.
Vienna-born U.S. author Frederic Morton dies at 90
U.S. writer Frederic Morton, who became internationally recognized in part through books on the Austrian homeland that he was forced to flee because of the Holocaust, has died, his Austrian publishers said Monday.

Ethiopians shocked by IS killings
Many in Ethiopia are reeling from the news that several Ethiopians were killed in Libya by the Islamic State group, which over the weekend released a video purporting to show the killings.

In brief: Officers praised for actions during dangerous incident
Spokane police officers drew praise from the city’s Public Safety Committee on Monday for their handling of two potentially dangerous suspects in Browne’s Addition on Friday.
North Spokane car crash leaves 300 without power
More than 300 north Spokane residents were without power Sunday night after a drunk driver slammed into a telephone pole at North Nevada Street and East Magnesium Road.
‘Ticket bots’ could soon be illegal in Washington
Ticket-buying robots soon could be illegal in Washington. Both legislative chambers have voted to outlaw the “ticket bots,” which are faster than humans at buying tickets to concerts and sporting events online. The measure won House approval Monday and now heads to Gov. Jay Inslee.

County considers signing bonuses for hard-to-fill positions
Spokane County could be offering signing bonuses of up to $10,000 in hopes of attracting high-quality applicants for tough-to-fill jobs.

Luna still on Idaho payroll at salary of $95,202
Despite embattled former Idaho Department of Administration Director Teresa Luna’s announced resignation, she remains on the department’s payroll at the same salary and a new title. State records show Luna is now employed full-time as a “program specialist” for the department at a salary of $95,202 a year, the same salary she earned as director.

Spokane students earn scholarship honors
Two dozen of the region’s brightest and most promising high school seniors will share $60,000 awarded by the Spokane Scholars Foundation.

Woman rescued from burning church’s roof in Olympia
A woman was rescued from a burning building early Monday morning in downtown Olympia after flames drove her up to the roof. At 2:25 a.m., firefighters responded to the scene, an empty building that had most recently been Capitol City Studios but had been built as a church. As of Monday morning, all that remained of the original Foursquare Gospel Church, built in 1939, was a pile of smoldering rubble.

In brief: Armed man robs title loan company
Post Falls police are searching for a shotgun-wielding robber who held up a Northwest Title Loan on Monday.
Idaho man guilty of bank larceny
A former Bonners Ferry man pleaded guilty in federal court Monday to bank larceny by use of a dangerous weapon and conspiracy to commit bank larceny. Matthew Taber Annable, 40, will be sentenced June 10.
Controlled burns starting in N. Idaho
The Forest Service is starting its annual controlled burn program this week on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District.
‘Westlake groper’ gets three years
A man known as the “Westlake groper” has been sentenced to more than three years in jail. The Seattle Times reported that Daryl Sharma, 36, of Kirkland, pleaded guilty last week to five counts of assault with sexual motivation.
Pot prices down by more than half
Marijuana prices have dropped dramatically since stores opened last summer. The Seattle Times reported that the average gram of marijuana in the state’s system sells for about $12. That’s down from a $30 average last year when prices peaked.

Mammoth dig near Kennewick uncovers other animal bones
Researchers excavating a mammoth found south of Kennewick have unearthed other discoveries, including the remnants of snakes, lizards, ground squirrels, birds and possibly even a camel. Researchers have dug through more than 11 feet of dirt at the Coyote Canyon dig site since excavation began five years ago, recovering more than 70 bones from the mammoth in addition to a variety of other animals.

Seattle tunnel subcontractor fined over worker injuries
Washington state safety regulators issued two citations and a $2,050 fine against the subcontractor overseeing workers injured when a wall in the north portal of the Seattle tunnel project collapsed. Four ironworkers fell Feb. 12, including one who was hospitalized after being seriously hurt.

State treasurer proposes income tax to fund education
Washington state Treasurer Jim McIntire is proposing an income tax to pay for education. McIntire’s plan calls for a 5 percent personal income tax but would eliminate the state property tax and reduce business taxes. The plan would raise billions of dollars. It is one of a handful of ideas floating around Olympia about how to meet the Supreme Court’s order to fix the way the state pays for public schools.

Luxury club founder Tim Blixseth ordered back to jail
U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon ordered the founder of a luxury Montana mountain resort back to jail Monday, saying he failed to disclose what happened to $13.8 million from the sale of a resort in Mexico. Former billionaire Tim Blixseth, 64, was taken into custody by the U.S. Marshals Service after a contempt hearing in Helena.

Closure of Wal-Mart stores prompts labor outcry
A union is asking labor regulators to go to court to force Wal-Mart to rehire all 2,200 employees affected by an abrupt temporary closing of five stores a week ago. The United Food and Commercial Workers International Union filed the charge with the National Labor Relations Board on Monday, arguing the closings were retaliation for labor activism. Wal-Mart said it closed the stores to fix plumbing issues.

Limited-time retail sales can be limiting
Target shoppers found out this weekend that when stores make deals to carry merchandise from high-end designers for a limited time, it can be, well, really limiting.

Summer airfares take a dip
After years of steadily rising airfare, travelers this summer can expect a tiny bit of relief – $2.01 in savings to be exact. The average roundtrip domestic ticket this summer, including taxes, now stands at $454, down less than a percent from last summer. Vacationers to Europe will fare better with the average ticket down 3 percent to $1,619, about $50 less than last summer.

In brief: AT&T shareholders meeting to be held in Spokane
AT&T, one of the world’s largest companies, will hold its annual meeting of shareholders in Spokane on Friday.
Spokane House to be Red Lion
The former Spokane House Hotel in west Spokane will become a Red Lion Inn and Suites, Spokane-based Red Lion Hotels Co. said Monday. The hotel at 4301 W. Sunset Blvd. opened in 1953 and once was a go-to spot in Spokane. Originally called the Desert Caravan Inn, it was a “Duncan Hines selection as one of the 10 best motels in America” the year it opened.
Blue Bell issues total recall
Texas-based Blue Bell Creameries issued a voluntary recall Monday for all of its products on the market after two samples of chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream tested positive for listeriosis.
Kraft Mac & Cheese losing dye
This is the last year the original version of Kraft Mac & Cheese sold in the U.S. will contain artificial preservatives or synthetic colors. Beginning in January its macaroni and cheese will be colored using paprika, annatto and turmeric.

