Bloglander

Occasionally in the quest to “build balanced men” out of adolescent male Eagles, something goes wrong. Such a thing apparently happened this week at Eastern Washington University's Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, where allegations of misbehavior led to the suspension of the entire house. Not academic suspension, but still, the egrets are in hot water with their national chapter.

What does this suspension mean for the ΣΦΕ house? Well, they won’t be getting the boot from their stately brick mansion with the cherry-red French doors and the glimmering-gold Greek letters. Yet.

Until the boys get right with the university and the Sig Ep nationals, there will be no alcohol allowed in the house, though. Because balanced men in the making do more than one handed keg stands.

Meanwhile, the Sig Ep nationals — who’ve been around since 1901 and have a reputation to protect — will be going over everything with a fine-tooth comb. When the nationals got word of “allegations against certain members” last week via an anonymous email to the national chapter, they sent a representative out immediately to lay down the law.

The nationals then released a vague statement indicating that they care about health and safety and expect their brethren to follow rules, laws and their charter. The statement also indicated that the Eastern Sig Eps' debauchery had posed a risk to the safety of at least one student, possibly more.

If the nationals aren’t happy with what they find, they could eventually revoke the Gamma chapter’s charter and evict them. 

KREM 2 was on this story from the jump, sending reporter Lindsay Nadrich to the venerable campus grounds in Cheney to get the real story.

“Sometimes I have to cross the street because they’re outside yelling and screaming,” EWU student Ali Higbee told Nadrich. Higbee wasn’t surprised to hear about the allegations. That’s what the Sig Eps are known for (either getting accused of things or misbehaving, take your pick). Or so she has heard. Higbee did not claim any firsthand knowledge of misbehavior.

The whole thing is a bit of a headache for Eastern media relations guy Dave Meany.

"We don’t control fraternities and sororities," says Meany. "Our only thing is that we recognize them and let them participate in Greek Week."

Both EWU and the national chapter had nothing more to say on this matter. Mostly because they're still investigating and it's complicated and they don't want to tarnish the fraternity's rep any more than it already has been over this anonymous allegation of uncertain nature. 

So, does anyone know what the Sig Eps did to land themselves in this predicament? Sig Eps? Tell us your secrets! We'd love to know.

Each week we delve into the new music and home video releases and find the best of the bunch. It's the Tuesday Taste, and this week's has a few delicious morsels for you. 

MUSIC
No doubt the hardcore Wu-Tang fans still recovering from their half-assed recent release might look for something better from Raekwon's new solo disc, and Guided by Voices fans this week can delve into another solo set from bandleader Robert Pollard. Oh, and the new Zac Brown Band album will probably sell a zillion or so copies to people who dig that burley dude's country-rock stylings.

I'll pass on that one. And next week has a ridiculous amount of great new releases, so saving money is better than buying questionable releases. There is one release this week worth particular attention, though, and it comes from Blur, with a set called The Magic Whip. The Damon Albarn-led crew has been gone a while, but you can bet the same groovy, pop-rock sensibilities Albarn brought to Gorillaz and his solo work will show up on this one. Here's a taste of a new tune called "There Are Too Many of Us": 

MOVIES & TV
The mainstream releases include the awful Jennifer Lopez vehicle The Boy Next Door, and the movie version of Paddington, the cute little bear. But there are some much better options for you: 

Some styles of music understandably traverse decades with no problem. Performers who sit behind a piano or gently strum an acoustic guitar don’t put a lot of wear and tear on their bodies.

How the thrash-metal dudes in Anthrax — all in their 50s, save for the new lead guitarist — are still doing what they do on stage more than three decades after their debut album Fistful of Metal is totally beyond me. I’m sore just from some moderate headbanging and air-guitar "played" while watching their show.

