Tuesday, June 13, 2017
A Spokane judge declared a mistrial Monday in the sexual assault case against a former Spokane police sergeant, who is accused of raping a female officer after a drunken house party.
Judge James Triplet sent the extra-large, 120-person jury pool home on the same day jury selection was set to begin after the former cop's defense attorney scoffed at what he calls a "pro-prosecution" article that ran in the Spokesman-Review over the weekend.
"Did you see the article?" defense attorney Rob Cossey asks. "What bothered me most, is for example, the paper made a big deal about a motion not to reference the alleged victim as a 'slut.'"
Cossey says that motion filed by prosecutors contained boilerplate language for sexual assault cases, and he objects to the insinuation that his trial strategy was to attack the alleged victim's character and sexual history. He asked the judge for a mistrial on those grounds, he says. Cossey emphasized that his argument was not based on juror misconduct, which could include potential jurors talking about the case among each other and/or discussing news coverage.
"It just skewed the whole reality," Cossey says of the daily newspaper's coverage.
A new trial date has been set for August. Asked whether he expects the trial to be moved to another county, Cossey says he'd prefer it stay in Spokane.
"I don't necessarily think so, but we're going to talk more about it because over half of the jurors have been reading about [the case]," he says.
Spokane County Prosecutor Kelly Fitzgerald did not immediately respond to a phone call seeking comment.
Tags: Gordon Ennis , Rob Cossey , sexual assault , Spokane Police Department , News , Image
ON INLANDER.COM
NEWS: A group called Safer Spokane that's pushing to charge a fine for coal and oil cars that travel by train through the city without meeting certain standards turned in 5,200 signatures to Spokane City Hall yesterday, meaning there's a good chance that its ballot initiative, Proposition 6, will be voted on in November.
IN OTHER NEWS
What happens when a 73-win team adds Kevin Durant
One year after giving up a 3-1 series lead and losing the NBA Finals, the Golden State Warriors finished off the Cleveland Cavaliers last night in Game 5 to reclaim the title. Golden State's newest addition, Kevin Durant, was Finals MVP. Sports Illustrated's Lee Jenkins has a great breakdown of how the Warriors' Draymond Green recruited Durant to the team immediately after last year's Finals loss.
Spokane County Superior Court Judge James Triplet declared a mistrial in the rape case against former Spokane police Sgt. Gordon Ennis; his attorney requested the mistrial during the jury selection, apparently because of a Spokesman-Review story he considers biased toward the prosecution, according to the newspaper. Other news outlets, like KXLY, say the mistrial was declared because it was impossible to seat a jury unfamiliar with the case's details.
False promise?
Community Health Systems, owner of Deaconess and Valley hospitals, promised to meet or exceed the average level of hospital charity care spending in Eastern Washington, but has failed to meet that promise, according to a lawsuit filed by the Empire Health Foundation. The lawsuit accused CHS, which is in the process of selling both hospitals, of not providing $110 million worth of charity care promised to low-income patients. (Spokesman-Review)
Quiet down, Coeur d'Alene!
If there's one thing you'll notice in downtown Coeur d'Alene, it's that people really love driving loud vehicles. The CdA Press says a city ordinance will try to quiet those cars, targeting "tricked-out cars, pickup trucks and motorcycles that spew smoke and noise just for the fun of it."
Not so special
After President Trump said he was considering dismissing special counsel Robert Mueller, the former FBI director appointed to oversee the investigation of the Trump campaign's connection to Russia, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein says there is no basis to fire Mueller, and that he's the only person who could do so. (Associated Press)
Tags: morning briefing , News , Safer Spokane , oil trains , coal trains , Golden State Warriors , NBA finals , Kevin Durant , Sgt. Gordon Ennis , Spokane police , Community Health Systems , Empire Health Foundation , lawsuit , Coeur d'Alene , President Trump , Robert Mueller , Image
Monday, June 12, 2017
Dozens of oil and coal trains roll through Spokane every week, something that Safer Spokane organizers worry puts the city at undue risk.