Tax overhaul hits obstacles
Despite optimistic talk from Democrats and Republicans about overhauling the tax code, General Electric Co. recently showed that corporate executives aren’t holding their breath for a bipartisan deal.

Bird flu could hurt turkey sales
Hormel says it will sell less turkey this year because of a spreading bird flu outbreak. So far the virus has been found at farms housing 2.3 million turkeys, all of which have died of the disease or have been killed or soon will be in order to stem the spread of avian flu. Most of the birds were in Minnesota, the largest turkey-producing state in the U.S.

Tiered pricing for water found unconstitutional
An Orange County appeals court ruled Monday that San Juan Capistrano’s tiered water rates are unconstitutional, potentially dealing a blow to agencies statewide that have used the pricing structure to encourage water conservation. The 3-0 ruling by the 4th District Court of Appeal upholds a Superior Court judge’s decision that found that charging bigger water users incrementally higher rates violates a voter-approved law that prohibits government agencies from charging more than the cost of a service.

Panel sticks with mammogram advice
An expert panel convened by the federal government is standing by its controversial recommendation that most women should get mammograms to check for signs of breast cancer only once every two years, and that the tests need not begin until the age of 50.

Editorial: Funding key to growth of medical education

Robert J. Samuelson: Moore’s Law has virtues, vices

A brighter outlook: UW researchers make inroads on cure for colorblindness
For the more than 10 million Americans with colorblindness, there’s never been a treatment, let alone a cure, for the condition that leaves them unable to distinguish certain hues. Now, for the first time, two University of Washington professors have teamed with a California biotech firm to develop what they say may be a solution: a single shot in the eye that reveals the world in full color.

Ask Dr. K: Benefits vs. risks of aspirin

Migraine strategies
If you suffer from migraine headaches, you’ve got plenty of company. More than 10 percent of the population is hurting right along with you, including 18 percent of women. Migraines are most common from the ages of 25 to 55. The good news: New research can help change your approach to managing your migraines.

Ten signs it’s time to dump your doctor
Seeing a doctor you don’t like can be hazardous to your health. It can be little things, like a cool demeanor when you’re a big hugger, or serious issues such as a failure to explain procedures effectively.

Obituary: O’Reilly, Julia Marie
27 Jun 1967 - 15 Apr 2015     Edwall, Reardan, Davenport, Spokane

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from The Washington Free Beacon (DC)

NY Post: ‘Quid Pro Dough’ for Clintons
Hillary and Bill Clinton found themselves in pile of cash on the cover of the New York Post on Tuesday morning in the wake of a new book that charges that the couple was doing favors for foreign governments in exchange for big pay-days.

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from The Weekly Standard

Did Susan Rice Disclose Classified Info on Iran?
Bloomberg's Eli Lake reports Tuesday that the Obama administration kept secret until the beginning of April Iran's two to three month breakout time for a nuclear weapon, saying "the administration only declassified this estimate at the beginning of the month, just in time for the White House to make the case for its Iran deal to Congress and the public."

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from The Western Center for Journalism
(Western Journalism)

Did The Big-Spending Koch Bros Just Drop A HUGE Clue That Could Signal A GOP Game Change?

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Posted by at No comments:

In the news, Monday, April 20, 2015


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APR 19      INDEX      APR 21
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Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

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from Allen West
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

UPDATE: MULTIPLE U.S Warships head to Yemeni waters to BLOCK Iranian Weapons Shipment

Benjamin Netanyahu just made the single best argument EVER for the Second Amendment
During a recent address to the IDF General Staff Forum leading up to Israel’s independence Day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated, “the meaning of independence in my eyes is the ability to defend yourself.”

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from Army Times

As many as 20 women are expected to start Ranger School on Monday as the Army runs a one-time integrated assessment at the famously grueling course.

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from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Influential Conservative Koch Brothers Reveal Who ‘Should Be’ the GOP Candidate in 2016: NYT
The Koch brothers said they will support whoever the 2016 Republican candidate is — but it “should be Scott Walker.”

Scott Walker: I Would ‘Absolutely’ Repeal Common Core in Wisconsin

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from Breitbart

SCOTT WALKER LAYS OUT PRO AMERICAN WORKER STANCE ON IMMIGRATION
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker, a likely 2016 GOP presidential candidate, pledged to protect American workers from the economic effects, not only of illegal immigration but also of a massive increase in legal immigration.

Washington Post: ‘Of Course the Media Should Report on Clinton Cash’

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from Examiner.com
[Information from this site may not be vetted.]

Princeton professor calls for killing disabled infants under Obamacare
According to an article published Sunday by World Net Daily, a Princeton University professor has suggested that severely disabled infants be killed to cut health care costs and for moral reasons.

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from The Heritage Foundation
from Huffington Post
[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

The Koch Brothers Are Reportedly Ready To Back Scott Walker

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from The Living Church

On the harrowing of hell
Sam Keyes responds to a question submitted to the Covenant blog regarding the harrowing of hell.
No line from the Apostles’ Creed (or the Nicene Creed) stands entirely alone. In particular, we might frame the whole Creed as an elaboration on the first line: I believe in God. That is, “I trust in God, and here, in these following statements, I outline why that God is in fact trustworthy.” It may be hard to see at first glance what the descent to hell — or the descent “to the dead,” as some translations put it — has to do with God’s trustworthiness.

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from NBC News (& affiliates)
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from PolitiFact

Hillary Clinton took money from the kings of four countries, GOP chief Reince Priebus says
The monarchies of Saudi Arabia, Morocco and Oman have contributed to the Clinton Foundation, but Yemen, which does not have a king, has not.

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from RedState

Ben Carson is shaking the foundations of American politics – more than politicos can tolerate
Certainly, Dr. Ben Carson is becoming a master at stirring up the political pot and raising the ire of the news media, various political pundits, or some entrenched politicos no matter what he says. The latest incident occurred this past week as repercussions of the good doctor’s words regarding his appearance at the 17th National Action Network Convention organized by Al Sharpton. Afterward, Carson expressed publically that he and Sharpton had similar goals. Steve Deace, a nationally-syndicated radio host for the USA Radio Network, has taken issue with several things that Carson has previously expressed in public statements, but the recent statement may have been the proverbial straw breaking the camel’s back – at least for Deace’s camel.

