Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

In brief: Probe continues of bike-van collision

Police are still investigating an Oct. 4 incident in which a bicyclist and a minivan collided, seriously injuring the bicyclist.

Spokane police said the bicyclist was traveling north on Lincoln into downtown just before 2 p.m. and the van was traveling east on Fourth Avenue when they collided.

The bicyclist was taken to a hospital with serious injuries and is on life support. The driver was not injured.

No citations have been issued, police spokeswoman Officer Jennifer DeRuwe said.

Police have not released the name of either party.

School board hosting informal public chat

Spokane’s school board will host its first community outreach meeting at 6 p.m. today.

The public will have a chance to chat with board members about any topic during the hourlong session.

The regular board meeting will follow at 7 p.m.

The open session and the board meeting will be at Garry Middle School, 725 E. Joseph Ave., in Spokane.

At least two more community outreach sessions are planned this school year.

The U.S. District Court in Spokane has approved a new schedule that delays the cleanup of radioactive waste from the nation’s most contaminated nuclear site by about 20 years.

Watchdog groups have complained that the delays are too long, but state and federal officials said the agreement imposes a new, enforceable and achievable schedule for removing the toxic waste from underground tanks at Hanford nuclear reservation.

The two sides began negotiating in 2007 when it became clear that the federal government would be unable to meet required deadlines, and Washington state filed suit in 2008 when those negotiations imploded. The consent decree resolves the lawsuit, allowing the federal government more time for complex environmental cleanup but requiring it to answer directly to the court if new deadlines are missed.

The new schedule envisions four more decades of work.

In a statement, Gov. Chris Gregoire said the agreement shows America keeps its promises to clean up the toxic legacy of nuclear weapons development at Hanford.