Latest news with #Spokesman-Review
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing 34-year-old homeless man in downtown Spokane
May 22—A 22-year-old who beat a sleeping homeless man to death with a large rock nearly four years ago in downtown Spokane was sentenced Thursday to more than 10 years in prison. Aaron R. Holder pleaded guilty as charged Thursday to second-degree murder in the death of 34-year-old Justin Combs before Spokane County Superior Court Judge Andrew Van Winkle handed down the 123-month sentence, recommended by the prosecution and defense. Court documents indicate a woman came across an injured man, identified as Combs, the morning of June 7, 2021, outside the Intermodal Center, 221 W. First Ave. She notified security, who called the police. A police officer found Combs severely injured and bleeding from his head inside a sleeping bag. He assisted with first aid until medics arrived. Combs died at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center 10 days after the assault. A detective noted blood stains on the sidewalk and scuff marks consistent with a rock impacting it, according to documents. A large piece of basalt rock, which had a blood stain and sleeping bag filler stuck to it, also had scratches consistent with hitting the sidewalk. Police believe Holder used the rock, which weighed about 51 pounds, to beat Combs. Surveillance video from a nearby business showed a thin white man, roughly 20 years old, with brown hair, light gray sweatpants, a blue or purple hoodie and a colored blanket approach Combs at 5:43 a.m. while he was sleeping on the sidewalk. The man appeared to be going through Combs' belongings or moving the sleeping bag to see who was inside before leaving the area. At 5:51 a.m., the man returned, walked by Combs and then away from the area again. Six minutes later, the man returned to Combs yet again. He picked up a heavy rock and threw it at the head area of the sleeping bag while Combs appeared to be sleeping inside, the video showed. The man ran away but returned seconds later, picked up the heavy object and threw it three more times at the head area of the sleeping bag. The man then dragged Combs out of view of the camera before walking away. Police initially linked Samual Tesch-Villa, who was 19 at the time, to the killing. He was arrested the month after the June 7 beating and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors dropped the murder charge in December of that year after they couldn't locate a key witness, according to a previous Spokesman-Review story. Documents say Tesch-Villa was arrested based on statements from "associates in his life at the time." Tesch-Villa maintained his innocence, and physical evidence did not support him being a suspect, police said in documents. On Jan. 8, 2024, a police officer spotted Tesch-Villa, who had a misdemeanor warrant , documents say. Tesch-Villa told the officer he knew Holder killed Combs because Holder apologized to him for Tesch-Villa's time spent in jail. Police arrested Holder Jan. 10, 2024, for misdemeanor warrants, and he's been incarcerated since then. Holder initially declined to speak to police about the homicide before confessing to the killing, court records say. He admitted to being in front of the Wolfe Apartments, which is across from the Intermodal Center, because his mother would sometimes stay there. During his interview with police, Holder watched the video of the assault and cried, documents say. He told police he did not know Combs and would not or could not explain why he killed him, documents say. Holder asked police what kind of punishment he was facing. The standard sentence range for Holder was about 10 to 18 years in prison, but Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Jonathan Degen said Thursday that Holder, who was 18 at the time of the killing, could have asked for a sentence well below the standard range because of mitigating factors for youth. The defense also explored a "diminished capacity" defense because of Holder's mental health. Degen said Holder was initially found incompetent to stand trial, sent to Eastern State Hospital for competency restoration and then deemed competent. Because of the "risks" that could lead to a lesser sentence, Degen said they settled on the low end of the standard range. Holder has no prior felony convictions, and his attorney, David Lund, said he was homeless at the time of the killing. Holder, who wore yellow Spokane County Jail clothing, declined to give a statement to the court. Combs' father appeared virtually on a screen in court and declined to give a victim impact statement. Van Winkle ordered Holder to serve three years of probation when he's released from prison. Holder will also have to undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations and adhere to any recommended treatment. Van Winkle said the low-end sentence was appropriate, especially given Holder's mental condition and his young age. He said one of the primary goals is rehabilitation and transforming Holder into a productive member of society. "You've got an opportunity here," Van Winkle said. "Don't waste it."