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from The Spokesman-Review

Embattled former Idaho administration chief remains on state payroll
Despite embattled former Idaho Department of Administration Director Teresa Luna’s announced resignation, she remains on the department’s payroll at the same salary. Luna is now employed full-time as a “program specialist” for the department at a salary of $95,202 a year, the same salary she earned as director.

Ultra-rich club founder Tim Blixseth back in jail
A federal judge ordered the founder of a Montana mountain resort for the ultra-rich back to jail, saying he failed to disclose what happened to $13.8 million from his sale of the Tamarindo resort in the Mexican state of Jalisco. U.S. District Judge Sam Haddon put Tim Blixseth of Washington state into custody of the U.S. Marshals Service after a Monday court hearing in Helena.

Oso coverage earns Pulitzer for Seattle Times
The Seattle Times has won a Pulitzer Prize for its coverage of a deadly landslide in Washington state that destroyed a small community north of Seattle, leaving 43 people dead. The Times won the award Monday for Breaking News Reporting. The judges cited the “digital account” of the landslide “and the impressive follow-up reporting that explored whether the calamity could have been avoided.” It is the 10th Pulitzer Prize the newspaper has won.

Willie Nelson lends name to marijuana brand
Country music star Willie Nelson  joins other famous pot personalities, including rapper Snoop Dogg, who endorses vaporizing products; singer Melissa Etheridge, developing marijuana-infused wine; and reality TV star and self-help guru Bethenny Frankel, who is working on a strain of Skinnygirl weed that wouldn’t leave users with the munchies.

Baumgartner bill would crack down on slowpokes in the fast lane
Sen. Michael Baumgartner, R-Spokane, introduced a bill last week that would slap additional fines on drivers who “poke along” in designated fast lanes, blocking traffic and potentially causing accidents. The slower they drive, the higher the fine.

Controlled burns begin near Coeur d’Alene
The Forest Service is starting its annual controlled burn program this week on the Coeur d’Alene River Ranger District.

Driver-pole collision knocks out power for 300
More than 300 North Spokane residents were without power Sunday night after an allegedly intoxicated driver slammed into a telephone pole at North Nevada Street and East Magnesium Road.

CdA accessibility advocate dies in ATV crash
A Coeur d’Alene man who recovered from a severe spinal cord injury to lead an active life and advocate for those with physical challenges was killed Sunday when his ATV went over a cliff above Lake Pend Oreille. Thomas W. McTevia, 42, died along with his friend, Tina A. Hoisington, 45, of Lewiston. Both were in the Polaris ATV when it plunged down a 500-foot embankment at Bernard Overlook just east of Farragut State Park.

New charges added for Browne’s Addition collision suspects
Two men accused of fleeing from police in Browne’s Addition last Friday face new charges thanks to the methamphetamine officers found in their vehicle. Police said Brandon K. Hutchinson, 30 and Christopher L. Olson, 34, crashed a car and fled on foot from the 1800 block of West First Avenue after officers initiated a traffic stop.

I-90 overpass construction will close lanes overnight
This week, the contractor on the Greensferry overpass project will place girders for the bridge, which will force a complete closure of freeway lanes during overnight hours Tuesday and Wednesday.
DOT wants input on LED markers
Last fall, the Washington state Department of Transportation installed more than 4,600 solar-powered diode lights to help illuminate shoulders, lane lines and barriers on I-90 at Snoqualmie Pass.
Expect I-90 delays east of Snoqualmie
Work on I-90 east of Snoqualmie Pass will cause some traffic delays this week.
Traffic, safety projects in Spokane
In Spokane, curb and sidewalk installations will force closure of parts of the intersection of Government Way and Fort George Wright Drive west of Spokane Falls Community College through April 30. Projects to improve neighborhood traffic safety are occurring on Jackson Avenue from Perry to Columbus streets and on D Street from 17th to 19th avenues adjacent to a city park. A new high-intensity crossing light is being installed on Grand Boulevard at 18th Avenue to serve Manito Park.
Lane, road closures around the Valley
Six projects in Spokane Valley will have lane or road closures at times this week.

Survivor says hundreds went down with smuggler’s ship
A smuggler’s boat crammed with hundreds of people overturned off Libya’s coast as rescuers approached, causing what could be the Mediterranean’s deadliest known migrant tragedy and intensifying pressure on the European Union on Sunday to finally meet demands for decisive action.

Almonds are hot topic in California water talks
California almonds are becoming one of the world’s favorite snacks and creating a multibillion-dollar bonanza for agricultural investors. But the crop extracts a staggering price from the land, consuming more water than all the showering, dish-washing and other indoor household water use of California’s 39 million people.

Ferris High students set statewide example on biology test
More than 2,000 Washington high school seniors might not graduate if a requirement to pass the state’s biology exam is left intact. A red flag went up when fewer than 34 percent of students statewide passed the “Collection of Evidence” course in their last attempt. Spokane Public Schools’ pass rate was 31.7 percent. Ferris High School is a notable exception. The school has the highest end-of-course passing rate in Spokane Public Schools – 85 percent last year – and is being held up as a successful example statewide. Science teachers there credit a collaborative approach, monthly practice for the exam and after-school study sessions prior to the June test.

Top Academy of Country Music awards go to Bryan, Lambert
Miranda Lambert won four awards, including album and song of the year, but the singer lost the night’s top prize to Luke Bryan at Sunday’s Academy of Country Music Awards. It was a repeat of the Country Music Association Awards in November, where Lambert won multiple prizes but lost the big award to Bryan.

Sea lion pup abducted from California beach
Whoever snatched a seal or sea lion pup from a Los Angeles beach early Sunday should not be fooled by the animal’s cuteness – they could suffer a vicious bite, an animal rescue expert said.

