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Articles by Tasha Cain-Gray
Spokane Fire Department, American Red Cross team up to install free smoke detectors for local families
SPOKANE, Wash.– The Spokane Fire Department and the American Red Cross are teaming up to help keep you safe. On May 7, volunteers and firefighters will install free smoke alarms for local families. It’s part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign to bring down the number of people killed and hurt in fires across the country.
Spokane community participates in Drug Take-Back Day
SPOKANE, Wash.– Spokane area leaders took part in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s National Prescription Drug Take-Back day Saturday. The event took place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Northtown Mall. Drug Take-Back Day happens twice a year. The last time the DEA did this, it collected about 745,000 pounds of unused drugs across the nation. If you have prescription drugs you need to get rid of but couldn’t make it out Saturday, you can find a place to drop them off here.
Your Bloomsday 2022 guide
SPOKANE, Wash.– It’s back! Runners, walkers, and everyone in between will be filling the streets of Spokane for Bloomsday. Bloomsday 2020 and 2021 were virtual races because of the COVID-19 pandemic. From parking and road closures to the race information, we have a guide to what you need to know. Sunday, May 1, 2022. The first group of people (Elite, Corporate Cup, and brown) can hit the pavement at 9 a.m. You can find your start time here. Bloomsday is 12 kilometers. That’s 7.46 miles.
Tri-Cities soccer star Hope Solo putting herself in alcohol treatment program
SEATTLE, Wash.– U.S. Soccer star and Tri-Cities local Hope Solo says she is putting herself in an alcohol treatment program. Solo was arrested in North Carolina in late March. She is accused of driving under the influence with her children in the car and resisting arrest. A police report obtained by the Associated Press says Solo was found passed out in a Walmart parking lot with her 2-year-old twins inside. On Friday, Solo posted a statement on Twitter saying she was going into alcohol treatment.
Dashcam video shows truck slam into Oregon State Trooper's cruiser Original
ROSEBURG, Ore.– Oregon State Police have a reminder for drivers: move over when you see emergency responders on the side of the road. Not only does slowing down and moving over help keep people safe, but it’s also the law. A video released by Oregon State Police shows just how important it is to do. A trooper was doing a traffic stop on I-5 in Roseburg when a truck hit the back of their cruiser. The trooper was not inside at the time.
Forensic Files films with Bonner County Sheriff's Office for upcoming episode Original
CREDIT: Bonner County Sheriff's Office BONNER COUNTY, Idaho– Fans of true crime shows could see some familiar faces on an upcoming episode of Forensic Files. The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office shared some behind-the-scenes photos of the TV show shooting an episode with it. The pictures included Detective Sergeant Phil Stella, Jackie Rogers and Sheriff Daryl Wheeler. The sheriff’s office didn’t say when the episode would air. It did hint the episode will be about a murder that happened in 2017.
Cheney Public Schools names new superintendent
CREDIT: Cheney Public Schools CHENEY, Wash.– There will be a new leader at Cheney Public Schools starting this summer. School district officials said Dr. Ben Ferney was selected to be superintendent. The board of directors unanimously voted to offer him a contract that will start July 1, 2022. Ferney is no stranger to the Inland Northwest. Right now, he’s the superintendent of Valley School District south of Chewelah. He’s been there since 2018.
Central Valley School District names new superintendent
Credit: Central Valley School District SPOKANE, VALLEY, Wash.– The Central Valley School District has a new leader. On Saturday, CVSD announced Dr. John Parker will be its new superintendent. The School Board voted unanimously to select him out of four candidates after an extensive week-long process to gather feedback from students, families, staff, and community members. “I would like to thank you for the vote in confidence.
Woman accused of throwing rocks through Lewis and Clark High School windows arrested
SPOKANE, Wash.– The Spokane Police Department said it arrested a 41-year-old woman for throwing rocks through the windows of a high school. Officers said Brittiny Johnson was arrested Saturday afternoon. Johnson is accused of throwing rocks through the windows of Lewis and Clark High School. Callers said they saw her doing it just after 7 p.m. Friday night. Police said between people giving her description and security footage, they were able to find Johnson.
Here are the Spokane Public Schools graduation dates
SPOKANE, Wash.– It’s almost time for seniors to put on their caps and gowns. Here’s what you need to know if your student is graduating from Spokane Public Schools.
