Northwest Briefly: Army specialist from Federal Way dies in Iraq

TACOMA — An Army specialist with ties to Washington and Oregon has died in Iraq.

The body of Spc. Erin L. McLyman arrived Monday at Dover Air Force Base in Delaware. Her identification was released by the Air Force Mortuary Affairs Operations Center at Dover. The U.S. Defense Department has yet to release more details about McLyman’s service or how she died. She lived most recently in Federal Way.

Mercer Island: Clergy say Tent City rules violate freedoms

Clergy on Mercer Island say the city’s new rules about the roving homeless encampment known as Tent City violate their religious freedoms.

The Seattle Times reported that the Mercer Island City Council last month voted to require that churches which host Tent City on their property must ensure the encampment conducts sex-offender and arrest warrant checks on its residents.

The rules also say that when Tent City moves, it must wait 18 months before returning to the same site, and the encampment’s host must enforce bans on alcohol and drugs.

Olympia: High school students take WASL replacement test

Washington high school students will be taking the new High School Proficiency Exam this week.

The series of tests replaces the Washington Assessment of Student Learning. The new high school exams are designed to take less time away from the classroom. New tests for grades three through eight will be given in May.

High school students will take reading and writing exams this week. They’ll take the math and science tests later in the spring. All 10th-graders are required to take the new exam, as well as 11th- and 12th-graders who did not pass the WASL or an alternative assessment.

The state requires high school students to pass the reading and writing tests before graduating. Future classes are expected to also pass the math and science test.

Spokane: City vehicles to run on more expensive recycled oil

City vehicles in Spokane are getting an oil change.

The Spokesman-Review newspaper said the city is switching to recycled waste oil for its 1,400 vehicles in an effort to promote environmental sustainability. The oil is re-refined to remove dirt and other debris. It costs about 25 cents per gallon more than virgin crude oil, which amounts to an extra $2,300 a year for the city.

Randle: Deadly assault

A 58-year-old Federal Way man is dead after being beaten in Lewis County, and a relative has been arrested for investigation of second-degree murder.

Lewis County sheriff’s deputies said Monday they learned of the assault when they received a phone call from Morton General Hospital on Sunday. The victim was driven away from the hospital in a private car and brought to a hospital in Federal Way, but did not survive.

Chief sheriff’s deputy Stacy Brown says the man’s 42-year-old relative, Erik Robert Massa, was arrested Sunday for investigation of second-degree murder in the assault.

The attack occurred Saturday night in Randle.

An autopsy was being conducted on the victim Monday at the King County Medical Examiner’s Office.

Yakima: Bill requires quicker livestock inspections

A new bill signed into law Monday by Gov. Chris Gregoire requires that livestock entering Washington from another state be inspected within 12 hours of entry.

The bill was pushed by segments of the livestock industry and the state veterinarian, who want to better protect animals within the state from diseases.

The bill also improves the state veterinarian’s investigative tools in the event of an animal disease outbreak.It takes effect in June.

Tacoma: Police wound bank robbery suspect

Tacoma police have shot and wounded a bank robbery suspect.

Police spokesman Mark Fulghum says the injuries do not appear to be life-threatening.

A Columbia Bank branch in Tacoma was robbed Monday and the robber fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. Fulghum says witnesses gave responding officers a vehicle description and license plate number. Police found the abandoned vehicle and then the suspected bank robber, who was shot during a confrontation.

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