Stories by Jim Allen for the Spokesman-Review

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women clinch outright conference title with hard-fought win over Loyola Marymount

UPDATED: Sat., March 2, 2019

It was a great day to be a Zag, that was undisputed. So was the West Coast Conference championship, which the Gonzaga earned the hard way on Senior Day at the Kennel.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga seniors Zykera Rice, Laura Stockton, Chandler Smith ready for spotlight ahead of Senior Day

UPDATED: Fri., March 1, 2019

Gonzaga seniors Zykera Rice, Chandler Smith and Laura Stockton had perhaps their best combined game of the season on Thursday in a big win over Pepperdine.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Trio of seniors helps Gonzaga women pull away late in rout of Pepperdine

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 28, 2019

Apparently, Senior Day couldn’t get here soon enough for the Gonzaga women, so they decided to celebrate two days early.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Chandler Smith’s hard-working mindset follows her from Brewster ranch to basketball court at Gonzaga

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 27, 2019

For three years, thousands of Gonzaga fans have watched Chandler Smith do a little of everything and have fun at the same time in this, her senior year.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga coach Lisa Fortier named one of 15 finalists for Naismith Coach of the Year award

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 27, 2019

Other finalists include eight-time winner Geno Aueriemma of Connecticut; Muffett McGraw of defending NCAA champ Notre Dame; Kim Mulkey of Baylor and Tara Vanderveer of Stanford.

News > Education

Spokane Public Schools opens online ‘thought exchange’ for input on McCleary fix

Wed., Feb. 27, 2019

The McCleary fix needs more fixing, and the state has yet to figure out a solution.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women keeping focus on the court ahead of Senior Day festivities

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 26, 2019

It’s easier to keep your eyes on the prize when you’re not daubing them with a tissue.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women’s seniors will say goodbye, then possibly come back for more

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 25, 2019

Three Gonzaga seniors – Laura Stockton, Zykera Rice and Chandler Smith – will play their final games this week at the McCarthey Athletic Center. Unless Gonzaga is seeded in the Top 16 of the NCAA Tournament.

News > Education

Students at this Spokane elementary school find peace of mind by stretching their bodies

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 26, 2019

Take a deep breath and consider this: Perhaps the most innovative pilot program at Spokane Public Schools is commanded by a captain who tells his audience to reach for the sky.

News > Spokane

Wage hikes, access put squeeze on child care

Mon., Feb. 25, 2019

The network of quality child care in Spokane and beyond is fraying at the edges. Some call it a national crisis. For providers in Washington state, higher minimum wages costs have risen while state subsidies cover at most three-quarters of the cost of care. But that’s not the only problem. The other problem is access.

News > Education

Spokane Public Schools takes imaginative approach to new middle school designs

Sun., Feb. 24, 2019

Five years from now, expect to see a bigger budget for window cleaners at Spokane Public Schools. The vision for middle schools took flight this week, and it’s a transparent process – fittingly with a lot of interior glass.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Still plenty to play for as Gonzaga women visit struggling San Francisco

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 22, 2019

Gonzaga coach Lisa Fortier has been saying it all year: There’s more parity this year in the West Coast Conference.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women’s basketball knows it has ‘less room for error’ on road trip to Santa Clara, San Francisco

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 20, 2019

The Zags are 23-3 overall and ranked 15th in the nation, but at 12-2 are just one game ahead of BYU in the West Coast Conference race going into the last road trip of the regular season.

News > Spokane

With help from federal grant, group urges parents to opt-out of Spokane Public Schools sex ed curriculum in favor of abstinence-based concept

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 20, 2019

Even in the chill of winter, the subject of sex education will stoke a few fires.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Gonzaga women still projected to host NCAA Tournament games after close loss to BYU

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 20, 2019

There was no finger-pointing, coach Lisa Fortier said after Tuesday’s practice ahead of the Zags’ final road trip of the regular season.

Sports

Second loss to BYU only dropped Zags two spots in AP poll

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 20, 2019

Perhaps Gonzaga’s

News > Spokane

Adults and students may soon use the same Spokane libraries at schools

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 20, 2019

When it comes to the future of libraries in Spokane, civic leaders aren’t going by the book – they’re writing a new one. It’s been a great read so far. The tale began last year, with a bond proposal forged by an unlikely partnership and some creative land swaps. Last fall, Spokane voters got a sneak peek at the ending, which includes renovations at the downtown and Shadle branches and replacements for several others.

Sports > Gonzaga basketball

Gonzaga’s comeback attempt comes up short as BYU tops Bulldogs again

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 16, 2019

Shaylee Gonzales scored 19 points, Sara Hamson blocked two shots in the last minute and BYU ended No. 13 Gonzaga’s seven-game winning streak with a 66-64 victory on Saturday.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Gonzaga women look to ‘right the ship’ when BYU visits the Kennel

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 15, 2019

Looking ahead to Saturday’s big game against BYU, Lisa Fortier didn’t want to talk about revenge.

Sports > Gonzaga women

Zykera Rice, No. 13 Gonzaga rout San Diego 71-44

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 14, 2019

The Gonzaga women are cruising to another West Coast Conference title, but they’re not driving while distracted.

News > Spokane

Ferris High School resource officer resigns; Spokane School Board hears public concerns of ‘implicit bias’

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 13, 2019

Three weeks after an African-American student was pinned by a resource officer at Ferris High School, dozens of citizens contended implicit bias within the district exists.