Stories by Jim Camden for the Spokesman-Review

News > WA Government

Agencies, lawmakers scramble to fill $4 billion pothole from I-976

Sun., Nov. 10, 2019

State agencies and lawmakers are looking for solutions to the loss of billions of dollars that would have come from Initiative 976.

Opinion > Column

Spin Control: Tax votes aren’t an automatic no, this election showed

Sun., Nov. 10, 2019

An article of faith among certain political “experts” says voters, given the chance, will always vote against taxes. But voters don’t automatically do so.

News > WA Government

Spokane judge becomes second to block Trump administration’s ‘conscience rule’

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 7, 2019

A federal judge in Spokane became the second in two days to block the Trump administration’s new expanded “conscience rule” that would allow health care workers to refuse care for religious or moral reasons.

News > Spokane

Spokane native Debra Stephens to be next state Supreme Court chief justice

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 6, 2019

Stephens, who has served on the court for 11 years, will finish the final year of the term of Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst, who is retiring from the court as she focuses on treating recurring cancer.

News > WA Government

Voters narrowly rejecting affirmative action change

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

Voters narrowly rejecting affirmative action programs but final decision up to later ballot counts.

News > WA Government

Amendment giving special powers to Legislature in case of catastrophe approved

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

If “The Big One” hits, the Legislature likely will have special emergency powers to respond.

News > Spokane

Deadline to vote: 8 p.m. tonight

Tue., Nov. 5, 2019

It’s Election Day in Washington. Ballots must be in a dropbox by 8 p.m. or postmarked today.

News > Spokane

Auditors find community colleges’ $145M computer system flawed

Sun., Nov. 3, 2019

A problem-plagued $145 million computer system for Washington’s community colleges was inadequately designed and installed in Spokane and Tacoma schools, state auditors said in a highly critical report released Thursday.

Opinion > Column

Spin Control: Play it again, Congress: As daylight time goes by

Sun., Nov. 3, 2019

Time has come today, as the Chambers Brothers would say. But it’s not daylight saving time.

News > WA Government

Both sides assert affirmative action referendum will help veterans

UPDATED: Sun., Nov. 3, 2019

Lawyers disagree on whether new affirmative action programs under Referendum 88 will help or hurt veterans.

News > Spokane

Inslee can’t be recalled for travel, response to homelessness, court says

Fri., Nov. 1, 2019

Washington Supreme Court throws out effort to recall Gov. Jay Inslee.

News > Spokane

Fuse justifies lie as way to show Woodward not being transparent

Thu., Oct. 31, 2019

Political group that questions Nadine Woodward’s honesty had someone lie about their presidential support in an effort to get her to say she voted for Donald Trump.

Opinion > Column

Spin Control: Date-of-birth records are public, divided court says

Sun., Oct. 27, 2019

In a close call, state Supreme Court rules government employees’ dates of birth are public records.

News > WA Government

McMorris Rodgers blasts Inslee, dam study

Sat., Oct. 26, 2019

Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers takes another jab at a study of the Snake River dams supported by Gov. Jay Inslee.

News > Nation

Fulcher says House needs to know what impeachment committees are told

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 23, 2019

All House members need to know what witnesses are telling committees studying impeachment, says Idaho congressman who was part of protest that crashed a hearing Wednesday.

News > Washington

Legislative panel urged to restore voting rights to felons sooner

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 22, 2019

Senate committee considers possible changes to allowing felons to have their voting rights restored sooner.

News > Spokane

WSU study of connection between marijuana legalization, crime turns up surprises

Sun., Oct. 20, 2019

A Washington State University study on the effects of legalizing marijuana turned up unintended consequences, found gaps in the data and came up with suggestions for law enforcement agencies.

Opinion > Column

Spin Control: Seattle city elections about issues similar to those at stake in Spokane

Sun., Oct. 20, 2019

There’s a city that starts with an “S” that has municipal elections this year, where solutions to homelessness – or the lack thereof – have been controversial, where the questions of experience versus new blood are being raised and businesses are spending a boatload of money on their preferred candidates.

News > WA Government

Washington Supreme Court strikes down mandatory car impounds on DUI arrests

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 17, 2019

Mandatory impound law for DUI arrests is unconstitutional, state Supreme Court says.

News > Spokane

Presidential candidates seek money from key areas in Washington

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 15, 2019

President Donald Trump has received more campaign contributions from Washington and Spokane-area residents than any Democratic candidate still in the 2020 race.

Opinion > Column

Spin Control: Time to rethink rides on World War II bombers

Sun., Oct. 13, 2019

Even though it means the organizations will lose a source of funding from the contributions they get for short flights over the host cities, the public rides should stop. The takeoffs and landings are getting too risky to use them as passenger planes.

News > WA Government

Spokane judge blocks Trump rule restricting immigration for people who need government help

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 11, 2019

The Trump administration proposed a tightening of the definition of a public charge that would allow denying the application for permanent residence to anyone who receives public benefits for more than 12 months in a three-year period. U.S. District Court Judge Rosanna Malouf Peterson issued a nationwide preliminary injunction against those changes Friday.