Good evening and welcome to the NCWLIFE Evening News. I’m Grant Olson. Before we get to what’s making news, let’s take a quick look outside our weather window. And now, A few of the stories we’re following for you tonight, Moses Lake Police say they’ve arrested a 21-year-old man for the brutal beating of a 9-week-old baby. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday they experienced another example of how Washington’s new police pursuit law QUOTE, ties the hands of all law enforcement in Washington state, UNQUOTE and Wenatchee Police are looking for two men who can be seen on surveillance video breaking into a vehicle on Yale Street and stealing more than $3,000 worth of tools. But first, our top story tonight. . . Highway 2 Fatal -A 23-year-old Orondo man was killed and two other people, including the Douglas County auditor, were injured in a collision on the snowy roadway Monday morning on Highway 2 north of East Wenatchee. The Washington State Patrol said the 9:39 a.m. accident near Turtle Rock Road happened when the driver of a westbound 2001 Honda Accord lost control and spun into the oncoming lane where the vehicle was hit in the rear by a 2009 Ford Escape. Servando Martinez Tiburcio, a passenger in the Accord, was killed and the driver, Carmelo Chavez Tolentino, 39, of Orondo was transported to Central Washington Hospital with undisclosed injuries. Also taken to the hospital with undisclosed injuries was the driver of the Escape, Douglas County Auditor Thad Duvall, 68, of East Wenatchee. Both Duvall and Tolentino were treated and released. Tolentino was cited for driving too fast for conditions and not having a valid driver’s license. M. Lake Baby Abuse -A 21-year-old Moses Lake man has been arrested after a 9-week-old baby had to be taken to a Spokane hospital with eight broke ribs, a collapsed lung, three leg fractures, as well as abrasions and bruising to the face and head. Moses Lake Police arrested Donovan Julio Cantu Saturday morning on charges of first-degree assault of a child. He currently lodged in the Grant County Jail. The baby’s mother said on the police department’s Facebook page that her baby is expected to recover and she had seen no previous signs that Cantu was capable of such violence. Chelan No Pursuit -The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said on Monday they experienced another example of how Washington’s new police pursuit law QUOTE ties the hands of all law enforcement in Washington state UNQUOTE. Part of a package of law enforcement laws passed by the 2021 Legislature, police now must witness a suspect leaving the scene of a crime is order to have probable cause to pursue their vehicle. The Chelan Sheriff’s Office said early Monday someone attempted to take two trailers from Sangsters Motors in Wenatchee but hitch locks caused the trailers to come off the receiver. A short time later, a deputy reported seeing the suspect vehicle traveling westbound on Highway 2. The deputy reported the vehicle failed to stop when he activated his lights and at one point did a U-turn in front of the deputy before continuing west. The sheriff’s office said under the new law the deputy could not initiate a pursuit and the suspect escaped. Tool Theft -Wenatchee Police are looking for two men who can be seen on surveillance video breaking into a vehicle on Yale Street and stealing more than $3,000 worth of tools. The break-in happened November 26th just after 8:30 p.m. Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to call the River-Com non-emergency line at 509-663-9911. TEASE -Coming up next, The districts where Chelan County commissioners run for election will not change their shape after the 2020 census. Three former Wenatchee educators file friend-of-court briefs in a lawsuit over the proposed capital gains tax./ Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay will step down from the board overseeing RiverCom, and, we’ll show you pictures of this year’s shop with a cop program. I’m Grant Olson and you’re watching the NCWLIFE Evening News.

Welcome back, and in other news. . . Commissioner Districts -The districts where Chelan County commissioners run for election will not change their shape after the 2020 census. The ten-year population count found the county’s numbers grew, but there was little change in the proportion of voters between the county’s three districts. Chelan County Auditor Skip Moore briefed the county commissioners today. . . The unchanged maps will remain on display through the Auditor’s office for the next week, available for public comment. After that, commissioners will vote to adopt the unchanged districts through 2030. Capital Gains -More and more friend-of-the-court briefs keep piling up in the lawsuit challenging Washingtons new capital gains tax. Plaintiffs are suing in Douglas County court, saying the tax on sales of stocks and bonds over a quarter million dollars in value is an unconstitutional income tax. But its new revenues would go toward state education programs, so school advocates tend to support it. The latest brief was filed this week by Wenatchee Valley education supporters including former teachers union president Kris Cameron, and former school board candidate Meliesa Tigard. Judge Brian Huber is set to decide on whether the case can go forward on February 4th. Overbay-RiverCom -Chelan County Commissioner Kevin Overbay will step down from the board overseeing RiverCom, the Chelan and Douglas County 911 dispatch system. The mayors of Wenatchee and East Wenatchee criticized the four-year commissioner for maintaining his seat as RiverCom board chair, after the agency hired his daughter to become its finance manager in October. Chelan County said Overbay had no involvement in the hiring, but Wenatchee Mayor Frank Kuntz called it an ethics violation. In a press statement, Overbay said, QUOTE, “I wish to make it very clear that there was no wrongdoing when RiverCom hired my daughter, and I do not appreciate how this issue was dealt with.” Chelan County Commissioner Tiffany Gering will take over his RiverCom seat. Shop With Cop Slideshow -Each year, law enforcement officers from throughout the region participate in the Shop With A Cop program to ensure children don’t have a Christmas without gifts. Here are photos of some of those agencies out shopping with kids this month. . . TEASE -You’re watching the NCWLIFE Evening News. Coming up next, tonight’s feature story and your complete local weather forecast. That and much more still to come on the NCWLIFE Evening News, stay with us.