In brief: Yemeni Shiite rebel leader vows not to surrender
A Shiite rebel leader in Yemen vowed to not surrender Sunday amid Saudi-led airstrikes in a rambling speech that rejected U.N. efforts to halt violence there, even as the political party of the country’s former leader welcomed international efforts for a cease-fire.
Gunmen storm Afghan police station
Insurgents armed with guns and explosives attacked a police station Sunday in Afghanistan’s southern city of Lashkar Gar, wounding two officers and a civilian as gunmen elsewhere kidnapped at least a dozen mine clearers, authorities said.
Cuban dissident candidates concede
Two dissident candidates conceded defeat Sunday in Cuban local elections that offered them a chance to become the first officials elected from outside the Communist Party in 40 years.
Cooking fire blamed for wildfire
An unattended cooking fire sparked a fire that had threatened hundreds of homes in Southern California, fire officials said Sunday.
Denver police issue dozens of pot citations
Denver police said there were no major problems as marijuana celebrations continued for a second day Sunday, but police tweeted a reminder that while recreational use of marijuana is legal in Colorado, people still can’t use it in public.

Chairs sit in silence 20 years after Oklahoma City bombing
Every day when Dr. Rosslyn Biggs goes to work as a federal government veterinarian she is reminded of her mother, one of 168 people killed in the Oklahoma City bombing and honored Sunday on the 20th anniversary of the deadliest terrorist attack on U.S. soil until Sept. 11, 2001. Biggs has the same job once held by her mother, Dr. Margaret L. “Peggy” Clark, as a food safety veterinarian at the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Former President Bill Clinton, who was president when the attack occurred, spoke at Sunday’s service at the Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum, where the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building once stood. Officials estimated 2,500 people attended.

IS releases video of slayings
Islamic State militants in Libya shot and beheaded groups of captive Ethiopian Christians, a video purportedly from the extremists showed Sunday. The attack widens the circle of nations affected by the group’s atrocities while showing its growth beyond a self-declared caliphate in Syria and Iraq.

Feds arrest six in probe of youths joining overseas militants
Six people were arrested Sunday in connection with a terrorism investigation in Minnesota, where authorities have been tracking youths who have traveled or tried to travel to Syria to fight with militants, including the Islamic State group.

California-based IdentityMind Global, which offers a risk management platform for e-commerce and financial institutions, has opened a Spokane Valley office at 15920 E. Indiana Ave.
Around the Board to offer games, food
A board game-themed cafe is launching this month in Spokane at 829 W. Riverside Ave. Owner Jennifer DeHart plans a Saturday opening for Around the Board, in a leased 3,000-square-foot space.
Ticor Title leases at Rock Pointe West
Ticor Title Co. has leased just over 2,500 square feet in the Rock Pointe West center, at 1330 N. Washington St. Ticor is a subsidiary of Fidelity National Title Group.

Then and Now: Medical Lake’s healing legend
The legendary restorative waters of Medical Lake were “strong medicine” to the natives of the region. Native Americans had brought the sick to its shores for generations. They had taken powdery residue from the water to those who couldn’t travel. When a French Canadian named Andrew LeFevre settled there in 1872, the Indians told him the water was poisonous. But LeFevre found that the water cured his sheep of scabies and claimed that bathing in the water relieved his rheumatism.

In brief: Spokane police seek shooter in attack outside Hells Angels clubhouse
A man was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries after he was shot Sunday morning outside the Spokane headquarters of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang, and the shooter remained at large.
Baby girl shot in car dies days later
A 1-year-old girl who was shot in the head in a drive-by shooting outside Seattle has died.
Hotels given tsunami-related key sleeves
The city of Seaside has given hotels key holders that contain warnings of a potential tsunami and evacuation instructions, in an effort to inform visitors about the risks.

Leonard Pitts Jr.: Identity marker shortchanges us

Downsizing matters
As people age, they often are “frozen” in place because the idea of downsizing is overwhelming and unimaginable.

Moving your elderly parent can be easier said than done

Flawless flight puts 95-year-old pilot within reach of record book
Peter Weber Jr. flew a plane for about 20 minutes on a recent Monday. The flight was nothing fancy, just three looping circles around an area airfield. But it could nonetheless snag a Guinness world record for him. Weber, 95, told reporters gathered to witness the event that the flight qualifies him as the oldest active pilot.

________

from ThatsNonsense.com

4 types of Facebook friend who can put you at risk
The “let’s go in for every competition ever” friend
The “everything I post is public” friend
The “I’m blatantly going to fall for a phishing scam” friend
The “I’m willing to install pretty much any Facebook app” friend

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from The Washington Post
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Posted by at No comments:

In the news, Sunday, April 19, 2015


________

APR 18      INDEX      APR 20
________


Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

________

from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]
________

from Examiner.com
[Information from this site may not be vetted.]

Young conservative CJ Pearson calls out 'radical racist left' in new video
On Sunday, CJ Pearson, the 12-year-old Georgia conservative who called Barack Obama out for not loving the United States, issued another video targeting what he called the "radical, racist left." The video, Pearson said at YouTube, "exposes the racist liberal policies of the Democratic Party."

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from Herman Cain

Liberals are lying about the death tax
There are few taxes liberals love more than the death tax. They figure that once you’re dead, your heirs have no legitimate claim to your money because they did nothing to earn it. And who does have a legitimate claim to it? The government, of course! Why? Because all wealth inherently belongs to the government and anything you are allowed to use throughout the course of your life is strictly the result of their kind beneficence.

________

from Huffington Post
[Information from this site may be unreliable.]

Pope Francis Urges Action On Migrant Deaths

________

from National Review
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Fiorina Has Hillary Defenders WorriedCarly Fiorina has attracted enough attention and backing to get in the race in a serious way, and she will have more chances to impress grass-roots activists and voters. Her candor and bluntness, along with her business experience, offer a refreshing contrast with Hillary Clinton. Republicans would be wise to showcase her talents,

________

from RedFlag News
[Information from this site may not be vetted.]

Exclusive Footage Inside Closed Walmart In California, Cops Guard Dock And Entrances (Video)

________

from The Spokesman-Review

Survivor: Smugglers locked hundreds in hold of capsized boat
A smuggler’s boat crammed with hundreds of people overturned off Libya’s coast as rescuers approached, causing what could be the Mediterranean’s deadliest known migrant tragedy and intensifying pressure on the European Union Sunday to finally meet demands for decisive action.

