SEATTLE – The Board of Regents wants to make sure that University of Washington president Mark Emmert stays put.
“He’s one of the top performing presidents – public or private – in the U.S.,” UW board member Sally Jewell told a Seattle newspaper. “We wanted him to stick around.”
On Thursday, Emmert received an annual pay raise of more than $100,000. The Board of Regents approved a new yearly compensation package that totals $718,700, up 17 percent, for Emmert.
His raise includes a base pay of $518,700 and deferred compensation of $200,000. It’s retroactive to Sept. 1.
Sumner: Fire captain fired over side job
A Sumner Fire Department captain has been fired for violating conflict-of-interest laws by working on the side for a fire engine manufacturer while the city was purchasing a new fire engine from the company.
The engine involved is the same fire engine that broke down several times this year and never went out on an emergency call. The city returned the vehicle and recently got back all the money it paid.
City and state officials reported the firing on Thursday, saying the captain was dismissed on Wednesday following an investigation.
Spokane: Ireland rejects asylum plea
The Irish government has reportedly rejected fugitive Fred Russell’s bid for asylum.
Whitman County Deputy Prosecutor Carol LaVerne said Friday she had received an e-mail from the U.S. Office of International Affairs, saying the Irish government denied Russell’s request.
Whitman County Prosecutor Denis Tracy said his office had not received official confirmation.
Such a decision would likely hasten Russell’s return to face vehicular homicide and assault charges in Whitman County, stemming from a fatal collision that left three Washington State University students dead on the Pullman-Moscow Highway in June 2001.
Centralia: Messages prompt investigation
Fourteen Centralia police employees could be disciplined for improper use of text messages, Chief Bob Berg said.
Centralia’s investigation into text messages was launched after one Lewis County sheriff’s deputy resigned and another faced discipline over improper messages exchanged with another county employee.
Berg said six of the 14 Centralia police workers could face formal discipline, which could include suspension or loss of vacation. The others could get reprimands.
The possible text messaging violations have to do with excessive personal use of mobile computers and with foul language, Berg said.
Fort Lewis: Soldier sentenced in killings
An Army specialist has been sentenced to life in prison in the death of another soldier and a soldier’s wife.
Spc. Jamaal A. Lewis was convicted in the deaths of Pfc. Jason Jowers, 26, and Crystal Hurley-McDowell, 23, during an attempted robbery outside a Lakewood tavern Sept. 5, 2005. He could be eligible for parole in 10 years.
A seven-member panel of officers and enlisted soldiers returned the penalty late Thursday evening after hearing character witnesses as part of Lewis’ court-martial, Fort Lewis officials said Friday.
Lewis was convicted Wednesday for the murders, as well as aggravated assault in a separate drive-by shooting.
Lewis, of Prince George’s County, Md., was a communications specialist with the Headquarters Support Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis.
Two other soldiers involved in the case have already been convicted.
Alaska: Search for crewman called off
The search for a crewman missing after a commercial fishing boat capsized south of the Alaska Peninsula, killing two men and injuring another, was called off Thursday night, the Coast Guard said.
Officials had scoured more than 1,730 square miles in the North Pacific for two days, said Petty Officer Sara Francis.
“The chances of finding someone alive in these kinds of water temperatures after 24 hours is extremely low,” Francis said. “After 48 hours, that chance drastically reduces.”
Oregon: Search for missing boy scaled back
Searchers who have been hiking the wilds of Crater Lake National Park through snow and rain the past week looking for an 8-year-old boy spent Friday dismantling base camp and gathering up orange and pink plastic ribbons that marked reference points for their search.
Though the search will never be formally called off until the fate of Sammy Boehlke of Portland is known, it was scaled back from more than 200 people at its high to just 35 after it became plain that there was little chance of finding the boy alive.
The boy’s family remained in seclusion at the park, but through a search spokesman they expressed their thanks to all the people who tried to find him since he disappeared Saturday afternoon from his father’s side.
Researchers develop purple tomatoes
Oregon State University researchers are fine-tuning a purple tomato – a new blend of colors and nutrients.
The skin is as dark as an eggplant. But it doesn’t just look cool – it could be better for you.
The novel pigment contains the same phytochemical found in blueberries that is thought to reduce the risk of cancer and heart disease.
Associated Press
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