At least six people were injured after dozens of cars crashed on an icy highway near Spokane, Washington. The pileup involving more than 60 vehicles forced authorities to shut down Interstate 90 on Tuesday, the Washington Department of Transportation said. "There were multiple collisions west of Spokane due to an isolated snow storm that came through the area," Beth Bousley, a WDOT spokeswoman said.
- PUB DATE: 11/27/2019 3:25:28 AM - SOURCE: KXLY-TV ABC 4

Justin Grider of Sequim is the new Deputy Fire Chief for Clallam 2 Fire Rescue (Port Angeles area). The Deputy Chief position had been vacant since July 1 and after a regional search Grider was selected. His first official day was Nov. 4 with his swearing in ceremony on Nov. 19. Grider most recently was serving as the volunteer training/coordinator with Clallam County Fire District 3 (Sequim).
- PUB DATE: 11/27/2019 1:41:59 AM - SOURCE: Sequim Gazette - Metered Site

Easton is closing in on $1 million in overtime in 2019 for its fire department, increasing the likelihood that it will bring in part-time personnel in 2020. Despite adding three new full-timers earlier this year, the city has already eclipsed the $850,000 in overtime pay it expended in 2018, Finance Director Mark Lysynecky said during the city council meeting Tuesday.
- PUB DATE: 11/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: The Morning Call - Metered Site

The Portland City Council took what might look like a baby step last week toward more efficient handling of non-emergency 911 calls. In a break from current practice, in which uniformed, armed police officers in squad cars or a truckload of firefighters respond, commissioners approved a pilot project in which a new "third branch" of the first-responder system, staffed by a specially trained firefighter and a contracted crisis worker, would respond to some non-emergency situations.
- PUB DATE: 11/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: Willamette Week

Sarah Mackin runs a cotton swab around the inside of a tiny plastic baggie that appears to be empty. She spreads whatever residue the swab picked up onto a test strip that resembles a Band-Aid, then slides the strip into a buzzing machine about the size of a boxed, take-home pie. Then she waits, hoping for information that she can share with Boston's community of opioid users.
- PUB DATE: 11/27/2019 12:00:00 AM - SOURCE: WBUR-FM 90.9