Bloglander

HERE

The Spokane Transit Authority heard a pitch from a South Carolina company that builds zero-emission electric buses as it considers how best to design a central city line to run from Browne's Addition to Spokane Community College. (S-R)

New parking meters installed near Lewis and Clark High School and Deaconess Hospital caught many by surprise, and the Spokane City Council is hearing about it. (KXLY)

The new Buffalo Wild Wings in Coeur d'Alene has a no-guns-allowed policy, and that doesn't sit well with some locals. (KHQ)

THERE

A 4.0 magnitude earthquake shook up the Puget Sound Wednesday morning, and was felt from Olympia to downtown Seattle to Everett. (AP)

Another round of Microsoft layoffs is expected on Thursday, part of the 18,000 jobs slated to be cut that the company announced in July. (Seattle Times)

Moscow native and playwright Samuel D. Hunter, who sets many of his plays in Idaho, was named as one of this year's recipients of the MacArthur "genius grants." (Idaho Statesman)

ELSEWHERE

A new New York Times/CBS News poll shows President Obama hovering around the same level his predecessor George W. Bush was as at this point in his presidency, and that should make Democrats nervous heading in the midterm elections. (New York Times)

In a quick about-face from their previous stance, team officials for the Minnesota Vikings decided to keep star running back Adrian Peterson, indicted on child abuse charges, off the field. (CNN)

A marijuana advocacy group in Colorado is launching a "consumer responsibly" ad campaign to counteract what it considers "fear-mongering" and misinformation from the likes of Maureen Dowd. (Washington Post)

Kathy Jensen, golf pro at the City of Spokane's Indian Canyon Golf Course, was recently named the PGA National Teacher of the Year, marking a couple of firsts for the organization. Not only is Jensen the first woman to ever win the award from the historically slow-to-evolve golfers' group, she is also the first pro from the PGA's northwest region to be so honored.

Not too shabby. And if you think the honor is no big deal, consider the fact that there are roughly 28,000 golf pros considered for the award each year, according to a release issued by City of Spokane Parks & Recreation.

Jensen's golf career is inextricably linked to the Northwest, making this award all the sweeter. She's no carpet-bagger with some clubs, she's a Northwesterner through and through. She first started playing as a 9-year-old on a little 9-hole course in Baker City, Ore., and eventually landed a scholarship to play at Oregon State University. Post-college, Jensen became a pro and bounced throughout the Spokane area, first as the Head Golf Professional at the Highlands Golf & Country Club in Post Falls, then as a pro at Deer Park Golf Club.

Currently, Jensen is the Director of Golf Instruction — as well the as the cofounder of the Jensen Lindeblad Impact Golf Academy — at Indian Canyon. When she's not teaching players how to best grip it and rip it, she's on the links herself playing in local Pro-Ams and tournaments.

Being named PGA National Teacher of the Year is hardly Jensen's first noteworthy accomplishment on the course, although it was a wee bit predictable after she was one of three finalists for the award in 2013. She's been highly ranked for years by the PGA's Northwest region, Golf Digest and the Golf Range Association of America. 

HERE

Gotta love a rivalry. UW ripped a WSU-commissioned report on the feasibility of a WSU-run Spokane medical school and called it "seriously flawed," among other choice barbs. (SR)

A yet-to-be-named wolf pack in northeastern Washington is being blamed for some cattle killings in Ferry County. (SR)

Monday night, the Spokane City Council passed two new anti-domestic violence ordinances, one calling for a new prevention fund, and another adding victims of domestic violence to the city's anti-discrimination housing and employment policy. (KXLY)

THERE

Paul Allen donated another $6.6 million to fight the ebola outbreak in Africa, bringing his total financial support to more than $20 million to date. (Seattle Times)

101 cattle died in a truck accident outside Boise, and two humans were taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries (Idaho Statesman)

A 22-year-old Missoula man died BASE-jumping in Glacier National Park. His body was discovered Sunday night after he didn't return from a solo hike. (Missoulian)