That's why the group is promoting a citizens initiative, which they're calling Proposition 6, that would essentially levy a $261 fine (per car) on the owners of uncovered rail cars full of coal, and tank cars carrying unconditioned crude oil.
Organizers turned in 5,200 signatures at Spokane City Hall on Monday afternoon, more than the needed 2,585 signatures, which means city voters will likely be asked to decide on the measure in November.
It's still got a ways to go, though.
First, the County Auditor's office will verify that at least the minimum number of signatures match registered city voters and aren't duplicated, and then send that back to the city clerk.
Then, the City Council has to agree to put the measure on the November ballot by Aug. 1, according to the Auditor's office.
Along the way, it's likely to face heavy criticism, as it has already.
C
ritics of the measure, including railroad companies, say that local governments don't have jurisdiction over rail transportation, but Safer Spokane organizers argue that Congress allows local jurisdictions to put rules in place when it comes to local safety risks."The railcar owners could avoid liability by simply covering the coal cars and pre-conditioning the oil to remove the highly flammable liquid gas like they do in Texas," Safer Spokane states under the "Frequently Asked Questions" section of its website. "The law would not ban oil or coal trains, but would require modest safety measures to substantially reduce the chances of a fiery derailment in downtown Spokane."
Tags: Spokane , oil trains , oil , coal , coal trains , safety , regulation , transportation , BNSF , Union Pacific , News , Image
ON INLANDER.COM
NEWS: A Spokane public defender who helps defend poor and disadvantaged clients is recognized for his work, which among other things includes hosting a free legal clinic and being a leader in Spokane's Community Court.
NEWS: To cover it, or not to cover it? That's the question the Spokane Park Board has put off voting on until next month, while they get more information about what it would take to cover the U.S. Pavilion in Riverfront Park.
WHAT'S UP? Looking for something to do this week? We've got you covered, from baseball to music, food to film.
IN OTHER NEWS
First time for everything
Maryland and D.C. attorneys general filed a lawsuit against President Trump today, alleging that because he hasn't cut ties with his businesses, he's violating the emoluments clauses of the U.S. Constitution, which the New York Times reports is a first: "The complaint enters uncharted legal territory: No state has previously accused a president of violating the emoluments clauses."
Operation 'restoration'
Crews have finished replanting saplings where more than a mile of trees were illegally bulldozed in April, the Spokesman-Review reports. It remains to be seen if the young trees will weather the hot summer, concerned parties pointed out.
Open Sessions
Attorney General Jeff Sessions will testify before Congress on Tuesday; he'll likely be asked about what ousted FBI Director James Comey meant last week when he said the FBI had information "that would have made it 'problematic' for Sessions to be involved in the probe" into Russia and the 2016 election (before he recused himself), reports the Washington Post.
Tags: Trump , emoluments , Comey , Sessions , restoration , bluff , pavilion , public defender , Spokane , justice , events , food , News , Image
Sunday, June 11, 2017
With kids finishing their school year and summer in full swing, no doubt you need some entertainment options at the ready. Our event listings and Staff Picks are here to help.
Here are some highlights of the week ahead:
Monday, June 12
COMMUNITY | An intriguing discussion happening at the Coeur d'Alene Public Library, as a panel including activists and historians will tackle "The Role of Blacks in Idaho."
Tuesday, June 13
LIVE BANDS | Seattle blues-rockers Ayron Jones and the Way return to kick out some Happy Hour jams at the Hotel RL. We wrote about the band a little while back, so a free gig seems a nice way to spend a Tuesday afternoon. Here's a little sample of his sound:
OUTDOORS | The South Hill Library hosts a representative from the Washington Trails Association; she'll drop some knowledge about "Hikes in the Spokane Area." A perfect primer for summer, and it's free at 6 pm.
