Bloglander

Ombudsman granted powers His requests for invisibility and plasma blasts were denied, but Spokane's police ombudsman was endowed with powers to conduct his own reviews and sit in on internal investigations, after years of debate and months of deliberation. (SR)

Half-mast Flags throughout Washington state are flying at half-mast today in honor of Spokane Valley's Joshua Dumaw, a U.S. Marine corporal killed in combat in Afghanistan last week. (KREM)

Worst driver ever? Authorities say the motorist who struck and killed a Cheney pedestrian over the weekend also hit a cyclist back in April. (KHQ)

More tainted sausage This time on a trail near the Clark Fork in Bonner County. Sausage laced with insecticide has killed one dog and sickened two. (Bonner County Daily Bee)

Our bad The president of FIFA says he'll re-open discussions about technology to review goal-line referee calls after an England goal against Germany was disallowed. (The kinds of ref mistakes that x-ed out two U.S. goals in the tournament will not be up for review.) (NYT)