Government

The fiancée of a man shot and killed by Spokane police officers may soon receive $500,000 to settle a wrongful death claim, according to briefing documents presented Monday to the Spokane City Council.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little, along with 25 other Republican governors, released a joint statement Wednesday that said they are fully committed to President-elect Donald Trump’s plans to “deport dangerous criminals, gang members, and terrorists.”But deporting criminals has long been an immigration enforcement priority, under both Democratic and Republican presidents. 

While some politicians, business groups and their supporters accuse the city of Spokane and the Spokane Police Department of not enforcing laws on the homeless, one patrol officer is spending his time in the area around Second Avenue and Division Street sometimes 10 times a day.

Some people compare the presidential race to a marathon. But with the primaries, the conventions, the general election, the Electoral College vote and the official Congressional Count, it's more like a pentathlon.

The narrow passage of a statewide initiative intended to enshrine natural gas use in Washington has sparked an old West standoff – but the involved parties are dueling with legal filings rather than hot steel.

In our Reality Check stories, Idaho Statesman journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? Tips@idahostatesman.com. Lawyers representing Idaho and the state Legislature stood before a panel of 11 federal judges this week to defend the state’s abortion restrictions as part of a case that went before the U.S. ...

Congressmen-elect Michael Baumgartner has tapped longtime state Sen. Mike Padden to advise him in his new role.

Bonner County has agreed to pay a resident $200,000 to settle claims of unlawful battery, arrest and imprisonment after he was detained during a county commissioners meeting earlier this year.

A year after a controversial ordinance and power struggle between the Liberty Lake City Council and the city’s library board of trustees, city council on Tuesday decided not to reappoint a library trustee.

Two months ago, 29 Spokane city employees learned their jobs could be on the chopping block as the city tried to finish balancing the 2025-2026 budget. By the end of the year, three of them lost their jobs, though at least one was able to move to another position in the city.

Spokane’s nonprofit group to assist policing efforts got a three-month reprieve Monday night, as the City Council approved a $125,000 extension to its contract after weeks of volunteers, staff and advocates arguing the organization shouldn’t have to fight for city funding in the first place.

Spokane’s City Council will continue to meet on Mondays as it has for more than 112 years, after concerns were raised about major changes to the council’s rules that the conservative minority believed were intended to weaken their already nominal power.

Northeast Spokane’s conservative representatives on Monday got something they’ve been asking for all year: a voting seat on the Spokane Transit Authority, which operates the region’s transit system.

The Spokane County Commissioners adopted a 2025 budget last week that’s smaller than in years past, despite increased investments in the criminal justice system, mental health services and capital improvement projects.

Facing a budget shortfall of $10 billion or more, Democratic leaders in the state Legislature are already talking about potentially raising taxes to forestall cuts to government services. But Gov.-elect Bob Ferguson says he’s not ready to back tax increases just yet. In an interview with Tthe Seattle Times at a North Seattle coffee shop Thursday – his first extensive sit-down since winning the gubernatorial race – Ferguson said he’s scouring state government looking for ways to cut spending before considering taxes.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Since Republicans won control of the House, Senate and White House in last month’s elections, Democrats in Congress have embarked on a series of public and private debates over what went wrong for their party.

Spokane city government has a reputation for change. Only one mayor in the last 45 years has served more than a term. But there has been at least one constant: Monday meetings.