OLYMPIA -- Young hockey players for the Spokane Chiefs and other WHL teams in Washington will be exempted from certain labor laws which would have restricted their practice and playing time and made them subject to the minimum wage. Without the law signed today by Gov. Jay Inslee, the league's Washington teams might not have been able to operate.
OLYMPIA -- State budget negotiators got some good news today, that the state can expect to collect about $400 million more in taxes and fees than they've been expecting over the next two years. Will it be enough to bring budget negotiations, and the special session, to a rapid conclusion? The two top budget writers didn't agree.
Revenue estimates and teacher strike legislation are on the agenda.
OLYMPIA – Legislators reached a key milestone in the special session over the budgets, but unfortunately it was not the milestone of having a negotiated agreement that would allow them to finish their work by May 28, the 30th and final day of the session. It was a milestone that is more the cause for breaking out the aspirin than the champagne.
The full list of people who applied for elected office in Spokane County.
OLYMPIA -- Washington has a statewide drought emergency that will likely lead to some farmers going without water for their crops and some small water districts looking at reductions for customers. The state is bracing for $1.2 billion in crop losses and another tough wildfire season this summer.
With just today left in filing week, the Spokane County elections office said Thursday there were more than three dozen elective positions with no candidates filed.
Candidate filings on Thursday included two challengers to appointed state Rep. Mary Dye in the 9th Legislative District House race.
OLYMPIA -- The state's mental health laws will see significant changes under a series of bills signed today.
OLYMPIA -- Three Republican senators want the Legislature to pass a bill to keep embattled and absent Auditor Troy Kelley from upping his pension if he comes back from leave.
All three Spokane City Council races have competition.
OLYMPIA -- A Senate committee looks at a change to state law that would allow police to speak for cold case victims when no one else is available.
Day 2 of filing week brings a three-way race for Spokane mayor.
OLYMPIA -- Legislative leaders insisting they would focus on the budget didn't keep two House members from trying to get impeachment process started for Troy Kelley.
Local races starting to fill out.
Spokane city leaders got an increasingly testy earful tonight from critics of last week's decision to ban "Bridge to Hookerville" from use during council meetings.
Former Spokane County Commissioner Bonnie Mager has asked Spokane County Prosecutor Larry Haskell to seek an "independent investigation" into the search for a new county CEO after former colleague Todd Mielke emerged as the top candidate in April.
It's Filing Week in Washington state. Candidates with hopes and dreams of winning a local political office have to get their paperwork in by Friday. The mid-morning list for Spokane County can be found inside.
Spin Control's eight simple rules for candidates to consider ran in Sunday's paper. We reprint it here, in honor of filing week.
OLYMPIA -- Mary Dye, longtime GOP activist from Garfield County, was chosen to fill open seat in Southeast Washington's 9th District.
OLYMPIA – Obeying federal requirements to make state law conform to an international treaty on child support rulings is forcing a special session in Idaho. But on Friday, a bill that allows Washington to meet those requirements was signed into law with little fanfare.
Former state Rep. John Ahern has changed his mind and will run for Spokane City Council president, rather than for a district seat.
Mike Fagan may be the Spokane City Council's most controversial figure, but he also has strong ties to the Hillyard community he represents. Fagan announced Thursday that he'll run for re-election.
OLYMPIA – A proposal to allow Washington cities to rearrange voting districts so minorities could have a greater voice in elections was praised Thursday as a way to avoid costly federal lawsuits and denounced as a Trojan horse for more litigation.
OLYMPIA -- The state loosened some liquor laws Thursday but banned the newest kid on the booze block, powdered alcohol.
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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