Frem 2 news begins now.
Thank you for joining us on
Creme 2 Plus. I'm Tim Fam. This
is your Creme 2
News Week in Review.
Join us as we take a closer look at
some of the biggest stories in the
Inland Northwest this past week.
From theft to
murder, crime was up in
Washington state last year.
That's across all crime categories,
According to a report from Washington
sheriff's and police chiefs,
Spokane County Sheriff John Knowles
wasn't surprised by the numbers.
If you don't do anything to
disrupt poor behavior, hold someone
accountable for bad behavior.
You can just expect more of that. He
points to the state legislature
for the rise in reported crime.
Let's look at property crime,
which saw one of the largest bumps,
up nearly 10% from the year before.
That includes things like theft,
robbery and car theft.
In Spokane County,
there were 2768 thefts in
2022 and 917 stolen cars.
That rose from 669 in 2021.
And that's just what's being reported.
I know there are citizens who
have expressed to me and other
people that they are so frustrated
with the lack of accountability.
That they don't call and report.
Knowles blames two major policy changes,
a reduction in Washington's prison
population and the Legislature lowering
minimum sentences for many crimes.
He says people with multiple
repeat felonies are spending less
than a year in jail oftentimes.
And may never make it to prison.
We now have a jail where literally
every time we book somebody in,
somebody has to come out the
door on the other side full on.
14% of the people we book never see
the inside of a jail sale at the jail.
They're released before
they before they ever.
Spend a day in jail? Grem
2 News reached out to
Governor Inslee's office.
His press secretary says the state's
statutory penalties have never
incentivized anyone to reoffend.
Pointing to a DOJ study saying
reoffenses are often due to lack of
resources and other economic factors,
he says crime has increased nationally,
beginning with the pandemic.
The Washington is working to
address it on the local level.
Sheriff Knowles says Spokane
County needs more jail space and an
alternative to jail for substance use.
Treatment,
but we have to have something
waiting in the wings.
If they don't take advantage of it,
that's worse than going to the treatment,
and we don't have that right now. Shannon
Maudy, KREM 2 News
The Airway Heights Fire Department
says it's outgrown the one and
only station it's used
for service for the last
50-5 years. So if you live in Airway Heights,
the department wants you to pass a
bond that could help them move into
and renovate this building behind me.
On the outside, you might not see much
wrong with the Airway Heights fire station,
but take a look inside and Fire Chief
Mitch Metzger tells a different story.
It is literally maintenance nightmare.
This station has served
the department since 1968.
In that time, the city says
it's been renovated 10 times.
Metzger says some things are
beyond basic renovations.
This is the only place to do decon
for our firefighters to get the
bloodborne pathogens off of them,
to get any of the carcinogens off of.
And then they walk right back out into
the garage where all the carcinogens
are still here from everything that
we just had from the last fire.
He says the building isn't
big enough to safely house equipment and
trucks, and doesn't have air conditioning in
its sleeping quarters.
Not ideal by any means,
but this could all change if
Airway Heights voters pass a bond
in the August primary election.
The bond would use taxpayer money
to help the fire department
move into a new station
the community has.
Pulled us over and over again
that public safety is the most
important thing in the community,
and so it's we're now asking them to
invest in that public safety, Metzger
says. The department is still able to respond
when needed from its current station,
Regional Mutual Aid 3 Rush Fire,
but with an extra $9.25 a month
from the average airway heights,
homeowner Metzger says service could better
meet the needs of a growing community.
That crash happened Friday when a
van loaded with members of Spokane's
Lighthouse Pentecostal Church rolled
near the Kansas, Colorado border.
We have learned, of course.
Three women from the same family
were killed and several others,
including children, were hurt.
Kansas Highway Patrol says three
women were killed when a church
van rolled on Hwy. 40 Friday.
A crash report says Darlene Mene
was driving and over corrected
after going off the road.
The van was carrying a group from Spokane's
Lighthouse Church on their way to Tulsa,
OK for a Bible quiz competition.
The driver and pastor's wife,
Darlene, was killed.
Their unborn child also didn't survive.
Pastor Menene's motherinlaw and
sister were also killed.
Pastor Matthias is still in a Denver ICU,
says family friend and fellow
pastor James Parker.
Three young men in the hospital along with.
That we are praying for and
bring for speedy recovery.
They're all doing much
better and progressing,
but still have a long way to go.
So they're still looking at a
lengthy recovery process for
at least four individuals.
There were ten kids in the van, Parker says.
The children who aren't in the hospital
are expected to come home Monday.
Parker grew up with the Menenes in La Grange,
left their homes and their jobs
and their families here in LA.
And moved to Spokane to start a church.
Parker says Spokane's Lighthouse
was a beacon for the city's
Marshallese population,
as the Menenes were also
from the Marshall Islands.
Now their own church community
is rallying around them,
praying for healing. They
love people. They're a great family,
giving family. And they just, I mean,
you can't find better people than them.
Parker's fundraiser has now
raised more than $63,000.
He tells me that money will be used
for the ongoing medical expenses,
as well as to bring the bodies of
those three women home to Spokane
and for their funerals in Spokane.
Shannon Maudi, Crem 2 News.
The governor's office says
that it wants oil companies to
expose their accounting and,
if it shows price gouging,
to potentially issue penalties.
Meanwhile, Republicans say that
those climate policies are costing
consumers and they want to see changes.
