Up With KREM Headlines: Tuesday, July 21, 2026

[00:00:03][music] Good morning. I'm Tim Fam. This morning, the Creme 2 weather team is calling for a weather impact alert today. Jenny Power is keeping a close eye on both air quality and now heat advisories. So, Jenny, tell us more about what we can expect and how people can plan for their day. Good morning.

[00:00:25]>> Yeah, good morning, Tim. Definitely staying hydrated and taking breaks inside with the air conditioning is definitely advised because yes, we still have air quality concerns, but we're preparing now for multiple days of hot temperatures. Daytime highs that will be in the mid to upper 90s as well as triple digits. And unfortunately, when we see these kinds of conditions, heat related illnesses are possible. So, emphasis on drinking water, taking breaks from the sun, and also checking on uh relatives or neighbors who may be vulnerable under this heat. Heat advisories are going to be in place starting today, lasting through Thursday for all of these areas shaded in orange, which is mo most of the inland northwest. We're even waking up right now to some warm temperatures. 71 degrees currently in Spokane. 69 over in Celane. Some mid-50s though south to the Paloo. Uh winds have been pretty light across the board and that also though is contributing to some pretty stagnant smoke that's sticking around. Highs this afternoon though, let's take a look at that because we're in the mid 90s for Spokane and Celane. But we are seeing more widespread tripledigit heat for Richland, Wanachi, Chalan, Omac, Moses Lake, and Yakama. Both going to be right on that line with highs in the upper 90s this afternoon. Air quality alerts still in place not only now for Spokane County and North Idaho, but they've since expanded to include much of northern Washington as well as the lower Columbia Basin. Our current air quality is unhealthy for OMAC in the Okonogan Valley and very unhealthy south to Walaw Wala. Unfortunately, because the winds are going to be so light, this smoke is expected to be stick around. We could even be seeing a little bit more drift in because of fires to the north and those northerly winds pushing smoke south. But the full timing of this coming up in just a few minutes, Tim.

[00:02:06]>> All right, Jenny, we know you'll keep a close eye on it. This morning we [music] are tracking multiple fires burning across the Inland Northwest. Right now we are taking a look at the Kaiser Canyon and the Mod Wright fires burning on the Cville Reservation. It's believed both of these fires were started by lightning. Here's a look at the latest evacuation map for the Kaiser Canyon fire. You can see level three go now and level two be ready evacuations are in place. So far, the fire has grown to nearly 63,000 acres. According to the Callville Tribal Broadcast, the fire has destroyed 12 homes and an unknown number of structures. Right now, the fire is still 0% contained. This morning, some roads in the area are closed. The OMAC long house is open for evacuees to use as a shelter. Now, let's take a look at the evacuation map for the Modright fire. Level three go now evacuation orders are in place. So far, this fire has grown to more than 7,000 acres and has destroyed three structures. The fire is also 0% contained.

[00:03:09]>> As we keep moving throughout the the week, it's going to get hotter and potential thunderstorms throughout the week, later in the week. And then the topography as well. There are some steep cliffs out there and then access just to get to some of this fire and get our equipment in is kind of troublesome with just how the terrain and not a lot of roads. Those are some of the challenges fire crews are facing as they tackle the Modright fire. Fire officials say they are trying to keep the fire south of Coyote Creek Road while still protecting homes, cultural resources, and critical infrastructure. An evacuation shelter is open at the Kettle Falls Middle School for those impacted.

[00:03:47]With the summer heat picking up, you may be searching for a few ways to cool off.

[00:03:51]Creme's Brandon T. Jones is live in Spokane now with some ways you and the family can beat the heat. Hey Brandon, good morning.

[00:03:59]>> Good morning, Tim. Yeah, we've made our way over to Spokane Valley. Last time we had a chance to speak with you, we were over at Thordan Murphy Park. That was on the South Hill talking about the splash pads. All of this free family fun. You can find that right here in the valley as well. Currently, we're here at Edgecliffe Park. You can see one of the splash pads here as well. There's four of them here in the valley that are free and open to the public. One of them though currently still under operation, under some maintenance. So you've got three options here, but 19 different options throughout the city of Spokane in Spokane Park. So again, lots of options. So far this morning, things haven't turned on yet. You'll have to wait until 9:00 a.m. for the city of Spokane, 10:00 a.m. for Spokane Valley.