Spokane police investigate shooting outside Hells Angels clubhouse
Spokane police are investigating a shooting outside the Spokane headquarters of the Hells Angels motorcycle gang at 1308 E. Sprague Ave. One person was shot earlier today and taken to the hospital with a non-life-threatening injury, police said.

Almonds get roasted in debate over California water use
California almonds are becoming one of the world’s favorite snacks and creating a multibillion-dollar bonanza for agricultural investors. But the crop extracts a staggering price from the land, consuming more water than all the showering, dish-washing and other indoor household water use of California’s 39 million people.

Following complaints, California revamps water use regulations
In response to numerous complaints, California regulators Saturday issued a revised plan for the state’s first-ever mandatory water cuts, emphasizing the need for urgent action as summer looms.

Health reform fight all but over
After five years and more than 50 votes in Congress, the Republican campaign to repeal the Affordable Care Act is essentially over. Republican congressional leaders, unable to roll back the law while President Barack Obama remains in office and unwilling to again threaten a government shutdown to pressure him, are focused on other issues, including trade and tax reform. Less noted, senior Republican lawmakers have incorporated many of the law’s key protections into their own proposals, including guaranteeing coverage and providing government assistance to help consumers purchase insurance.

Rural schools provide benefits to students, communities
Nearly one-third of the nation’s public schools are located in rural areas. Eastern Washington’s farm country has a high concentration of school districts with fewer than 500 students. Whitman and Lincoln counties, the nation’s top two wheat producers, have a combined 16 small, rural school districts.

Washington teachers receive same base pay no matter location
While many rural school districts in the United States struggle to recruit and retain quality teachers, Washington is one of just a few states where a teacher’s base salary is the same in most places, no matter the location, district size or cost of living.

Problems linger five years after Gulf of Mexico oil spill
From above, five years after the BP well explosion, the Gulf of Mexico looks clean, green and whole again, teeming with life – a testament to the resilience of nature. But there’s more than surface shimmering blue and emerald to the aftermath of the Deepwater Horizon spill. And it’s not as pretty a picture – nor is it as clear.

Birth mom turns out to be co-worker
A 38-year-old woman’s quest to find her birth mother ended in a surprising place – the company where she works.

Two decades later, survivors still recovering from Oklahoma City bombing

Limits on Hinckley may soon be eased
The last man to shoot an American president now spends most of the year in a house overlooking the 13th hole of a golf course in a gated community.

Paul clashes with GOP rivals
Rand Paul lashed out Saturday at military hawks in the Republican Party in a clash over foreign policy dividing the packed GOP presidential field. Paul, a first-term senator from Kentucky who favors a smaller U.S. footprint in the world, said that some of his Republican colleagues would do more harm in international affairs than would leading Democrat Hillary Rodham Clinton.

Feds admit to decades of flawed forensic testimony
The Justice Department and FBI have formally acknowledged that nearly every examiner in the FBI Laboratory’s microscopic hair comparison unit gave flawed testimony in almost all trials in which they offered evidence against criminal defendants over more than a two-decade period before 2000, the Washington Post reported.

Afghan attack attributed to local IS affiliate
A motorcycle-riding suicide bomber attacked a line of people waiting outside a bank Saturday in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 35 and wounding 125 in an assault the country’s president blamed on the Islamic State group.

Earth Day party draws the wacky and wise to Riverfront Park
Around 90 vendors set up booths in Riverfront Park for the annual celebration, offering information on environmental issues and local organizations – four days before the actual Earth Day.

Accomplishments, or not, of Idaho legislative session
By the end of Idaho’s legislative session, lawmakers had reversed years of bitter dissension over school reform and passed a $125 million, five-year plan to boost teacher pay; increased funding for the state’s hard-hit schools; and raised the gas tax for the first time since 1996. But the session also ended without any action to provide options for Idahoans who make too much to qualify for Medicaid but not enough to get subsidized insurance on the state’s health insurance exchange, turning away millions in federal funds for that purpose. There was no action on ethics or contracting reform; civil rights protections for gays; or major tax changes. And the session ended with a House committee, by one vote, killing critical legislation required to keep Idaho’s child support enforcement system in line with federal laws, putting in jeopardy the entire system that collects $205 million a year in child support for Idaho children.

Eye on Boise: Lawmakers want no credit for representative’s editorial
A brouhaha over the child support enforcement bill killed on the final day of this year’s Idaho legislative session is dividing the House GOP.

Idaho lawmakers honor Sen. Shawn Keough’s milestone
One North Idaho senator got a surprise on the final night of the legislative session – she was honored for becoming the longest-serving female senator in the history of the state. Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, who has served for 20 years, said she found out she’s also the longest-serving senator from Bonner and Boundary counties, of either gender.

100,000 in danger zone of Northwest tsunami, report shows
A new analysis shows more than 100,000 people are at risk from a tsunami on the Northwest coast – but the outlook isn’t uniformly grim.

Inslee signs bill to boost mapping of geologic hazards
Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a bill that will allow Washington to have more information than ever about geologic hazards that threaten communities and citizens. Senate Bill 5088 requires an expansion of LiDAR mapping of geologic hazards and a thorough dissemination of that information. It’s the first major public policy initiative created in response to the Oso landslide.

Spin Control: Ousting state auditor Troy Kelley may be difficult
The chorus for Troy Kelley to resign as state auditor after he was indicted on federal charges Thursday grew louder as last week drew to a close, but any effort to force him out faces significant problems.

In brief: ‘Wild’ author Cheryl Strayed to speak at YWCA fundraiser
Cheryl Strayed, whose memoir of turning her life around by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail became a New York Times bestseller, will speak at the YWCA of Spokane’s annual lunch on Oct. 1.
Silverwood park account hacked
Someone hacked the Facebook page of the Silverwood Theme Park near Athol on Saturday morning, posting multiple links to suggestive adult content.
Pre-nuke era focus of Hanford tours
The story of the Hanford site prior to nuclear development is the focus of a new public tour offered by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Richland office.
No-fly listing not explained, suit says
A group of Americans on the U.S. no-fly list, including the imam of the Portland Islamic Center, say the U.S. has failed to explain their placement on the list. The Oregonian reported a motion filed Friday alleges the government refused to do what Portland U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown ordered: provide notice to plaintiffs explaining why they remain on the list.

