Wed., July 11, 2012
The frontrunner to be the Republican nominee for Washington governor brought a GOP star to Spokane on Wednesday to help raise money for his campaign. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal – often listed as a potential vice presidential nominee this year as well as in 2008…
Fri., June 29, 2012
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jay Inslee will be on the court Saturday at Hoopfest in a team that also includes Democratic state House candidate Marcus Riccelli. Their team, the Evergreen Dream Team, will play its first game at 8 a.m. Saturday on Washington Street between Main…
Fri., June 29, 2012
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…
Thu., June 28, 2012
Retired state Supreme Court Justice Gerry Alexander was in Spokane Thursday for the last scheduled meeting of the city's Use of Force Commission. Afterward, we asked him about his thoughts about this morning's U.S. Supreme Court decision that upheld most of the Affordable Care Act.…
Tue., June 26, 2012
Former Spokane Mayor Sheri Barnard voted for Mary Verner. But she’s impressed with the first several months of Mayor David Condon's administration. “So far, I think the moves he’s made are excellent,” Barnard said.
Wed., June 20, 2012
A Republican precinct committee officer is challenging the campaign advertising of a GOP candidate for state House. But the candidate, Ben Oakley, said he cleared his signs and logos with the state Public Disclosure Commission before he started using them. Oakley, a Republican, is running…
Tue., June 19, 2012
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…
Thu., June 14, 2012
For all the attention on this week's debate between the two main gubernatorial hopefuls, it was really the showdown between two of the candidates for attorney general that was more exciting. And above is the link that highlighted it all, an exchange that started with…
Tue., June 12, 2012
The two leading candidates for Washington governor debated for the first time on Tuesday and agreed that new taxes aren’t needed to improve schools. But they disagreed on most other points, including education in the hour-long debate at the Bing Crosby Theater in Spokane. Former…
Fri., June 8, 2012
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…
Wed., June 6, 2012
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,…
Fri., June 1, 2012
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…
Thu., May 31, 2012
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…
Wed., May 23, 2012
Job creation may be the main talking point of the two main candidates for governor, but another topic is rivaling jobs as a top issue in the campaign. That’s thanks in part to outgoing Gov. Chris Gregoire, who has loudly backed the creation of new…
Tue., May 22, 2012
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…
Sun., May 20, 2012
Attached to this post are the two proposed citizen intiatives filed recently with the city of Spokane clerk's office. The supporters of each initiative still need to gather signatures in order to force the issues onto the city ballot. Here is the story about the…
Fri., May 18, 2012
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…
Thu., May 17, 2012
Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire told the state’s largest teachers union that she will work to increase taxes to help the state meet its mandate to provide quality education. “I am traveling the state to send the message to legislators and taxpayers that we must have…
Wed., May 16, 2012
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…
Tue., May 15, 2012
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…
Mon., May 14, 2012
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…
Fri., May 11, 2012
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…
Fri., May 11, 2012
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…
Thu., May 10, 2012
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…
Wed., May 9, 2012
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,”…