Welcome back to the NCWLIFE Evening News. . . Board of Health -In tonight’s feature story, the Wenatchee Valley is on the watch for the omicron variant of COVID-19. So far, the latest mutation of the coronavirus has not been detected in Chelan or Douglas County. Omicron has not yet overtaken delta as the dominant strain, but Chelan-Douglas Health District director Luke Davies says the region needs to be on its guard. . . TEASE – And that is a look at your local weather forecast, coming up next, tonight’s sports report with Eric Granstrom and more as the NCWLIFE Evening News continues right after this.

The Wenatchee Wild head into the holiday break on a 5-game winning streak after sweeping Merritt last weekend. We chatted with the interim radio “voice” of the Wild, Sean Zears, earlier today on Wake Up Wenatchee Valley. He says what is helping the Wild right now is that they’re finally healthy… Friday’s 6-2 win for Wenatchee was insane with the Wild taking 71-shots on goal. Zears says it’s something he’s never seen before… You can see our entire conversation with Sean on our website. Click the full episodes tab and click on Wake Up Wenatchee Valley. The Wild are off until next Thursday when they’ll host the Prince George Spruce Kings at the Town Toyota Center to wrap up the year.

Gonzaga not only jumped to No. 4 in the latest men’s college basketball poll Monday, they also jumped all over Northern Arizona… Chet Holmgren scored 20-points to lead Gonzaga to the 95-49 victory. Highlights courtesy of Gonzaga Athletics… Coming up tonight, Washington hosts Utah Valley at 6 o’clock on the Pac-12 Network.

In women’s college basketball Monday… Haley Van Dike scored 20-points to lead Washington over Nevada 58-42. Nancy Mulkey also kicked in 10-points for the Huskies. On the women’s schedule today, Gonzaga plays at Eastern Washington at 6 o’clock on ESPN-plus.

Here’s the Les Schwab Boys Basketball Scoreboard from the GESA Winter Shootout on Monday… Brody Phillips had 21-points, but it wasn’t enough for Eisenhower as the Cadets fell to mead 71-41. Kevin Flores led five players in double-figures with 17 for Prosser as the Mustangs edged Eastmont 76-73. We’re still waiting on the Wenatchee-Moses Lake score. Coming up today, it’s Moses Lake and Prosser at Wenatchee High at 6. Eastmont takes on Eisenhower at 7:30. On the GESA Winter Shootout for the girls Monday, Prosser demolished Wenatchee 61-17 and Hanford got by Eastmont 68-44. Coming up today, it’s Kennewick at Wenatchee at 6 at Wenatchee High while Eastmont hosts Prosser, also at 6. In other girls basketball tonight, Chelan travels to Omak at 5:45 while Cashmere hosts Cascade. Brewster tips at Quincy at 6. That’s the same start time for Cascade Christian at Pateros; Okanogan at Warden; and Waterville-Mansfield at Moses Lake Christian. On the boys schedule, Bridgeport plays at Riverside Christian at 5. Cascade visits Cashmere at 7:15 while Omak hosts Chelan. The 7:30 games have Brewster at Quincy; Pateros hosts Cascade Christian; Okanogan visits Warden; and Waterville-Mansfield travels to Moses Lake Christian.

Seattle and Los Angeles are still battling COVID among players as they prepare to meet this afternoon at SoFi Stadium… They had until 1 o’clock today to see if any of the players could test negative for COVID. That means they’ll play without Tyler Lockett, D.J. Reed, Brandon Shell, Kerry Hyder, Jr., Bryan Mone, Alex Collins and Travis Homer are out. Seattle activated four players off the practice squad to try to help. Meanwhile, the Rams activated linebacker Von Miller off the COVID reserve list. L-A will be without starting right tackle Rob Havenstein, tight end Tyler Higbee and safety Jordan Fuller.

Thanks Eric. Now let’s check in with Dan Kuntz for a look at what’s coming up tomorrow morning on Wake Up Wenatchee Valley, Dan. . . And that’s going to do it for our newscast tonight. For more on these stories and other news from around North Central Washington, you can find us on Facebook or our website at ncwlife.com. And, remember, if you see news happening we’d like to hear from you. You can send us an email at news@ncwlife.com, or give us a call 888-NCWL (6295). I’m Grant Olson, thanks for joining us and have a great night.