ELSEWHERE

A U.S. general suggests American ground troops could find themselves back in Iraq to battle ISIS if the current U.S.-led strategy fails. (BBC)

Two days before Scotland holds its referendum on seceding from Great Britain, leaders of the three major British political parties are preparing for what comes next, no matter which way the vote goes. (New York Times)

NASA is expected to award new multi-billion-dollar contracts to Boeing and SpaceX that would allow U.S. astronauts to get to space on U.S.-made rockets rather than renting a ride from Russia. (Washington Post)

Following years of financial struggles and narrowly avoided closures, Interplayers Theatre has reached a point where it can no longer can continue. Its board of directors has concluded several weeks of negotiations by signing a deal that will see Interplayers merge with Lake City Playhouse.

Once the documents are finalized at the state level, the 34-year-old professional theater will be officially subsumed by the 54-year-old Coeur d'Alene community theater led by George Green.

"On July 4, our board met with the purpose of closing the theater for financial reasons," says Michael Bowen, president of Interplayers' board of directors. "We [thought] 'Maybe we have to close, maybe we have to declare bankruptcy.'" As a third alternative, board member Ryan Oelrich suggested approaching Lake City Playhouse, the theater that Green salvaged and revitalized four years ago, "to see if they would be prepared for some type of partnership or merger."

"It turns out that Lake City Playhouse had in fact had a couple of board meetings for the purpose of planning for what happens when Interplayers folds. They saw it coming. They were ready."

The terms of the resulting merger are fairly straightforward. Lake City Playhouse will assume all Interplayers' assets and liabilities, as well as operational control of the theater. A significant portion of those liabilities is approximately $92,000 in outstanding debt.

"I'll put a big '-ish' on that figure," says Green. "We've come to an agreement on what the known liabilities are. I anticipate that there will be some future things, and that's not uncommon in this type of situation."

This wasn't the first time Interplayers found itself in dire straits. Two years ago, the theater was saved by a lease renegotiation with landlord Jerry Dicker, owner of GVD Commercial Properties. At the time, Interplayers Executive Director Pamela Brown claimed that Interplayers was "debt-free" and could "start from zero."

But the arrow quickly moved in the wrong direction on the number line. One year later, Interplayers said its 2013-14 season was contingent on its ability to solicit $150,000, some of which was to be used to cover legal fees associated with erstwhile Artistic Director Reed McColm's work visa. The theater raised only about half that amount but persevered nevertheless.

How it managed to do so is a matter of some contention. Bowen says that there was "lack of financial transparency" on the part of the executive staff, and the volunteer board of directors as a group didn't thoroughly audit the "reams of paper" they were given for inspection.

"When we appointed a finance committee of two of our board members to really investigate the finances in late June, it became evident that we were further behind on payments to vendors," says Bowen. "And more seriously, we were tens of thousands of dollars behind on state and federal payroll tax. I wish we'd realized the depth of our financial problems a year ago or we might've been able to change things."

However, the idea of a merger isn't a new one. A decade ago, after months of hand-wringing over red ink, Interplayers considered joining forces with Actors Repertory Theater of the Inland Northwest (ARt). (Incidentally, ARt was led by Michael Weaver, who recently stepped down as Interplayers' artistic director for the second time under such circumstances.) The two theater groups were ultimately unable to finalize the deal. In what would become a recurring theme, Interplayers restructured just enough to move forward alone.

Bowen says Lake City Playhouse — and more specifically, Green — is "the best hope and the only hope we have" to realize the board's primary goal of ensuring that professional theater continues in the same location. "His passion is for the theater. He's a go-getter. He's effective. And he has rescued that theater."

Despite the merger, little will change outwardly in the near term. Lake City Playhouse will carry on "business as usual," according to Green, as will Interplayers' season opener, Broadway Bound. The second-slot production, Hound of the Baskervilles, will likely be replaced "with a viable option" on account of insufficient rehearsal time and unpaid royalties.

