Apple Cup weekend for football rivals, tough travel expected for game road-trippers, and allegations of Army spying on an Olympia anti-war group lead today's news headlines.
Apple Cup in White
Snow covers the stands in Pullman today, but the field has been cleared in preparation for tomorrow's renewal of the rivalry between WSU and the UW. If the Huskies win, they'll finish the season at 6 and 6, and earn their first trip to a bowl game since 2002.
The game could be star quarterback Jake Locker's last at Washington.
Sportspress Northwest reports the Huskies are looking to erase the memory of their last Pullman trip in 2008, a double overtime loss, and prevent an upset.
KPLUsports commentator Art Thielsays he's looking for Cougar upset. Countering Art's prediction is Chai the Elephant at Seattle's Woodland Park Zoo. (Sorry, Art. Chai's got a solid prediction record, apparently). See how Chai chooses the Huskies to win:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eY7OjVfBLTM
Icy Roads for Football Travelers
If you're planning to drive to Pullman for the game you need to be ready for lousy driving conditions. Freezing fog is forecast for most of eastern Washington the next two days, with a good chance of freezing rain. The Seattle PI reports:
The Transportation Department says it's putting addition crews as needed on Apple Cup routes.
The state DOT site will have the latest road updates, plus winter condition driving tips. Game time temperatures in Pullman on Saturday will be in the 20's. Pullman may get a little snow Saturday night, according to the forecast from the National Weather Service.
Investigation into Army Spy Case of Anti-War Activists
The Army is still refusing to release the results of its investigation into spying on anti-war activists by a civilian staff member at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. That staffer, John Towery, is suspected of reporting on the activities of the Olympia Port Militarization Resistance.
The Olympian reports attorneys for the anti-war group say Army leaders at the base knew about it and worried about the operation being discovered by the media. The paper reports that the Army says it is withholding information for legal reasons:
Col. John Wells of the Army’s Litigation Division noted an ongoing federal civil-rights lawsuit brought by the activists and the possibility of criminal charges against Army employees, and he said releasing the documents could impair the rights of those involved to fair trials or disciplinary proceeding.
The Associated Press reports the Army did release more than 100 pages of records this week to its reporter after a public information request, but withheld results as well as recommendations made by an investigating officer.