It's not too late to register for Bloomsday this year Original
SPOKANE, Wash.– Bloomsday is right around the corner and it’s not too late to register. This year, the race will be back in-person. The in-person race takes place Sunday, May 1. Registration costs $35 until April 28. If you miss that deadline, that’s okay. It will just cost $50 to register. This will be the first time since 2019 that Bloomsday was run on the streets of Spokane.
PHOTOS: Jr. Bloomsday is back!
COPYRIGHT KXLT 4 NEWS NOW COPYRIGHT KXLT 4 NEWS NOW COPYRIGHT KXLT 4 NEWS NOW COPYRIGHT KXLT 4 NEWS NOW SPOKANE, Wash.– About 2,600 kids hit the pavement Saturday for Jr. Bloomsday. PREVIOUS: 2,600 kids to hit the course for Jr. Bloomsday COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. THIS MATERIAL MAY NOT BE PUBLISHED, BROADCAST, REWRITTEN OR REDISTRIBUTED.
Airway Heights brush fire extinguished; no injuries reported
Copyright 4 News Now AIRWAY HEIGHTS, Wash.– The brush fire that forced some evacuations in Airway Heights Friday is extinguished. Firefighters said nobody was hurt nor was any property lost in the flames. The Spokane Fire Department said it got calls about the fire just before 5 p.m. Multiple agencies, including Fire Districts 3 and 10, Spokane Fire and the Department of Natural Resources responded to get the fire under control. Fire crews said the cause of the fire was a man using a torch.
Crashes shut down Snoqualmie Pass in both directions
Credit: WSDOT Heads-up drivers, if you’re heading over Snoqualmie Pass, you might want to re-route. Multiple crashes have it shut down in both directions. The Washington State Department of Transportation said Saturday evening the pass was closed. There is no estimated reopening time. This is a developing story. Stay with 4 News Now for updates. Heads up travelers, both EB and WB I-90 over Snoqualmie Pass are closed due to multiple collisions. There is no ETA to reopen the roadway.
Survey shows drivers are more likely to put their phone away if kids, passengers speak up
SPOKANE, Wash.– April is Distracted Driving Awareness Month and AAA Washington released information on why people in Washington are putting their phones down when they’re behind the wheel. A 2021 AAA survey of 1,000 Washington drivers shows that people are more likely to put the phone away if a child or passenger says they don’t feel safe. AAA said around half the people asked in the survey said that was the case.
What is graupel?
SPOKANE, Wash.– Did you see the graupel Saturday? It’s frozen and falls from the sky but isn’t quite snow or hail. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, graupel is small, soft pellets that form when supercooled water droplets freeze onto a snow crystal. Graupel particles are fragile and usually disintegrate when it’s handled. While it can get bigger in size, it typically remains less than 5 mm in diameter. Other names for graupel are also called soft hail.
Hitting the road this weekend? Here's how to check the condition before you go
FILE: Snowy roadsPhoto by Ethan Hasenfratz on Unsplash SPOKANE, Wash.– When we say April showers, we usually mean rain. However, it looks like Mother Nature might not be ready to let go of winter just yet. That means those April showers could involve some snow. If you’re driving anywhere, the roads could be hard to travel.
Spokane Police: Lucky's Pub shooting suspect in custody
April 9, 2022 10:57 AM Tasha Cain-Gray, Erin Robinson, Posted: April 9, 2022 10:57 AM by Tasha Cain-Gray, Erin Robinson POLICE LIGHTS - Eastern Washington SPOKANE, Wash.– The Spokane Police Department says one person is in custody and facing charges for the deadly drive-by shooting outside of a downtown Spokane bar. Officers said the suspect faces three counts of drive-by shooting related to the shooting outside of Lucky’s Pub. Two people were killed and one was hurt in the early morning shooting.
Spokane Indians back on the diamond Saturday
Copyright 4 News Now SPOKANE, Wash.– Thousands of fans showed up for the Spokane Indian’s home opener Friday. Avista stadium had 4,180 people there to watch the game. The Indians fell to the Vancouver Canadians 8-6 in 10 innings. The Indians and Canadians continue their three-game set on Saturday. The first pitch is at 5:09 p.m. with gates opening an hour before.
Alaska Airlines cancels, delays more flights as pilots picket for better pay and flexible schedules Original
April 2, 2022 4:06 PM Tasha Cain-Gray, Emily Blume, Posted: April 2, 2022 4:06 PM Updated: April 2, 2022 4:09 PM by Tasha Cain-Gray, Emily Blume Ted S. Warren - staff, AP SPOKANE, Wash.– Check your flight status before you head to the airport. Alaska Airlines pilots are picketing for better pay and more flexible schedules so they can spend time with their families.