Both Bowen and Green point out that the organizations' two months of discussions covered more abstract topics that could affect the venture.

"How is it going to be perceived to have a community theater merge and be the surviving entity of a professional organization? How is the public, how are the artists going to feel about that?" asks Green. "But we need to be clear that we're operating a business over here. The only difference between a community theater as a business and a professional theater as a business is that a professional theater is paying its performers on stage. We're both 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations, and that's why this merger is allowed to happen."

"The goal is to have professional theater in the [N Howard Street] location," he says. "I just want to make sure that both the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene communities understand that this is being done in effort to create something positive for artists and patrons alike."

Mayor David Condon announced today that his administration will reissue the call for bids from private ambulance companies looking to operate in the city of Spokane, and that the new request will not include the requirement that bidders have experience serving American cities of 150,000 or more.

The ambulance contract process has been controversial since last month, when the fire department reported that only one company — the current provider, American Medical Response (AMR) — had responded to a request for bids, and some on the city council raised concerns about a lack of competition. Namely, representatives from the ambulance company Falck told city leaders they couldn't bid because, despite being a major provider, they lacked experience providing advanced service to an American city of 150,000 people.

After Falck expressed its concerns, Council President Ben Stuckart wrote the mayor asking him to reissue the request for bids. Because the council has the ultimate authority to approve or reject the ambulance contract, Stuckart told the Inlander that if it was not rebid, the council would likely reject a contract with AMR until it was.

Condon acknowledged today the council's concerns played a role in his decision: "Have we encouraged other international companies in the city's business practices? Not typically. Actually, I've never seen it, but ... I worked with city council members and obviously they ultimately need to pass this. My job in the administration is to make sure we have safe and reliable services to our citizens."

For its part, AMR says Falck had the chance to raise its concerns before bids were due and didn't. Now, AMR's bid is public record and the company worries it could be undercut by new bidders with an unfair advantage. (It's taken out an ad in the Spokesman and put up this website to make its argument to the public.)

Fire department leaders have said their concern with contracting with a company that does most of its work outside the United States is that it wouldn't be sufficiently prepared to deal with the complexities of the Affordable Care Act and other American medical regulations. Like in the previous process, the department will review each bid received in response to the new request and it is "critical we ask those questions," Condon said.

Condon said he expects the new process will be finished and a company recommended to the council in November. Since AMR's current contract expires next month, the company may be given an extension to bridge the gap to a new contract.

HERE

I-90 remains closed in both directions due to a hazardous chemical leak of Trimethylamine Anhydrous. In other news, Trimethylamine Anhydrous is the best excuse you’re going to get for get for being late to work this morning. (KREM)

In an important lesson about hubris, and the beginning of its seasonal arc, the Seahawks lose. The Mariners do too, but that’s not news. (ESPN)

Western Washington University president Bruce Shepard is refusing to even consider budget cuts. (Associated Press.)

Idaho’s Department of Education gets a skeptical look over from the FCC for the way it handled its broadband contract. (SR)

Despite all the brouhaha over Seattle megachurch Mars Hill, the planned satellite campus in Spokane is moving forward. (SR)

THERE

Microsoft buys Minecraft, the blocky pixelated building game that is conveniently already close to Microsoft, alphabetically speaking. (PC World)

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, meant to protect us from killer car companies like General Motors, has done a lousy job. (NYT)

For all those nostalgic for 2003, Obama is slowly putting together a coalition of the willing to deal with Iraq. (Washington Post)

Hey, why does tuition keep going up? What is it used for anyway? We looked at this question back in 2012, but now Vox has taken a crack at it. (Vox)

NEWS YOU CAN USE

Grantland does Spokane, plagued by infants of the undead, a favor, and explains How To Raise Your Zombie Baby.

