In brief: Pickup hits, kills woman; son unhurt

SELAH, Wash. – The Washington State Patrol said a 36-year-old Yakima woman who was holding her 17-month-old son was killed when she stepped outside her car after a crash on Interstate 82 near Selah and was struck by a pickup.

The Yakima Herald-Republic reported troopers identified the woman as Antonia Vazquez Ruiz. Lt. Ken Wade said Thursday afternoon the boy had been released from a hospital with no serious injuries.

Wade said the woman was fatally injured Thursday morning when the pickup struck two vehicles involved in the first crash in the westbound lanes. He said two other people were taken to a hospital.

Billions spent on outdoor recreation

SEATTLE – A new state study finds that people in Washington spend nearly $22 billion each year hiking, skiing, boating, golfing, and in other outdoor pursuits.

The report released Thursday estimates that residents spend on average about 56 days a year on outdoor recreational activities. And they spend money while doing so – on hotels, recreational equipment, food and other items.

Of the outdoor spending, about $12.5 billion in direct sales circulated through the local economy, which in turn produced an additional $8 billion in economic contributions to the state.

Out-of-state visitors account for 27 percent of dollars spent.

The study says nearly 200,000 jobs are supported by money spent on outdoor recreation. It said these markets play an important role in moving money from urban to rural areas and creating jobs in those rural areas.

The report was ordered by the state Legislature and commissioned by the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office.

No fees for distillers not using distributor

OLYMPIA – Washington’s Supreme Court said distillers who ship their own spirits – rather than using a distributor – don’t have to help cover a $105 million shortfall in licensing fees.

The case concerns Initiative 1183, which privatized liquor sales in Washington state.

Because the state was allowing distributors to take over its profitable business, the law required some compensation. It said that if fees assessed on distributors and distillers after the first year of private sales didn’t total at least $150 million, the distributors must make up the difference.

In 2012, those fees totaled $45 million – leaving a $105 million shortfall. The distributors – primarily two subsidiaries of major national companies – paid it. But they claimed the distillers should have chipped in about $3 million.

The justices ruled unanimously Thursday the state acted legally in requiring the money from the distributors alone.

Smoking device was dog-chewed

PORTLAND – The 911 call was alarming. Portland police said the caller reported an incendiary device had been thrown into a home with two children inside. Smoke was reported coming from the home.

When police, firefighters and bomb squad members raced to the scene Thursday, they found something quite different. Apparently a family dog had chewed on the TV remote control and damaged one of the lithium batteries, which started to smoke. Sgt. Pete Simpson said the kids in the home ran out and told other children and someone called 911.

As Simpson put it, “Obviously the report was grossly inaccurate.”

Police found the two children safe at a neighbor’s house, the four family dogs “running all over the place” and no damage beyond the remote control.

The culprit wasn’t immediately identified. Said Simpson, “We don’t know which dog did it.”