Emry Dinman

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News >  Local Government

With population of Camp Hope dwindling, city leaders look ahead to next steps

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 1, 2023

As the population at Spokane’s Camp Hope homeless encampment continues to fall, city leaders are eyeing the next steps forward to rehouse the remaining residents and clear the camp for good.

News >  Education

Eastern Washington University professor questions university’s move to block him after critical tweets

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 31, 2023

An Eastern Washington University professor was blocked by his employer on social media for nearly a year after making critical statements about the school.

News >  Local Government

Study will gauge risks to Spokane’s water supply from catastrophic leak of Yellowstone pipeline

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 31, 2023

The Yellowstone petroleum pipeline, which runs from Montana to Washington, travels directly over the largest drinking water source in Spokane.What happens if the pipeline fails?

News >  Local Government

Getting There: Spokane street crews work complicated by winter

Mon., Jan. 30, 2023

Every year, winter weather conditions complicate road maintenance in the city of Spokane.Freezing and thawing water can rupture asphalt, leaving behind muddy potholes. Street sweepers are put on ice until the snow melts. The plows deployed in their stead struggle to find a place to dump all of the accumulating snow.

News >  Local Government

Block by block, volunteers work to tally Spokane’s homeless

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 31, 2023

Over the course of a few cold days in late January, volunteers dispersed through Spokane in teams of four or more, hoping to tally all those who do not have homes.

News

Artist selected to design Billy Frank Jr. statue to replace likeness of Marcus Whitman

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 26, 2023

A new Washingtonian will soon be honored in the nation’s Capitol.

News >  Local Government

Spokane Council signals intent to purchase East Trent Avenue homeless shelter

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 24, 2023

The Spokane City Council has signaled its intent to purchase the former trucking warehouse on East Trent Avenue that now serves as the region’s largest homeless shelter, despite resistance from the mayor and concerns over fiscal sustainability.

News >  Local Government

Spokane County withdraws lawsuit over Camp Hope in show of good faith

UPDATED: Tue., Jan. 24, 2023

The county filed the suit in November seeking a judge’s blessing for local law enforcement to clear the homeless encampment.

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Council hires councilwoman’s husband as policy adviser

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 23, 2023

Christopher Wright, a former attorney who previously served as Spokane Park Board President and who is also Stratton’s husband, was appointed Monday night as policy adviser by a vote of 4 to 2. Stratton abstained herself from the vote.

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Council again defers vote on controversial rental reforms, citing glitch

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 23, 2023

When the Spokane City Council voted in early December to defer a vote on a controversial package of rental reforms, its members insisted the yearslong debate would finally come to a close on Jan. 23.

News >  Local Government

What is Spokane’s homeless shelter capacity and why does it matter?

Sun., Jan. 22, 2023

Mayor Nadine Woodward has said the city has enough room to house all of Camp Hope's residents. The Department of Transportation has disagreed. 

News >  Local Government

Spokane argues in court filings it can legally clear Camp Hope, leaves door open to challenge Martin v. Boise

Sun., Jan. 22, 2023

For many, the route for closing Spokane’s Camp Hope homeless encampment has long seemed clear.

News >  WA Government

Spokane pushes Legislature to exempt its trash incinerator from cap-and-trade program

Tue., Jan. 17, 2023

OLYMPIA – The city of Spokane may soon have to pay Washington to comply with a new state program aimed at cutting greenhouse gases because of the city’s trash incinerator.

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Council considers future of the former East Central library — again

Sat., Jan. 14, 2023

Once again, the future of the former East Central library is up in the air.Whatever decision is reached, the restarting of the at-times controversial deliberation also spells uncertainty for the Spokane Police Department’s south precinct, which was housed in the former library last summer.

News >  Local Government

Bridge and trail improvements proposed in Spokane ahead of Expo ‘74 anniversary

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 13, 2023

The 50th anniversary of Spokane’s Expo ’74 is just 16 months away, and there are big plans to improve infrastructure around Riverfront Park.

News >  Local Government

Former Spokane sustainability leader calls for reforms of city’s ‘broken’ ethics complaint review process

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 18, 2023

A recently departed sustainability leader for the city of Spokane has referred to accusations that she acted unethically as “character assassination,” and proposed reforms to a “broken” ethics review process she believes is too easily weaponized.She is not alone in raising concerns. 

News >  Local Government

Spokane landlords, tenants meet in attempt to find compromise on controversial reforms

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 12, 2023

Spokane landlords, tenants and other stakeholders all gathered into the same room Tuesday night in a last attempt to forge compromise on a controversial rental reform package being considered by the City Council.At times, the conversation grew heated. 

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Council eyes mobile surveillance camera pilot program to aid police

Tue., Jan. 10, 2023

The D3 Mobile Security Unit, produced by Utah-based LiveView Technologies, uses three 360-degree cameras with thermal and optic capabilities. The standalone units are also equipped with strobe and flood lights, a two-way speaker, cloud-based data storage and an attached solar panel to power it, among other features.

News >  Local Government

Zip line along the Spokane River’s south bank could become reality ahead of Expo ‘74 anniversary

Tue., Jan. 10, 2023

Spokane park leaders are hopeful a zip line along the south bank of the Spokane River will become reality in little over a year, with proposals from prospective private vendors expected this spring.

News >  Local Government

Thor-Freya contractor, claiming damage related to Camp Hope, receives $70,000 settlement

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 9, 2023

The general contractor in charge of completing the reconstruction of Thor and Freya streets will receive a $70,000 settlement from the city of Spokane as compensation for damages and other claims blamed on Camp Hope.

News >  Local Government

Getting There: Spokane’s plans reflect changing priorities for Division-Ruby in years ahead

Mon., Jan. 9, 2023

In the decades ahead, North Division Street could begin to look radically different than it has for most of its history.

News >  Local Government

Homelessness, renting reforms and criminal justice among priorities of Spokane’s mayor, City Council in 2023

Mon., Jan. 9, 2023

The City Council returns to work Monday after a weeks-long end-of-year recess, and both Council members and the Woodward administration say they have big plans for the year ahead.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane police announces major reorganization, emphasis on patrols and reducing 911 response times

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 5, 2023

Police Chief Craig Meidl laid out plans to move dozens of officers and command staff to the patrol division and assign patrol teams to one of four precincts — northeast, northwest, south and downtown — reducing drive time and giving officers a sense of ownership over particular areas of the city.

News >  Washington

Difference Makers: Spokane roaster shows an alternative path to good coffee

Tue., Jan. 3, 2023

For more than a decade, Deborah Di Bernardo has been a java evangelist, proselytizing to anyone within earshot about sustainable agriculture, equitable commerce and “damn good coffee.”

News >  Local Government

KSPS General Manager Gary Stokes appointed to Spokane Public Library Board

UPDATED: Fri., Dec. 30, 2022

Gary A. Stokes, longtime general manager of local PBS station KSPS and active member of various community organizations, will join the Spokane Public Library Board at the start of the new year.