With local police officers testing new body-worn video cameras, Spokane Police Department officials hosted a demonstration of the technology today, explaining the limitations of the cameras and the importance of crafting a careful policy. The U.S. Department of Justice meanwhile released a 92-page report outlining “best practices” for implementing body cameras.

Spokane Police Chief Frank Straub stressed the need to proceed “slowly and deliberately” on introducing body cameras. The department launched a four-month pilot program with 17 officers on Sept. 1. Straub says he hopes the initial testing will help officials work out issues with policies and practices while giving the community time to learn and offer feedback.

“The department made a promise to the community that we would have a very extensive conversation about body cameras,” he says.

Straub cited a number of expected benefits, including better officer accountability, increased citizen compliance and improved transparency, as shown by a study from the Rialto Police Department in California. But he also raised a number of sensitive scenarios in which recording officer interactions would be unethical, dangerous or potentially unconstitutional.

“We have to have three or four months of very slow, very methodical, very deliberate public conversation about this,” he says, adding, “These things just keep popping up, these little issues.”

News media representatives had a chance this morning to run the new cameras through a number of simulations. TV and newspaper reporters put on utility belts and walked through video encounters with armed individuals. Police officials then played back the video to demonstrate what they can and cannot see.

“This isn’t going to be a perfectly edited COPS video,” Lt. Kevin King says.

Police also played out a single scenario from different angles to show how some cameras might pick up some things while others won’t. They explain that when officers physically grapple with a subject, the video can become violently shaky even when the use of force in minimal.

“What these video cameras are recording,” King says, “and what you’re going to see are still not what the officer sees and what he feels, what he hears and what he’s experiencing while he’s out on the scene.”

The new camera models, the Taser Axon Body, measure about 3 inches long and weigh about 3.5 ounces, slightly lighter than an iPhone 5s. The battery should last 12 hours and it is intended to record visuals and audio comparable to what human eyes and ears can detect.

Straub says the department will “ramp up” its number of officers wearing the cameras in January after completing the pilot program and developing a final policy on camera use. The department will host a large community demonstration on Oct. 30 at Gonzaga University.

Community advocates have voiced frustration with the department’s policy process, saying public input should be incorporated throughout the process. Many have listed concerns with aspects of draft policies, saying they need key clarifications.

Straub says body cameras represent largely uncharted territory that will require the department to adapt its policies as it learns what works best. He says the department must also abide by state laws on “two-party consent” involving the recording of private citizens.

“There are no national standards,” he says. “There never will be because of the idiosyncrasies of state law. … There is no magic bullet with these things.”

Despite distinct local challenges, the Department of Justice today released an in-depth report on preliminary “best practices” for using body cameras. The report includes testimony from police leaders across the country with some initial findings on how to introduce body cameras to both officers and communities.

"When implementing body-worn cameras,” the report states, “law enforcement agencies must balance … privacy considerations with the need for transparency of police operations, accurate documentation of events, and evidence collection.”

Department officials compiled a list of 33 recommendations for collecting, storing, and tracking video data as well as how to engage the public on the issues. Many recommendations involve providing clear guidance on when officers must record or may not record interactions.

"In terms of when officers should be required to activate their cameras,” the report states, “the most common approach is requiring officers to record all calls for service and law enforcement-related encounters and activities, and to deactivate the camera only at the conclusion of the event or with supervisor approval.”

The report acknowledges the need for some officer discretion on when to record potentially sensitive encounters, but stressed those incidents should be carefully documented through writing or supervisor approval.

Other recommendations include:

• Policies should clearly outline unauthorized uses of body camera footage and discourage the recording of other officers during non-law enforcement-related interactions.

• Policies should designate which personnel must or can wear cameras to clarify who may be responsible for recording incidents.

• Officers should announce they are recording, whether required to by law or not, because it helps citizens recognize they’re accountable as well.

• Administrators should track how video is used by department or court to monitor usefulness.

