OLYMPIA -- The location of the Inaugural Ball, which has been the subject of much kvetching since it was announced several months ago, has changed. It will be back at the Capitol. The Capitol has been the traditional location for the inaugural celebration, and the…
The World War II Memorial on the Capitol Campus today. In case you're wondering: Washington state buildings have their flags at half-staff today. It's in honor of Pearl Harbor Day.
A county commissioner, a former legislator and a former legislative aide are among five applicants so far for an open state Senate seat in Northeastern Washington’s 7th District. The seat becomes open Jan. 1 when Sen. Bob Morton, a 22-year veteran legislator, retires halfway through…
Spokane County officials issued 23 marriage licenses to same-sex couples Thursday on the first day that became legal in Washington state. That was, not surprisingly, the most of any Eastern Washington county, but fairly low compared to the urban counties along the Puget Sound. King…
Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been getting plenty of face time on the TV news networks as the House GOP's spokeswoman on its counter to President Obama on the fiscal cliff negotiations. It has prompted criticism from some liberal blogs that she only sticks to…
After we published answers in the print and online versions of The Spokesman-Review to questions about the new marijuana laws, a not too surprising thing happened. People asked us more questions. Spin Control does not give out legal advice, and isn't in the position of…
Gov. Gregoire signs election results with Secretary of State Reed. OLYMPIA -- Washington state took the last step Wednesday in changing its laws to allow same-sex couples to marry. With about two dozen supporters looking on, Gov. Chris Gregoire and Secretary of State Sam Reed…
Josh Kerns, a former legislative aide and campaign manager, said today he'll apply for the open state Senate seat in Northeast Washington's 7th District. Kerns, 27, was a legislative aide during the last session to state Rep. John Ahern, managed the campaign of Ahern's replacement…
Supporters of same-sex marriage in Washington state apparently have something to hold over those other states that approved a similar law change at the ballot box last month. Not only did Washington have a bigger margin of victory than Maine and Maryland, says Andy Grow…
OLYMPIA -- The turnout was down slightly in Washington state compared to the 2008 presidential election, but the number of ballots cast was up. That means the number of signatures needed for initiatives and referenda goes up next year. Huh? We explain inside the blog.…
A funny thing happened on the way to Spokane County supporting Initiative 502, which legalizes marijuana for private use by adults. Some precincts, particularly those in the city of Spokane, really liked it. And by that we mean by big margins. Other precincts, as the…
When the clock ticks past midnight Wednesday, Washington state will have the most permissive law in the nation regarding marijuana, thanks to voters who approved Initiative 502. But the new law isn’t a blanket license for anyone to smoke marijuana anywhere, any time. There are…
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Get More: Daily Show Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,The Daily Show on Facebook Jon Stewart on the Daily Show takes on the filibuster. To be clear, both parties have flip-flopped on changing the filibuster rules. To see move…
OLYMPIA -- Rep. Shelly Short said this evening she will not seek the state Senate seat that will become open on Jan. 1 with the retirement of Bob Morton. Morton, a 22-year veteran of the Legislature, announced last week that he would retire halfway through…
Holding check, right to left, are Valley Mayor Tom Towey, Rick Cooper of Pepsi Bottling Co., and Dan Duer, general manager of Wolff Services. A few weeks ago, the state gave a $50,000 grant to the Pepsi Bottling Co., as an incentive to move into…
For those of you worried the world will end on Dec. 21 because of the Mayan calendar -- or because 12/21/12 is just too many combinations of 1 and 2 -- the federal government is offering some advice to chill out. USA.gov, a federal government…
OLYMPIA – When the Legislature opens in January, for the first time in 60 years there won’t be at least one woman from the city of Spokane sitting at a desk on one of the carpeted floors of the House or Senate. The 3rd District…
OLYMPIA -- State Rep. Joel Kretz of Wauconda will not seek the 7th District Senate seat being vacated by Bob Morton, but seatmate Shelly Short said she is considering it. Morton announced this week that he will retire at the end of this year, leaving…
Sen. Lisa Brown pauses while packing her office to take a phone call. OLYMPIA – As she packed up the memorabilia from 20 years in the Legislature, Lisa Brown was preparing Thursday to take charge of a dream for Spokane that was even older. In…
Sen. Lisa Brown will move from the leading Senate Democrats to leading the WSU-Spokane campus. Brown was named chancellor of WSU-Spokane this afternoon by President Elson Floyd. The Spokane Democrat did not seek re-election this year and retires in December after 20 years in the…
Mary Alice Heuschel, the Renton Schools superintendent, will be Governor-elect Jay Inslee's chief of staff. Inslee made the announcement this morning that Heuschel, who was among a trio picked to head his transition team, will go with him to Olympia next year. Education will be…
Turnout is an important statistic in any election, but it's not always the key statistic because precincts with small registration can have a high turnout but not produce many votes. Elections turn on ballots, and the precincts with the most ballots are the most important.…
Spokane County had a turnout of 80.5 percent in the general election, but as the map shows, turnout varied from precinct to precinct.
OLYMPIA -- Mark Schoesler, a Ritzville area wheat farmer, was named leader of the state Senate's Republican Caucus Wednesday. Schoesler, 55, has served 20 years in the Legislature, was elected by other Republicans to take the place of Mike Hewitt of Walla Walla, who stepped…
Editor's note: when this story appeared in Wednesday's paper, one of the first comments was, where are the maps? Here's the first.) A voting district southeast of the Spokane Valley city limits can bask in the bright red glow of being the county’s most conservative…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
| Dec. 2012 | Nov. 2012 | Oct. 2012 | Sept. 2012 |
| Aug. 2012 | July 2012 | June 2012 | May 2012 |
| April 2012 | March 2012 | Feb. 2012 | Jan. 2012 |
