Adam Shanks

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News >  Spokane

Woodward’s New Year’s resolutions: move police precinct, solve homelessness and heal council rift

Sat., Dec. 21, 2019

In part due to her choice to retain top leaders across multiple city departments, Mayor-elect Nadine Woodward and other city leaders are confident her transition into office will be a relatively smooth one – no matter what Spokane throws at her.

News >  Spokane

Woodward taps Ephrata city official to lead Spokane City Hall

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 18, 2019

“I love the fact that he’s got this dual perspective of running the city, but also serving on the council, as we move forward to open the lines of communication with our City Council,” Woodward said.

News >  Spokane

City strikes deal with Catholic Charities for new affordable housing in northeast Spokane

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 17, 2019

The City Council approved on a proposed purchase and sale agreement for Gonzaga Family Haven, a new affordable housing project spearheaded by Catholic Charities.

News >  Spokane

Parks supervisor, accused of harassing gay employee, to receive $100,000 settlement

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 17, 2019

The Spokane City Council narrowly approved a settlement with Adriano Eva, the parks supervisor who was laid off after he was accused of inappropriately treating a gay subordinate.

News >  Spokane

Calling all Candidates: Spokane City Council soliciting applications for open position

Tue., Dec. 17, 2019

The City Council has a plan to replace Breean Beggs, who will move from District 2 representative to City Council President in January.

News >  Spokane

Council delays vote to ban ‘Mosquito’ noise emitters in Spokane

Tue., Dec. 17, 2019

The Spokane City Council narrowly decided Monday to delay the vote on a proposal to ban machines that emit irritating noises intended to scatter young and homeless people from public spaces.

News >  Spokane

City adopts $1.1 billion budget

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 16, 2019

From criminal justice reform to an increase in its own staffing levels, the Spokane City Council adopted a $1.1 billion city budget on Monday that includes significant revisions to Mayor David Condon’s proposal.

News >  Spokane

Supreme Court won’t hear appeal in case that requires cities to have shelter space available to ban homeless camping

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 16, 2019

The U.S. Supreme Court declined Monday to hear an appeal of the 2018 lower court decision setting limits on cities’ ability to enforce laws against camping in city streets and parks.

News >  Spokane

Repelling Mosquito: Law would ban noise machines designed to deter homeless, youth

Sun., Dec. 15, 2019

Councilwoman Kate Burke’s proposal would ban mosquito high-frequency noise machines that are used in some places downtown to deter loiterers.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane police officer facing rape charge laid off by department

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 12, 2019

A Spokane police officer charged with rape has been laid off, a department spokesman confirmed on Thursday.

News >  Spokane

Aggressive cleanup of Spokane homeless camps to continue, receive more funding in 2020

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 12, 2019

Originally planned as a one-month trial, city officials will extend a program that has seen a team of city employees collect an average of 1,000 pounds of solid waste every day from illegal encampments on public property.

News >  Spokane

Beggs eyes criminal justice reform in Spokane budget proposals

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 13, 2019

Making good on a centerpiece of his successful bid for City Council President in November, Councilman Breean Beggs introduced a set of proposals to kick-start deep reform to the city’s criminal justice system on Wednesday.

News >  Spokane

Spokane City Council proposes expansion of its budget; mayor cries foul

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 11, 2019

A 30-point list of proposed revisions to Mayor David Condon’s 2020 budget would result in several new positions in the City Council office, including a council spokesperson, four research analysts and an intergovernmental affairs position.

News >  Spokane

Spokane sales tax will fund affordable housing after measure passes council

Tue., Dec. 10, 2019

The Spokane City Council unanimously adopted legislation on Monday that will redirect a portion of the state’s sales tax revenue into local affordable housing projects.

News >  Spokane

City Council OKs negotiations with TDS, a cable provider that plans to compete with Comcast in Spokane

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 10, 2019

The city will negotiate an agreement with a new cable provider in Spokane, potentially offering residents an alternative to Comcast for their binge-watching and high-speed downloading needs.

News >  Spokane

Tenants call for action, landlords ask for patience

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 9, 2019

The Spokane City Council shelved a set of proposed tenant protection laws until March last week, but tenants are pledging to continue the fight for new regulations.

News >  Spokane

Parks supervisor fired for harassment of gay subordinate set to get job back, $100,000 settlement

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 5, 2019

Months after the city fired him for his behavior toward a gay subordinate, a former Parks Department supervisor will get his old job back and, pending City Council approval, a $100,000 settlement.

News >  Spokane

New redband trout sculpture in Peaceful Valley honors Spokane River’s past, future

UPDATED: Thu., Dec. 5, 2019

Advocates for a healthy Spokane River gathered in Peaceful Valley on Wednesday to celebrate the installation of a newly commissioned sculpture of one of the river’s few remaining native species, the Redband trout.

News >  Spokane

Should City Council be a full-time gig? New council rules say yes, mayor says no

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 3, 2019

The City Council is flexing its strength by writing the expectation of a 30- to 50-hour work week into its rules. Mayor David Condon is pushing back.

News >  Spokane

As landlords fight back, council delays vote on tenant protections

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 2, 2019

Amid outcry from landlords, the council balked Monday on new laws that would force landlords to pay for tenant relocation when they substantially increase the rent and cite a specific reason for an eviction.

News >  Spokane

Spokane landlords would need ‘specific cause’ to evict renters under City Council proposal

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 2, 2019

Would a new slate of tenant protections help, or hurt, the city’s efforts to address this side effect of a successful housing market? The Spokane City Council will try to answer that question on Dec. 9.

News >  Spokane

Spokane sales tax revenue could be funneled to affordable housing

Sun., Dec. 1, 2019

The City Council is scheduled to consider a measure Dec. 9 that would redirect some of the local sales tax collections directly toward affordable housing in Spokane, before it reaches Olympia. Spokane could raise $400,000 annually for that purpose if passed, officials say.

News >  Spokane

Spokane City Council to consider land deal with Catholic Charities

Sat., Nov. 30, 2019

The Spokane City Council will vote on a proposed purchase and sale agreement with Gonzaga Family Haven, a project spearheaded by Catholic Charities that looks to develop 72 units of affordable housing on land currently owned by the city.

News >  Spokane

Spokane officials working on new agreement for Yellowstone pipeline

Fri., Nov. 29, 2019

Owners of the Yellowstone Pipeline are closing in on a new 25-year agreement to operate in Spokane.

News >  Spokane

‘The system is working’ after capacity at Jewels Helping Hands grows, advocates say

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 27, 2019

The capacity of a warming center operated by Jewels Helping Hands has more than doubled after the city completed repairs to bring the building up to code on Tuesday. The warming center can now shelter 80 adults overnight.