Spokane includes many, but not all, of the recommended protocols in its most recent draft policy. The DOJ report also noted officers were the most likely to embrace the technology when they believed it to be a tool for collecting additional evidence or quickly contesting complaints.

"Like other new forms of technology, body-worn cameras have the potential to transform the field of policing,” the report concludes. “To make sure this change is positive, police agencies must think critically about the issues that cameras raise and must give careful consideration when developing body-worn camera policies and practices."

OUTLANDER serves as a weekly round up of Inland Northwest outdoor recreation and natural resources news. This feature will highlight a wide variety of issues and events, ranging from camping stories to national environmental disputes. We’ll also try to include some scenic photos. Feel free to pass along suggestions or curiosities. The Inlander looks forward to sharing and celebrating the Great Outdoors.

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Wildlife officials, wolf advocates and ranchers have clashed over the Huckleberry pack and the killing of at least 24 sheep in Stevens County. The conflict has ended with one breeding female wolf killed and nearly 1,800 sheep moving off the grazing area. See our story in this week’s issue along with an in-depth guide to additional context and resource materials. (Inlander)

Astronomers predict a better-than-usual Northern Lights display TONIGHT across the Northwest. (Accuweather)

Anglers have rejoiced over record-level chinook numbers running up the Columbia River, more than 67,000 fish in a single day. See a live webcam of fish passing through the Bonneville Dam. (S-R/USACE)

State parks officials have announced a “free day” (no Discover Pass required) for Washington state parks on Sept. 27. An open house will also be held for a new equestrian arena at Riverside State Park. (State Parks)

Washington officials say this year’s fire season is one of the most destructive on record. (Reuters)

Montana firefighters rescued obscenely adorable mountain lion cubs from wildfire. (Missoulian)

Environmental groups in Idaho threatened a lawsuit this week over a federal program that kills thousands of “nuisance” animals each year. (S-R)

Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife has continued to update its Fish Washington website to include new information on “high lakes,” which have nothing to do with marijuana. (WDFW)

The folks at the U.S. Department of Agriculture highlighted two Northwest habitat rehabilitation efforts, one in Chewelah and another in Idaho. (USDA)

As hunting season ramps up, Field & Stream has compiled some surprising and impressive game cam images. (F&S)

So, Yosemite National Park continues to burn, but wildland firefighters have also had issues with dangerous bear encounters. (LA Times) The latest on the fire. (NPS)

Also, remember Outlander is now on Twitter, so check that out for additional updates.

HERE

Proposed Liberty Lake heating wells raising concerns about water contamination. (S-R)

A prominent Spokane attorney faces investigation on rape allegations. (KXLY)

A Sandpoint middle school teacher has retired after sending inappropriate text messages to a student. (KHQ)

THERE

Washington Supreme Court holds state Legislature in contempt for failing to provide funding for public education. (Seattle Times)

At least 11 children in Idaho hospitalized with severe respiratory illness possibly linked to enterovirus 68. (Idaho Statesman)

Utah elementary teacher injured when her concealed handgun discharges in bathroom stall killing innocent toilet. (AP)

ELSEWHERE

Firefighters battling flames in Yosemite National Park also facing risky encounters with bears. (LA Times)

Navy pilot missing after two fighter jets crash into western Pacific Ocean. (NYT)

US steps up sanctions against Russia in continuing Ukraine conflict. (BBC)

Here at the Inlander, we've spent the year looking at mental health care in our region. The stories in the "State of Mind" series have covered issues ranging from how patients are treated at Eastern State Hospital to the difficulty of getting care to people in rural North Idaho to the treatment prisoners receive — or don't — while at the Spokane County Jail.

While the system is fraught with challenges, we also know there are many people in our community with mental illness and living productive, vibrant lives. To tell those stories, we need your help. We'd like to talk to people in Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho who have experienced mental illness and are interested in sharing their stories.

If you are interested in sharing your story with an Inlander reporter for possible publication in our newspaper, please fill out the form below. We'll be in touch shortly.