Montana Legislature approves Medicaid expansion plan
The Montana state Legislature passed a bill expanding Medicaid eligibility to about 70,000 low-income residents.

Tribes urge restart of background checks in child placement
Washington tribes and the country’s largest group representing Native Americans are asking for state and federal help in getting background checks when a tribe needs to place a child with a foster parent in an emergency situation.

Woman dies in fire; spouse able to escape
Authorities said a woman has died in a house fire on Bainbridge Island. Bainbridge Island Fire Department officials said a man escaped from the house fire early on Saturday, but the body of his wife was found inside. The Kitsap Sun reported she was identified as Anne Henningsen Schlee; she was in her 80s.

Editorial: State, Senate continuing negligence in parks, tourism

Smart Bombs: Politicians can’t escape politics

Kathleen Parker: Abortion divides women on Clinton

Jamie Tobias Neely: Mandate sharing patients’ e-data

Dollar takes toll
Since June 30, the greenback is up 28 percent against the euro, 18 percent against the Japanese yen and 40 percent against the Brazilian real. Not since 1981 has the dollar been so strong.

Plan to put more seats in airliners likely won’t fly with customers
Airlines increasingly are missing scheduled takeoffs and landings, losing travelers’ bags and overbooking flights, according to a report released Monday.

Shares of Walt Disney stock put shareholders in happy place
Stock in Walt Disney (NYSE: DIS) has rewarded shareholders with a 16 percent average annual return over the past 30 years, and the company, big as it is, is actually picking up steam, averaging 26 percent gains over the past five years.

Tom Kelly: Buyer loyalty to agents can take back set
Corporate transfers often surface in the springtime. While some companies bend over backward to accommodate and facilitate, many workers are on their own to find a new address in a new town in a short period of time. This can lead to rapid house-hunting trips and a lack of loyalty toward real estate agents.

BBB Tip of the Week
Student loan debt has reached a whopping $1.2 trillion, and a reported 7 million student-loan borrowers are in default. A recent report shows that 44 percent of college graduates are underemployed. The average student loan debt for graduating seniors ranges from $25,000 to $40,000, depending on which type of college attended – public, nonprofit or private.

WDFW drafts list of potential budget cuts
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has drafted a list of more than $10 million in potential cuts for the 2015-17 budget cycle, including closing some trout hatcheries and at least one lower Columbia salmon hatchery and reducing ocean salmon fishing.

Video hosting
Once-cluttered video store landscape is down, but thanks to a dedicated group of renters, not out

Taking it easy
Designing a landscape for low maintenance and accessibility means a lighter workload in years to come

Tim Carter: Thermal camera has numerous home uses

Oregon lights
Even today, many lighthouses along the Oregon Coast play a critical role for the passing ships in the night

FDA approves drug to fight heart failure
Patients with chronic heart failure, a disabling, deadly disease that worsens as the heart gradually pumps less efficiently, are getting a much-needed new option with U.S. approval of a novel drug from Amgen Inc.

Childhood cancer treatments take fatal toll

WSU museum hopes to raise $1 million from art sale
The WSU Museum of Art is hoping to make $1 million by selling two paintings in its permanent collection.  The sale of the paintings by Walter Ufer would fund an endowment to care for the museum’s collection of more than 2,000 paintings and sculptures and make art more accessible to the public.

Spokane poet Tod Marshall has won the Humanities Washington Prize. Marshall, who teaches at Gonzaga University, has released four poetry collections – “Dare Say” (2002), “Range of the Possible” (2002), “Tangled Line” (2009), and “Bugle” (2014) – and edited a collection of interviews with poets, “Range of Voices” (2005).

Former teacher immersed in love of history
Moscow resident Donal Wilkinson lives inside a museum disguised as a home. Or, maybe it’s a home disguised as a museum. Either way, one would be hard-pressed to find another house that contains as many historical artifacts. Wilkinson, though, makes it clear the items adorning his walls and floors not only represent America’s history, but his own.

6 May 1923 - 12 Apr 2015     Odessa, Spokane

22 Oct 1918 - 8 Apr 2015      Spokane
one of the first female licensed pharmacists to practice in the state. 

age 77 - d. 21 Mar 2015      Colville, Spokane

28 Jan 1924 - 27 Mar 2015     Edwall, Spokane

Obituary: Krause, Alice M. (Murphy).
8 Aug 1921 - 2 Apr 2015     Harington

Obituary: Oscarson, Ralph E.
25 Feb 1926 - 15 Apr 2015      St. Maries, ID; Newport, Spokane, Ione

Obituary: Ainley, Virginia (Warren) “Ginny”
25 Oct 1927 - 8 Apr 2015     Spokane
daughter of Dr. Frank Warren, Whitworth College President, 1940-1963

Obituary: Palanuk, Mary Magdalene (Ernest)
14 Feb 1915 - 16 Apr 2015     Grand Coulee, Almira

Obituary: Garvin, George Washington
14 Jan 1915 - 15 Apr 2015      Spokane
Pearl Harbor survivor

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from WND (World Net Daily)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]

Princeton prof: Kill severely disabled infants under Obamacare
In a radio interview Sunday, Princeton University ethics professor Peter Singer argued it is “reasonable” for government or private insurance companies to deny treatment to severely disabled babies. Singer contended the health-care system under Obamacare should be more overt about rationing and that the country should acknowledge the necessity of “intentionally ending the lives of severely disabled infants.”

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Posted by at No comments:

In the news, Saturday, April 18, 2015


________

APR 17      INDEX      APR 19
________


Information from some sites may not be reliable, or may not be vetted.
Some sources may require subscription.

________

from The Blaze (& Glenn Beck)
[Information from this site may not be reliable.]
from Examiner.com
[Information from this site may not be vetted.]
________

from The Spokesman-Review

Afghanistan’s president blames Islamic State for bombing that killed at least 35
A motorcycle-riding suicide bomber attacked a line of people waiting outside a bank Saturday in eastern Afghanistan, killing at least 35 and wounding 125 in an assault the country’s president blamed on the Islamic State group.

