The city of Spokane asked taxpayers for $37 million to repair streets at a time when it still hasn't decided what to do with $14 million sitting in an unusual city fund.
Anthony Lowe, the darling of state Republican leaders, was caught Tuesday in a surprisingly tight insurance commissioner's race with maverick Brian McCulloch.
The winner faces incumbent Democrat Deborah Senn who was collecting more than half the votes despite splitting the haul with her five challengers.
Defenders of the embattled Valleycrest nursing home rallied Monday to praise a place regulators say should be shut down.
A dozen relatives of residents swore by the care and lamented the prospect of moving their parents or spouses to another home.
The Okanogan County Mental Health Center is supposed to be a therapeutic haven for troubled residents in rugged north central Washington.
But a dozen former and current employees claim it's a hostile place where supervisors abused drugs, sexually harassed women and persecuted people who complained.
Statehouse candidates are snatching every loose campaign dollar in the low-budget 3rd District, and even raiding their own savings and retirement kitties in the quest to win Tuesday's primary.
Some candidates have had troubles prying money from more than their friends and family in a district so strapped one of its political hot spots is the Garland Dollar Theater.
The Valleycrest nursing home lost its long battle with regulators Friday as the federal government cut off money to the home.
But the parent company of the Spokane Valley facility vows to spend $1 million of its own cash to keep the home open another three months.
The survivor of a Republican slugfest for the state insurance commissioner post must then fight the feisty incumbent, Deborah Senn.
Four Republicans have bickered through more than 20 public forums during the past five months in an unusually heated competition for what was long deemed a sleepy job.
Spokane's busiest political turf this year is the 3rd Legislative District, where nine candidates are vying for three statehouse seats.
Seven political novices are competing for the district's two open House positions while two veteran lawmakers duel for its lone Senate spot.
Never before have so many people fought so hard for the right to be called the state insurance commissioner.
The job used to be a safe place to nap, a paper-shuffling backwater where commissioners reigned for decades with little controversy or competition.
There's the plain-talking retired social worker, the poised and boyish 25-year-old and the well-connected downtown attorney.
Three very different Democrats are vying for the party's nomination for the 3rd District position 2 House seat in what could be the city's most competitive primary battle.
Attorney Lonnie Sparks was appointed to the position in July after longtime legislator Dennis Dellwo resigned.
Ken Whitehall doesn't have any competition for the Sept. 17 primary, but the young Republican is dreading that week anyway.
About that time, Jerry Boot will be on trial for the shocking 1994 murder of Whitehall's fiancee, Felicia Reese.
A low-budget duel over the Republican Party's nomination for a 3rd District House seat pits a young electronics technician against a younger wine steward.
Brendon Hill and Asa Jay Laughton are political novices trying to do what few Republicans have ever done - win an election in the liberal 3rd District.
Using a new exam room, VA nurse Dave Draper checks on outpatient and World War II veteran Katherine Miller of Spokane. Photo by Kristy MacDonald/The Spokesman-Review
The chairman of the Spokane County Democratic Party settled a simmering political feud Thursday, saying he wouldn't reprimand Statehouse candidate Lonnie Sparks for buying a prime yard-sign location.
"There are no rules governing the conduct of candidates at this time," said Jimmy Sirmans. "Therefore, we couldn't hold him liable for anything."
Federal health officials plan to shut down a Spokane Valley nursing home flagged repeatedly for poor care and failure to protect residents from accidental injuries.
Valleycrest Nursing and Rehabilitation Center must close by Sept. 14 and find new homes for its 80 residents.
Spokane children's advocates rallied Thursday to protest President Clinton's signing of welfare reforms they claim will push kids deeper into poverty.
"There is no way this bill won't hurt kids," said Linda Stone of the Children's Alliance in Spokane. "Too many kids are already poor in this state, and this bill will only make matters worse."
The four Republicans sparring to take on state Insurance Commissioner Deborah Senn are getting so hostile with each other the state party is trying to referee the brawl.
Each candidate angrily refutes charges that he is a puppet of the insurance industry. Two accuse each other of violating party protocol.
1. Dorothy Robbins cheers as a speaker denounces the "New World Order" in San Diego on Saturday. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review
2. U.S. Taxpayers Party nomiee Howard Phillips. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review
Campaign season takes root
Lonnie Sparks and homeowner April Schreier wave to passing cars from her yard at Hamilton and North Foothills. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review
When a convoy of elderly Spokane golfers drove to Canada this month, it faced an unexpected interrogation and toll at the border.
A terse Canadian customs officer questioned the men about their criminal records and asked whether they'd ever been arrested for drunken driving.
The state's poorest district has a wealth of politicians hoping to represent it in Olympia.
Ten candidates will soon be canvassing the 3rd Legislative District, looking for votes in Spokane's core neighborhoods.
The district, which covers downtown Spokane and the city's central neighborhoods, will be the county's busiest political turf this year.
Ron Taber plans to loot his own bank account to help him get elected state superintendent of public instruction, a post he believes should perhaps be abolished.
Taber explained himself Thursday night to the Southside Republican Action Club. Taber was one of four Republican state candidates to attend the forum at the South Hill Senior Center.
While Kaylee Raymond, 5, says goodbye to a Kinder College worker Monday, her mom, Shelly Raymond, is told the day-care center is being shut down. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review
