The family of a Washington state soldier who grew up in Wisconsin says the 27-year-old has been killed in Afghanistan.
Army Spc. Kevin Graham died Saturday when his vehicle hit a roadside bomb in Kandahar.
He enlisted in 2007 and was assigned to the 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team based in Fort Lewis.
Graham is survived by his wife and 6-year-old stepson who live in Washington.
A memorial service is scheduled for Oct. 8 at Fort Lewis.
Spokane: Report on killer’s escape
Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Susan Dreyfus has called a news conference today in Spokane to talk about the department’s review of an escape from Eastern State Hospital custody.
A criminally insane killer was at large for three days last month after walking away from an outing at the Spokane County Interstate Fair.
Phillip Arnold Paul was recaptured Sept. 20 near Goldendale and returned to the hospital.
The 47-year-old has been committed since 1987 when he was found not guilty by reason of insanity for killing a 78-year-old woman in Sunnyside.
Dreyfus has said the Legislature may be asked to change the law so that criminals who are judged to be insane would be sent to prison if they are deemed cured.
Tacoma: Nurses sue over flu shot policy
The union representing more than 16,000 registered nurses in Washington state has filed suit in federal court against MultiCare Health System, contending MultiCare has unilaterally imposed a mandatory flu vaccination policy when it had a legal obligation to bargain with the nurses’ union.
The suit filed Thursday seeks an injunction to prevent the implementation of the mandatory policy for registered nurses at Tacoma General and Good Samaritan Hospital.
Washington State Nurses Association Executive Director Judy Huntington says the union supports a voluntary vaccination program and other precautions to prevent the spread of flu. Huntington says the union feels any mandatory vaccination policy should be implemented on a federal or state level, not through “a patchwork of hospital-by-hospital policies.”
In a statement, MultiCare says its policy requires all employees with direct patient contact to either receive a flu shot, use flu mist or wear a face mask. It says its discussions with the nurses’ union continue.
Seattle: Hospital staff to get vaccine
In 2004, Virginia Mason was one of the first hospitals in the country to require staff immunizations for seasonal flu. Five years later, the Seattle hospital announced Thursday it would be requiring all staff to get the H1N1 vaccine by Nov. 30.
As the vaccine becomes available, the staff with direct patient care will be immunized first, followed by all remaining staff.
Virginia Mason says the decision is just a continuation of its flu vaccine policy, established for patient safety.
The hospital says 99 percent of its staff get vaccinated each year. A small number of exceptions are made for medical and religious reasons. But non-immunized staff are required to wear a face mask while working during the flu season.
Icebreaker Healy back from Arctic
The Coast Guard says the icebreaker Healy is returning to its home port in Seattle.
The return Thursday completes the summer scientific mission that included mapping parts of the Arctic Ocean sea floor in cooperation with a Canadian Coast Guard icebreaker, the Louis S. St-Laurent.
The Healy now goes into drydock for maintenance.
Associated Press
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