Local news coverage for Spokane and the Inland Northwest

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Full-time City Council plan may see advisory vote

April 16, 2014 on Page A1 Spokane voters could be asked this fall whether the state’s second-largest city is ready for a full-time City Council. With the city charter providing only an implied part-time status, and …
Spokane County proposes $45 million park levy

April 16, 2014 on Page A1 Spokane County officials want to team up with other local agencies to seek $45 million in park and sports facility improvements through a ballot measure next year. About half of …
Dinner one of many chances to volunteer for Spokane Gives Week

April 16, 2014 on Page A1 The line for the free community dinner at the Salvation Army on Tuesday quickly formed and just as quickly dissipated as people were shown to their tables and efficiently served …
Shawn Vestal: Commissioner’s records request adds fuel to flare-up over planning

April 16, 2014 on Page A5 Public records laws are important tools for citizens to use in the battle against government secrecy and power. Anyone who has ever used them is familiar with occasional stonewalling and … 1
Washington Justice Debra Stephens courts re-election

April 16, 2014 on Page A5 The timing of judicial elections has been unkind to Washington state Supreme Court Justice Debra Stephens. The Spokane native’s first race came in 2008, just as her daughter, Lindsey, prepared …
Contradictory gun initiatives favored by majority, poll shows

April 16, 2014 on Page A5 OLYMPIA – Washington voters appear confused about a pair of contradictory gun initiatives that will be on the November ballot and could approve both this fall, a new survey suggests. …
Daniel Arteaga murder trial begins this week

April 16, 2014 on Page A5 A murder trial begins this week for a former Spokane Valley scuba instructor accused of shooting dead a woman with whom he was having an affair. Daniel Arteaga, 42, has …
Jim Kershner’s this day in history

April 16, 2014 on Page A5 From our archives, 100 years ago The Inland Empire Teachers Association gathered at the Lewis and Clark High School auditorium and received a dose of common sense about educating boys …
Idaho records

April 16, 2014 on Page A6 For 04-16-2014
Red Cross helping residents of burned apartments

April 16, 2014 on Page A6 The Red Cross will keep its shelter open for at least another week to help 55 people displaced from an apartment fire Saturday. The organization is working to help people …
In brief: Walck sentenced in 2012 kidnapping

April 16, 2014 on Page A6 A man convicted of firing on a police officer and kidnapping a Rathdrum woman could serve the rest of his life in prison. Mitchell Lee Walck, 58, pleaded guilty in …
Manhunt for ‘minister’ turns to Spokane

April 16, 2014 on Page A6 MINNEAPOLIS – Authorities were searching Tuesday for a self-professed minister accused of sexually abusing at least two girls in a “Maidens Group” at his religious fellowship in rural Minnesota. Victor …
McMorris Rodgers raises 12 times the money as her foe

April 16, 2014 on Page A6 WASHINGTON – Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has raised about 12 times as much money as her Democratic challenger in the first three months of this year, reports filed with the …
Washington records

April 16, 2014 on Page A6 Spokane County Marriage licenses
Inslee honors families of organ donors in Gift of Life Awards

April 16, 2014 on Page A7 When Ron Haight fell off the back of his pickup truck in his Long Lake driveway two years ago in February, it was, at first, almost ironic. Then tragically life-changing. …
Minnesota cult leader may be in Spokane

April 15, 2014 Minnesota cult leader may be hiding out in Spokane 9
Following uproar over McDonald’s, Council imposes moratorium

April 15, 2014 Responding to community uproar over a planned McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant near Gonzaga University, the Spokane City Council this week imposed an emergency six-month moratorium on similar projects along Hamilton Street … 155
Kansas killing suspect has racist ties to region

April 15, 2014 on Page A1 The man accused of going on a hate-crime killing rampage targeting two Jewish facilities over the weekend in Kansas has Inland Northwest ties and served as a key prosecution witness … 143
Accuracy watch

April 15, 2014 on Page A2 For 04-15-2014
In brief: Stab wounds from fight send two men to hospital

April 15, 2014 on Page A5 Two men were hospitalized with stab wounds after a fight that sent police and paramedics to the Centennial Trail on Monday morning. Police received reports of a stabbing near the … 1
Taking junkyard dog nets fine, shelter service order

April 15, 2014 on Page A5 An Okanogan County woman who says she rescued a junkyard dog from deplorable conditions in December must pay a $768 court fine and serve 100 hours at area animal shelters. … 16
Cheney resident hopes to inspire others to ski in Afghanistan

April 15, 2014 on Page A5 The mere mention of skiing in Afghanistan raises eyebrows; the war-torn country and the sport are not commonly paired. Cheney resident Nick Pontarolo thinks the two should be – often … 39
Opponents of planned subdivision in north Spokane County file lawsuit

April 15, 2014 on Page A5 Neighbors opposing a controversial subdivision in north Spokane County are taking their objections to court. A group that calls itself Citizens Affirming Responsible Development filed the lawsuit last week in … 96
Jim Kershner’s this day in history

April 15, 2014 on Page A5 From our archives, 100 years ago A crowd of 8,200 – the largest to date for a baseball game in Spokane – jammed the Recreation Park grandstand for opening day …
In brief: State audit shows Medicaid overpayments

April 15, 2014 on Page A6 OLYMPIA – The state needs to a better job of checking its Medicaid managed-care programs for cost overruns, the state auditor’s office said Monday. A limited audit of the Health … 3
Seattle group files measure for $15 minimum wage

April 15, 2014 on Page A6 SEATTLE – A group seeking a $15-an-hour minimum wage filed paperwork Monday for a voter measure that would amend the Seattle charter, a move aiming to increase pressure on Mayor … 2
Washington soldier who lost leg preparing for marathon

April 15, 2014 on Page A6 TACOMA – The first six times Edward Lychik told his physical therapist he wanted to run again, she was noncommittal, and with good reason. The combat veteran’s left leg had … 1
Idaho records

April 15, 2014 on Page A8 For 04-15-2014
Thousands of calls failed during Washington 911 outage

April 15, 2014 on Page A8 SEATTLE – About 4,500 calls failed to get through during a six-hour Washington state 911 outage last week, CenturyLink said Monday. Elaborating on an explanation it offered Friday, the telecommunications … 1
Women sue Boise State University over sex assault response

April 15, 2014 on Page A8 BOISE – Two former Boise State University students are suing the school because, they say, athletic officials ignored their reports of sexual assault and harassment by a star athlete. The … 1