The Associated Press BENTON CITY, Wash. — A registered sex offender performed at a high school assembly in southeast Washington though she’s not allowed to be where minors congregate. Benton County Sheriff’s Detective Mike Wilson says Melissa Salsbury turned herself into authorities a day after Tuesday’s assembly at Kiona-Benton City High School. A jail roster shows she…

The Associated Press COEUR D’ALENE, Idaho — The former financial aid director at North Idaho College is facing felony charges after police say he offered scholarship money belonging to the school to students in exchange for sex. Authorities arrested 36-year-old Joseph M. Bekken on Wednesday on suspicion of misusing public funds and soliciting prostitution. Police say Bekken advertised…

Tri-City Herald  (TNS) A family escaped a Pasco house fire Wednesday evening that officials say started in the basement and caused extensive damage. Angelica Campos said she was in the kitchen of the Sylvester Street house about 5:30 p.m. when the fire started. There were three children and two other adults at home. One of the children smelled…

The Associated Press Kirkland has joined a growing number of Western Washington cities to ban single-use plastic carryout bags. The City Council approved a law on Tuesday that will take effect March 1, 2016. The new ordinance requires retailers to stop using disposable plastic bags and to charge customers 5 cents for every paper bag they provide. Seattle,…

The ferry commute to and from Bremerton will be back to normal Thursday while the Fauntleroy/Vashon/Southworth passengers get the short end of the stick for a couple of weeks. The 124-vehicle Kitsap ferry broke down Wednesday on the Seattle/Bremerton route and will be out for about two weeks with repairs. The Washington State Department…

UPDATE 4 p.m. During a briefing to the Senate Transportation Committee Wednesday afternoon, Washington State Transportation Secretary Lynn Peterson said that Bertha has now mined six feet toward the repair pit. Peterson added that the project contractors, Seattle Tunnel Partners, are operating Bertha “at a slow, even pace to make sure she does not overheat and that…

The Associated Press OREGON CITY, Ore. — The state medical examiner’s office says a man fatally shot by Clackamas County deputies Sunday appears to have orchestrated his shooting as a suicide. Investigators said they encountered 34-year-old Bruce Steward in the town of Colton after they got a call reporting a stabbing. But deputies didn’t find a stabbing victim….

The Kitsap ferry is out of service due to a mechanical issue, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation website. The Seattle/Bremerton route will operate with one ferry until further notice, WSDOT says. Crews are assessing the problem with the Kitsap and performing repairs, but it’s not known when the ferry will be running again. While on…

The Associated Press SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — A 28-year-old tourist from Washington state died while surfing along Puerto Rico’s west coast, the U.S. Coast Guard said Wednesday. Travis Forney lived in North Bend and had flown to Puerto Rico on Feb. 15, according to his Facebook page. He worked as a construction manager for Huber Architects…

The Associated Press LEAVENWORTH — Washington state Fish and Wildlife officers killed a cougar that tangled with a pet dog near Leavenworth. A bear and cougar specialist for the agency, Rich Beausoleil, tells KPQ the dog had attacked the cougar — not the other way around. The dog was treated for injuries and is expected…