Elena Perry

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News >  Health

Cases of COVID-19 are going up nationally for the first time this year. What about Spokane?

Mon., Aug. 14, 2023

Cases of COVID-19 are going up nationally for the first time in 2023, but Spokane's rise in cases has been modest and is not cause to change precautionary measures, experts say. 

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Kirkland man dead in motorcycle crash outside Ritzville on Sunday afternoon

UPDATED: Sun., Aug. 13, 2023

A 64-year-old Kirkland man died Sunday afternoon in a motorcycle crash on Interstate 90 near Ritzville. 

News >  Weather

Record-breaking heatwave expected in Spokane this week

UPDATED: Sun., Aug. 13, 2023

Record-breaking heat is expected to smother the Inland Northwest this week, with forecasted triple-digit temperatures spurring an excessive heat warning in effect from Monday morning to Thursday night.

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News >  Crime/Public Safety

Brush fire on I-90 east of downtown prompts brief lane closure Sunday afternoon

UPDATED: Sun., Aug. 13, 2023

A brush fire sparked Sunday afternoon on westbound Interstate 90 near Sprague Avenue.

News >  K-12 education

Projecting major growth in the West Plains, Cheney Public Schools solicits community input in bond efforts

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 19, 2024

With rapid growth predicted in outlying areas of Airway Heights and West Plains, Cheney Public Schools leaders worry that without more schools, overcrowding is imminent.

News >  K-12 education

Youth from Spokane Tribe learn from cadavers through employment program at SFCC

Thu., Aug. 10, 2023

These kids are brainy in more ways than one.

News >  K-12 education

New school bus provider in Spokane Public Schools, Zūm, allows parents to track students’ location while on board

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 7, 2023

You can follow the location of your Uber driver, Doordash order or your Amazon delivery instantaneously on your cellphone. Now, because of Spokane Public Schools’ partnership with a new bus provider, parents will be able to track their children on their school bus.

News >  Religion

‘A dance for joy’: Spokane Buddhist Temple celebrates holiday with 10th annual Obon Festival

UPDATED: Sun., Aug. 6, 2023

The temple held their 10th annual Obon Festival on Sunday, selling handmade Japanese cuisine and crafts whil teaching traditional dances. One of the most important holidays in the Buddhist faith, Obon is a celebration dedicated to one’s ancestors and the “causes and conditions” that lead a person to their present. 

News >  K-12 education

School board races in Spokane, West Valley show victors; Cheney and Deer Park unclear

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 1, 2023

Spokane School Board President Mike Wiser easily advanced to the November election in Tuesday’s primary and will face Realtor Ericka Lalka.

News >  Higher education

Gonzaga to build a new dorm, freeing up housing for upperclassmen

Thu., July 27, 2023

Gonzaga University will begin building a new 90-unit dorm especially for sophomores this fall.

News >  K-12 education

‘A school that will outlive all of us’: Peperzak Middle school on track to open this fall

UPDATED: Fri., July 28, 2023

Spokane Public Schools’ newest middle school will be opening this fall, with construction wrapping up on Carla Olman Peperzak Middle School, which is designed to inspire community and comfort among students.

News >  Agriculture

‘Farm life is the best life’: Deer Park family celebrates century of owning 160-acre farm

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 3, 2024

To ring in the century, Mike and Roberta Reiter hosted a celebration on Sunday with about one hundred kin, friends and neighbors in attendance.

News >  K-12 education

Cheney School Board candidates give positions on recovering from pandemic and sex ed

UPDATED: Fri., July 28, 2023

Two first-time candidates with children in Cheney Public Schools say it’s time for change on the Cheney School Board.

News >  K-12 education

‘A jewel in the crown of East Valley’s art program’: Graduate returns to paint mural on high school’s campus

UPDATED: Wed., July 19, 2023

Pam Smith, then-art teacher at East Valley High School, takes attendance at the beginning of class. There’s something troubling 17-year-old student Ariel Sopu. Smith can see it in her shoulders.

News >  Education

3 newcomers running for a seat on the West Valley School Board

UPDATED: Tue., July 18, 2023

With no incumbent, three newcomers face off in the West Valley School Board primary: educator Amy Anselmo, mental health advocate S. John Dubois and home-schooler Tricia Phillips. Each offers varying positions topics of supporting students’ mental health struggles, the district’s role in sex education and addressing school shootings.

News >  Weather

Moose in Manito Park pond provides hours of entertainment, draws onlookers into the heat

UPDATED: Sun., July 16, 2023

The moose spent over five hours in the pond on Sunday, amusing patrons of all ages.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Canadian couple’s car stolen in Spokane, full of thousands worth of Lego art and other eccentricities

UPDATED: Thu., July 13, 2023

Down two cars, weeks worth of shopping and thousands of dollars in one of a kind Lego artwork, a Canadian couple’s cross country road trip ends with a theft in Spokane.

News >  Education

‘ONE Spokane’: Downtown sports stadium name approved by school officials Wednesday

Thu., July 13, 2023

The $37.9 million outdoor sports stadium taking shape in downtown has its new name.

News >  WA Government

Three newcomers face off in Cheney School Board primary without an incumbent

Mon., July 10, 2023

Board member Stacy Nicol’s decision not to run again, after serving on the panel since 2015, leaves the seat vacant for one of three candidates: chauffeur for the elderly Bill Hanson, sustainable hydroponic home farmer Rick Flynn and former West side school board member John Boerger.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

New Twitter limits have emergency agencies warning residents to sign up for alerts to stay informed

Fri., July 7, 2023

Fire and emergency response agencies are urging local residents to subscribe to cellphone or other alerts as Twitter issues new limits on how many tweets a user can view per day, creating obstacles for groups that use the platform to issue emergency notifications.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Firefighters contain 1,300-acre fire that jumped Yakima River in Benton County

UPDATED: Tue., July 4, 2023

Firefighters contained a 1,300-acre fire in Benton County on Tuesday after it jumped the Yakima River within hours of starting the day before.

News >  Features

Freedom at the Arboretum celebrates independence and democracy without the partisanship

UPDATED: Tue., July 4, 2023

More than 100 people came to the John A. Finch Arboretum Tuesday afternoon to celebrate America’s birthday – only without the signature hot dogs, apple pie or fireworks.

News >  K-12 education

Two newcomers challenge incumbent Wiser for a seat on Spokane Public Schools board

UPDATED: Mon., July 17, 2023

Voters have their pick among three candidates in this year’s primary election for the Spokane Public Schools seat occupied by Mike Wiser: the incumbent or one of two newcomers, Ericka Lalka and David Voltz.

News >  K-12 education

Free meals for kids available at sites around Spokane this summer

UPDATED: Wed., July 5, 2023

Free meals are available to children at dozens of locations around Spokane during the summer.

News >  K-12 education

With the last day of school following a three-day weekend, attendance plummeted in Spokane

UPDATED: Tue., June 27, 2023

With the last day of class following a three-day weekend, many students skipped the last day of school this year in the Spokane area, attendance data show.