A downtown Spokane street musician is planning a protest for Friday, June 3rd in Downtown Spokane.  Rick "Harpman Hatter" Bocook is organizing a Sidewalk Chalk Art First Amendment Protest  in front of River Park Square Mall from noon to 10pm.  Bocook claims security at the downtown mall has violated the first amendment rights of sidewalk chalk artists in the past. 

This afternoon, we received this statement from River Park Square Center Manager Bryn West:

Another case of equine herpes has been confirmed at Washington State University's College of Veterinary Medicine, but this horse wasn't even considered to have the virus at all.

The horse belonged to the university and was put down because it was lame.

The school ran a test for equine herpes and the test came back positive. Now all the school's horses are being monitored for signs of the virus.

A report released by the Spokane Police Department says they need to fill open officer positions as soon as possible to provide adequate police protection.

The report, prepared by Spokane Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick, says the city needs to add officers to meet minimum staffing requirements.

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner says the last four years of budget cuts have forced the city to layoff police officers.  She says, " public safety is our citizens' highest priority."