Tags: What's Up? , Ayron Jones and the Way , Marthe Cohn , Fried Chicken & Beer , Crave! NW , Spokane Indians , opening night , Unifest , Dog Film Festival , Bazaar , Adult Swim on the Green , Image , Video
Friday, June 9, 2017
When Spokane public defender Francis Adewale first arrived in the United States — and eventually in Spokane — from his home country of Nigeria, his image of America was rocked.
"I never believed that people in America would be living under bridges," Adewale says. "The image of America is prosperity. So when I came here and saw that my clients were on the streets, I really put my heart into this."
Adewale is one of the leaders of the city of Spokane's innovative Community Court, which handles quality-of-life crimes and pushes people toward services and away from jail.
Adewale also runs a free legal clinic in Spokane Valley, and tonight he's being honored for his work with the President's Award from the Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers.
The award is given for "achievement in a particular case or series of related cases, or long-time service to the criminal defense bar," according to a news release from the association.
"Francis' professional and personal life has been dedicated to community outreach to the poorest and most disadvantaged people in our communities," says Kathy Knox, who runs the city's public defender office. "And he is well-deserving of this award."
In a phone conversation ahead of the ceremony in Chelan, Washington, Adewale tells the story of his move to the U.S. Almost on a whim, a friend entered him in the application lottery for a green card. He moved here without knowing a soul.
After living in Washington, D.C., for a couple of years, Adewale took a job with the city's public defender office in Spokane. He won his first six trials, he jokes, in spite of his heavy African accent.
"Jurors were willing to give me a chance," he says. "I had DUI cases, domestic violence cases, and my accent then wasn't as good as it is now. But jurors were willing to take time and listen to me, and give me a chance to make an argument for my client."
That patience, he says, was heartening, and since 2013, he has worked closely in a team made of prosecutors, defense attorneys and judges to shape the Community Court, which has become a model for other cities.
Recently, the city announced the therapeutic court will expand into other neighborhoods. The court currently handles crimes in the downtown core.
In 2013, Adewale received the first City of Spokane Human Rights Award. In addition to Community Court, he's established the American Law and Justice Workshop to help educate immigrants about the U.S. legal system, and has served on multiple committees within the Washington State Bar Association and the Washington Supreme Court. He's also on the Governor's Statewide Reentry Council, which helps former inmates transition back into the community.
"What I'm doing now [in Community Court] is a lot tougher than going to trial," Adewale says. "I'm looking people in the eye and telling them they need to change their lives completely. Some of them have never lived in a home."
Tags: Francis Adewale , Spokane Community Court , Kathy Knox , Washington Association of Criminal Defense Lawyers , News , Image
Just how bound should the board be by the original design presented to voters?
Call it a promise, call it a proposal, call it a plan, or call it a possibility.
But before the Riverfront Park bond was passed in 2014 — and in the months after — public officials repeatedly articulated a plan for the park bond that including covering the U.S. Pavilion, either by stretching material on the outside of the skeleton webbing or building a dome-like structure inside.
Time and time again, the message was clear: One way or another, the space inside the pavilion would be covered.
Yet in a
Instead, the proposed design featured a series of platforms and walkways that would allow visitors to ascend the structure and take in the views of the park.
It was a decision that left Randy Cameron, Park Board president when the 2014 bond was passed, fuming. In a Facebook post this week, Cameron wrote that the pavilion was the "centerpiece" of the Riverfront Park master plan placed on the ballot, and getting rid of the covering was "OUTRAGEOUS!"
"The Pavilion ALWAYS was to have lights,
At a lengthy meeting yesterday, the Park Board opted to table a vote on ditching plans to fully cover the pavilion until next month, asking the outside design-build team to gather more information.
Tags: News , Uncoverup , Riverfront Park , U.S. Pavilion , Park Board , Image
Veg out!
Diet science is always evolving. Remember 2014’s 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse? Happily, that's behind us (no pun intended). But there is one thing scientists overwhelmingly agree on: Fruits and veggies are the foundation of a health diet, and we don't eat enough of them. Why is that? Find out in our new cover story, and also check out enticing, meat-free summer grilling recipes and tips.
