In brief: FEMA declines Washington request for wildfire aid to individuals

OLYMPIA – The Federal Emergency Management Agency has once again denied a Washington state request for aid to individuals affected by this summer’s wildfires in Okanogan County and on the Colville Reservation.

Gov. Jay Inslee said he learned Tuesday that FEMA denied the state’s appeal of the federal agency’s initial decision. He calls the rejection “unfortunate” but said the state will do its best to help the communities recover.

In a terse, three-paragraph letter, FEMA Administrator W. Craig Fugate said the impact to individuals and homeowners “was not of the severity and magnitude to warrant” individual assistance. More than 300 homes were destroyed by the north-central Washington wildfires.

FEMA earlier approved Inslee’s request for public assistance to help the county and tribal governments pay for repair of infrastructure damaged in the fires.

Associated Press

Felon awaiting trial arrested after stabbing

A Spokane man awaiting trial for allegedly threatening a police officer in April was jailed Monday after he was accused of stabbing a man.

Benjamin Oien, 22, faces a first-degree assault charge after the stabbing reported around 12:30 p.m. Monday at Sprague Avenue and Myrtle Street. The victim required stitches, according to court documents. Police found a knife in Oien’s back pocket, and he admitted to the stabbing after he was pointed out by the victim, court records say.

Oien has five felony convictions. In April, an officer approached him on suspicions of trespassing when Oien raised rebar in a threatening manner and elbowed the officer, court documents say.

Spokane County Superior Court Judge Gregory Sypolt on Tuesday ordered Oien held on $150,000 bond.

Kip Hill

Police department gets federal review

Members of the U.S. Department of Justice team examining the Spokane Police Department are meeting with local officials this week.

Department of Justice officials will attend training sessions, ride with officers during patrol, and meet with community leaders and officers, police spokeswoman Monique Cotton said in a news release. They will visit Spokane in November before releasing recommendations in December.

City officials welcomed the federal review after the federal conviction of a police officer of violating the civil rights of Otto Zehm, a Spokane resident who died in police custody in 2006.

Staff report