Monday at Spokane Arena, Anthrax held the middle slot of a bill opened by Crobot and headlined by Volbeat, and they took the fans on a ride through their history, one that included a mosh pit for every song. They reached back to their 1985 album Spreading The Disease for “Madhouse,” and hit hard on their Among the Living album for show-opener “Caught in a Mosh” as well as the set-ending salvo of “I Am the Law” and “Indians.” 

Throughout, the band was as frisky on stage as in their younger days. Guitarist Scott Ian, the most recognizable member of the band for non-fans, raced around and threw up his “devil horns” toward appreciative fans in front after every song. Bassist Frank Bello crouched so low his bass nearly scraped the ground as he plucked his strings and sang backup. New lead guitarist Jon Donais was comfortable settling in and ripping out stinging solos among the musicians a good 15 years or so older. Anthrax drummer Charlie Benante had to sit out the first few weeks on the tour due to some Carpal Tunnel Syndrome issues, but his temporary replacement Jon Dette more than ably replicated Benante's dexterity as he drove the band forward. And out front, the on-again, off-again, now-on-again lead singer Joey Belladonna spent his time exhorting the crowd to pump their fists and sing along to the anthems that made Anthrax one of the “Big Four” of thrash bands, along with Metallica, Megadeth and Slayer.

The highlights for me were the band’s Joe Jackson cover, “Got the Time,” and a monstrous take on “Antisocial” that had even those on hand for Volbeat singing along and throwing their horns to the sky of the half-filled arena.

It was an hour-long blast of high-energy fun, and the band sounded good in the cavernous space. And I don’t know about the guys in the band, but today I could use a massage.

Correction: This post has been updated since it was originally posted. 

Spokane City Council will remain silent on a pair of controversial trade agreements the United States is currently negotiating.

Last night, the council voted to table a resolution brought by Councilman Mike Fagan that would express opposition to legislation in Congress that would hasten the approval of the Trans Pacific Partnership and the Trans Atlantic Trade and Investment Partnership. Critics of the agreements say they've been written in secret, give corporations too much power at the expense of democratically controlled governments, and will hurt U.S. industries that have already been battered by existing trade agreements.

After hearing from a parade of people with perspectives from across the political spectrum speaking in support of the resolution, Council President Ben Stuckart, in response to a question from Councilwoman Candace Mumm, said that a council rule prohibited it from passing any resolution or ordinance not directly related to local affairs or municipal business.

Fagan said that he drafted the resolution after hearing from a broad range of constituents from various political stripes who had concerns about the trade agreements. He said that while he was aware of the rule, he pointed out that the council recently passed a resolution in favor of federal legislation regulating oil trains, many of which pass through the city.

“Now, trade agreements are very relevant here in the City of Spokane even though this is being looked at the federal level or will be,” Fagan said.

However, Councilman Jon Snyder, who said there were valid concerns about the agreements, disagreed.

“It's really hard for me to hear those words from Councilman Fagan after he used the same arguments against voting for the resolution we had here with the Citizens United Decision,” he said. “It's the same argument he used against voting and tabling the marriage equality resolution.”

Snyder made a motion to table the resolution indefinitely, meaning it would not be considered by council, which passed with Fagan casting the only no vote.

A bevy of entertaining options await in our event listings and Staff Picks, so get on over there and check them out when you have time.

Here are a couple highlights I found for Tuesday, April 28: 

FOOD | The River City Beer Dinner is bringing together River City Brewing and Rock City Grill in delicious ways. 

WORDS | Humanities Washington is back in town for another Think & Drink session at Lindamens, this one tackling the subject of Writing in the Margins: Race in Literature. The event will feature Featuring Gonzaga professor Jessica Maucione, poet Mandy Smoker Broaddus and author Shann Ray.

