Adam Shanks

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News >  Local Government

Nearly one-third of Spokane utility customers are more than 2 months late paying bills

Sun., Dec. 27, 2020

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to cripple the economy, the number of people struggling to keep up with their utility bills is outpacing the community’s ability to help them.

News >  Local Government

Airing of grievances returns: Spokane City Council to reintroduce open forum

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 28, 2020

Spokane City Council will still be doing business virtually to start 2021, but the new year will bring the return of an old pillar of its meetings – open forum.

News >  Spokane

Most wrapping paper can be recycled in Spokane’s curbside bins

Thu., Dec. 24, 2020

The city of Spokane is encouraging residents to recycle their leftover wrapping paper this Christmas.

Trump threatens COVID-19 relief supported by Washington, Idaho legislators of both parties

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 23, 2020

President Donald Trump announced Tuesday that he may not sign the recently-approved bipartisan COVID-19 relief bill, potentially upending a deal that many of his fellow Republicans – including those representing the Inland Northwest – supported.

News >  Spokane

As Congress approves new pandemic relief package, Eastern Washington applauds – but many hope for more

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 21, 2020

Local and state leaders welcomed a $900 billion federal COVID-19 relief package, but warned on Monday that more help will be necessary to recover from the pandemic in 2021.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Post Falls man killed in crash outside Coeur d’Alene on Friday morning

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 18, 2020

A Post Falls man died in a crash just south of Coeur d’Alene on Friday morning.

News >  Local Government

Spokane seeks input on more than 300 proposed city flag designs

Fri., Dec. 18, 2020

A bright yellow sun with seven feathers for rays, each representing a local Native American tribe.

After a yearslong fight, the city plans to hire a civil rights officer. What’s next?

UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 19, 2020

After years of stalled effort, the city of Spokane is poised to hire an officer to enforce civil rights laws.

News

Facing pressure, Woodward now open to young adult homeless shelter in city limits

Thu., Dec. 17, 2020

Facing pressure from local and state officials, Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward may allow a new young adult homeless shelter to open within city limits.

News >  Spokane

Future of fluoride study for Spokane’s water remains uncertain

Thu., Dec. 17, 2020

The Spokane City Council and Mayor Nadine Woodward are at an impasse over a grant-funded study about adding fluoride to the municipal water system.

News

Kootenai Health restricting visitors as COVID-19 cases skyrocket in community

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 15, 2020

Kootenai Health announced new visitor restrictions Tuesday as COVID-19 continues to sweep through the Idaho Panhandle.

News >  Spokane

Spokane police to buy four electric Tesla Model Y ‘s under City Council’s orders

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 15, 2020

Turning aside the advice of city officials, the Spokane City Council will force the Spokane Police Department to purchase four new electric patrol cars.

News

City of Spokane adopts ‘priority-based’ 2021 budget of nearly $1 billion

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 14, 2020

The Spokane City Council adopted a nearly $1 billion 2021 budget on Monday night that avoids steep cuts despite the economic turmoil brought on by the coronavirus.

News

Fort George Wright Drive renamed

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 15, 2020

Fort George Wright Drive is now Whistalks Way.

News >  Local Government

Spokane Public Library plans for branch renovations, and the unknown, in 2021

UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 12, 2020

The future is undoubtedly bright for the Spokane Public Library, but the new year will bring continued uncertainty.

News >  Local Government

After a legal disagreement, Spokane City Council may take another step against militias

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 17, 2020

Spokane County’s prosecutor has cautioned that an antiquated state law regulating militias is difficult to enforce – and now, the city of Spokane may circumvent him.

SPD in a Tesla? Beggs pushes for electric police vehicles

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 10, 2020

Spokane City Council President Breean Beggs is pushing the city to begin converting the Spokane Police Department fleet from gasoline to electric vehicles, but other city officials are warning he’s moving too fast, too soon.

News

County prosecutor: Officers justified in deadly September shooting outside Bell Motel

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 9, 2020

Criminal charges will not be pursued against two Spokane police officers who shot and killed an armed man in the Bell Motel parking lot in September.

News

How the city of Spokane supported businesses with its CARES Act funds

Wed., Dec. 9, 2020

Eric Phillips is the IT guy for businesses too small to have their own IT guy.

News

Spokane Public Library suspends curbside pickup at three branches due to COVID-19

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 8, 2020

The Spokane Public Library suspended its curbside pickup and computer access services at multiple branches due to what it described as a “confirmed or suspected” case of COVID-19.

News

Needles, meals and church services: Spokane passes new law aimed at cleaning up parks

UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 5, 2020

In a nod to frustrated neighborhood residents, the Spokane City Council adopted a new law Monday that sets stricter rules for public parks.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Planned Parenthood faces bomb threat

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 4, 2020

Wednesday’s bomb threat wasn’t the first threat Planned Parenthood on East Indiana Avenue has faced.

Spokane City Council members look outside borders for tax revenue

UPDATED: Sat., Dec. 5, 2020

Wary of taxing city residents during an economic calamity, Spokane City Council members are lobbying for a different way to fund affordable housing projects: taxing Spokane County residents.

News >  Spokane

Proposed council resolution would rebuke Woodward, call for young adult shelter in Spokane

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 3, 2020

Mayor Nadine Woodward’s decision to prevent a teen homeless shelter from opening in Spokane is getting pushback from the Spokane City Council.

News >  Spokane

Man found dead in Jefferson Street home; police investigating

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 2, 2020

A dead man was found inside a home on the 2000 block of North Jefferson Street early Wednesday morning.