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SPOKANE-POLICE SHOOTING
Chief: Spokane police officer shoots, kills suicidal man
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Authorities say a Spokane police officer shot and killed a person near a golf course.
Police Chief Craig Meidl said police received a call from people trying to comfort a suicidal individual about 1:30 p.m. Wednesday near Esmeralda Golf Course. Officers set up a perimeter around the area when they arrived.
The Spokesman-Reivew reports that within 30 minutes of the call, an officer saw a male individual exit a residence with a firearm in his hand. The officer called for the person to drop the gun after it appeared he was aiming it at someone to the west.
Meidl said the person then turned to point the gun at the officer. The officer fired at least two shots from a rifle at the person.
First aid was rendered to the individual, but he died at the scene.
The Spokane County Sheriff's Office will investigate the shooting with assistance from Washington State Patrol.
SPOKANE-MAYORAL RACE
Spending in Spokane mayoral race tops $1 million
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Spending on the race for Spokane mayor has topped $1 million mark after an independent conservative political group spent $50,000 on ads attacking Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart.
The Spokesman-Review reports that spending on the race between Stuckart and Nadine Woodward is expected to increase. Since Oct. 1, conservative and liberal groups have spent more than $285,000 on the race, according to information filed with the state Public Disclosure Commission.
The spending has largely been in favor of Woodward, a former TV news anchor running her first campaign who has described herself as center-right. As of Tuesday, groups not affiliated with her campaign have spent $309,000 on her behalf, whereas $186,000 has been spent for Stuckart, an outspoken member of the Democratic Party.
The two candidates for the nonpartisan office also have raised funds directly to their campaigns, Stuckart with $285,000, and Woodward $271,000.
BOISE STATE-DIVERSITY
Lawmaker: No defunding Boise State over diversity efforts
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A state representative who authored a letter signed by 27 other Republican representatives decrying Boise State University's diversity and inclusion efforts says it's not her goal to defund the school over the issue.
Rep. Barbara Ehardt of Idaho Falls told more than 300 people attending a diversity panel discussion Tuesday with three other lawmakers that her top goal is to make sure free speech is not limited.
Republican Rep. Bryan Zollinger, Democratic Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb and Democratic House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding also took part in the panel discussion.
The July 9 letter to Boise State University President Marlene Tromp concerned a newsletter by the school's previous president.
The letter sent by lawmakers said the school's inclusion initiatives mentioned in the newsletter are exclusionary because they segregate students.
DRIVING-MOBILE PHONE BAN
Meridian bans hand-held phone use while driving
MERIDIAN, Idaho (AP) — One of the largest cities in Idaho has banned the use of a hand-held phone while driving.
Meridian's city council approved the ordinance Tuesday, prohibiting the use of hand-held devices any time a vehicle is in a traffic lane.
The ban doesn't include hands-free devices that use features like voice activation, and it includes some exceptions for things like navigation and use by first responders.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety says hand-held cellphone use while driving is banned in 16 states, including Oregon, Washington and Nevada.
Similar bans have passed in Pocatello, Idaho Falls, Hailey and Ketchum, but Meridian is the first city in the Boise region to pass a ban.
WILD HORSES-TRUMP ADMINISTRATION
Official: Solving wild horse problem will take $5B, 15 years
RENO, Nev. (AP) — The acting head of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management says it will take $5 billion and 15 years to get an overpopulation of wild horses under control.
William Perry Pendley told reporters Wednesday several developments have made him more optimistic about his agency's ability to eventually shrink the size of the herds from 88,000 to the 27,000 he says the range can sustain ecologically.
Pendley says the agency adopted out more than 7,000 mustangs and burros captured last year — the most in 15 years. He says that helps clear space in government holding pens so they can accelerate roundups while scientists develop new fertility-control drugs.
He says a new coalition of animal welfare advocates and ranchers is helping promote new solutions and Congress appears willing to help.
OLD GRENADES-BOMB SQUAD
Bomb squad responds after family finds old grenades
(Information from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com)
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — Members of a southern Idaho family were looking through an elderly relative's belongings when they got a couple of surprises: two World War II-era grenades.
The Times-News reports one grenade was found Thursday tucked inside a shadow box, and another was stored among other items of memorabilia belonging to the 94-year-old former soldier.
J.P. O'Donnell with the Twin Falls Police Bomb Squad said the man's son-in-law did a bit of research before calling in authorities for help.
The grenade in the shadow box was inert, but the other was believed to be a live military ordnance.
The Mountain Home Air Force Base Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was contacted, and the grenade was detonated at the local landfill on Friday.
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