Adam Shanks

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News >  Local Government

At long last, Spokane will decide if it will study costs of adding fluoride to city water

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 1, 2022

More than a year after city leaders accepted a grant to fluoridate Spokane’s water supply, they are poised to embark on a study to gauge the potential costs and hurdles.

News >  Local Government

Bingle censured for violating mask mandate

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 31, 2022

Spokane City Councilman Jonathan Bingle was censured Monday for his refusal to wear a mask.

News >  Local Government

NIMBYism impacts ongoing search for a shelter location in Spokane

Sun., Jan. 30, 2022

The backlash was swift.

News >  Local Government

Complaint filed against Spokane City Council over masking as Councilman Jonathan Bingle refuses to comply with mandate

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 28, 2022

As Councilman Jonathan Bingle refuses to comply with the state mask mandate, the Spokane City Council was notified Friday that a formal complaint about mask-wearing at City Hall has been made with the state.

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Councilman Jonathan Bingle refuses to wear masks at City Hall; officials unsure how to enforce mandate

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 26, 2022

Spokane City Councilman Jonathan Bingle refuses to wear a mask around others in City Hall, raising legal questions and causing his colleagues consternation.

News >  Local Government

Love politics, maps or both? Seats open on Spokane’s Districting Board to redraw council lines

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 27, 2022

The Spokane City Council’s districts are set to be redrawn in 2022, and volunteers are needed to do that work.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Police investigating assaults with possible ‘sexual motivation’ around Manito Park

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 25, 2022

Two women were assaulted in the area of Manito Park last week by an unknown suspect with a possible “sexual motivation,” police said.

News >  Local Government

Costs of two-week shelter begin to add up; Spokane faces $500,000 bill for emergency program

Tue., Jan. 25, 2022

A two-week temporary homeless shelter will likely cost the city of Spokane more than $500,000.

Corrections

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 24, 2022

Wrong date for public hearing

News >  Local Government

Don Kardong Bridge receives American Rescue Plan boost

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 24, 2022

The Don Kardong Bridge could soon be in tiptop shape like the thousands of walkers, runners and cyclists who cross it every year.

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Council member Zack Zappone makes mark early in first term

Mon., Jan. 24, 2022

Zappone, who took office earlier this month, remains on a part-time contract to teach 10th and 11th grade English at North Central High School.“Being in the classroom, especially in a school in my district, keeps me connected to the community I serve,” Zappone told The Spokesman-Review. “Nobody keeps it as real as students keep it real.”

News >  Local Government

No ‘wave’ of evictions in Spokane County, but worry persists

Sun., Jan. 23, 2022

If evictions were a tidal wave, rental assistance and tenant protections may have been the seawall.

News >  Local Government

Spokane mulls extension of housing incentives for Garland District, University District

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 24, 2022

The city of Spokane may extend tax incentives to multifamily housing developers on part of the North Side and near downtown .

News >  Local Government

Smith nominated as City of Spokane HR director

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 21, 2022

Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward has nominated a new human resources director.

News >  Local Government

Spokane’s annual homeless count delayed a month by COVID-19

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 21, 2022

The annual count of Spokane’s homeless population will be delayed until next month due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

News >  Local Government

City of Spokane limiting in-person meetings as employee COVID-19 cases hit record high

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 20, 2022

Spokane City Hall is scaling back in-person meetings due to a surge of COVID-19 cases among city employees.

News >  Local Government

Spokane Homeless Connect delayed over omicron concerns

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 18, 2022

Spokane’s annual Homeless Connect, a one-stop-shop for homeless services, will be delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

News >  Local Government

Playgrounds, bathrooms top funding priority list for Spokane Parks

Tue., Jan. 18, 2022

As it decides how to spend $1.1 million in American Rescue Plan funds, Spokane Parks and Recreation will focus on improving playground equipment and other amenities – including restrooms – in city parks, particularly those in low-income areas.

News >  Local Government

‘Compassion is nonpartisan’: Spokane Council Member Jonathan Bingle looks outside political comfort zone

Mon., Jan. 17, 2022

The northeast Spokane lawmaker has hired Nicolette Ocheltree as his legislative assistant, part of a partnership that began after the two found themselves on opposite sides of an abortion protest at Spokane's Planned Parenthood. 

News >  Local Government

Mayor Nadine Woodward nominates new Spokane planning director

Mon., Jan. 17, 2022

Mayor Nadine Woodward announced Thursday that she has nominated Spencer Gardner as planning director, with the City Council expected to vote on his confirmation on Jan. 24.

News >  Local Government

What’s straining Spokane’s homeless shelter capacity? It’s complicated

Sun., Jan. 16, 2022

After the contentious closure of a temporary warming shelter last week, the Spokane City Council and Mayor Nadine Woodward have come to at least one clear agreement: Spokane needs more shelter beds.

News >  Spokane

Encampment near Interstate 90 allowed to stay put by WSDOT, for now

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 14, 2022

The Washington State Department of Transportation temporarily rescinded its 48-hour notice for people to clear the encampment on vacant land near Second Avenue and Ray Street.

News >  Local Government

After deadly NYC apartment blaze, Spokane fire officials to push upgrade safety systems in older buildings

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 11, 2022

Pointing to local tragedies and the devastating recent fires in New York and Philadelphia, Spokane Fire Department leaders plan to make a bold push this year to require hundreds of older buildings in the city to install fire protections like sprinkler and alarm systems.

News >  Local Government

City of Spokane adopts law protecting tenants from eviction while awaiting rental assistance

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 10, 2022

A new city law aims to protect tenants actively seeking rental assistance from eviction.

News >  Local Government

Spokane leaders ask for state help in finding a homeless shelter; search comes up empty

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 10, 2022

The city of Spokane is looking for a new emergency shelter but continues to come up empty, even after a request for help from the state’s Emergency Operations Center.