Under pressure
A new study shows that blood pressure may be better controlled, with fewer side effects, by using small doses of two, or even four, medications. Worldwide, nearly 90 percent of people who are aware they have high blood pressure are treated with medication, yet only a third are able to get good control of their hypertension. Among the takeaways from a new Australian study that reviewed 42 other studies involving more than 20,000 people?
Taking a one-quarter dose of two meds may be as effective as a single full dose of a single med; four quarter-doses of four medications were nearly twice as effective as a single drug at a standard dose. Research is still preliminary, so don't go changing your meds without talking to your doctor.
From our archives: a blood pressure primer.
Free parking for a day
Just three days a year are “free days” at Washington State Parks, and this Saturday, June 10, is the first for 2017. (The other free days, when a Discover Pass isn’t required to use the parks, are Aug. 25 and Sept. 30.) Consider a day trip to Palouse Falls, especially spectacular in the spring and early summer, with water cascading nearly 200 feet. Be aware that the parking lot at the Falls can fill up quickly on busy weekends.
If you want a real workout, try the strenuous Three Peaks Loop, taking in Mt. Kit Carson, Day Mountain, and finishing, after nearly 13 miles, with a spectacular view of from the top of Mt. Spokane. If you've got other plans for Saturday, annual Discover Passes cost $33 and a one-day pass will set you back $11.
For more health-related information, check out the new issue of InHealth.
Tags: InHealth , new issue , fruits , vegetables , recipes , blood pressure , Washington State Parks , free days , Palouse Falls , Three Peaks Loop , Image
Gleason Fest, the annual, day-long music festival and ALS fundraiser that's happening in Riverfront Park on Aug. 12, announced this morning that Grouplove will be this year's big headliner. The L.A.-based electro-pop band is probably best known for its single "Tongue Tied," which was prominently featured in an iPod touch commercial.
Tickets run $30 and are on sale this morning.
The announcement doesn't come as much of a shock: The Gleason Fest Facebook page hinted at the booking back in April, just a couple weeks after Grouplove canceled their concert at the Knitting Factory.
Also on this year's docket: the London Souls, a guitar-and-drum retro-rock duo from New York, and local bands Lavoy, Hey! Is for Horses and Folkinception. Last year's festival was headlined by Portland rockers Portugal. the Man and Seattle's Pickwick.
If you go, odds are good that you'll actually catch a glimpse of Steve Gleason, the festival's namesake, a former NFL star and Spokane native who was diagnosed with ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, in 2011. He was the subject of an acclaimed documentary that was released last year.
Tags: Gleason Fest , Grouplove , the London Souls , Music , Image
ON INLANDER.COM
Your category is: 'Headlines Ozzie doesn't like'
Remember the Otto Zehm settlement, after a
Disciplinary issues
The ACLU has sued the state superintendent's office for the way the state is handling discipline against students with disabilities.
So loud the Leppard went Def
Our Dan Nailen picks his Poison — and Tesla and Def Leppard — to review their very familiar concert.
IN OTHER NEWS
Water, water everywhere, and you can drink it if you want
After weeks, Airway Heights' water is finally safe again. (Spokesman-Review)
Teeny
A local company is turning the tiny, thin trees that firefighters clear out for fire danger into usable timber. We wrote about this back in April. (Spokesman-Review, Inlander)
Labour powers; May cowers
'Twas hubris, they say,
when it comes to British Prime Minister May
Who called an election throughout all the UK
And foolishly frittered her power away. (BBC)
Comey's revenge
Former FBI Director James Comey calls President Trump a liar (not just once, but five times), and Trump calls Comey a liar right back. Who are you going to believe? The man obsessed with his own personal integrity, or the guy whose own attorneys met with him in pairs because they didn't believe he would be honest? (Vox, TMZ, Buzzfeed)
Tags: Morning headlines , News , Ozzie Knezovich , ACLU , OSPI , Def Leppard , Airway Heights , drinking water , timber , Theresa May , UK election , James Comey , FBI Director , President Trump , liar , Image