Yahoo
23-05-2025
- Yahoo
Man sentenced to 10 years in prison for killing 34-year-old homeless man in downtown Spokane
May 22—A 22-year-old who beat a sleeping homeless man to death with a large rock nearly four years ago in downtown Spokane was sentenced Thursday to more than 10 years in prison. Aaron R. Holder pleaded guilty as charged Thursday to second-degree murder in the death of 34-year-old Justin Combs before Spokane County Superior Court Judge Andrew Van Winkle handed down the 123-month sentence, recommended by the prosecution and defense. Court documents indicate a woman came across an injured man, identified as Combs, the morning of June 7, 2021, outside the Intermodal Center, 221 W. First Ave. She notified security, who called the police. A police officer found Combs severely injured and bleeding from his head inside a sleeping bag. He assisted with first aid until medics arrived. Combs died at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center 10 days after the assault. A detective noted blood stains on the sidewalk and scuff marks consistent with a rock impacting it, according to documents. A large piece of basalt rock, which had a blood stain and sleeping bag filler stuck to it, also had scratches consistent with hitting the sidewalk. Police believe Holder used the rock, which weighed about 51 pounds, to beat Combs. Surveillance video from a nearby business showed a thin white man, roughly 20 years old, with brown hair, light gray sweatpants, a blue or purple hoodie and a colored blanket approach Combs at 5:43 a.m. while he was sleeping on the sidewalk. The man appeared to be going through Combs' belongings or moving the sleeping bag to see who was inside before leaving the area. At 5:51 a.m., the man returned, walked by Combs and then away from the area again. Six minutes later, the man returned to Combs yet again. He picked up a heavy rock and threw it at the head area of the sleeping bag while Combs appeared to be sleeping inside, the video showed. The man ran away but returned seconds later, picked up the heavy object and threw it three more times at the head area of the sleeping bag. The man then dragged Combs out of view of the camera before walking away. Police initially linked Samual Tesch-Villa, who was 19 at the time, to the killing. He was arrested the month after the June 7 beating and charged with first-degree murder. Prosecutors dropped the murder charge in December of that year after they couldn't locate a key witness, according to a previous Spokesman-Review story. Documents say Tesch-Villa was arrested based on statements from "associates in his life at the time." Tesch-Villa maintained his innocence, and physical evidence did not support him being a suspect, police said in documents. On Jan. 8, 2024, a police officer spotted Tesch-Villa, who had a misdemeanor warrant , documents say. Tesch-Villa told the officer he knew Holder killed Combs because Holder apologized to him for Tesch-Villa's time spent in jail. Police arrested Holder Jan. 10, 2024, for misdemeanor warrants, and he's been incarcerated since then. Holder initially declined to speak to police about the homicide before confessing to the killing, court records say. He admitted to being in front of the Wolfe Apartments, which is across from the Intermodal Center, because his mother would sometimes stay there. During his interview with police, Holder watched the video of the assault and cried, documents say. He told police he did not know Combs and would not or could not explain why he killed him, documents say. Holder asked police what kind of punishment he was facing. The standard sentence range for Holder was about 10 to 18 years in prison, but Spokane County Deputy Prosecutor Jonathan Degen said Thursday that Holder, who was 18 at the time of the killing, could have asked for a sentence well below the standard range because of mitigating factors for youth. The defense also explored a "diminished capacity" defense because of Holder's mental health. Degen said Holder was initially found incompetent to stand trial, sent to Eastern State Hospital for competency restoration and then deemed competent. Because of the "risks" that could lead to a lesser sentence, Degen said they settled on the low end of the standard range. Holder has no prior felony convictions, and his attorney, David Lund, said he was homeless at the time of the killing. Holder, who wore yellow Spokane County Jail clothing, declined to give a statement to the court. Combs' father appeared virtually on a screen in court and declined to give a victim impact statement. Van Winkle ordered Holder to serve three years of probation when he's released from prison. Holder will also have to undergo mental health and substance abuse evaluations and adhere to any recommended treatment. Van Winkle said the low-end sentence was appropriate, especially given Holder's mental condition and his young age. He said one of the primary goals is rehabilitation and transforming Holder into a productive member of society. "You've got an opportunity here," Van Winkle said. "Don't waste it."
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Publishers react to Spokesman-Review's nonprofit course -- served with beer -- at News Industry Mega Conference
Apr. 16—ORLANDO, Fla. — Newspaper executives took some of the first sips of an exclusive beer brewed by No-Li Brewhouse in partnership with The Spokesman-Review, an early case served at the News Industry Mega-Conference on Tuesday. Attendees drank the hazy IPA, named 1AB after the First Amendment, as they listened to a behind-the-curtain look at Northwest Passages book club events from Spokesman-Review Executive Editor Rob Curley. For the past six years, the live interviews have served as a vehicle to bring Spokanites together in consideration and conversation while also giving them a tangible relationship with their local newspaper, Curley told his day-drinking audience. Spokesman-Review staff are often at Northwest Passages events in their various capacities: covering the event, watching it on their own time, or interviewing the featured guest. It's good to have attendees see the people behind the bylines they read, Curley said. "The interviewer is one of either our reporters, editors or columnists, because we want the people who come to the events to see an act of journalism happen in front of them," Curley said. It's that relationship, fostered in part through Northwest Passages, that America's Newspapers CEO Dean Ridings said other publications could learn from and implement in their own communities. Ridings is working with Curley to create a "playbook" to make this happen. It's good for business and for people, he said. "The way that you engage with the community is fundamentally the most important thing that you're doing," Ridings said. "Whether a newspaper is for profit, not for profit, a hybrid or completely setting the model like you are doing now, you've got to have engagement. You've got to listen to your community. You've got to respond to your community. And I feel like you all are doing it off the charts." Though now exclusive to Spokane, Northwest Passages events are "hitting the road" and may soon be in other states. Leonard Woolsey, publisher for the Galveston County Daily News in Texas, thinks the event would fit right at home on his island community after he attended a Northwest Passages in Spokane featuring author and rancher Craig Johnson. "I stood up and turned around and looked backward, and what I saw were hundreds of people who shared a love for community and literature, and they were our readers; they were our people," Woolsey said. "It was like, 'This is a thread that pulls people together.' " Elena Perry's work is funded in part by members of the Spokane community via the Community Journalism and Civic Engagement Fund. This story can be republished by other organizations for free under a Creative Commons license. For more information on this, please contact our newspaper's managing editor.
