$50,000 reward in cop killing

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DES MOINES - The reward for information on the shooting death of Des Moines police Officer Steven Underwood has reached $50,000.

Tips helped identify three young men believed to have been there when Underwood was shot March 7 on Pacific Avenue South. Two of them, juveniles, were questioned last week. But detectives are still searching for the third witness, a man in his early 20s, and they have not found the weapon, described as "a small handgun."

Underwood recognized one of the four young men as Charles Champion, 18, wanted on outstanding warrants. Charges could be filed against him this week in the Underwood case.

The reward is being administered by the Des Moines Police Guild. Anyone with information may call Kent police at 253-856-5800 or Seattle-King County CrimeStoppers at 1-800-CRIME-13 (1-800-274-6313).

McCaw Foundation giving $2 million in Third World aid

SEATTLE - The Craig and Susan McCaw Foundation is giving $2 million to help bring technology to developing countries through small loans.

The contribution from the cell-phone billionaire and his wife is the founding gift for a $20 million technology center to be developed by the Washington, D.C.-based Grameen Foundation.

Most of the Grameen loans are given to women.

Two girls arrested in Mardi Gras riot

SEATTLE - The arrests of two teenage girls over the weekend brings to 15 the number arrested by a police Mardi Gras task force.

Investigators reviewing footage of the Feb. 27 riot in Pioneer Square, meanwhile, say they're increasingly optimistic they will catch all but a few of the 103 people caught on tape committing crimes.

Police said the two 15-year-old girls from Seattle were picked up on robbery charges related to the riot. They have not been charged.

17-year-old could be tried as adult in child-rape case

BELLEVUE - A 17-year-old Bellevue youth arrested last week for alleged child rape could be tried as an adult, authorities said yesterday.

Police allege he raped a 5-year-old boy Thursday at a Lake Hills home. The boy told his parents what happened and was then taken to a hospital, where a doctor found physical evidence to substantiate the claim, police said.

Task force appointed to look into police profiling

SEATTLE - The Seattle City Council yesterday appointed a 14-member citizens task force to study allegations of racial profiling by police.

The task force will coordinate a $200,000 study analyzing data from traffic stops. Seattle police last year acknowledged that some minority drivers were more likely to be stopped, but no one is sure of the reason.

On the task force: Dave Bown, a former Seattle policeman; Walt Hubbard, aide to Mayor Paul Schell; George Allen, aide to Councilman Jim Compton; Hunter John, a public defender; Bonnie Glenn, a deputy King County prosecutor; Robert Boruchowitz, executive director of the Seattle-King County Public Defender Association; Hugh Berry, assistant U.S. Attorney; Reco Bembry, a city parks employee; Claudia Kauffman, representing United Indians of All Tribes; Kay Godefroy, director of the Seattle Neighborhood Group; Shelbi Scott, with Americorp; Rev. Harriet Walden of Mothers for Police Accountability; L. Song Richardson, a public defender; and Patricia Champion, outreach coordinator for Gethsemane Lutheran Church.

Teachers sue union over 'political' dues money

OLYMPIA - Five teachers have sued the Washington Education Association, contending the teachers union illegally took their money to use for political causes.

The teachers stand to collect only about $50 each at the most, but the suit is part of an ongoing battle by conservative groups against the WEA's political action.

The teachers are seeking class-action status for their lawsuit.

The five who filed suit were not WEA members, but paid a fee equivalent to union dues to cover the cost of collective bargaining on their behalf. The suit alleges that their money was used for political activities without their authorization.

Wanted: Money for dog's bullet-proof vest

LYNNWOOD - A veterinary clinic is raising money to outfit a police dog here with a bullet-proof vest.

Alyce Ingle, the office manager at Lynnwood Veterinary Center, saw a K-9 bulletproof vest featured on television and approached police about outfitting Cliff, the Lynnwood Police Department's lone police dog.

The department has invested $5,000 in Cliff. The center has raised $200 toward the $800 purchase price.

Information is from Seattle Times staff and news services.