Rebecca White

All Stories

News >  Spokane

Lost dog or cat? Spokane residents can now use facial recognition to find them

UPDATED: Mon., March 2, 2020

Several local animal shelters are partnering with a technology company to offer facial recognition service to people looking for lost pets.

News >  Spokane

Ex-Spokane Valley Mayor Higgins considers run for Kuney’s county commission seat

Sun., March 1, 2020

After losing the majority and his position as Spokane Valley’s mayor in the fall out of the 2019 election, Councilman Rod Higgins is considering challenging incumbent county commissioner Mary Kuney for her seat.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County Commission backs legal effort forcing public employee unions to negotiate publicly

Mon., Feb. 24, 2020

Spokane County has filed a brief in support of Lincoln County’s case that will determine whether counties can force unions that represent their employees to negotiate wages and benefits in public.

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News >  Spokane

Spokane Valley City Hall’s outer wall no longer sinking but extent of damage unknown

Thu., Feb. 20, 2020

An outside wall of Spokane Valley’s City Hall is no longer sinking, but it could be a month or more before officials know the full extent of the damage.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

EWU to allow Spokane County Sheriff’s Office access to its cameras during emergencies

Thu., Feb. 20, 2020

Spokane County Sheriff’s deputies could soon have access to a live feed of Eastern Washington University’s camera system if there is a bomb threat, disaster or out-of-hand protest on campus.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County considers legal action against man with active helipad in backyard

Mon., Feb. 17, 2020

Spokane County is considering suing a man who lives in the Painted Hills neighborhood, south of Spokane Valley, for having an active helipad in a residential neighborhood.

News >  Spokane

Couples who have shared decades of love renew vows

Sat., Feb. 15, 2020

A dozen couples who have been together for a combined 600 years renewed their vows on Valentine’s Day at the Touchmark senior living community.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County CEO Gerry Gemmill to retire this summer

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 12, 2020

Spokane County CEO Gerry Gemmill is retiring after nearly 40 years working for the county, including the past four as the top administrator.

News >  Education

Central Valley School District levy narrowly leads; East Valley levies approved

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 11, 2020

Initial results from Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake’s school elections showed that East Valley School District voters approved two levies and Central Valley had a narrow lead.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County to spend $50,000 researching temporary jail structures

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 11, 2020

Spokane County Commissioners have approved spending $50,000 to study whether putting a few hundred inmates in temporary structures, or reinforced tents, is feasible.

News >  Spokane

Euclid Bridge to remain out until at least next year, leaving residents to endure long detour

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 7, 2020

Residents around the shut-down Euclid Road Bridge are growing increasingly frustrated by the detour, but the bridge may not be replaced until 2021.

News >  Spokane

‘They saved my best friend’: Clinic offers veterinary care for low-income, homeless pet owners

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 10, 2020

Homeless and low-income pet owners can now seek veterinary care for their animals downtown at the Veterinary Clinic at Donna Hanson Haven.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County considering temporary jail outside Geiger to ease crowding

Wed., Feb. 5, 2020

The solution to years of jail overcrowding in Spokane County could be temporary, reinforced-tent structures. Spokane County Jail Director Mike Sparber asked county commissioners on Monday for $75,000

News >  Idaho

Few presidential candidates have Idaho primary plans, but party leaders expect record participation

Sun., Feb. 2, 2020

As Idaho’s primary inches closer, the state’s voters will have to choose a party and one of more than a dozen candidates who will be on the state’s presidential primary ballots.

News >  Spokane

After 103 years watching over Otis Orchards, 60-foot tower comes crashing down

Fri., Jan. 31, 2020

A 60-foot tall river rock tower that has stood in Spokane Valley since 1917 collapsed at about 2:30 a.m. Saturday morning, shocking the owner, who had hoped to restore the old structure.

News >  Idaho

Coeur d’Alene pastor who survived shooting replaces expelled legislator

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 29, 2020

Idaho Gov. Brad Little has appointed a Coeur d’Alene pastor who survived six gunshot wounds, to replace a state representative who was recently expelled after a tax evasion conviction.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man facing theft charges after he allegedly borrowed $2.8 million to insure fake companies

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 29, 2020

A Yakima man is facing theft charges after investigators say he borrowed $2.8 million from a Spokane insurance finance company to insure six fake businesses, and one real business that was not aware he was borrowing money on their behalf.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County may turn to animated ‘how-to’ videos for navigating the criminal justice system

Tue., Jan. 28, 2020

On Tuesday Spokane County Commissioners will vote on whether to spend $12,000 on a series of animated “walk through” criminal justice system videos for families, victims and people facing charges.

News >  Spokane

Recycling in Spokane: County says to better clean and sort recycleables

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 27, 2020

Spokane County has restricted what recycling it accepts at transfer stations, and is now requiring people who drop off their recycling to sort it. That’s similar to changes that governments and recycling centers around the nation have had to consider, as China and other East Asian countries stopped buying American and European recyclables.

News >  Spokane

City, county now require open union negotiations, but they haven’t happened – and may never

Thu., Jan. 23, 2020

Though Spokane County and the city of Spokane have both required their unions to negotiate with them in public, some union leaders aren’t ready to back down as they wait for the outcome of a court case.

News >  Education

Central Valley School District seeks $11.8 million in February special election

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 21, 2020

The Central Valley School District next month will ask voters for $11.8 million to hire a public safety employee and continue offering electives and extracurricular activities.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County fined by state over injury to volunteer who was directing traffic

Tue., Jan. 21, 2020

Spokane County is appealing a $2,100 fine after a volunteer was hit by a vehicle while directing traffic for a fallen sheriff’s deputy memorial in August.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Valley Mayor Ben Wick redistributes committees, duties for council members

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 15, 2020

Spokane Valley Mayor Ben Wick redistributed what boards and committees council members were on, cutting one council members number by more than half and giving one council member who had only had a non-voting position, several assignments.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County Jail to install floor-to-ceiling bars in jail to prevent suicides

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 14, 2020

The Spokane County Jail will increase its 4-foot railings to the ceiling on the same floor a man died after jumping to prevent more suicides.

News >  Spokane

New Spokane Valley Mayor Ben Wick finds inspiration in his hometown’s potential

Sun., Jan. 12, 2020

A lifelong and enthusiastic resident of Spokane Valley, new Mayor Ben Wick aims to make City Hall a welcoming place and help the city maintain its community flavor.