Jonathan Brunt

Jonathan Brunt covers Spokane City Hall and local politics. He also contributes to the Spin Control Blog.

Contact Jonathan

Email: jonathanb@spokesman.com
Phone: 509-459-5442
Fax: 509-459-5482

Find Jonathan on social media

Follow @bruntjon

Recent stories by Jonathan

Man faces arson charge in fire at home he shares

April 10, 2005 in City on Page B1 A man was arrested early Saturday on charges that he tried to set fire to the northwest Spokane home where he lives with his girlfriend and their two children. Police …
Family says teen fun-loving, jovial

April 3, 2005 in City on Page B6 The mother of the teenager accused of attempting to kill a Ferris High School teacher last month says the profile of her son painted by police and media reports is …
Sisters say they weren’t raped

April 2, 2005 in City on Page B1 Charges were dropped Friday against a man accused last week of pretending to be a police officer and raping adult twin sisters. Preston R. Tensley, 34, had been charged March …
100 firefighters battle warehouse blaze

April 1, 2005 in City on Page B1 About 100 firefighters battled a spectacular blaze that destroyed a straw warehouse in the farming community of Rockford on Thursday night. The fire was in a Seeds Inc. warehouse that …
Jailed 10 days after charges dropped, man sues city, cops

March 30, 2005 in City on Page B1 A Spokane man was kept in jail for 10 days in 2003 after a charge against him was dropped, according to court records. “The hardest part was sitting in there …
Teen brings gun to Ferris High

March 26, 2005 in City on Page A1 A 14-year-old boy went to Ferris High School on Thursday with a loaded gun and came within 6 feet of a teacher whom he planned to kill, police said. The …
Women say fake officer raped them

March 26, 2005 in City on Page B1 Spokane police have arrested a man they believe raped two women after gaining entry into their North Side residence by pretending to be a police officer. The victims told investigators …
Lawsuit filed over jail death

March 23, 2005 in City on Page B1 The family of a man who was strangled in the Spokane County Jail filed a $5.65 million civil rights lawsuit against the county Tuesday in federal court. Christopher L. Rentz, …
School districts OK tax levies

March 23, 2005 in City on Page B1 Voters in two North Idaho school districts approved levies Tuesday that will maintain their current tax rates. With Tuesday’s votes, the Post Falls and Lake Pend Oreille districts will receive …
Leaping dogs make a splash at show

March 20, 2005 in City on Page B1 Go ahead and jump, the song said over the loudspeaker. But not all the canines who participated in the DockDogs jumping contest Saturday at the Spokane County Fair and Expo …
Police accuse four of extortion

March 19, 2005 in City on Page B1 Spokane Police say four people arrested Thursday repeatedly threatened a Ferris High School student when he refused to buy them beer and later to give them money. In a press …
Cusick schools vote falls on last ballot

March 19, 2005 in City on Page B1 The Cusick School District levy vote may not be on the same scale as the recent gubernatorial race, but it may end with about as many twists. The levy was …
Hundreds of stolen bats recovered

March 18, 2005 in City on Page B3 Police have recovered hundreds of baseball bats taken from property where a Spokane Valley warehouse burned on Thanksgiving. The fire, which was in the 2200 block of North Locust Road, …
Mighty wind stirs up dust but no major trouble

March 17, 2005 in City on Page B1 High winds felled trees, cut power and darkened the skies of the Inland Northwest on Wednesday, but area police agencies reported no serious accidents or fires related to the weather. …
Science students relish puzzling day

March 13, 2005 in City on Page B3 After high school, Michael Roseburg wants to be an Air Force pilot and engineer, thanks to the Science Olympiad. The Moses Lake High School junior, who participated in Saturday’s regional …
7 ballots may decide fate of Cusick’s levy; tax passing by 1 vote

March 11, 2005 in City on Page B3 The outcome of the Cusick School District operating levy may rest with seven votes locked in a safe. At the end of the first count of votes Tuesday night, the …
Mild, sunny winter claims another ski-resort victim

March 6, 2005 in City on Page B1 The summer, er, winter sun has done in another Inland Northwest ski resort for the season. Forty-nine Degrees North Mountain Resort near Chewelah will offer its last day of skiing …
Last hurrah at Schweitzer

March 4, 2005 in City on Page A1 High temperatures and low snowfall have cooked the slopes at Schweitzer Mountain Resort, where officials announced Thursday that this weekend will be the end of the ski season – the …
Visitors warned about car prowls

March 2, 2005 in City on Page B2 Police have a message for visitors in town today through Saturday for the State B Basketball Tournament: Lock your car doors and hide your valuables. Car prowling spiked two years …
‘Gayest Dance’ proponents renew criticism of district

February 24, 2005 in City on Page B2 Proponents of a dance recently forced to relocate from Ferris High School told the Spokane Public Schools board Wednesday that the decision sent a message that gay and lesbian students …