STCU recently awarded the Dream Builders Education Foundation a $10,000 grant to support ESD 123’s Artful Response to Tiered Support (ARTS) program.

ARTS is a program that offers an innovative approach to supporting students with complex needs and the educators who work with them through art expression and arts integration in classrooms. The grant will help support professional development opportunities for educators and community service providers in the Tri Cities and lower Yakima Valley areas. The training will be designed to equip participants with the skills they need to implement ARTS in their respective learning environments. 

STCU came and interviewed the ARTS team to learn more about the work they’re doing and found the program reaches the entire community, including educators, students and families.

"We extend our deepest gratitude for the financial support and belief in our program, which is transforming lives every day," says ARTS Coordinator Lisa Brouwer-Thompson. "The generosity of both Dream Builders and STCU empowers us to continue making a lasting impact on those who need it most."

Learn more about A.R.T.S. at www.esd123.org/services/arts.

Spokane, WA – Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Inland Northwest Behavioral Health has agreed to take remedial measures over the next two years and pay ten thousand dollars in compensatory damages to resolve alleged violations of Title III of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). 

A former patient of Inland Northwest Behavioral Health alleged that he was required to provide documentation of a service animal in violation of the ADA’s requirements, that he was not allowed to conduct visitation indoors with the service animal, and that he was segregated from other patients of Inland Northwest Behavioral Health while utilizing the service animal. 

Inland Northwest Behavioral Health fully and promptly cooperated with the investigation and agreed to take concrete remedial measures to comply with the ADA.

Under the terms of the settlement, Inland Northwest Behavioral Health is required to pay $10,000 in compensatory damages to the individual with disabilities.  The settlement further requires Inland Northwest Behavioral Health to undertake the following:

• Implement and utilize a written Title III ADA service animal policy
• Require annual employee training addressing the requirements of the ADA
• Conspicuously post notices to patients and employees at the facility that service animals are welcome 
• Submit reports to the United States Attorney’s Office every twelve months for the next two years certifying full compliance with all remedial terms of the agreement and self-reporting any allegations of violations of the ADA so they can be fully investigated.

“The Americans with Disabilities Act provides individuals many protections, including the use of service animals. This agreement compels Inland Northwest Behavioral Health to take steps to make sure this right is protected for individuals in the future.” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “My office will continue to protect the civil rights of all citizens in our district.” 

The settlement was the result of a complaint filed on ADA.gov and the resulting investigation conducted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington.  The public is encouraged to report suspected ADA violations at ADA.gov, or individuals can report suspected ADA violations directly to the U.S. Attorney’s Office at USAWAE.CivilRights@usdoj.gov or by calling the Civil Rights Complaint Line at (509) 835-6306.  The full settlement agreement, including the required Service Animal Policy, is available at the bottom of this page. 

Assistant United States Attorney Jacob E. Brooks of the Eastern District of Washington handled the matter on behalf of the United States.

Spokane, Washington - Vanessa R. Waldref, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Washington, announced that Brady Baughman, age 34, of Spokane, Washington, was sentenced after pleading guilty to one count of Robbery Affecting Commerce and one count of Possession with Intent to Distribute 30 Grams or More of Fentanyl. United States District Judge Mary K. Dimke imposed a sentence of 120 months imprisonment to be followed by 5 years of supervised release.

According to court documents and information presented at the sentencing hearing, on February 6, 2022, Baughman went to a stash house in Spokane to buy a large quantity of methamphetamine and fentanyl from a drug trafficking organization operating in Spokane. Baughman presented $12,000.00 of counterfeit U.S. currency to members of the drug trafficking organization. Immediately recognizing that the buy money was counterfeit, the sellers declined the sale. Baughman then robbed drug couriers who were entering the stash house carrying controlled substances inside a kitty litter bucket and a backpack. Baughman then sped off in his vehicle with the stolen drugs. 

Members of the drug trafficking organization attempted to find Baughman. They ultimately tracked Baughman near the intersection of Nettleton and Rowan in Spokane and fired several shots at his vehicle during high-speed pursuit. Baughman fled from the vehicle with the kitty litter bucket and backpack. 

Immediately thereafter, Spokane Police Department (SPD) located the kitty litter bucket and backpack, abandoned, lying in the parking lot of a business nearby. The kitty litter bucket contained approximately 16 pounds of Methamphetamine. The backpack contained 50,441 fentanyl laced pills. 

After an arrest warrant was issued for his involvement with the robbery, on August 12, 2022, SPD located Baughman after an SPD officer observed Baughman driving a motorcycle more than 55 mph in a 30-mph zone. The SPD officer activated his lights and attempted a traffic stop. Baughman refused to pull over, ran several stop signs and traffic lights, and sped off into a residential neighborhood. The SPD officer was required to abandon his pursuit. A few minutes later, Baughman crashed his motorcycle and sustained a serious head injury. Inside a backpack Baughman was carrying, SPD officers found a loaded 9mm pistol and 1,178 fentanyl pills. 

When Baughman, who was in the hospital being treated for injuries from the motorcycle crash, became aware he had been indicted and was wanted by law enforcement, he fled the medical center. 

After remaining a fugitive for almost a year, on March 28, 2023, Baughman was located and arrested on his outstanding warrants. During a search incident to arrest, officers located a blue bottle with 100 fentanyl laced pills. During a search of the car, SPD found an additional 1,500 fentanyl laced pills.  

“The scope of Mr. Baughman’s criminal conduct is shocking. From the robbery of a large amount of deadly drugs, to a high-speed getaway with shots fired, and including a reckless attempt to avoid law enforcement that ended with serious injury, Mr. Baughman’s actions repeatedly put our community in danger,” stated U.S. Attorney Waldref. “I’m grateful for our close partnerships with local and federal law enforcement who work to hold people like Mr. Baughman accountable for their actions and make Eastern Washington safer and stronger.”

“This case is a snapshot of the threats to the community posed by drug traffickers like Mr. Baughman,” said David F. Reames, Special Agent in Charge, DEA Seattle Field Division.  “He engaged in reckless and violent behavior, all while trying to poison our community with fentanyl and methamphetamine for his personal gain. I am proud of the efforts of the Drug Enforcement Administration and our partners in safely bringing this case to a conclusion.”

This case was investigated by the Drug Enforcement Administration and the Spokane Police Department. It was prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorney Stephanie Van Marter. 

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Clarkston, WA – The Clarkston DECA chapter is excited to host the 14th Annual “Spike for the Cure” volleyball tournament on October 9, 2024, at 5:30 p.m. Spike for the Cure brings Clarkston High School students together to raise funds for the Gina Quesenberry Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to providing financial assistance to local breast cancer patients.

Fourteen teams—comprising 84 players, including high school students and faculty members—will compete in the tournament, which will be held in the CHS gym. Local businesses are also sponsoring the event, and Spike for the Cure shirts are being sold to promote the fundraiser. We encourage community members to come and cheer on our Clarkston High School students and staff!


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