LIVE BANDS | The Bartlett is hosting one of the baddest mofos on the planet in Wayne "The Train" Hancock, a smoking guitar player and performer who captures a retro juke-joint sound will style. He'll be joined by Cursive Wires; here's a sample of what Hancock has going: 

HERE

Washington Fish and Wildlife officers killed a black bear that's been causing a ruckus in the Five Mile area. (Spokesman-Review)

The University High School student responsible for three recent bomb threats at the school was caught on camera leaving a bathroom where the threats were written. (KXLY)

One of the first projects as part of the Riverfront Park Master Plan approved last fall is updating and repairing bridges throughout the park. (KREM)

The EWU chapter of Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity is being investigated for allegations of misconduct. (Spokesman-Review) 

THERE

Neighborhoods in Baltimore were hit by arson and riots last night, fueled by anger over the police-custody death of 25-year-old black resident Freddie Gray. The National Guard was also called in yesterday. (New York Times) 

The latest numbers in Nepal: 4,600+ dead, 9,000+ injured and 8 million people affected. (CNN)

This year's Tony Award nominations are out! (LA Times)

MINECRAFT

Tomorrow, the immensely popular game amongst kids and adults alike introduces Alex, a default female character to join the long-time playable guy Steve. (Salon)

In our current issue, we wrote about how New Approach Idaho, a group of pro-pot activists, is attempting to sidestep the legislature in the Gem State with an initiative that would legalize medical marijuana and decriminalize possession of the drug.

Although New Approach Idaho has a high bar to clear, it’s probably the only way the state’s pot laws will change because elected officials don’t want anything to do with marijuana.

Idaho is a conservative state to be sure. A Democrat hasn’t held the governor's office since 1995, Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney won 65 percent of the vote in 2012 and both houses of the legislature are dominated by the GOP. But in other states where the GOP is the prevailing party, elected officials have been a bit groovier with marijuana.

Consider this: On April 16, Georgia Republican Gov. Nathan Deal signed a medical marijuana bill passed by the Republican-dominated legislature. On the very same day, Idaho Republican Gov. Butch Otter vetoed a significantly narrower bill that would allow for the use of cannabinol oil, which contains virtually no THC, to be used to treat children and others experiencing severe seizures. Both Utah, which has a sizable Mormon population, and Alabama allow medical use of CBD oil.

State Rep. Tom Loertscher, R- Iona, says after hearing “heart-wrenching” stories from families with severely epileptic children desperate for a therapy that would stop their debilitating seizures, he sponsored a bill allowing the therapy.

Lawmakers (who almost killed the bill) and the governor heard the same stories. But they also heard from law enforcement who said they would be burdened trying to differentiate CBD oil from other marijuana byproducts and from the state Office of Drug Policy, which called the therapy “unproven.”

“They think it’s the slippery-slope argument, that it’s the gateway to legalizing it in the state,” says Loertscher, who is also dead-set against medical marijuana, of the bill’s opponents.

State Rep.Vito Barbieri, R- Dalton Gardens, voted for the bill and was disappointed to see it vetoed. He says that medical marijuana is unlikely to become a reality in the state. In 2013, the legislature passed a resolution expressing that marijuana would never become legal for any reason.

“I think that it’s just been illegal for so long,” he says. “It’s a psychotropic and most of the members of the Legislature just don’t want to go there.”

Bill Esbensen, spokesperson for New Approach Idaho, attributes resistance among lawmakers and the governor to “ignorance and bigotry.”

“Prohibition has been thrust upon us for so long and so hard that it’s harder for these older legislative people, and they are older, to believe anything good about cannabis,” he says.

This blog has been updated to reflect the accurate date of when Idaho last had a Democratic governor. 

It's the last week of April, and the sunny skies mean there are no excuses when it comes to getting out and about. Take a look through our event listings and Staff Picks for some inspiration. 

Here are a few highlights for Monday, April 27: 

LIVE BANDS | If you like your rock big, loud and metallic, you'll want to make your way to the Spokane Arena tonight for the show headlined by Volbeat, opened by Crobot, and all about (for me, at least) Anthrax, playing in the middle slot. They are legends and one of the Big Four of thrash-metal pioneering acts, and they'll be delivering nearly three decades of mosh-worthy tunes, like this one: 

LIVE BANDS | The Baby Bar has one hell of a big show going on, too, courtesy of The Gooch Palms, Death Valley Girls, 66beat, Phelgm Fatlae and Street Tang. 

