Stories by Greg Mason for the Spokesman-Review

News > Education

Eastern Washington colleges contend with changing COVID-19 landscape on commencement plans

UPDATED: Wed., March 31, 2021

With nearly 5,500 students applying to graduate this spring from Washington State University, administrators knew early on that commencement ceremonies would be virtual for a third-straight semester due to coronavirus concerns.

News > Education

Reardan-Edwall School District moving to virtual learning this week for fifth- through 12th-graders

UPDATED: Mon., March 29, 2021

Students in grades 5 through 12 at Reardan-Edwall School District will move to remote learning for the rest of the week, the district announced Monday afternoon.

News > Education

Gonzaga University monitors COVID-19 cases amid 100 new positives in past month

UPDATED: Mon., March 29, 2021

Positive COVID-19 cases at Gonzaga University are on the rise this month as students are more regularly frequenting larger gatherings, bars and restaurants amid the state’s loosened coronavirus restrictions, college officials said Monday.

News > Education

WSU sees rise in COVID-19 cases: ‘This needs to stop,’ leaders warn students

UPDATED: Mon., March 29, 2021

Washington State University students went into this past weekend with a warning from WSU leadership amid a rise in COVID-19 cases among students and staff.

News > Higher education

Gonzaga debate team headed to the ‘Big Dance’ of college debate competition

Sat., March 27, 2021

While Gonzaga’s men’s basketball team is primed for a Sweet 16 appearance this Sunday, another university squad will also compete this weekend in a different national tournament.

News > Features

Spokane Lilac Festival queen ‘thrilled’ in new role to empower youth, honor military

Sat., March 27, 2021

Julia McIntyre’s rise to the ranks of local royalty had humble beginnings.

News > Higher education

Community Colleges of Spokane to host virtual commencement ceremonies

UPDATED: Wed., March 24, 2021

Spring graduation ceremonies for Spokane Community College and Spokane Falls Community College will be virtual due to COVID-19 concerns, college administrators said Wednesday.

News > Higher education

WSU Tri-Cities receives $500,000 gift for endowed faculty position in energy research

Wed., March 24, 2021

Washington State University’s Tri-Cities campus is using a $500,000 gift for an endowed faculty position to jumpstart a new energy research institute at the campus, college officials announced Tuesday.

News > Education

Gonzaga University planning for in-person graduation ceremonies

UPDATED: Mon., March 22, 2021

Plans are in the works at Gonzaga University for five in-person commencement ceremonies this year.

News > Spokane

Spokane Lilac Festival coronates 2021 queen

UPDATED: Mon., March 22, 2021

This year’s Royal Court for the Spokane Lilac Festival has a queen.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Death of Spokane County Jail inmate under investigation

UPDATED: Mon., March 22, 2021

Deputies are investigating the death of an inmate at the Spokane County Jail, Spokane County Detention Services announced Monday.

News > Higher education

Whitworth University tabs Scott McQuilkin as interim president, but the search for a permanent one continues

UPDATED: Fri., March 19, 2021

Scott McQuilkin, Whitworth University’s vice president for institutional advancement, has been selected to serve as the university’s interim president.

News > ID Government

Proposal to make Kootenai County a ‘Second Amendment Sanctuary’ falls flat

Fri., March 19, 2021

A proposed law to make Kootenai County a “Second Amendment Sanctuary” gained no traction among county lawmakers earlier this week, with one commissioner dismissing the effort as a right-wing political stunt.

News > Education

‘This is the trend’: Washington State University no longer using SAT, ACT scores for admission

UPDATED: Wed., March 17, 2021

Washington State University will no longer use SAT and ACT scores when considering student applications for enrollment.

News > Local Government

Spokane County, Fairchild sign deal paving way for new indoor gun range, training facility

Tue., March 16, 2021

AIRWAY HEIGHTS – Spokane County lawmakers and representatives from Fairchild Air Force Base signed an agreement Monday to make way for the construction of a new multimillion-dollar firing range and training center.

A&E > Art

Digital art display on Spokane’s Black Lives Matter mural promotes COVID-19 awareness

UPDATED: Tue., March 16, 2021

From paintings and digital projections to poetry and comic strips, works of art were projected onto Spokane’s Black Lives Matter mural Monday night as part of a campaign to promote COVID-19 wellness.

News > Education

Whitworth University President Beck Taylor on leaving for new job: ‘I’m not running from anything’

Sun., March 14, 2021

Beck Taylor took over as president of Whitworth University during a recession. He’ll leave during a global pandemic.

News > Education

WSU athletics department deficit reaches $31.7 million after unsteady Pac-12 football season

UPDATED: Thu., March 11, 2021

Washington State University’s athletics department is reporting an approximately $31.7 million operating deficit as of January for the current fiscal year.

News > Education

Whitworth University President Beck Taylor leaving to lead Samford University

UPDATED: Wed., March 10, 2021

Beck Taylor, who has served as president of Whitworth University for more than a decade, will step down at the end of May for a new job.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Lewiston officer involved in fatal shooting acted in self-defense, investigation concludes

UPDATED: Mon., March 8, 2021

An investigation into the officer-involved shooting death of an Idaho man in December has concluded that the police officer’s actions were justified and appropriate, the Lewiston Police Department announced Monday.

News > Crime/Public Safety

With gang violence on the rise, Spokane-area law enforcement leaders call for community action

UPDATED: Fri., April 2, 2021

The Spokane area is experiencing a variety of gang violence the county’s top law enforcement officials have never seen before.

News > Crime/Public Safety

How does gun violence affect teens? Gonzaga professor co-leading new federally funded research

Mon., March 8, 2021

Angela Bruns is a co-leader on research funded by Congress to understand how exposure to gun violence at a young age affects teenagers. It's the first such study on gun violence to be funded by Congress since 1996.