[00:04:42]So we've just been hanging out with the crows, the squirrels, and uh anyone else who may be walking a pet or two. But again, 19 different options just in the city of Spokane alone. All good options.

[00:04:54]And they also have some aquatic centers as well. So those aquatic centers, those include Hilliard, Comtock, and Shadel to name a few. And they all have free swim options. But don't forget, you do need to get signed up for a splash pass. Just think of that as your library card. But for the pool, you can sign up either at the pool during open hours or you can visit spokan parks.org/acquatics.

[00:05:16]Again, a good day, a good period of time to get out and enjoy some of this free family fun. Lots of shade here at Edgecliffe Park along with that splash pad. So, a winning combination. But for now, reporting live here in the valley, Brandon T. Jones, Crim 2 News.

[00:05:34]New this morning, former Shashonne County Sheriff Holly Lindsay served time in the Coupney County Jail over the weekend after she pleaded guilty to careless or inattentive driving related to a 2025 crash at a gas station.

[00:05:47]According to our news partners at the Cordelane Press, she was sentenced to 90 days in jail, but the judge suspended 86 days, so she sp ended up serving 4 days.

[00:05:57]Lindsay must spend two years on probation, use an interlock device for one year, and pay a $300 fine. The charges stem from last October when prosecutors say Lindsay hit a pole outside a gas station in Osbborne at about 5 mph. No one was hurt. She left her car there while another person drove her home. She resigned the next day.

[00:06:19]Lindsay told the court she was struggling with her mental health at the time of the crash and numbed her feelings with alcohol inratum.

[00:06:27]Right now, the US Marshalss are offering a reward of up to $2,000 for information that leads to the arrest of the man police say kidnapped his four-year-old daughter in Kenowick. It triggered an Amber Alert over the weekend. The child was found safe in Pasco. Police say Matthew Suzch is armed and dangerous.

[00:06:46]This is what he looks like. If you see him, do not approach and call 911. We're learning more about the woman who was found dead in the St. Joe River earlier this month. The Shashon County Sheriff's Office says dental records confirm it was 24y old Chantel Williams from Deer Park. She had been missing since December.

[00:07:06]Less than a month after the Spokane City Council passed a data moratorum, two Spokane County Commissioners announced they are trying to do the same for all of Spokane County. Creme 2's Caitlyn Galloway has more.

[00:07:18]>> A new proposed moratorum would pause any planning for a potential new data center and that's something that residents on the West Plains are grateful for. Since PAS contaminated groundwater was identified in Airway Heights in 2017, residents have been fighting for access to clean water. Almost a decade later, they still haven't found a perfect solution. Each of these four pairs of tanks, 14 feet high and 8 feet across, is filled with granulated charcoal.

[00:07:48]>> Now, the county commissioners are hoping to prevent further damage. A moratorium proposed by county commissioners Chris Jordan and Amber Waldruff would pause any acceptance, processing, and approval of permits for large data centers for 9 months. Commissioner Waldruff says people in district 2 have voiced concerns about the use of water from the aquafer as well as noise and the cost of power. John Hancock says it also brings up more concerns about PAS.

[00:08:15]>> The standard way of cooling down a data center in the old days was with with water.

[00:08:22]The new data centers are more likely to have a different fluid than water to cool the machinery in the building and that new fluid is PAS.

[00:08:32]>> The commissioners say the moratorum would cover the unincorporated areas of Spokane County and it would allow the county time to weigh the benefits and the impacts of projects like data centers and create or adapt to laws that protect Spokane County residents. After feeling like their concerns often went unheard, Hancock and the West Plains residents hope this moratorum is a step in the right direction.

[00:08:56]>> If the process recognizes that those of us that live here have a say in what happens next, then that process of collaboration and transparency can be applied to all the issues we have.

[00:09:11]>> The moratorum is expected to be discussed with the board of county commissioners Tuesday in Airway Heights.

[00:09:16]Caitlin Galloway, Crown 2 News.

[00:09:20]>> Here's a live look at the traffic impact this morning. Here's I90 in Hamilton looking east right now. You can see traffic volume starting to pick up as people get going here on this Tuesday morning, but traffic moving nice and smoothly here. No issues to report at this hour. We do want to say a big congratulations to Timothy Hicks of Post Falls on reeling in a new catch and release state record for Northern Pike.

[00:09:45]Timothy landed the 49 and three/4er inch giant on Lake Pere on June 13th, beating the previous record by 3/4 of an inch.

[00:09:56]How? What a catch.