THEATER | The Bing Crosby Theater hosts a live performance of the quirky podcast Welcome to Night Vale, a podcast come to life exploring life in a fictional town full of strange happenings. 

HERE

$8 million in improvements to taxiways at Felts Field in the next two years. (Spokesman-Review)

Spokane police believe a man found with a gunshot wound in a car in the East Central Neighborhood Saturday shot himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene. (Spokesman-Review) 

Spokane Country Club could soon be up for sale after $1.4 million verdict. (Spokesman-Review) 

Everest climbers hit by avalanche, need helicopter rescue. At least 18 dead. (Seattle Times)

Seattle police back from vacation. (Seattle Times) 

THERE 

Gay rights lawyers prepare for tomorrow's U.S. Supreme Court arguments over gay marriage. (New York Times) 

Loretta Lynch (finally) sworn in at U.S. Attorney General. (NPR) 

Death toll in Nepal swells past 3,800 after magnitude-7.8 earthquake. (New York Times) 

Trial of James Holmes, man who opened fire in a Denver-area theater, begins today. (Los Angeles Times) 

The funeral for Freddie Gray, the 25-year-old black man who died in police custody in Baltimore, was held today. Gray's death sparked protests all over Baltimore. Police arrested 35 people on Sunday; six officers were injured during protests. (Baltimore Sun) 

WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENTS' DINNER 

Obama talked about his "bucket list" for the remainder of his presidency and used an "anger translator" at the WHCD. (YouTube) 

Cecily Strong didn't hold back either. (YouTube)

FRIDAY
Check for yourself here.

SATURDAY
Orgy (the band, not the event) is coming to the Palomino Saturday. Orgy disbanded in 2004, but now the original singer Jay Gordon is back with some hired hands and some new tunes rooted in hard rock with some electronic flourishes. Thirion X, Helldorado, 9ELECTRIC and Death Valley High open for the band. Cost is $20 at the door.

Buzz Vineyard turns 65 and also releasing a new album full of folksy, singer-songwriter songs at Jones Radiator Saturday. Not bad for one night. The show starts at 7:30 pm.

Seattle’s the Lucky Boys are preparing to bring their brand of cutthroat (Kimi Cutthroat is their lead singer, after all) punk rock sound to Mootsy's stage Saturday. Redvolt (out of Richland) and Siamese Suicide open the show at 9 pm. 

Big Dipper brings in the always-cool Fly Moon Royalty Saturday. The Seattle duo expertly combines hip-hop and diva soul music to create music you’ll want to dance to all night. The always funky Flying Spiders open up the show that starts 7 pm. The cost is $12 at the door. 

Also, note the seventh Round at the Bartlett happens Saturday featuring Cami Bradley. 

SUNDAY
No matter what the rumors have convinced you of, Tech N9ne does not have a house in Spokane. But he still comes through town at least twice a year, often playing at the Knitting Factory as he will this Sunday. The show starts at 7:30 pm and features openers Krizz Kaliko, Chris Webby, Murs and more. Cost is $28 for the all-ages show. Read our recent story here. 


House of Shem, the hottest reggae act out of New Zealand comes through the Red Room Lounge Sunday. Valley of Green opens for the show that starts at 9 pm. 

MONDAY
Danish rockers Volbeat headlines the Spokane Arena Monday night with the help of Anthrax (known as one of the "Big Four" in metal, along with Megadeth, Slayer and Metallica) and groove-rock Crobot Monday. A ticket is $40 at the door. Expect the night to rock seriously hard.

Meanwhile, over at the Baby Bar/Neato Burrito the Gooch Palms, Death Valley Girls, 66beat, Phlegm Fatale, Street Tang play for free. The show there is expected to rock equally as hard but with much more of a punk/grunge taste. Starts at 8 pm.