Jim Allen

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News >  Spokane

East Valley HS choir ready to share the stage with Foreigner

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 10, 2019

On Wednesday night at the Spokane County Interstate Fair, the East Valley High School choir will perform with legendary rock band Foreigner.

News >  Spokane

Antique gas and steam engines at fair kept in good condition, for a purpose

Mon., Sept. 9, 2019

Eastern Washington’s rich farming heritage can still be found on display at Spokane County Interstate Fair.

News >  Spokane

‘I started my own herd’: Kids have a good time raising livestock, hard time finding buyers at Spokane fair

Sun., Sept. 8, 2019

Spokane-area kids don’t lack enthusiasm for raising livestock but interest in their product is flagging at Spokane’s fair, where beef auction prices are lower than at other regional fairs. And that’s a sore point for some farm families.

News >  Education

Spokane teacher’s union gets new leader

Fri., Sept. 6, 2019

When Katy Henry, president of the Spokane Education Association, called Jeremy Shay and offered her congratulations three weeks ago, he asked, “What for?” Then he learned that Henry was resigning and that he was now in charge of the largest teachers’ union east of the Cascades.

News >  Education

Big days, small class sizes expected to boost kindergarten learning

Thu., Sept. 5, 2019

First day of kindergarten arrives with high expectations in Spokane schools.

News >  Spokane

As concerns about tackle football grow, flag football proves popular with players – and parents

Wed., Sept. 4, 2019

It looks like another banner year for flag football. Participation is soaring – in America, Spokane and at Glover Middle School, where the season can’t get here soon enough.

News >  Education

Class is out early on Friday in Spokane elementary schools, but students have an option to stay in school

Sat., Aug. 31, 2019

Spokane Public Schools’ plan for early release on Fridays has been controversial since the idea was floated in the wake of the budget crisis that emerged last spring. Now that it’s happening, the district is offering a way for students to stay at school, if not in class, until 3 p.m.

News >  Spokane

First day at Linwood Elementary shows off Spokane’s newest school

Fri., Aug. 30, 2019

The new Linwood School is Spokane’s largest elementary school with 36 classrooms, more than 76,000 square feet.

Sports >  Gonzaga women

Stanford, Missouri State highlight Gonzaga women’s basketball nonconference schedule

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 29, 2019

There’s nothing like variety, and the Gonzaga women will get plenty in this year’s nonconference schedule.

News >  Spokane

‘We’re very excited’: Wilson Elementary students tour their temporary school

Thu., Aug. 29, 2019

Hundreds of Wilson Elementary School students toured the old Jefferson Elementary building – their home for the next school year while Wilson is being renovated.

News >  Education

Spokane schools, teachers union to continue contract negotiations; union leader resigns

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 28, 2019

During a membership meeting Tuesday night, the Spokane Education Association decided to hold its next meeting on Oct. 8. Union President Katy Henry, who also announced her resignation.

Sports >  Gonzaga women

Former Gonzaga standout Courtney Vandersloot breaks own WNBA single-season assists record

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 28, 2019

On Tuesday night, the former Gonzaga All-American had 10 assists to bring her single-season total to 263 and break her WNBA record set last year.

News >  Spokane

Children are back in school, so slow down and be safe

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 28, 2019

Spokane drivers will have at least 30,000 reasons to ease up on the gas pedal Thursday morning. That’s how many students will be walking, driving, busing and perhaps even skateboarding to dozens of buildings in the Spokane Public Schools District.

Sports >  Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women’s basketball returns from European trip, with plenty of memories on, off the court

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 28, 2019

This was never about basketball, though that was fun too. The Gonzaga women are back from Europe, jet-lagged but joyful after 12 days.

News >  Spokane

School bus drivers learn to turn student conflicts into cooperation

Wed., Aug. 28, 2019

As the start of school nears, bus drivers participated in a training session to help them better manage conflicts while keeping students safe.

News >  Spokane

Two hired to oversee safety and transportation at Spokane Public Schools

Wed., Aug. 28, 2019

Spokane Public Schools will be relying on two retirees with a combined six decades of experience to oversee its safety and transportation departments on an interim basis following the sudden resignation last month of Santos Picacio.

News >  Education

WSU study links Spokane childhood obesity to parental fear in low-income neighborhoods with high crimes rates and busy streets

Wed., Aug. 28, 2019

A major Washington State University study that linked childhood obesity in Spokane to factors beyond control of kids and their families found that fear, especially in low-income, high-crime neighborhoods in Spokane, where parents are reluctant to let their children go outside to play or exercise.

News >  Spokane

From cookies to recruiting, Girl Scouts thinks outside the box

Mon., Aug. 26, 2019

Girl Scouts membership has has ticked up regionally, despite many challenges. New recruitment strategies may explain some of the success.

News >  Education

The School Year Ahead: LC construction project will offer big payoff next year

Sun., Aug. 25, 2019

Work is well under way on a $23.5 million project that will transform Lewis and Clark High School in time for the first day of school – in 2020.

News >  Education

The School Year Ahead: After unsettled spring, Spokane elementary teachers prepare to juggle new classrooms, more students

Sun., Aug. 25, 2019

With classes scheduled to begin on Thursday, problem-solving is happening in every building in Spokane Public Schools. Teachers and administrators are forming new teams and finding new efficiencies, because there is no other choice.

News >  Education

The School Year Ahead: Laid-off Spokane teacher puts future in her own hands in opening preschool

Sun., Aug. 25, 2019

All the signs pointed Krista Hastings toward this idyllic spot on the Glenrose Prairie. The most poignant was the nameplate on the door of her second-grade classroom at Wilson Elementary School on the South Hill. The day after Hastings received her layoff notification notice from Spokane Public Schools, it fell off the door.

News >  Spokane

‘We do the best we can’: Refugee in Spokane hopes for husband’s arrival as U.S. immigration policies tighten

Thu., Aug. 22, 2019

“I have a strong faith in God, and believe one day he will make a miracle for us to get back together,” Arooj Nirmal said from the offices of World Relief, which welcomed her to Spokane in 2017.

News >  Education

Former national teacher of the year from Spokane attempts to visit immigrant detention center

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 15, 2019

She’s no longer the national teacher of the year, but Mandy Manning of Spokane is still attempting to make a difference on a national scale. Usually, she’s been successful. Not so on Wednesday morning in McAllen, Texas, where she and other educators were denied entrance to the nation’s largest immigrant detention center.

News >  Spokane

The latest back-to-school accessory: Bulletproof backpack sales up after recent mass shootings

Thu., Aug. 15, 2019

Goodbye Kitty, hello Kevlar.

News >  Education

Spokane Public Schools board passes budget that includes cuts to staff, early Friday release

UPDATED: Wed., Aug. 14, 2019

It will go down as the budget that no one wanted to approve. But pass it did Wednesday night – a $461 million General Fund expenditure for the upcoming year that isn’t as bleak as it appeared several months ago but depressing nonetheless for the Spokane Public Schools board of directors.