OLYMPIA -- With Memorial Day around the corner, the state Department of Enterprise Services is doing its annual maintenance and restoration of the Capitol Campus grounds and monuments. On Tuesday, Larry Tate of FS Ltd., a company that specializes in art restoration and conservation work,…
As previously mentioned in Spin Control, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers has been given command of GOP forces counterattacking Democrats on the "War on Women." Along with her appearance yesterday on Chris Matthews, she also appeared on CNN's John King U.S.A. show. The message is essentially…
Inslee gives a campaign speech on the Capitol steps after filing for office. OLYMPIA — In front of a crowd that included babies in arms, senior citizens and union members in hard hats, Democrat Jay Inslee tried to energize his gubernatorial campaign after making it…
Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, was put on the defensive Monday by Chris Matthews of MSNBC's Hardball. McMorris Rodgers, who has become the GOP's chief spokeswoman against attacks on the party related…
OLYMPIA -- Filing week continues today for all the political offices on the Aug. 7 Top 2 primary ballot. Unlike Monday, when there was the traditional rush into the elections offices by anxious candidates, Tuesday started slower. Sen. Mark Schoesler and Rep. Joe Schmick, Republican…
Testimony at Monday’s Spokane City Council meeting included the sounds of William Cruz on guitar and trumpet as some downtown buskers argued against proposed noise restrictions. But Spokane City Council members said the new rules, which they approved 6-1, protect free speech while making the…
The Air Force released the criteria today for deciding which of its bases will get the first new air refueling tankers, and Fairchild will be among about 60 bases being considered. That means the Air Force won't limit those first KC-46As to a base that…
OLYMPIA -- Some races are starting to fill up quickly on the first morning of filing week as many of the expected candidates and a few surprises turn in their forms and fees. The top of the ballot for the Aug. 7 primary, the U.S.…
Monday marks the official start of campaign season. Would-be officeholders will file the paperwork and plunk down the fees for the political position of their choice, or perhaps their dreams. Thanks for that. You help keep the newspaper’s government and political reporters in beer and…
Everyone thinking about running for political office this year, take note: You have less than a week to make up your mind. Everyone talking about running and acting like they’re already a full-fledged candidate, take note: It’s not official until you file your paperwork and…
The field to replace state Rep. Andy Billig is getting larger. Former City Councilman Bob Apple today became the fifth person to say he will run for the Third Legislative District House seat that Billig is leaving to run for state Senate. Apple, 56, joins…
Wayne Kyle Spitzer isn’t without ‘magical thinking.’ Just check out his 1990s film work on YouTube. Spitzer, who has become a prominent voice in Occupy Spokane, recently announced on Facebook that he will challenge state House Rep. Kevin Parker, R-Spokane, in the August primary as…
SEATTLE -- Barack Obama acknowledged he hasn't been a perfect president as he asked some , supporters to help him win another term and ask themselves a different question than the tradition standard an incument faces of "are you better off than you were four…
SEATTLE -- president Obama's motorcade arrived in downtown about 2 pm where crowds lined the blocked off streets to snap photos and gay rights activists waved supporting signs. Inside the paramount Theater a crowd that paid $1000 per ticket was being treated to music from…
McClain, left, and Brotski outside the Paramount Theater. SEATTLE -- President Obama's supporters are lining up outside the Paramount Theater and filling the blocked off street in advance of his second fund-raiser of the day in this city. Obama arrived shortly before noon at Boeing…
Candidates haven’t even officially signed up to run for office, but the contest for a state House seat representing central Spokane is heating up. The race for the seat held by state Rep. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, already has attracted four candidates, in large part because…
President Barack Obama is headed for Seattle today, to raise campaign money and tie up traffic. Make that tie up traffic even worse than normal in the city. He's due into Boeing Field about 11:45 a.m., has a high-ticket private fundraiser in the city ($17,900…
State Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown perhaps was too prepared for her reelection bid. She already had ordered her campaign signs when she made the surprise announcement last week that she would not to seek a new term. “They’re going to have to get recycled,”…
OLYMPIA -- In a state that recently went through a legislative battle over same-sex marriage and faces a potential ballot fight over the issue, President Barack Obama's comments supporting gay marriage drew quick response. He'll likely hear some of it in person Thursday, when he…
Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Jay Inslee spent today in Spokane reminding Eastern Washington voters that he's the only candidate with political and professional experience on both sides of the state's Cascade Curtain. "Every race needs one candidate who knows how to buck hay," Inslee joked over…
Most Spokane County voters will get cards in the mail updating their voter information. County elections officials said they've mailed out 195,000 cards listing new precinct information, which is roughly three out of four voters in the county. The changes were prompted by the redistricting,…
Washington candidates are scrambling to announce endorsements this week as filing week approaches. The gubernatorial candidates are taking turns touting nods from "first responders." Former U.S. Rep. Jay Inslee, the likely Democratic nominee, is in Spokane today to pick up the endorsement of Fire Fighters…
Among the elected leaders and politicians running for office, it should be no surprise that John Roskelley won the race. Roskelley, a candidate for Spokane County Commission, had the best Bloomsday time among all elected Spokane and Spokane Valley city leaders; state House and state…
The Colbert Report Get More: Colbert Report Full Episodes,Political Humor & Satire Blog,Video Archive Spin Control returns after some light days with a fun video for your viewing enjoyment. Why this video? you may ask. Because Colbert "interviews" an old friend and colleague, Kim Barker…
A Republican has entered the expanding field of candidates to replace state Rep. Andy Billig. Tim Benn, who co-owns a child day care with his wife in North Spokane, filed paperwork with the state Public Disclosure Commission announcing his run earlier this week, even before…