Latest News

Shane Brickner defeats Steve Peterson to become Liberty Lake’s third mayor

Fri., Nov. 8, 2019

Peterson has served as mayor for all but four years of the city’s existence. Brickner, 44, will take office in January and said his goal is to craft more comprehensive growth plans for the burgeoning city and increase collaboration between his office and city lawmakers.

Spokane council president race now even tighter, recount possible; disputed council races still close

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 8, 2019

The already tight race for Spokane City Council president narrowed even further on Friday and could be heading toward an automatic recount. The race between Councilwoman Karen Stratton and challenger Andy Rathbun to represent District 3 on the Spokane City Council also remained close.

Races for Spokane council, council president narrow

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 7, 2019

The gap between candidates for Spokane City Council president was cut by more than half after additional ballots were counted on Thursday, indicating the race will go down to the wire.

Bloomberg opens door to 2020 Democratic run for president

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 7, 2019

Michael Bloomberg, the billionaire former mayor of New York City, is opening the door to a 2020 Democratic presidential campaign, warning that the current field of candidates is ill equipped to defeat President Donald Trump.

Steyer aide offered money for endorsements

Thu., Nov. 7, 2019

A top aide to Democratic presidential candidate Tom Steyer in Iowa has privately offered campaign contributions to local politicians in exchange for endorsing his White House bid, according to multiple people with direct knowledge of the conversations.

Peetz pulls ahead in close Spokane Valley council race; other Valley races largely unchanged

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 6, 2019

Brandi Peetz took the lead in the close Spokane Valley race Wednesday, going from four votes behind her opponent, to more than 200 ahead.

Tight Spokane races stay that way after more votes are counted, remain too close to call

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 6, 2019

County elections officials offered an updated tally of the votes on Wednesday that was good news for those held a lead after the initial results rolled in on Tuesday.

Updated results: Lockwood wins Spokane school board seat, West Valley levy passes

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 6, 2019

Updated results Wednesday confirmed what most people already suspected on Election Night: Nikki Lockwood has been elected to the Spokane Public Schools board and the West Valley School District budget is getting a shot in the arm.

Woodward plans for transition to mayor’s office; Condon pledges support

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 6, 2019

Though election results are not yet final, Nadine Woodward is forging ahead with transition plans after her opponent, City Council President Ben Stuckart, conceded on Tuesday night.

Shawn Vestal: Tim Benn’s candidacy ran counter to deluge of special-interest spending

Wed., Nov. 6, 2019

If you are of the view that our politics is too controlled by big money, and that democracy is disfigured by the influence of the money-is-speech brigade, you weren’t disabused of that notion this year. Benn’s candidacy ran counter to all of that.

Voters narrowly rejecting affirmative action change

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

Voters narrowly rejecting affirmative action programs but final decision up to later ballot counts.

Pullman hospital bond in jeopardy due to low turnout

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

Low voter turnout in Pullman may put the $29 million bond for Pullman Regional Hospital to expand its facilities and services on hold.

Spokane voters support ban on city income tax, open collective bargaining

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

Spokane voters were asked to weigh in on two propositions in this election, one that would ban a city income tax and another that would require collective bargaining sessions to be conducted in public view.

Incumbents, Christie Wood win seats on Coeur d’Alene City Council

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

Early results from the Coeur d’Alene City Council elections show incumbents far ahead.

Challenger Shane Brickner leading incumbent Liberty Lake Mayor Steve Peterson

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

City Councilman Shane Brickner held a 207-vote lead on Steve Peterson, who’s held the office of Liberty Lake mayor for all but four years of the city’s existence, after votes were tallied Tuesday.

Mead voters reject school levy; West Valley school levy passing

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

A $14.6 million supplemental levy in the Mead School District was resoundingly rejected Tuesday night by district voters.

Amendment giving special powers to Legislature in case of catastrophe approved

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

If “The Big One” hits, the Legislature likely will have special emergency powers to respond.

Hattenburg, Woodard win seats on Spokane Valley Council; Peetz, Rasmussen only 4 votes apart

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 6, 2019

Preliminary results show one moderate, and one conservative candidate pulling ahead Tuesday night, and one race that was too close to call.

Initiative limiting vehicle registration fees jumps out to solid lead in early count

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

Spokane voters gave a big win to Tim Eyman’s latest anti-tax initiative strictly limiting vehicle registration fees to $30 a year, according to election results Tuesday.

Astronaut casts Pennsylvania absentee ballot from space

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

An election official in Pennsylvania didn’t think anything of the absentee ballot application until he saw the out-of-this-world voting location. The New Castle News reports that the application to Lawrence County’s voter services department listed the location as “International Space Station, low Earth orbit.”