Spokane Bike Swap and Expo set for April 9
FILE: BicyclePhoto by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash SPOKANE, Wash.– Whether you have a bike you no longer ride and want to donate or sell or you’re on the market for a new one, you can find what you’re looking for at the Spokane Bike Swap and Expo. It takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on April 9 at the Spokane County Fair and Expo Center. Bike check-in will be from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, April 8. There will be hundreds of bicycles to choose from and more than 50 exhibitors.
High Wind Watch issued for Monday in parts of the Inland Northwest
SPOKANE, Wash.– This weekend is a good time to move your trash cans and patio furniture inside. There’s a good chance of it getting pretty windy Monday across parts of the Inland Northwest. The National Weather Service in Spokane issued a High Wind Watch for April 4. Yes, winds will be breezy today across the Inland NW. Although stronger winds are yet to come.
How to download the 4 News Now weather app Original
Your Monday could be very wet and windy. A stormy day is in the forecast and we want to make sure you’re prepared by downloading our weather app. It’s a little different than the one you might have been used to. We updated it at the end of February. Don’t worry, it offers an array of improvements to help you stay up to date on the forecast. You’ll still find the basics like the 24-hour forecast, the 7-day forecast and interactive radar. But wait, there’s more.
Everett Police officer shot and killed in the line of duty
Photo: Everett Police Department EVERETT, Wash.– An Everett Police officer was shot and killed Friday. The Police Department said Dan Rocha, 41, lived in Everett for over a decade and served with the Everett Police Department since 2017. KOMO News reported Rocha confronted the suspect in a Starbucks parking lot. The suspect then shot Rocha and ran him over while he drove away from the scene, KOMO said. A 50-year-old man is in custody in connection to the shooting, according to KOMO.
Air 4 Adventure: Canfield Mountain
COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho– Canfield Mountain has plenty of hiking and biking trails, so it’s fun for the whole family. The 24-acre open space park is located near Coeur d’Alene on East Mountain Vista Drive. The trail is a mile and a half in length and is rated intermediate in difficulty with a few advanced areas. You can find more information here. Check it out. If you liked this Air 4 Adventure, be sure to check out others! We have all sorts of scenic sights online and on our YouTube channel.
QB Russell Wilson at women's Sweet 16 game at Spokane Arena
SPOKANE, Wash.– Denver Broncos quarterback Russell Wilson made an appearance at Spokane Arena Friday night. The football star posted a photo of the Maryland Terrapins and Stanford Cardinal game to his Instagram story. His sister Anna Wilson plays guard for Stanford. The NCAA DI Women’s Basketball Tournament is at the Spokane Arena for the Sweet 16 games and Elite Eight. Get your tickets to the Elite Eight game on the Spokane Arena website.
Community helps Coeur d’Alene Fire Department name new water rescue training dummies
CREDIT: Coeur d'Alene Fire Department COEUR D’ALENE, Wash.– They asked and you answered. The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department wanted help naming its new water rescue training dummies and asked what you thought. Now, the dummies have been named. Introducing: Flo Tation and Ida Sunk. Firefighters said the community came through in a big way. Not only did the department get lots of name suggestions, but the post asking for help gave its Facebook page a big bump in followers.
Apartment maintenance manager accused of breaking into woman's apartment, sexually assaulting her her
SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash.– An apartment maintenance manager is accused of using his master key to get into a woman’s unit as she slept and sexually assaulting her. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said at about 2:05 a.m. Thursday it responded to a welfare check of a woman who lived in a Spokane Valley apartment. When deputies got there, the woman told them in a low voice that a man was still inside her apartment. Investigators went inside and found Lee McNutt, 39, hiding naked in her bedroom closet.
Gov. Inslee signs $16B transportation package, sending millions to Spokane
OLYMPIA, Wash.– Getting around Spokane is about to get easier. Gov. Jay Inslee signed the “Move Ahead Washington” transportation package. It includes millions of dollars for projects in the Inland Northwest. $50 million goes directly to Spokane Transit Authority. It will help launch a rapid bus route on Division Street. $5.8 million will go towards paving a trail right along the Spokane River near the Spokane Community College.
Perry Street Brewing celebrates 8-year anniversary this weekend
PC: Perry Street Brewing SPOKANE, Wash.– Cheers to eight years, Perry Street Brewing! The Spokane brewery is celebrating its eight-year anniversary all weekend long and you’re invited to the party. You can stop by Friday, Saturday or Sunday to raise a glass. There will be two new beer releases and Fresh Hop versions of its Flagship IPA and Shandemic. It’s all for a good cause. $1.50 from every fresh hop pint sold will go to support the brewery’s neighbor Grant Elementary School.
