In brief: Senate OKs Floyd’s name on medical school

OLYMPIA – The new medical school in Spokane would be named for Elson Floyd, the late Washington State University president, under a bill approved unanimously Friday by the Senate.

The Senate voted to amend the law it passed earlier this year that gives WSU the authority to operate a state-sponsored medical school.

If the bill is approved by the House and signed by the governor, the facility would be called the Elson S. Floyd School of Medicine.

Jim Camden

Lake CdA swimmer in critical condition

A woman swimming at the city beach in Harrison, Idaho, was pulled from Lake Coeur d’Alene Friday by fellow swimmers after she was spotted face down in the water.

Witnesses told rescuers that she was in the lake with her grandchildren and began swimming toward a dock shortly after 2 p.m. Friday, according to a Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office news release. The next time she was seen she was floating face down. People pulled her out and performed CPR.

The woman, Martha K. George, 52, of Colorado, was revived by paramedics and taken to Kootenai Health by helicopter. She was listed in critical condition Friday evening.

Officials do not know what caused the woman to become unconscious but alcohol was not a factor, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Nina Culver

Prosecutor reopens football assault case

A prosecutor has asked Spokane Valley police to reopen the assault investigation into an incident last week between high school football players.

Deputy Mark Gregory said detectives will examine if there is enough evidence to upgrade a fourth-degree assault charge to felony second-degree assault.

“Due to the level of injury, they felt it was enough to reopen the investigation,” Gregory said.

The incident occurred June 18 when teams from Coeur d’Alene and Sandpoint were scrimmaging in a Border League camp at University High School. At the end of a play, a Coeur d’Alene player allegedly ripped a helmet off a Sandpoint player and hit him with it.

The Sandpoint player suffered a concussion. He was held overnight at Providence Sacred Heart Medical Center. Both players are minors.

Thomas Clouse