In brief: CdA chapel falls under religious exemption

The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho says it will not challenge the Hitching Post’s refusal to conduct gay marriages because the Coeur d’Alene chapel falls under a religious exemption.

Interim Executive Director Leo Morales said at a news conference Thursday that the Hitching Post became a religious corporation in Idaho nearly a month ago.

Morales said the ACLU believes that under its new business classification, the chapel does not have to comply with the city of Coeur d’Alene’s ordinance banning discrimination based on sexual orientation because the chapel only provides religious services.

However, the ACLU will reconsider not challenging the chapel if it begins offering secular services or holds nonreligious marriage ceremonies, he said.

A Christian religious rights legal organization filed a federal lawsuit last week against the city contending the chapel could be compelled to perform gay marriages under the city’s anti-discrimination ordinance.

Associated Press

Powers’ funeral service planned for Nov. 5

Funeral services for pioneering Spokane journalist Dorothy Powers will start at 11 a.m. Nov. 5 at St. John’s Cathedral, 127 E. 12th Ave.

An obituary for Powers will be published closer to the date of her funeral, according to those who are making the arrangements.

Powers died Saturday at the age of 93. Her four-decade career at The Spokesman-Review helped create journalism career opportunities for women.

John Stucke

Valley surgery center opening approved

The Providence Health Care clinic in Spokane Valley has received approval to open its outpatient surgery center.

The decision by state regulators is important for Providence, which spent about $44 million on construction, medical equipment and furnishings to open the new clinic.

The surgery center aspect of the clinic needed review by the state, which determines the community need for such things as outpatient surgery centers, hospital expansions and other major medical projects.

Rockwood Health System, which owns Valley Hospital, had argued that the region doesn’t need more operating rooms.

Providence billed its expansion into the Valley as a move to offer patients choice and lower cost. The outpatient surgery unit will be open by the end of the year.

John Stucke