Jonathan Brunt

Many distinctions drawn in first Inslee-McKenna debate

Spokane officials have tentatively approved a $2.25 million settlement to a woman who became paralyzed from the waist down after she was struck by a city vehicle in 2010. The deal will be considered by the Spokane City Council next week – less than a month after the council approved a $1.67 million settlement with the family of Otto Zehm, a Spokane man who died in 2006 after he was beaten, shocked and hogtied by police.

Spokane city administrators and firefighters have reached an impasse in contract negotiations following the rejection of a proposed contract agreed to by former Mayor Mary Verner. The Spokane Firefighters Union requested that the contract be mediated by the state Public Employment Relations Commission, a move that was not challenged by the city, said Assistant City Attorney Erin Jacobson.

The Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture board is accusing its popular former director of “poor performance” and is standing behind his controversial termination. In a letter sent this week to former director Forrest Rodgers, the board offered to provide essentially two months of severance pay and provide a letter of recommendation to assist in his search for a new job. But despite community outrage over Rodgers’ dismissal, the board gave no indication it wanted him back on the job.

National rally draws more than 100 in Spokane

Spokane Mayor David Condon on Wednesday fired another high-ranking administrator. Ellen Hung, the city’s treasurer, was told Wednesday that she will be terminated, said Spokane’s Chief Financial Officer Gavin Cooley.

Condon terminates another city administrator

Change could be afoot among those leading the embattled Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture. The museum’s Board of Trustees meets on Wednesday and will consider a slate of new board officers, according to a meeting agenda released by the MAC on Tuesday.

City union tentatively agrees to contract

Gregoire pushes education funding to center of debate

Job creation may be the main talking point of the two main candidates for governor, but another topic is rivaling employment as a top issue in the campaign. That’s thanks in part to outgoing Gov. Chris Gregoire, who has loudly backed the creation of new taxes to support the state’s constitutional requirement to provide quality basic education.

Parker again without challenger

The Spokane City Council on Monday closed one chapter of the excessive force case that has dominated Spokane headlines for six years by finalizing the $1.67 million settlement with the family of Otto Zehm. The council voted unanimously for the deal, which was reached in mediation last week between city representatives, including Mayor David Condon, and Zehm family attorneys.

The group that oversees much of the private funding for the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture says it lacks confidence in the leadership of the museum’s board following the controversial firing of the executive director. The MAC’s foundation board on Monday voted 14-0 in support of a resolution requesting the reinstatement of the museum’s terminated director, Forrest Rodgers. The foundation board also called on the executive committee of the MAC’s board, which made the original decision to fire Rodgers, to resign, said Paul Ellyson, president of the foundation board.

The Spokane City Council tonight finalized the $1.7 million settlement with the family of Otto Zehm.

Compare the proposed Spokane marijuana initiatives