Cost of repairing bridges in Riverfront Park put at $13.5 million
A recent evaluation of 11 bridges in and near Riverfront Park estimated up to $13.5 million in costs to upgrade or replace the bridges. The costliest fix is for Howard Street South, the bridge nearest the Looff Carrousel. According to KPFF Consulting Engineers, the 83-year-old bridge needs to be completely replaced, including its underwater piers, at a cost of $4.4 million to $5.8 million. All other bridges in the park need some form of maintenance. The $13.5 million price tag for bridge repairs is much higher than the $2 million city officials estimated when voters in November approved the $60 million bond to renovate the park.

Regulators order new oil train safety steps
An emergency order requiring trains hauling crude oil and other flammable liquids to slow down as they pass through urban areas and a series of other steps to improve safety were announced Friday by the Department of Transportation.

The Rev. Joseph Weitensteiner, the former director of Morning Star Boys’ Ranch, has been reinstated as an active priest after the last sex abuse claims against him were rejected by a retired federal judge hired to rule on the credibility of the cases.

Inmate’s family gets $8 million jury award
The family of an Airway Heights Corrections Center inmate who died after guards allegedly ignored his medical condition and treated his diabetic episode as a behavioral problem won an $8 million verdict from a Spokane County jury on Friday, twice the amount the family requested. Dale Stahl, 57, was a “brittle diabetic,” someone whose Type 1 diabetes frequently caused large swings in his blood sugar level. He died April 7, 2012, after he was restrained for a long period of time after suffering hypoglycemic shock, his family said in the lawsuit.

A family was awarded the rights to 10 rare $20 Double Eagle gold coins possibly worth $80 million or more on Friday after a U.S. appeals court overturned a jury verdict.

A large gas pipeline exploded into a tower of fire Friday at the Fresno County sheriff’s gun range in Central California, closing both directions of a major highway in the region and injuring at least 11 people, three of them critically, authorities said.
Nitrogen gas approved as alternate for execution
Oklahoma became the first U.S. state to approve nitrogen gas for executions under a measure Gov. Mary Fallin signed into law Friday that provides an alternative death penalty method if lethal injections aren’t possible, either because of a court ruling or a drug shortage.

Measles outbreak traced to Disneyland declared over
California health authorities on Friday declared an end to a large measles outbreak that started at Disneyland and triggered a national debate about vaccinations.

Obama rips ‘dysfunction,’ asks vote on AG nominee
In a forceful rebuke, President Barack Obama derided the “political gamesmanship” that he said continues to hold up the confirmation of Loretta Lynch to serve as attorney general five months after he first nominated her for the job.

Saddam’s top deputy killed, Iraqi officials say
He was the last member of Saddam Hussein’s inner circle still on the run, depicted with his distinctive red moustache as the “king of clubs” on the U.S. military’s deck of cards of most-wanted Iraqi regime fugitives. Now, officials say they believe government forces killed Izzat Ibrahim al-Douri near Tikrit, where the former deputy to Saddam was working alongside Islamic State militants.

Al-Qaida in Yemen takes arms depot
Al-Qaida’s Yemen branch routed government forces from a large weapons depot in the country’s east on Friday, seizing dozens of tanks, Katyusha rocket launchers and small arms, security officials said, as airstrikes by a Saudi-led coalition intensified in the capital, Sanaa, and also in Yemen’s second-largest city. The seized depot is located in Mukalla, the capital of Hadramawt – Yemen’s largest province where al-Qaida has been consolidating its control.

Parents say put Boston bomber behind bars for life
In a front-page essay published Friday in the Boston Globe, Bill and Denise Richard called on prosecutors to drop the death penalty phase of Tsarnaev’s trial and bring the case to a close. Their 8-year-old son, Martin, was the youngest of the three people killed by the explosions at the marathon finish line and their 7-year-old daughter, Jane, lost a leg. The parents were among the 264 people injured in the April 15, 2013, attack. They argue that ending the case would allow them and others to heal and rebuild their lives instead of having to live through years of inevitable appeals if the jury decides on the death penalty.

Pansies speed patches on potholes
An upstate New York woman has taken on the post-winter pothole problem in her hometown by filling in the eyesores with pansies.

U.S. criticized as Army troops land in Ukraine
About 300 U.S. Army paratroopers on Friday arrived in Ukraine for training exercises with national guard units, a move criticized by Moscow and eastern Ukraine’s Russia-backed separatist rebels. The troops, from the Italy-based 173rd Airborne Brigade, are to spend several weeks training a total of about 900 Ukrainian national guardsmen.

Competing plans on how to fix school taxes get airing
A proposed change in the way school districts levy property taxes and help pay their teachers was described by Republican supporters as “revenue neutral” when introduced this week. But Democratic opponents counter it’s really a massive property tax on some residents, and a tax break for others. In 2019, property owners in school districts that hold more than 60 percent of the state’s residents (about 4 million people) would pay higher property taxes in a “swap” between state and local property taxes.

Community Colleges of Spokane officials face ethics charges over relatives’ hiring
Three administrators at Community Colleges of Spokane who hired their own sons for unadvertised, part-time office jobs last year are facing ethics charges following a state investigation. The college district’s Chief Administration and Human Resources Officer Greg Stevens, his executive assistant Frances MacDonald-Davis and Human Resources Information Systems Director Melody Matthews plan to contest the investigative findings of the state Executive Ethics Board. The trio’s sons were hired last spring to help convert thousands of paper personnel files into electronic form for a new computer system.

Worsening drought prompts emergency declaration from Inslee
Nearly half of Washington is expected to face hardships due to worsening drought and snowpack conditions, and state officials say they are on the lookout for problems across the state.

Barber makes the final cut
After 49 years, Tom Groh says goodbye to longtime customers

Wealthy Russian wins free legal advice – for now
A federal judge will not make a Russian man accused of hacking U.S. businesses pay for his court-appointed attorneys. Federal prosecutors had asked U.S. District Judge Richard Jones to force Roman Seleznev to pay for his federal public defenders. They argued that he lived a lavish lifestyle before his arrest in the Maldives in July and made millions stealing credit card numbers from U.S. businesses and restaurants. He is in custody awaiting a Nov. 2 trial on a 40-count indictment on charges of wire fraud, computer hacking and identity theft. Seleznev may gain the ability to pay for his lawyers in the future and federal prosecutors can renew their motion for reimbursement if that happens, Jones said.