Wenatchee Valley Humane Society wants to give you a bad pet portrait
Photo by engin akyurt on Unsplash WENATCHEE, Wash.– For $15 you can have a portrait of your pet drawn by the Wenatchee Valley Humane Society. We should warn you, it’s not just a regular picture, it’s “subpar.” That’s right, the animal rescue wants to hand draw a picture of your pet that could be very unique. “Some of our artists are incredibly talented and some… not so much. You won’t know what you’re going to get until it arrives in the mail!” No matter how it turns out, it’ll be an original.
Chelan County Sheriff's Office investigates bomb threat in Leavenworth
POLICE LIGHTS - Eastern Washington LEAVENWORTH, Wash.– A bomb threat in Leavenworth has part an area near the downtown gazebo shut down. Chelan Emergency Management said the 700 block of Highway 2 is closed while the threat is investigated. First responders ask people to stay away from the area. Emergency responders said drivers should use east Leavenworth and Icicle roads as an alternate route. This is a developing story. Stay with 4 News Now for updates.
Jimmy Fallon has a new challenge for Zags fans
SPOKANE, Wash.– A new game means a new challenge for Gonzaga fans from Jimmy Fallon. The Tonight Show Host wants Zag fans to take their rowdy rags and sing something else when the game clock hits 11:35 during either half. Instead of “I want my baby back, baby back, baby back” like the Chili’s baby back ribs commercial, he has a twist he wants fans to sing. Since the Bulldogs are facing the Arkansas Razorbacks, it’ll be “let’s beat the razorbacks, razorbacks, razorbacks.
WSU beats BYU and advances to the NIT semi-finals
PROVO, Utah — The WSU Cougars are on a roll. On Wednesday, the men’s basketball team took down the BYU Cougars in the third round of the NIT. The final score was 77 to 58. After a back-and-forth first half, WSU ran away with the win. The Cougs had a lot of momentum going into the game. They beat WSU beat Santa Clara and SMU on the road to get here. BYU beat Long Beach State and Northern Iowa. WSU is onto the semi-finals at Madison Square Garden in NYC where they’ll face Texas A&M.
Spokane Regional Health District warns of data breach
Spokane Regional Health District to offer free Whooping Cough shots SPOKANE, Wash.– Some of your personal information could have been affected by a data breach at the Spokane Regional Health District. SRHD said the information was accessed through a phishing email on Feb. 24. IT workers were alerted to the situation. Then, an internal investigation showed files with clients’ protected health information might have been “previewed” by the data thief.
Five-time convicted felon accused of attacking Eastern State Hospital patient
POLICE LIGHTS - Eastern Washington MEDICAL LAKE, Wash.– A man at Eastern State Hospital is accused of attacking another patient there and sending him to the hospital. The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said Martay Ellis, 24, and another man got into an argument and it escalated. The two men started physically fighting and staff had to detain Ellis, according to investigators. The other person was taken to the hospital where he’s in critical condition.
Hungry? Robots on the University of Idaho campus can deliver your food
CREDIT: University of Idaho MOSCOW, Idaho– Have you ever been hungry on the University of Idaho campus but didn’t want to go get food? There’s now a robot for that! The fleet of 15 is called Starship. IT will deliver food from Idaho Eats locations like Qdoba, True Burger, Einstein Bros. Bagels, and Cravings by Joe. U of I is the first university in the state to use a robot food delivery service. Gonzaga started using robots for food delivery last fall.
How did Gonzaga University get its name?
SPOKANE, Wash.– The Gonzaga Bulldogs are on their way to their seventh consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. With the national attention, we wanted to take a moment to let people know how to pronounce it: Gon-zag-a, where the ‘zag’ rhymes with ‘bag.’ The university is named after St. Aloysius Gonzaga, an Italian Jesuit saint. Gonzaga Univerity’s said when Father Joseph Cataldo founded the school in 1887, it seemed fitting to name the new school after his fellow Jesuit and fellow Italian.
Expect delays: Hatch Road Bridge closing for bridge deck replacement
Hatch Road bridge SPOKANE, Wash.– Drivers who use the Hatch Road Bridge should get ready for some interruptions to their daily commute. The City of Spokane said starting March 29, crews will start work on replacing the bridge deck. The project is expected to be finished by July 31. The bridge will be completely shut down during this time. During construction, the right lane of northbound 195 will be closed. Hatch Road from Hangman Valley to the bridge will only be open to local traffic.
