Spokane Daily Local Headlines: Apple Tree Inn homicide update, Grand Blvd lane plan, drone DUI search, storm loan aid
Spokane, WA – February 27, 2026 – Apple Tree Inn homicide case expands; Grand Blvd lane plan draws concern; deputies use drone after crash; disaster loans open.
Here is a quick Spokane-area roundup for Friday, Feb. 27.
1) Apple Tree Inn homicide investigation grows
Police say a north Spokane motel killing is now tied to multiple arrests across the state. Adam Stallings, 41, was found stabbed to death at the Apple Tree Inn on Sunday, Feb. 22. By Wednesday night, a third suspect, 24-year-old Elizabeth A. Wahlund, was booked into the Spokane County Jail.
Investigators say Wahlund and her boyfriend, 27-year-old Johnathan J. Woodcock, were located after a King County pursuit that ended in a crash. A separate suspect connected to the case, 47-year-old Richard Sheppard, was identified as the man killed by police after an hourslong standoff near West Carlisle Avenue, close to Audubon Elementary.
2) Grand Boulevard lane changes: businesses watching closely
Plans to remake Grand Boulevard on the South Hill are moving forward, and nearby businesses are weighing the upside against construction disruption. The concept would cut Grand from two lanes in each direction to one, while widening the remaining lanes. Supporters argue the redesign could slow traffic and improve safety for people crossing the street; some owners worry that a long work zone could make it harder for customers to stop in.
3) Deputies use a drone to find a crash driver in the cold
In north Spokane County, deputies used a drone to locate a driver who walked into the woods after a crash near N. Monroe Road and W. Antler Road early Feb. 22. Witnesses reported a barefoot woman who appeared intoxicated and possibly injured. Deputies say the drone picked up a heat signature, allowing them to reach her quickly; she was treated by medics and taken to a hospital, and a DUI criminal citation was issued.
4) Disaster loan help for December storm damage
Washington residents and businesses in eligible counties can apply for low-interest federal disaster loans tied to the Dec. 5–22, 2025 flood and winter storms. Loan limits and rates vary, including up to $2 million for business and nonprofit physical damage, and up to $500,000 for homeowners. The stated deadline for physical-damage applications is April 27, 2026.
Sources
- https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/feb/27/police-arrest-third-suspect-in-apple-tree-inn-homi/
- https://www.khq.com/news/spokane-businesses-react-to-grand-blvd-transformation-project/article_5dfe6615-0197-442b-a089-5e472c43a29a.html
- https://www.khq.com/news/spokane-deputies-use-drone-to-find-driver-after-crash/article_47c21d10-cde6-4ee4-8f6e-327a9a428995.html
- https://www.khq.com/news/low-interest-disaster-loans-available-after-washington-storms/article_1b29faa9-42b1-4d34-b730-3965d9e9f820.html