B.C. smelter spewed heavy metals into Upper Columbia River valley
Smokestacks from a Canadian smelter deposited high levels of lead and arsenic into the Upper Columbia River valley, new soil testing has confirmed. Teck Resources owns the smelter in Trail, British Columbia, that released the heavy metals during a century of operations. Past studies have focused on the smelter’s releases of mercury and other pollution into the Columbia River. This testing looked at airborne releases of heavy metals from the smelter’s smokestacks.

Shooting of baby wasn’t road rage, police say
A  1-year-old girl was shot in the head and critically wounded Thursday as she sat in a car with her parents in suburban Seattle. Detectives in Kent initially suggested road rage as a motive, but Cmdr. Jarod Kasner told the Seattle Times on Friday that police no longer think that’s the case after further investigation.

In brief: Elk teenager dies after motorcycle crash
A teenager from Elk in northern Spokane County died after crashing his motorcycle on Interstate 90 Thursday evening. Ryan J. Tachell, 18, was traveling east approaching a construction zone near Spokane Street, where traffic was backed up, the Idaho State Police reported in a news release. He lost control of his 2007 Yamaha motorcycle about 4:45 p.m. and crashed into the median barrier. Tachell was transported to Kootenai Health hospital, where he died Friday morning.
Suspect allegedly takes officer’s Taser
An officer attempted to pull over a car around 12:30 p.m., but the driver sped away. The car crashed into another vehicle in the 1800 block of West First Avenue and both men inside fled. One man, Brandon K. Hutchinson, 30, was located after he allegedly forced his way into a residence in the 2300 block of West First. A responding officer got in a struggle with Hutchinson, who is also accused of taking the officer’s Taser off his belt and unsuccessfully attempting to shock the officer with it. The second man, Christopher L. Olson, 34, was located and arrested without incident about an hour later.
Whooping cough on rise; vaccine advised
Whooping cough is on the rise in Washington, and Spokane Regional Health District officials are urging people, especially pregnant women, to get vaccinated against the disease.

State seeks clarity on ruling about holding mentally ill in jail
A lawyer for the state health services department has asked a federal judge to clarify or reconsider portions of her sweeping ruling that found that the state’s practice of holding mentally ill people in jails for weeks or months while they await competency services was unconstitutional.

Honeybees everywhere after truck overturns
A semitruck carrying millions of honeybees overturned on a highway north of Seattle early Friday, scattering hives and sending white-suited beekeepers scrambling to save as many insects as they could. The truck had just merged onto Interstate 5 about 3:30 a.m. when it tipped on its side, dumping its load of 448 hives, or about 13.7 million bees,

Bill to ease birth control access stalls in Oregon Legislature
A proposal that would allow women to get birth control directly from a pharmacist without a doctor’s prescription stalled Friday when a committee chair decided to convene a study group instead of moving the legislation forward.

Inslee again calls on Auditor Troy Kelley to resign
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee on Friday repeated his call for embattled state Auditor Troy Kelley to resign immediately following his indictment by a federal grand jury. Inslee spokesman David Postman said a letter from the governor was emailed Thursday night and then hand-delivered to the auditor’s office Friday.

Barbie sales rebound ahead of makeover
Mattel, the toy company behind the plastic dolls, said there were some signs of improving demand for Barbie ahead of its planned makeover of the brand, including Barbie dolls with different skin tones, eye colors and nose shapes to better relate to multicultural girls and their mothers.

Google smartphone searches will favor ‘mobile-friendly’ results
Google is about to change the way its influential search engine recommends websites on smartphones in a shift that’s expected to sway where millions of people shop, eat and find information. The revised formula, scheduled to be released Tuesday, will favor websites that Google defines as “mobile-friendly.” Websites that don’t fit the description will be demoted in Google’s search results on smartphones while those meeting the criteria will be more likely to appear at the top of the rankings – a prized position that can translate into more visitors and money.

Business briefs: Hefty plastic cups ads count on moms’ partying past
A new online ad campaign for Hefty disposable plastic cups has tapped some unusual spokeswomen: middle-age moms who look like June Cleaver but party like Lindsay Lohan.
Apple Watch sales remain online only
If you’re planning on buying the new Apple Watch, don’t expect to walk into a store and leave with one next week.
Higher gas prices spark modest inflation
Rising gas prices in March led to a slight increase in inflation, a sign that some of the broader economic impact from cheaper oil is fading.
Verizon lets customers choose channel packs
Verizon is giving its customers more control over the channels they pay for as the cacophony of cord cutting reshapes cable TV.

Bank earnings climbing
Wall Street and Main Street gave banks a boost last quarter. Fees from corporate mergers and commissions from trading fueled profits at big financial firms. But average Americans also helped by taking out more home loans and paying off their debts.

Jobless rate drops to 3.8 percent in Idaho
Idaho’s unemployment rate dropped to 3.8 percent in March, thanks in part to increased housing market activity.

Charles Krauthammer: Hillary is who she is; only her opponent will matter

Froma Harrop: ‘Sensible middle’ elusive in politics

Editorial: Legislature sluggish, but oil trains getting attention

Frank Straub and Kathleen O’Toole: New approaches needed to cut property crime

RELIGIOUS RECONCILIATION
Differences in spirituality can take a toll on marriages without continual communication

Ask Dr. K: Cervicitis often sexually transmitted

Cardinal George of Chicago, formerly of Yakima, dies
Cardinal Francis George, a vigorous defender of Roman Catholic orthodoxy who played a key role in the church’s response to the clergy sex abuse scandal and led the U.S. bishops’ fight against Obamacare, died late Friday morning after a long fight with kidney cancer. He was 78.

________

from The Times of Israel

Iran marks Army Day with cries of ‘Death to Israel, US’
Military parade near Tehran features truck carrying banner calling for destruction of Jewish state; Rouhani sets out ‘strategy of deterrence’

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