Ellen Dennis

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News >  WA Government

‘Like an open wound’: Washington task force holds event to highlight missing and slain Indigenous women

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 2, 2023

Washington's second annual Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women & People Summit is being held this year at Northern Quest Resort & Casino.

News >  WA Government

For the second year in a row, three Washington counties reportedly go against state election security suggestion

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 1, 2023

A week before general election day, state elections officials reported they haven't been able to convince three Washington counties to install a security device that monitors county network traffic for threats.

News >  WA Government

As Washington gas prices stay higher than almost any other state’s, debate over state climate legislation rages

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 27, 2023

Since the beginning of the year, many Washingtonians have felt pressure at the gas pump and wondered how much of the high price tag they see is caused by the state’s Climate Commitment Act. The average price of gasoline on Friday was $4.72 in the state – making Washington the third-most-expensive place to buy gas in the country, following California and Hawaii.

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News >  WA Government

This year was one of Washington’s ‘most challenging’ fire seasons yet, according to lands chief

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 25, 2023

Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz on Wednesday held a press conference near Olympia to discuss the 165,365 acres of land that burned in 2023 across the Evergreen State.

News >  Sci/Tech

Washington joins 40 other states suing owner of Instagram and Facebook, saying social media harms kids

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 24, 2023

A federal lawsuit announced Tuesday alleges the social media giant Meta has fueled a nationwide youth mental health crisis by engineering social media products to be intentionally addictive for children.

News >  Sci/Tech

New Washington tsunami maps show evacuation routes, time it would take to walk to shelter

Tue., Oct. 24, 2023

Last week, the state Department of Natural Resources released new tsunami evacuation maps for several communities on the state’s northern coast, outlining routes to safety in the event a massive earthquake hits – a shockwave scientists say could happen any day.

News >  WA Government

Washington’s minimum wage to increase to $16.28 next year. Is it enough to offset a statewide cost of living crisis?

Fri., Oct. 20, 2023

Minimum wage in Washington will rise to $16.28 an hour next year, a 54-cent increase in the midst of a statewide cost of living crisis spurred by inflation and rent hikes.

News >  Nation

Gonzaga law professor says Monday’s gag order against Trump is ‘new legal ground’

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 16, 2023

The historic limited gag order a judge placed on former President Donald Trump Monday is “new legal ground,” an Inland Northwest law professor said, with some details still uncertain.

News >  Sci/Tech

‘Unusually large’ toxic algal bloom covers 30-mile stretch of the Lower Snake River

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 17, 2023

The local health department is urging people and their pets to avoid the river until the health alert is lifted.

News >  Spokane

Cheney City Council candidates take opposite positions on proposed housing plan

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 11, 2023

Before they were on a ballot facing off for a Cheney City Council seat, the candidates for position 2 already were on opposite sides of a proposed plan for housing north of Cheney.

News >  Local government

Paleontology professor, ag company employee vying for seat on Cheney City Council

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 11, 2023

Two candidates vying to represent Position 6 on the Cheney City Council differ on city zoning policy and causes of homelessness.

News >  K-12 education

Fitness coach faces incumbent in Medical Lake School Board race

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 17, 2023

In Medical Lake’s most crowded school board primary race this year, the incumbent and a political newcomer beat out four other candidates to secure their spots on the Nov. 7 general election ballot.

News >  K-12 education

In Medical Lake, two political newcomers are running for a soon-to-be vacant seat on the school board

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 17, 2023

Gerri Johnson, a boutique owner, and Lennelle Spillman, a paraprofessional educator, came out on top in August's primary race for the District 1 seat. Whoever gets elected will serve a two-year term on the school board. 

News >  WA Government

Inslee asks Biden to declare Gray and Oregon Road fires ‘major disaster’ to unlock more federal aid

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 4, 2023

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee on Wednesday asked President Joe Biden to declare the Gray and Oregon Road wildfires a major disaster, a move that could unlock aid from the Federal Emergency Management Agency to help communities in Spokane County recover.

News >  K-12 education

Medical Lake School Board candidates differ on facilities spending, emotional well-being program

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 6, 2023

In the aftermath of two wildfires that leveled hundreds of homes and displaced dozens of families, those elected to the Medical Lake School Board in November will face challenges surrounding student enrollment and support.

News >  WA Government

Inslee didn’t abuse power with pandemic eviction moratorium, Washington Supreme Court rules

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 28, 2023

The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday rejected claims by landlords that Gov. Jay Inslee abused his power when he created a temporary ban on evictions during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. 

News >  K-12 education

Student mental health, test scores are key factors in Medical Lake School Board race

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 10, 2023

In the aftermath of two wildfires that leveled hundreds of homes and displaced dozens of families, those elected to the Medical Lake School Board in November will face challenges surrounding student enrollment and support.

News >  WA Government

As wildfire risk grows across the west, insurance experts fear economic turmoil

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 25, 2023

Nearly 5 million properties in the Western U.S. could face higher insurance rates or claim non-renewals due to wildfire danger alone, experts say. 

News >  WA Government

Spokane voices weigh in on state heat pump debate

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 18, 2023

The Washington Building Code Council on Friday scaled back on a proposed requirement that electric heat pumps be installed in newly-constructed Washington homes.

News >  WA Government

‘It’s only going to get worse’: Scientists speak to WA governor about warming climate

UPDATED: Fri., Sept. 15, 2023

Gov. Jay Inslee hosted a panel to discuss the environment Thursday ahead of his trip to New York City to meet with the United Nations. 

News >  Technology

U.S. House passes bill in bid to stop states from banning gas-powered cars

UPDATED: Thu., Sept. 14, 2023

The bill garnered strong support from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, who leads the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

News >  Higher education

Three U.S. senators urge University of Idaho to cancel Phoenix purchase

Thu., Sept. 14, 2023

The Democratic trio denounced the University of Phoenix, saying the acquisition announced last May would hurt the University of Idaho and harm students. 

News >  WA Government

Washington AG files lawsuit against Kelso gun store for alleged illegal sales

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 12, 2023

Gators Custom Guns reportedly continued to sell high-capacity firearm magazines in violation of a state law that prohibits manufacturing, distributing, selling or offering for sale magazines with a capacity higher than 10 rounds. 

A&E >  Entertainment

‘Just a big mess’: The Lumineers fans, locals frustrated by massive traffic delays at the Gorge

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 11, 2023

Gridlocked traffic on Friday night caused ticket holders to miss out on a show at the Central Washington venue

News >  Transportation

Getting there: Washington traffic deaths have continued to increase so far this year

Mon., Sept. 11, 2023

By the end of July, the state had seen a reported 417 traffic fatalities – an increase compared to the same time last year. State officials are warning the public to heed caution.