Standing in front of highline
school districts, electric buses,
Governor Jay Inslee doubled down on the
climate policies he's rolled out and
took fresh direct aim at oil companies.
Enormous flood events,
melting of the ice sheets.
Our nation or state is under
attack by the pollution that comes
from the oil and gas industry.
In Washington state will not allow that
Thursday. Governor Inslee announced
legislation plan to be introduced
by Democrats in January that would
require oil companies to open up
their books and potential for a
Commission that could issue financial
penalties spotlighting a healthcare
worker who says climate change is
disproportionately harming some communities,
whether it's respiratory,
cardiac cancers, maternal and
infants are impacted mental health.
And the list goes on.
Republican State Senator Jeff Wilson says
he too wants to see a cleaner environment,
but he doesn't believe new costs to
businesses are the way to do it. While
others may want to accuse oil
companies of price gouging.
I'll I'll fire back and say gouging has
been occurring in the last few years
states budgets. It seems the
state has had an enormous
appetite to collect more money from somebody
and then spend away.
With our biennial budgets,
the Western States Petroleum Association
released a statement saying, quote,
WSPA feels that well designed carbon
programs can be important to reducing
carbon emissions and that we need to
make sure they don't have an undue
impact to consumers or the economy.
The Governor's office responded that
all revenue from the Climate Commitment
Act goes back into communities and
it would like to see the industry
speak up on reducing emissions
and addressing climate disasters.
Yeah. Every year at Underhill Park,
the Spokane Eastside Reunion
Association hosts a basketball camp.
Their goal every year is simple.
It's a goal to inspire the kids
that live here in this community.
Who's doing Hot feet for candy when
schools out for the summer, right?
But education steps up in different forms.
The lessons out here focus on
discipline, hard work, friendship,
and, of course, respect. Respect.
I should see your forehead.
You should see my face.
Jessra Johnson runs this classroom
with 50 young students eager
to learn every single day.
I love basketball.
For six weeks, Jessra and her
coaching staff are coming up with
new ideas to keep their kids engaged.
Drills, games, challenges,
real basketball skills.
Learn what it takes to be on the
team and it's not really a hand out.
It's a hand up, valuable
knowledge coming from someone
who once shared similar dreams.
I committed to a D1 College in middle
school I went to the University
of Missouri, then after that I
played professional Lima, Peru,
a blueprint that's earned the respect
from the athletes she's coaching.
It's been like really fun working with her,
like the challenges we do each morning,
the warm ups. And maybe even like
running every once in a while.
That's a great wake up call.
14 year old Kamari Thurman
decided this summer he will learn
more about the sport he's been
interested in for some while now.
I've gotten better in skills
that I didn't know.
I had, a message
that echoes across the camp.
I've got bitter at crossovers behind
the back, stuff like that. Witnessing
this growth is just one of the perks
for those who answer the call to teach.
Yeah, coaches play tomorrow, not today.
And like any good teacher,
Gesture can tell you there's always
room to learn from the students
and it's more about being friends.
As, I mean, you get kids respect.
Discipline goes so far,
but friendship goes farther.
It's that lesson of friendship.
The second year camp head coach
is hoping her players take with
them as they move forward.
We went around the coaches and
sometimes you get half five.
Yeah, so the Basketball Camp will be
coming to an end at the end of July.
But to celebrate all of these kids
accomplishments throughout this summer,
the Spokane Eastside Reunion
Association is also hosting a community
celebration here at Underhill Park.
There's going to be free games,
free prizes, free food,
and lots of fun activities and camaraderie.
Reporting in the East Central
neighborhood of Spokane.
Brandon T Jones from 2 News.
Well, it is an exciting week
here at a Vista Stadium.
As to Colorado, Rockies players
will begin rehab assignments
with the Spokane Indians on their
path back to the Major Leagues.
Second baseman Brendan Rodgers
was a Gold Glover last year for
the first time in his career,
but had shoulder surgery in spring training.
He was not expected to return this season,
but Rodgers currently feels
like he's almost back to 100%.
I would say I'm about 9095%.
You know, right now there's a few things
that you can't really practice which
you know you're diving and you know,
sliding into the bases and stuff, but I
won't be doing much head first, sliding
at all. A lot of feet first and
just trying to be smart, trying
to stay on my feet,
trying to stay on the field and,
you know, help the team win.
Relief pitcher Tyler Kinley is also in
Spokane after rehabbing A torn flexor,
which has kept him out for over a year.
It was a tough blow for Kenley,
who was in the midst of his best
season in pro ball when he was hurt.
He is glad rehab is over and
he can return to competition.
There's never really a good
time to get injured, you know.
I think fortunately for me,
last year I was in a good
spot when I did get injured.
So I think that helped mentally
during the recovery process.
I didn't have to worry about,
you know, maybe things I could have
done better last year and whatnot.
Like I knew I ended in a good spot,
did all I could to stay healthy,
you know, But now to get back, it's been.
You know, a quick 13 months sure didn't
seem quick in the very beginning,
but super excited.
It's been a lot of work with a lot
of people helping along the way.
So super,
super excited to get back.
For now, reporting out of Vista Stadium.
Andrew Quinn, Creme 2 Sports Thank
you for joining us here on Creme 2 Plus.
For a look at some of the biggest
news stories of the past week.
For the most current news throughout
the weekend, you can watch our latest
newscast right here on Creme 2 Plus.
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bottom navigation menu.
I'm Tim Pham. Thanks for watching.