Greg Mason

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News >  Local Government

City of Spokane identifies East Trent building as spot for new homeless shelter

UPDATED: Tue., April 12, 2022

The city of Spokane has identified a building in east Spokane as the prospective location for a new overnight homeless shelter.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Insurance companies sue Avista seeking to recover payouts made over 2020 wildfire in Malden, Pine City

UPDATED: Tue., April 12, 2022

More than a dozen insurance companies – which covered more than 40 Malden and Pine City residents, at least four business entities and the town of Malden itself – are suing Avista Utilities in an attempt to recover insurance payouts from a wildfire that destroyed much of the towns in 2020.

News >  Local Government

Getting There: Legislation aims to balance driver visibility with Spokane’s need for trees

Mon., April 11, 2022

City code does not give enough guidance on how to keep trees and vegetation clear of street signs and traffic signals, city officials say.

News >  Education

‘Our community deserves better’: Wood, Howard to resign from North Idaho College Board of Trustees

UPDATED: Fri., April 8, 2022

Ken Howard and Christie Wood, two members of the North Idaho College board of trustees, will resign from their positions next month.

News >  Health

Parents of boy with autism claim he was barred from Alaska Airlines flight from Spokane for not wearing a mask

UPDATED: Fri., April 8, 2022

Achilles McKellar had flown on at least 10 flights without any issues over wearing a facemask ever since turning 2 years old, according to his father, Rand McKellar.

News >  Education

North Idaho College contends with accreditation warning, calls for board chair’s resignation may lead to eroded community trust

UPDATED: Wed., April 6, 2022

North Idaho College is an accredited institution.

News >  Education

North Idaho College, found out of compliance by accreditation agency, receives warning

UPDATED: Mon., April 4, 2022

The agency that accredits North Idaho College did not put the college on probation and instead has issued a warning requiring NIC to resolve issues with the institution’s accreditation eligibility by spring 2023.

News >  Education

Cyber welfare: State budget funds new cybersecurity degree programs at Eastern Washington University

Mon., April 4, 2022

The Washington Legislature has set aside $2.8 million to increase offerings at EWU and just over $2 million to establish a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity operations in Washington State University. 

News >  Local Government

Getting There: Details on Spokane’s $101 million construction season for 2022

UPDATED: Mon., April 4, 2022

“We know this time of year does cause significant short-term disruptions. We want to be very cognizant of that,” Mayor Nadine Woodward said Thursday. “Regularly maintaining city streets improves safety. It keeps our traffic moving smoothly.”

News >  Local Government

‘It looks really nice’: North suspension bridge at Riverfront Park reopens after repairs

UPDATED: Thu., March 31, 2022

Some just lucked into it. Others, like Tyler Morris, heard about it on the news.

News >  Local Government

Christina VerHeul appointed to Spokane Park Board

Wed., March 30, 2022

The Spokane Park Board has a new member.

News >  Local Government

Spokane council approves $2.4M for police vehicles, including 8 electric models: Why SPD says it’s not enough

UPDATED: Mon., March 28, 2022

Spokane City Council members voted Monday to authorize more than $2 million in federal funding toward the purchase of up to 35 new police vehicles, including eight electric models.

News >  Local Government

Woodward, Spokane City Council at odds over adding chief of staff to mayor’s office

Sun., March 27, 2022

Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward believes her office needs more help to tackle priority issues like housing and homelessness.

News >  Higher education

‘Tougher now than it ever was’: Mattis talks Russia-Ukraine war, China, Capitol attacks in visit to WSU Pullman

UPDATED: Fri., March 25, 2022

PULLMAN – In a visit Thursday to Washington State University, former Secretary of Defense James Mattis acknowledged the elephant in the room: the Russian invasion of Ukraine and the resulting war.

A&E >  Stage

‘Popular’ demand: How SFCC helped the touring ‘Wicked’ production fine-tune its shows

UPDATED: Thu., March 24, 2022

The touring Broadway production of “Wicked” got some mid-run tweaking during its stop in Spokane thanks to some behind-the-scenes magic at the Spokane Falls Community College recording studio. The production team behind the North American tour used the studio to rerecord several voiceovers due to cast changes.

News >  Local Government

HUD awards $4.3 million in grant funding to Spokane-area homelessness, domestic violence programs

UPDATED: Wed., March 23, 2022

The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development has awarded more than $4 million in grants to support homeless housing, domestic violence support and service programs in the Spokane area.

News >  Local Government

Spokane airport to sell surplus property to private developer in $1.9 million deal

UPDATED: Thu., March 24, 2022

The Spokane International Airport is aiming to sell approximately 20 acres of surplus property to a private developer.

News >  Education

‘The importance of global literacy’: Gonzaga University students make trip to Brussels for leadership forum

Fri., March 18, 2022

Amid global tensions surrounding the war in Ukraine, 10 Gonzaga University students are in Belgium this week for a taste of what it’s like to serve as a world leader.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

FBI looking into claims that Spokane Public Schools staff members have failed to report violence, crimes to police

UPDATED: Fri., March 18, 2022

The FBI, in conjunction with the Spokane Police Department, is seeking more information from Spokane Public Schools community members about concerns that school officials are not reporting crimes to police occurring in schools as required of them by law.

News >  Local Government

Spokane City Council authorizes 10 new ‘hire-ahead’ positions for police department

UPDATED: Tue., March 15, 2022

Becoming a Spokane police officer can take between six months and a year from the time candidates take a public safety test until they’re trained, according to the department.

News >  Education

Spokane school district denies allegations from Spokane police chief Craig Meidl of failing to report student violence

UPDATED: Tue., March 15, 2022

Spokane police Chief Craig Meidl is alleging that Spokane Public Schools officials have not reported “assaults and threats occurring to students and staff” to law enforcement.

News >  Local Government

Getting There: Spokane’s growth inspires new STA transit project with more bus routes headed east

UPDATED: Mon., March 14, 2022

The Spokane Transit Authority is taking public comment on a developing project that could create new bus routes connecting Spokane, Spokane Valley, Liberty Lake and parts of North Idaho.

News >  Local Government

Woodward task force takes aim at Spokane’s mental health challenges

Mon., March 14, 2022

From Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward’s perspective, the COVID-19 pandemic has put a spotlight on mental health challenges that aren’t going away anytime soon.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

None injured in Spokane apartment fire

UPDATED: Sun., March 13, 2022

Nobody was injured Saturday in a fire that broke out in a three-unit apartment building on North Hamilton Street, according to the Spokane Fire Department.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Ephrata man charged after stabbing sends one to hospital

UPDATED: Sun., March 13, 2022

A man was in critical condition as of Sunday afternoon after he was stabbed multiple times the night before, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.