Friday, March 14, 2014

MORNING BRIEFING: Drug ring arrests, attention stabbing and insurance for same-sex spouses

Posted By on Fri, Mar 14, 2014 at 9:57 AM

HERE

Dozens of suspects were arrested yesterday on federal drug charges involving the manufacture and sale of opiates, according to federal court documents. Thirty-nine people were indicted, 26 of whom have Spokane addresses. (S-R)

A Spokane man, the late Dan Clarke, had a collection of pig products that will be available at an auction at the I-90 Auction House this weekend. Up for bid: from Pig Out in the Park posters to piggy banks and pig puzzles; plastic, pottery and carousel pigs; and pigs printed on paper and depicted on slides. (KREM)

A Spokane Valley man who reported he had been stabbed by an intruder last month while working in his garage now admits he stabbed himself. He said he was upset about breaking up with his girlfriend and wanted attention. (KHQ)

Police are trying to track down two men who robbed the Hotel Lusso early this morning. (KHQ)

The FBI is refusing to run nationwide background checks on people applying to run legal marijuana businesses in Washington state, even though it has conducted similar checks in Colorado. (Seattle Times)

THERE

The Russian foreign minister says after talks with John Kerry that no agreement has been reached and that Russia recognizes Crimea’s right to hold a referendum on Sunday. (Washington Post)

The Department of Health and Human Services announced Friday it has ordered health insurance companies to provide coverage to same-sex spouses if they already cover heterosexual couples. (The Daily Beast)

Senate negotiators struck a bipartisan deal Thursday that would renew federal unemployment benefits for the long-term jobless, allowing for retroactive payments to go to more than 2 million Americans whose benefits expired in late December. (Washington Post)

A US Airways plane blew a tire during takeoff yesterday evening at Philadelphia's airport with witnesses recalling seeing the plane "bounce" before screeching to a halt. Two women from the plane were transported to the city's Methodist Hospital. Also someone tweeted this selfie and it's making its rounds on the internet (CNN)

PIE

It's pi day today (3.14) and there are quite a few ways to celebrate, like enjoying a slice of your favorite pizza or actual pie. (CNN)

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