Stories by Colin Tiernan for the Spokesman-Review

News > Local government

Criminal justice reform advocates bash Spokane County Commission over advisory board decision

Wed., Oct. 25, 2023

In a 3-2 vote, the county commission appointed Airway Heights City Councilwoman Jennifer Morton to the Spokane Regional Law and Justice Council.

News > Local government

Should voters care what Spokane’s mayor thinks about abortion? We Believe, We Vote says yes

Tue., Oct. 24, 2023

We Believe, We Vote, a conservative Christian organization, wants voters to know what local politicians think about, abortion, gay marriage, states rights and a host of other issues that can't be affected at the local level. Should voters care?

Sports > Outdoors

Cool moths found in Spokane and around the world

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 23, 2023

There are an estimated 160,000 moths in the world. Here are some facts about five.

News > Sci/Tech

Mothing to boast of: Amateur moth expert expanding knowledge of species in Spokane area

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 23, 2023

No one alive, and probably no one throughout human history, has spent more time learning Spokane moths than Carl Barrentine.

News > Local government

Spokane County general election ballots to hit mailboxes this week

Wed., Oct. 18, 2023

Get your black and blue pens ready — the county is mailing out 362,000 ballots to registered voters.

News > Transportation

‘A win for safety’: Spokane County building new bike route south of Whitworth University

Tue., Oct. 17, 2023

The Spokane County Commission last week approved a $303,000 project that will create a 2.2-mile bike route between Whitworth University and Holy Cross Cemetery.

News > Local government

Bolt takes over as Spokane County GOP chair

Mon., Oct. 16, 2023

The former golf star has spent the last eight years as Eastern Washington's representative on the Washington State Board of Education.

News > Local government

Are Spokane County voters willing to tax themselves for a new jail?

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 18, 2023

Measure 1, if approved by voters, would impose a 0.2% sales tax for the next 30 years and raise an estimated $1.7 billion.

News > Local government

New jail gets formal vote of support from Spokane County Commission

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 18, 2023

In a symbolic move, the Spokane County Commission on Tuesday officially declared its support for a 0.2% sales tax that would raise an estimated $1.7 billion over the next 30 years.

News > Spokane

On World Homelessness Day, a look at how Spokane got to crisis levels

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 10, 2023

Homelessness hasn't just become more visible in Spokane over time, it's arguably become the most pressing problem the city faces.

News > Local government

Spokane County spending $625k on energy efficiency audit

Sun., Oct. 8, 2023

A 2019 state law is forcing Spokane County to make its buildings — including the courthouse and jail — more energy efficient.

News > Local government

Spokane County looks to acquire 78 acres of ponderosa pine forest for free

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 5, 2023

North of the Spokane River, south of Bigelow Gulch Road, sits a 78-acre rectangle of beautiful ponderosa pine forest — and Spokane County wants to protect it.

News > Local government

Discover the Valley: Spokane Valley hopes to boost tourism with new marketing effort

Tue., Oct. 3, 2023

Spokane Valley has a new slogan — for tourism marketing purposes at least.

News > Local government

Spokane County getting $4.1 million from state for wildfire recovery

Sat., Sept. 30, 2023

The money will, in part, cover property cleanup costs for families who lost their homes in the Gray and Oregon Road fires.

News > Local government

Spokane County wants formal sit-down with city over SCRAPS dispute

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 29, 2023

Spokane County is requesting a sit-down with city leaders after the City Council on Monday passed an ordinance restricting the regional animal control agency’s ability to euthanize dogs.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Medical examiner explains cause of two Spokane County Jail deaths

Thu., Sept. 28, 2023

Four months after they died, the Spokane County Medical Examiner's Office has revealed the medical reasons behind the deaths of Charles Boardman and Kyle McLaurine.

News > K-12 education

Branden Durst, the embattled North Idaho superintendent, says he’ll step down

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 26, 2023

The West Bonner school board hired the former state legislator and Idaho Freedom Foundation staffer in June, even though he'd never worked in a K-12 school.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Firefighters still haven’t said what caused the Gray and Oregon Road fires. Why do the investigations take so long?

Sun., Sept. 24, 2023

A month after the Oregon Road and Gray fires began, their causes remain a mystery.

News > Local government

Spokane Valley could build world-class cross country course along river

Sat., Sept. 23, 2023

The Spokane Valley City Council wants to build one of the best cross country courses in America.

News > K-12 education

West Bonner School Board rendered powerless as trustee inexplicably misses meeting

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 21, 2023

West Bonner County School District trustee Troy Reinbold failed to attend the school board's monthly meeting Wednesday. His absence prevented the board from meeting and, potentially, blocked the firing of controversial superintendent Branden Durst.

Sports > High school sports

‘I just idolized the guy’: Former classmates remember Coeur d’Alene bar owner and football star Aaron Robb

Tue., Sept. 19, 2023

Aaron Robb, the owner of the Iron Horse bar and grill in Coeur d’Alene who won a national championship with Notre Dame in 1988, died Saturday.

News > Local government

Democrat seeks second term on Spokane Valley City Council, faces off against conservative challenger Rob Chase

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 4, 2023

Tim Hattenburg, the only Spokane Valley City Councilman with connections to the Democratic Party, is up against Rob Chase, a Republican with libertarian leanings who has espoused numerous unusual and extreme views.