Emry Dinman

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News >  Local Government

Woodward addresses sexual misconduct complaints against former city administrator

UPDATED: Fri., July 14, 2023

Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward on Friday addressed the sudden resignation of former City Administrator Johnnie Perkins and the as-of-yet unspecified allegations of sexual misconduct raised against him by city staff.

News >  Local Government

Four candidates vie to represent south Spokane on the City Council

UPDATED: Mon., July 17, 2023

Four candidates are vying to represent south Spokane on the City Council this year. After the Aug. 1 primary election, only the top-two vote getters will advance to the November general.

News >  Local Government

Johnnie Perkins resigns as Spokane City Administrator amid sexual harassment investigation

UPDATED: Thu., July 13, 2023

Spokane City Administrator Johnnie Perkins resigned from his position effective immediately, according to a letter submitted to Mayor Nadine Woodward Thursday.

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Council rebukes mayor for dodging approval of city attorney

UPDATED: Tue., July 11, 2023

More than a year after Lynden Smithson was named Spokane’s interim city attorney, the Spokane City Council says he remains in that position on an interim basis in violation of city law.

News >  WA Government

Former Spokane City Attorney Nancy Isserlis named chair of Washington Public Disclosure Commission

UPDATED: Tue., July 11, 2023

Nancy Isserlis, a former Spokane city attorney who left that position in 2016, is now the chair of the state Public Disclosure Commission, the agency tasked with overseeing political campaign transparency in Washington.

News >  Local Government

After four years steering the City Council, Breean Beggs signs off

UPDATED: Mon., July 10, 2023

Council President Breean Beggs has presided over his final Spokane City Council meeting.

News >  Local Government

Does Woodward deserve 4 more years? Incumbent, Brown, Archer and McKann make their cases for Spokane mayor

UPDATED: Wed., July 19, 2023

Candidates are all concerned about public safety, affordable housing and the city's financial future, with the current mayor making a pitch for more time to build on solutions to those issues while opponents say they can do better. 

News >  Local Government

In race for Spokane City Council president, challengers lob anti-police accusations as Wilkerson defends her record

UPDATED: Tue., July 18, 2023

As the only candidate for Spokane City Council President who’s served on the Council or any other elected office, the election has quickly become a referendum on Councilwoman Betsy Wilkerson’s record.

News >  Local Government

Getting There: Dashboard-mounted speeding cameras may soon be installed in some Spokane police cars

Mon., July 3, 2023

The devices are envisioned to help make up for a lack of traffic enforcement officers, who along with some other units were reassigned to patrol duties during a major reorganization of the police department at the start of 2023.

News >  Local Government

Spokane County political parties back candidates, including some surprising choices

UPDATED: Mon., July 3, 2023

Spokane mayoral candidate Tim Archer says he's gotten the nod from the county GOP over incumbent Nadine Woodward. Meanwhile, city council candidate Esteban Herevia was one of the few progressives to not get an endorsement from county Democrats. 

News >  Local Government

Giacobbe Byrd hired as Spokane City Council Director

UPDATED: Fri., June 30, 2023

The Spokane City Council has a new office manager.

News >  Local Government

Spokane park director tapped to be top city administrator while Johnnie Perkins is on leave

UPDATED: Fri., June 30, 2023

Garrett Jones, director of Spokane’s Parks and Recreation Department, has been named acting City Administrator pending the outcome of an investigation into City Administrator Johnnie Perkins.

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Council unanimously approves four-year police contract, eyes asking voters for tax increase

UPDATED: Thu., June 29, 2023

The Spokane City Council has unanimously approved a four-year contract with the Spokane Police Guild that includes significant pay increases each year, enhanced benefits, and limited expansion of the powers of the police ombudsman.

News >  Local Government

Regional approach to Spokane-area homelessness takes shape

UPDATED: Wed., June 28, 2023

A new regional approach to homelessness in the Spokane area is starting to coalesce, and now it has a name: the Regional Authority on Homelessness, Housing, Health and Safety.

News >  Local Government

Spokane police overtime budget grew by 50% in 2023. It won’t be nearly enough.

Wed., June 28, 2023

When the Spokane City Council approved a $1.2 billion budget for 2023, which included a 50% increase in the overtime budget for the Spokane Police Department, Councilwoman Lori Kinnear was clear.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Reports of teen with a gun led to lockdown at Shadle Aquatic Center Monday; pool reopens Wednesday

UPDATED: Tue., June 27, 2023

The Shadle Aquatic Center was placed under lockdown Monday afternoon and remained closed Tuesday due to unverified reports of a threatening group of teenagers with a firearm, parks and law enforcement officials confirmed Tuesday afternoon.

News >  Transportation

The Maple Street Bridge and T.J. Meenach Drive may be closed at the same time this summer, leaving drivers facing detours

Tue., June 27, 2023

Upcoming closures and lane reductions on the Maple Street Bridge over the Spokane River may end up overlapping for weeks with construction that has closed T.J. Meenach Drive, potentially making for longer detours for commuters.

News >  Local Government

Being in Spokane parks after hours made an arrestable offense

UPDATED: Tue., June 27, 2023

The Spokane City Council voted 4-3 Monday to make it an arrestable offense to be in Spokane parks between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., or between midnight and 5 a.m. in Riverfront Park.

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Council candidate Esteban Herevia accused of fostering inappropriate relationship with former Whitworth student

UPDATED: Sun., June 25, 2023

Chandler Wheeler, who uses they/them pronouns, has not alleged that anything explicitly sexual occurred between the two. But Wheeler, but claims that Herevia abused his role as a mentor of a young student facing housing and financial insecurity after coming out as trans to their family, fostered an increasingly close relationship with inappropriate physical contact and told Wheeler to lie to others about their relationship.

News >  Spokane

Spokane City Administrator Johnnie Perkins placed on administrative leave

UPDATED: Fri., June 23, 2023

Spokane City Administrator Johnnie Perkins has been placed on administrative leave pending an investigation into concerns from city employees.

News >  Local Government

Zappone was told in 2021 he was following campaign laws. Will he now be punished for it?

UPDATED: Thu., June 22, 2023

The state Public Disclosure Commission deferred action at a meeting in Spokane on Thursday on whether Spokane City Councilman Zack Zappone will be found retroactively in violation of a recently reinterpreted campaign disclosure law.

News >  Local Government

Getting There: North Spokane Corridor work gets underway to span Spokane River

Mon., June 19, 2023

With the freeway’s funding and construction schedule back on track, the state Department of Transportation has broken ground on the section of the north-south corridor that will span the Spokane River near Spokane Community College. It is the shortest section of the 10.5-mile, decadeslong project, and also one of the most expensive, with a price tag of $91 million.

News >  Local Government

Stricter hours in Spokane parks appear likely as council mulls new ordinance

UPDATED: Sun., June 18, 2023

The Spokane City Council is poised to make it an arrestable offense to be in city parks after hours. Despite a proposal led by Council President Breean Beggs to limit when these arrests could occur, it appears that a broader version has majority support ahead of a vote on June 26.

News >  Local Government

Jerrall Haynes is Spokane’s first Civil Rights Director

UPDATED: Thu., June 15, 2023

Jerrall Haynes is Spokane’s first civil rights director.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Woodward reveals plan to boost safety in Spokane for the tourist season as mayoral challenger Brown says city is in ‘free fall’

UPDATED: Thu., June 15, 2023

Mayor Nadine Woodward gathered with other officials and business leaders Thursday morning under the Spokane Pavilion to unveil her Safe Spokane Summer initiative, promising to clean up downtown ahead of an influx of tourists and others to “the region’s front porch.”