OLYMPIA – Republicans have dropped their main challenge of last fall’s election for governor, but the state Supreme Court still must decide what to do with four related lawsuits.
Chelan County Superior Court Judge John Bridges on Monday upheld Gov. Christine Gregoire’s election by 133 votes, and GOP challenger Dino Rossi announced that he wouldn’t appeal.
But four other challenges previously were filed directly with the high court. The lawsuits have been on hold while the main challenge was being litigated. The Supreme Court will have to decide whether to set a trial date or dismiss the complaints.
The four challengers have no direct connection with Rossi or the Republicans.
Associated Press
Bellingham: Doctor faces additional charges
A Bellingham physician accused of giving patients outdated flu vaccine last fall faces new charges of unprofessional conduct from the state medical licensing board.
The Medical Quality Assurance Commission alleges Dr. Gary McCallum took photographs of a minor patient’s genital area, telling her parents they were for a study. But he later denied taking the photographs or participating in a study when the patient’s parents asked for them, according to a statement by the commission.
McCallum has 20 days to respond to the charges.
The Bellingham Herald
Jefferson County: Woman lost for 4 days
What started out as a leisurely drive turned into a nightmare for a 48-year-old woman who spent about three nights and four days wandering lost in the forest after her car got stuck on a logging road in Jefferson County.
Two men Tuesday afternoon found Denise Foss of Quinault on land owned by the state Department of Natural Resources, scooting herself down the middle of the road with a stick.
She was taken to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office west end annex. Deputy Dave Thomas said Foss arrived at the annex shivering, hungry and thirsty, but otherwise uninjured. She was in stable condition at Grays Harbor Community Hospital in Aberdeen on Wednesday, a nurse said.
Peninsula Daily News
Buckley: Plane makes crash landing at school
A small plane lost power over Buckley on Tuesday and made an emergency landing at White River Middle School, authorities said Wednesday.
No one aboard the Cessna 150 or on the ground was hurt, said Mike Fergus, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration.
The FAA said the plane was taking off from an airfield in the Buckley area when the engine stalled.
White River principal Teresa Sinay said the plane touched down at the school’s athletic field about 6:15 p.m. before crashing through a fence and knocking over a light pole. It came to rest in the school parking lot, where it remained Wednesday, Sinay said. No one was on the field at the time.
The News Tribune
Spokane: Two women escape from prison
Two women being held at the Geiger Corrections Center jumped three fences to escape from the Spokane County lockup, and one remained at large, officials said.
Amanda George, 24, charged with theft, forgery and identity theft, was noticed and recaptured about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday, shortly after she got over the 8-foot fences with barbed wire. She was treated for minor cuts, director Leon Long said.
In an ensuing inmate count, jail officials determined Jaymie Fowler, 21, serving time for assault, was missing. She remained at large Wednesday night, Long said.
Investigators believe the two planned the escape together, and Fowler got a ride from the area, he said.
Associated Press
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