Chad Sokol

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News >  Spokane

Community leaders respond to domestic violence allegations against Spokane activist Phil Tyler

Fri., March 9, 2018

Phillip Tyler, the prominent community activist who once led the Spokane chapter of the NAACP, is facing scrutiny for domestic violence allegations by multiple women that stretch back more than three decades.

News >  Spokane

In last-ditch appeal, Spokane County commissioners ask for Inslee veto on expanding board

UPDATED: Tue., March 6, 2018

In a last-ditch appeal, all three Spokane County commissioners signed a letter Tuesday imploring Gov. Jay Inslee to veto a bill that would add two more members to the county’s governing board.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Sandpoint police officers wounded in shootout recovering; suspect killed

UPDATED: Mon., March 5, 2018

Two Sandpoint police officers were wounded and a male suspect was killed during a shootout early Monday at a small apartment complex.

News >  Nation

Speculation, uncertainty ripple across Washington after steel import tariffs announced

UPDATED: Sat., March 3, 2018

President Donald Trump’s plan to slap large tariffs on steel and aluminum imports could ignite a global trade war that hurts American consumers as well as Washington’s aerospace and agriculture sectors, though the immediate effects of the tariffs probably would be limited.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Authorities release 911 tapes from day of Freeman High School shooting

UPDATED: Thu., March 1, 2018

Nearly six months after the shooting at Freeman High School, authorities released about two hours’ worth of 911 recordings related to the incident. They include dozens of calls from frightened students and teachers, from far-flung news reporters seeking information, and from anxious parents and relatives pleading to know if their kids were alright.

News >  Education

Avista, McKinstry to help EWU pay rent in Spokane

Thu., March 1, 2018

The developers behind the four-story, 150,000-square-foot Catalyst building have agreed to give Eastern Washington University $5 million over the first 10 years of its lease, offsetting most of the cost of rent.

News >  Spokane

SFCC acting president resigns amid allegations of sexual harassment

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 28, 2018

Darren Pitcher, the acting president of Spokane Falls Community College, has resigned amid allegations of workplace sexual harassment.

News >  Spokane

Walkouts honoring slain students prompt differing responses in Spokane, Coeur d’Alene

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 28, 2018

Inspired by the powerful messages from the students who survived the school shooting in Parkland, Florida, a Spokane eighth grader started handing out permission slips to about 200 fellow students at Sacajawea Middle School.

News >  Spokane

EWU students to hold rally in response to racist flyers

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 27, 2018

Eastern Washington University students held a “unity rally” Tuesday afternoon in response to racist flyers that were left on the Cheney campus earlier this month.

News >  Spokane

WSU taking steps to prevent window falls

Tue., Feb. 27, 2018

Six months after a freshman suffered life-altering injuries, Washington State University says it’s taking steps to prevent more students from falling out of dorm-room windows.

News >  Spokane

Car chase suspect had $18,000 worth of meth, says Spokane County Sheriff’s Office

Mon., Feb. 26, 2018

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office says deputies used a Taser to stop a suspect who led them on a car chase while in possession of more than half a pound of methamphetamine Sunday evening.

News >  Spokane

Separated 51 years ago, long-lost brothers reunite in Spokane – and their similarities are stunning

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 24, 2018

They’re both burly men with salt-and-pepper goatees, shaved heads and faded jeans. They’re both truckers. They’re both bikers. They both grew up listening to Kiss and AC/DC. They could easily be mistaken for twins. But for 51 years, one of these brothers didn’t know the other exists.

News >  Education

Lawsuit against WSU claims negligence led to burglary that exposed sensitive data

Fri., Feb. 23, 2018

Washington State University is facing a class-action lawsuit in King County Superior Court that alleges negligence and violations of Washington’s Consumer Protection Act. The 33-page complaint, filed in December, also claims the school violated

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Lengthy investigation names suspect in 2016 arson fires north of Spokane

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 21, 2018

After an investigation that lasted more than a year, a team of local, state and federal authorities believe they have found the man responsible for three arson fires north of Spokane.

News >  Education

Students ignite gun control debate at Cheney High School

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 21, 2018

Dozens of Cheney High School students left their classrooms when the clock struck noon Wednesday and staged an hourlong demonstration in subfreezing temperatures, joining a wave of young people across the country who are demanding tighter restrictions on firearms.

News >  Spokane

Spokane-area schools prepare for student walkouts demanding stricter gun control

Wed., Feb. 21, 2018

Some of her classmates say it’s no use, that nothing can – or will – be done to prevent another mass shooting. But Christina Morrison, a junior at Freeman High School, says she’ll walk out of class on April 20, joining students across the country, to press lawmakers for stricter gun control. She said a few classmates plan to join her for the demonstration, and she hopes to rally more in the coming weeks.

News >  Spokane

McKinstry executive appointed to EWU’s board of trustees

Wed., Feb. 21, 2018

Eastern Washington University says the newest member of its governing board will play a key role as the school prepares to expand its footprint in downtown Spokane.

News >  Spokane

Florida police suspect boyfriend in killing of Spokane Valley native

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 20, 2018

Amber Wohlers-Christensen, a 2002 graduate of Central Valley High School, was shot and killed Saturday at age 33. Her boyfriend is charged with first-degree murder.

News >  Spokane

Glenn Johnson, ‘voice of the Cougs,’ appointed to Community Colleges of Spokane board of trustees

Fri., Feb. 16, 2018

Glenn Johnson, the four-term mayor of Pullman and college football announcer known as “the voice of the Cougs,” has been appointed to the board of trustees of the Community Colleges of Spokane.

News >  WA Government

Breaking with GOP, McMorris Rodgers votes against major change to the Americans with Disabilities Act

Fri., Feb. 16, 2018

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers broke with most of her Republican colleagues Thursday by voting against a bill to amend the Americans with Disabilities Act, siding with critics who say the legislation would remove incentives for businesses to comply with the law and erode the civil rights of people with disabilities.

News >  Education

EWU has come a long way from its roots as a kids’ school and teachers’ college

Sun., Feb. 11, 2018

Eastern Washington University’s leaders aren’t standing idly by while Spokane becomes a hub for innovation and a magnet for employers. Instead they are pursuing new facilities at the main campus in Cheney and in Spokane’s booming University District, scrambling to keep up with demand for degrees in science, technology, engineering and math.

News >  Spokane

West Valley kids get civility lesson from Washington Supreme Court Justice Debra Stephens

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 10, 2018

About 90 students from the West Valley School District got a lesson in civility Friday from one of the district’s standout alumni: Justice Debra Stephens of the Washington Supreme Court.

News >  Spokane

Down one colleague because of budget cuts, Spokane County District Court judges are picking up the slack

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 8, 2018

After Judge Gregory Tripp retired, the Spokane County District Court effectively gave up most of the money that would have gone toward his 2018 salary and benefits.

News >  Spokane

SpokAnimal to close East Central veterinary clinic

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 8, 2018

During difficult financial times for the nonprofit organization, SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. has announced plans to shut down its veterinary clinic in Spokane’s East Central neighborhood.

News >  Spokane

EWU plans major expansion into Spokane’s University District as anchor tenant of Avista’s planned 150,000-square-foot Catalyst building

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 6, 2018

Eastern Washington University plans to move three degree programs and around 1,000 students from its Cheney campus to a building along East Sprague Avenue.