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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control Jonathan Brunt

WEDNESDAY, JULY 11, 2012

FRIDAY, JUNE 29, 2012


Washington state Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander, seen in 2006, will step down from his post and serve the remainder of his term as an associate justice. (FILE / Associated Press)

STA wins high-profile fan

We may have found a spokesman for a Spokane Transit Authority ad campaign. Former state Supreme Court Chief Justice Gerry Alexander has been flying to Spokane every couple weeks in the last few months to serve as one of the Spokane's five Use of Force…

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THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012

TUESDAY, JUNE 26, 2012

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20, 2012

TUESDAY, JUNE 19, 2012

A train hauling coal to British Columbia heads north out of downtown Seattle on Tuesday afternoon. The Seattle City Council has unanimously passed a resolution opposing the development of coal-export terminals in Washington state. (Associated Press)

Council calls for coal study 11 

About 40 people on Monday urged local leaders to find out how vastly increased train traffic could cause health problems in Spokane. After hearing from them, the Spokane City Council unanimously approved a nonbinding resolution asking state and federal officials to study the environmental effects…

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THURSDAY, JUNE 14, 2012

TUESDAY, JUNE 12, 2012

FRIDAY, JUNE 8, 2012

National rally draws more than 100 in Spokane 

More than 100 protestors gathered Friday at the federal courthouse in Spokane to protest new federal health insurance rules. Robin Luciani, the local rally captain for the Nationwide Rally for Religious Freedom, said 110 people came to the Spokane event to protest a federal decision…

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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6, 2012

Condon terminates another city administrator

Spokane Mayor David Condon on Wednesday fired another high-ranking administrator. Ellen Hung, the city’s treasurer, was given notice today that she has been terminated, said Spokane’s Chief Financial Officer Gavin Cooley. Since taking office, Condon has fired several department leaders including the public works director,…

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FRIDAY, JUNE 1, 2012

Spokane Mayor David Condon talks about his reorganization plans of city departments after a press conference Friday, June 1, 2012 at Spokane City Hall. Condon spoke in front of a city flag that hasn't been the city's official flag since the late 1950s. He explained that the old design was put to official use because City Hall has only one flag that has the current design and that's on loan for Association of Washington Cities event. (Jonathan Brunt)

Five months into term, Condon has picked his team

Spokane Mayor David Condon continued his path of big change at City Hall on Friday by announcing several restructuring changes and significant changes in personnel. Among them, Internal Auditor Rick Romero has been named the city’s utilities and public works director. He replaces interim director…

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THURSDAY, MAY 31, 2012

City union tentatively agrees to contract 

Spokane Mayor David Condon has reached his first tentative contract deal with a major city union. The Spokane Managerial and Professional Association mailed ballots to its 250 members this week on a proposed three-year contract, said Carly Cortright, the association’s president. The union’s leadership, which…

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 23, 2012

TUESDAY, MAY 22, 2012

Parker again without challenger

So much for magical thinking. The Occupy Spokane activist who challenged state Rep. Kevin Parker's reelection bid already has dropped out of the race. Wayne Kyle Spitzer, a Democrat, confirmed today that he decided against running for Parker's 6th District House seat. He filed paperwork…

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SUNDAY, MAY 20, 2012

FRIDAY, MAY 18, 2012

Waite drops out, endorses Snyder

Downtown Spokane businessman John Waite said Friday that he has decided not to run for the state House afterall. Waite said earlier this month that he would run as a Democrat for the seat held by state Rep. Andy Billig, who is giving up his…

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THURSDAY, MAY 17, 2012

WEDNESDAY, MAY 16, 2012

Condon backs change to initiative process

Changes to the way citizens can sidestep elected leaders to pass their own laws received the endorsement on Wednesday of Mayor David Condon. But there will be more steps before the new rules become law if some citizens have their way. Ian Moody, a marijuana…

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TUESDAY, MAY 15, 2012

Matthews takes on McMorris Rodgers 

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…

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MONDAY, MAY 14, 2012

Council adopts easier-to-enforce noise law

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…

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FRIDAY, MAY 11, 2012


THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2012

Spokane City Councilman Jon Snyder, left, and Paul Dillon, legislative aide to state Rep. Andy Billig, greet state Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown at her farewell celebration on Wednesday, May 9, at the Matin Woldson Theater at the Fox. Snyder is running for the state House seat currently held by state Rep. Andy Billig. Brown, who announced last week that she would not seek a new term, has endorsed one of Snyder's opponents in the race, Marcus Riccelli, her senior policy analyst. (Jonathan Brunt)

Waite questions labor's backing of Riccelli

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…

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 9, 2012

Jonathan Brunt
Jonathan Brunt joined The Spokesman-Review in 2004. He is the government editor. He previously was a reporter who covered Spokane City Hall, Spokane County government and public safety.

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