HUD awards $4.3 million to help people experiencing homelessness in Spokane area
COPYRIGHT KXLY 4 NEWS NOW SPOKANE, Wash.– Millions of dollars from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will help people in the Spokane area experiencing homelessness. HUD announced $4.3 million in Continuum of Care Competition Awards will go towards supporting homeless housing and service programs. The federal grants will give funds to help individuals and families experiencing homelessness move into permanent housing with access to supportive services.
When is the Gonzaga and Arkansas game?
COPYRIGHT KXLY 4 NEWS NOW SAN FRANCISCO, Calif.– Get ready for the Sweet 16 matchup between the Gonzaga Bulldogs and the Arkansas Razorbacks. Tip-off is at 4 p.m. Thursday, March 24. It will be aired on CBS. This will be the Zags’ seventh consecutive Sweet 16 appearance. Last week, Gonzaga beat Georgia State in the first round and went on to overcome the Memphis Tigers in the second round. Gametime set.
Help the Coeur d'Alene Fire Department name its new water rescue training dummies
Coeur d'Alene Fire Department COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho– The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department wants you to help it name some of its newest team members. Fire Rescue crews just got their two new water rescue training dummies and they need to be named. One of the dummies is child-sized and the other is adult-sized. The Coeur d’Alene Fire Department posted pictures of the new dummies to its Facebook page and asked for help picking out names. You can find the post here and leave your ideas.
Indian Canyon Golf Course opens Saturday
SPOKANE, Wash.– If the warmer weather and longer days aren’t enough to convince you it’s springtime, how about another golf course opening. The City of Parks and Recreation announced the Indian Canyon Golf Course will open for the season on Saturday, March 26. Indian Canyon has been picked by Golf Digest a number of times as one of the top 25 public courses in the U.S. It was designed by legendary designer H. Chandler Egan in 1930.
Stevie Nicks set to perform at the Gorge Amphitheatre May 14 Original
Credit: Evan Agostini QUINCY, Wash. — One of rock and roll’s most recognizable performers is set to play at the Gorge Amphitheatre. Stevie Nicks will perform at 8 p.m. Saturday, May 14. The singer and songwriter is one of rock and roll’s most successful and groundbreaking artists. She is the only woman to have been inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame twice. Collectively, she has sold more than 140 million albums. That includes her solo work and her time with Fleetwood Mac.
Spokane Police find man accused of shooting, killing 28-year-old on lower South Hill
CREDIT: Spokane Police Department SPOKANE, Wash.– Police found the man accused of shooting and killing a 28-year-old on the lower South Hill earlier this month. The Spokane Police Department said Steven Bronowski Sr. was caught in another state and is in custody while he waits to be extradition to Spokane. Bronowski is a suspect in the murder of Ammar Johnson. Johnson was found shot in the head around 5 a.m. on March 2 near 7th and Jefferson.
Yakima deputies look for Marine's stolen uniforms, medals
YAKIMA, Wash.– The Yakima County Sheriff’s Office needs your help finding a Marine’s uniforms and medals. Investigators said the Marine and his wife recently moved to Yakima from Colorado. They had a lot of their belongings, including his uniforms and medals, inside a trailer that was stolen. The trailer was eventually found, but some of the medals and uniforms that were inside were taken, deputies said.
Water from failed irrigation canal damages Grant County road
ROYAL CITY, Wash.– Flooding from a failed irrigation canal damaged a Grant County road. The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said water that escaped the canal washed away part of Frenchman Hills Road West about two miles west of Dodson Road South. So far, there isn’t an estimated reopening time for the part of the road damaged by the water. The sheriff’s office said the Quincy Columbia Basin Irrigation District operated the canal. It failed sometime late Thursday night.
Retired Grant County Sheriff's Office K-9 dies
Retired Grant County Sheriff’s Office K-9 dies March 18, 2022 5:55 PM Posted: March 18, 2022 5:55 PM Credit: Grant County Sheriff's Office EPHRATA, Wash.– The Grant County Sheriff’s Office said goodbye to one of its retired K-9 officers. K-9 Chicka lived with her handler Lt. Ric Char and his family for her final days. “She was a good dog and caught a lot of bad guys. We will miss her,” the sheriff’s office shared on its social media. COPYRIGHT 2022 BY KXLY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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