Yahoo
06-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Engineer and entrepreneur Edmund Schweitzer III writes a few rhymes on tariffs
Apr. 5—From staff reports Limericks are one of the most famous forms of poetry in the Western world. Short and easily memorized, the five-line rhymes are often absurd and frequently obscene, as evidenced by the many variations on the best known opener: "There once was a man from Nantucket." The city of Limerick in the Republic of Ireland is popularly believed to be the source of the name of this particular type of poem. Limerick is one of Spokane's sister cities, a relationship fostered by the late Spokane Mayor Jack Geraghty, who was himself known by friends and family for spinning the bawdy rhymes. But not all limericks are lewd, and sometimes they are a form of cultural or political expression. The day after President Donald Trump announced 25% tariffs on Canada and Mexico, Edmund O. Schweitzer III, founder of Pullman-headquartered Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories and free-trade proponent, wrote six limericks "as a semi-constructive release of energy." The Spokesman-Review is publishing these rhymes with Schweitzer's permission. ----Our new president named Donald J Trump Threw Free Trade right into the dump. Despite all of our labors, and those of our neighbors, The economy ended up in a slump. ----Trump just back from a rally Asked "What the heck is Smoot Hawley?" "We'll impose the new duty, and collect lots of booty." But the economy slid into a valley. ----While sitting on the edge of his bed, Trump must have bumped his red head. For he imposed new trade duties, and claimed "They're real beauties" But the economy quickly dropped over dead. ----"There's something I think that I hafta, That's blown up what's left of the NAFTA." Singing "Y M C A, Let's do it my way ... " But depression soon ended his laughta! ----"The economy will do what I say!" "Look what I did just today!" "Since I'm the new sheriff, I put in the huge tariff." ... So why'd our trade go away???
Yahoo
05-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Authorities raise red flag after tick discovered on dog in Montana: 'We should be on the lookout'
A tick found on a bird dog in Montana could forewarn of Lyme disease spreading into the state. A Bozeman-based hunter recently alerted local health officials in the state to a tick that he found on his French Brittany dog after a pheasant-hunting excursion. The Spokesman-Review reported the news, explaining that the tick was plucked from the dog and shipped to a National Institutes of Health facility, which confirmed it was a deer tick, a Lyme disease-carrying species that has traditionally been found on the East Coast and in the Midwest. In addition, the lab found that the tick may have actually been carrying Lyme disease and relapsing fever, another tick-borne disease. Health officials said that the evidence isn't enough to prove that Lyme disease has moved into the state, however. "What it does say is, 'Well, guess what? We should be on the lookout for these Ixodes scapularis ticks in Eastern Montana,' which is where this tick was from, as well as other parts of the state," Marshall Bloom, a scientist with Rocky Mountain Laboratories, the Montana-based lab that first received the tick and sent it to the NIH, told the Spokesman-Review. Deer ticks have long made themselves at home in the East and Midwest, but they are expanding their range westward, largely due to rising global temperatures that allow them to remain active and survive for longer as the number of days with warm enough temperatures increases slightly, scientists say. In people, Stage 1 Lyme disease can cause symptoms including fever, headache, extreme tiredness, joint stiffness, muscle aches and pains, and swollen lymph nodes, according to the Mayo Clinic. Without treatment, the disease can progress to Stage 2, with more serious symptoms like immune-system activity in heart tissue that causes irregular heartbeats. Stage 3 leads to more severe consequences that can last for months and in some cases years, potentially causing permanent joint, heart, or neurological damage. In dogs, the disease can cause lameness, fever, swollen lymph nodes and joints, and a kidney disease called Lyme nephritis that can lead to edema, weight loss, vomiting, diarrhea, and sometimes death, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association. Montana isn't the only place on the alert as deer ticks continue to expand their range outside of their normal territory. For instance, Lyme disease risk has doubled in the Canadian province of Quebec and tripled in Manitoba between 2000 and 2015, according to one study. Do you worry about getting diseases from bug bites? Absolutely Only when I'm camping or hiking Not really Never Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. The best way to avoid Lyme disease is to avoid ticks. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention encourages people to walk in the middle of trails to avoid these tiny external parasites and keep legs covered. Another preventative action is spraying footwear, clothing, and camping gear with insecticide that includes 0.5% permethrin — though as always, avoid resorting to chemicals when possible and look to this option more for times when engaging in serious tick risks. There are already a number of medicines on the market that kill ticks that have bitten dogs before they can spread Lyme disease. Make sure to invest in one of these medications to protect your dog. Meanwhile, scientists are working on a new tick-repelling drug for humans that works similar to the chewable tablets we give our dogs. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
