In brief: Inslee still pursuing tax breaks for Boeing

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee continued to push Friday for tax breaks and more training programs that would convince Boeing to build a new jetliner in Washington, even though some members of an aerospace workers union denounced the new contract the company also says it needs to close the deal.

At a news conference in a Capitol hallway, Inslee said strong passions are understandable, but union families need to look at the pact “in the cool light of day.”

Members of Boeing’s Machinists union attending a meeting Thursday night voiced strong opposition to the contract, which would end their defined benefit pension program and increase their insurance costs, the Seattle Times reported.

One of their leaders, Tom Wroblewski, who earlier this week stood with Inslee when the governor called for the special session, tore up the proposed contract in front of his members and called it “a piece of crap,” the Times reported.

Inslee said he would not try to tell machinists how to vote, but said approving the contract would help “bring home an assurance of jobs for you and your family and your community for decades.”

Jim Camden

Spokane leaf pickup set to begin Sunday

Leaf pickup in the city of Spokane will begin Sunday.

The city reminds residents to move cars off the street on the day crews are scheduled to be in their neighborhood. Call the Leaf Hotline, (509) 456-2666, for that schedule, or visit www. spokane streetdepartment.org/leafpu. htm.

Leaf pickup is only for leaves that fall into the street, the city cautions in a news release.

Raked yard leaves should be disposed of through other means, such as green yard-waste carts, composting, or taking them to the Waste-to-Energy Plant or a transfer station.

Staff report

Deputies investigating BNSF copper wire theft

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the theft of more than $14,000 worth of wire from the BNSF refueling depot in Rathdrum, according to a crime report.

The theft was discovered when an Idaho man brought the specialized, coated wire to Universal Recycling, a metals recycling business in Otis Orchards. The owner of that business, Lisa Hooper, looked up the wire and discovered it was mostly used by railroads, the report said. She contacted Kootenai County sheriffs. BNSF confirmed that such wire, called Okonite, was stolen from a locked area at the refueling depot.

Three spools of the wire were taken, the sheriff’s office said in the report. The theft occurred overnight on Halloween night, it said.

Addy Hatch