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Michael Baumgartner joins crowded race to represent Eastern Washington in Congress
Spokane County Treasurer Michael Baumgartner has formally joined the race for Washington’s 5th congressional district, announcing his candidacy at a campaign launch event at the University District Gateway Bridge overlooking the Washington State University Spokane Medical School.
Primer on the primary: Presidential primary ballots went out this week. Here’s how they’re unique in Washington state
The state has mailed combined Republican and Democratic primary ballots to 4.8 million registered voters in all of Washington’s 39 counties. Voters have until March 12 to cast their ballots and weigh in on their chosen party’s nominee for president. Voters must declare a party and select only one candidate, or else their votes won’t be counted.
Spokane Councilman Jonathan Bingle and former Matt Shea aide Rene Holaday running for Congress
Voters have two more choices to consider for a seat in Congress being vacated by Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers.
Democrats see best chance to flip Eastern Washington’s Congressional seat in decades
It’s been nearly 30 years since Democrats last represented Eastern Washington in Congress. Now with incumbent Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers not running for re-election, some in the party see a once-in-a-generation opportunity.
Spokane Schools grateful for levy passage, but regrouping after bond fails
As the dust settles after Spokane Public Schools’ first failed bond since 1967, the district will seek community input on a potential future tax ask for aging facilities that staff say need updating.
After levies pass, but bonds fail, districts like Spokane consider next steps
Editors note: The headline appearing with this story in Thursday’s print edition contained an error. The headline should have stated “Spokane schools bond fails. What’s next?”
Voters overwhelmingly support Fairfield joining Spokane County Fire District 2
Fairfield residents in southeastern Spokane County will now have more say over their firefighting services.
Rural school districts overwhelmingly passed their levies in Tuesday’s election, even as Spokane’s bond failed
While support for school bonds and levies has declined in the Spokane area, levies are overwhelmingly passing in rural, more conservative districts surrounding Spokane County in initial counting for Tuesday’s special election.
Spokane County voters reject school bonds, but give backing to levies
For the first time in more than 50 years, Spokane voters chose to fail a Spokane Public Schools bond.
Voters agree to tax for Spokane Public Library to maintain services
Renewal of a Spokane Public Library levy, constituting around 18% of the department’s entire yearly budget, was passing by a sizable margin Tuesday night.
Ballot measure meant to prevent gerrymandering in Spokane passing overwhelmingly
Voters overwhelmingly approved a Spokane ballot measure that will limit the ability for the Spokane City Council to draw its own districts following accusations of gerrymandering in 2022.
Ballots due Tuesday night for Spokane County special election
Ballots are due at 8 p.m. Tuesday for Spokane County-area voters being asked primarily to approve or reject tax increases to support schools, libraries and a fire district.
Spokane Public Schools tax asks would continue extracurriculars, fund major projects at 10 schools
Spokane Public Schools is asking voters for a levy and bond on February ballots, as part of a decadeslong cycle to maintain 57 facilities serving more than 29,000 students.
Who is running for McMorris Rodgers’ open seat, and who won’t say
The floodgates have been thrown open following Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ surprise announcement that she will not run for re-election this year, with rampant speculation about who might enter the race from the Republican side and whether any Democrat could flip a seat that has eluded the party for three decades.
Cathy McMorris Rodgers won’t seek re-election in 2024
After two decades in Congress, Spokane’s Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who leads the powerful House Energy and Commerce Committee, announced Thursday she will not run for re-election.
Great Northern School District seeks $840,000 levy
Great Northern School District is seeking voters’ approval on property tax collections to pay for staff and school equipment for the 40 students in the district.
Spin Control: For good or ill, some bills you heard about aren’t going to become laws
The Legislature will hit the mid-point of its 60-day session Tuesday and while it’s too early to say for sure what it will do, it is possible to point to a few things that it won’t do.
Liberty School District asking voters for operations, capital levies in February election
Like several other school districts in the area, the Liberty School District headquartered in southern Spokane County is asking voters to approve two replacement levies on the February ballot.
Reardan-Edwall school district seeks to renew $6 million levy as alternative to ‘drastic cuts to staff’
Reardan-Edwall schools are seeking renewals of property tax collections that fund staff, extracurriculars and school safety essential to school operations.
Central Valley Schools sends two levies to February ballots
Central Valley School District voters have two big decisions to make in February.