Jonathan Brunt

The fired executive director of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture says he’s ready to go back to work, while his lawyers say he’s still technically in charge. Meanwhile, some members of the museum’s foundation board are calling for the resignations of MAC board members who led the effort to fire Forrest Rodgers.

Waite drops out, endorses Snyder

The controversial firing of the Northwest Museum of Arts and Cultures director could be headed to a legal showdown.

Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire told the state’s largest teachers union that she will work to increase taxes to help the state meet its mandate to provide quality education. “I am traveling the state to send the message to legislators and taxpayers that we must have a new source of revenue because we cannot have money in the good times and no money in the bad times,” Gregoire said. “We have to have money all the time to meet our obligation to ensure the education of our children.”

Gregoire tells teachers that state must raise taxes

The Spokane Police Department has re-hired embattled Detective Jeff Harvey even though his lawsuit against the city remains unresolved.

Changes to the way citizens can sidestep elected leaders to pass their own laws received the endorsement on Wednesday of Mayor David Condon. But there will be more steps before the new rules become law, if some citizens have their way.

Condon backs change to initiative process

Spokane city leaders finally are admitting that mistakes were made during a 2006 police confrontation that led to the death of Spokane resident Otto Zehm. But it remains unclear if the city will answer a key question, one that officials have suggested for months would be explained. Why did city attorneys make official claims in 2009 that Zehm was responsible for his own death and that force used against him was “reasonable and necessary,” even though by that time then-Assistant Chief Jim Nicks had told a grand jury that the response likely violated department policy?

Matthews takes on McMorris Rodgers

Testimony at Monday’s Spokane City Council meeting included the sounds of William Cruz on guitar and trumpet as some downtown buskers argued against proposed noise restrictions. But Spokane City Council members said the new rules, which they approved 6-1, protect free speech while making the law easier to enforce when buskers or other sound makers infringe on other people’s rights.

Council adopts easier-to-enforce noise law

Late last year, a violinist began showing up in front of River Park Square. He played popular music that could be heard at least a block away and often drew appreciative crowds. A video of the busker, Bryson Andres, performing in front of the downtown mall has been viewed nearly 2 million times on YouTube.

Late last year, a violinist began showing up in front of River Park Square. He played popular music that could be heard at least a block away and often drew appreciative crowds. A video of the busker, Bryson Andres, performing in front of the downtown mall has been viewed nearly 2 million times on YouTube.

Apple joins crowded field for Spokane House seat

Parker challeger, Wayne Spitzer, used to big challenges

Candidates haven’t even officially signed up to run for office, but the contest for a state House seat representing central Spokane is heating up. The race for the seat held by state Rep. Andy Billig, D-Spokane, already has attracted four candidates, in large part because Billig decided last week that he wouldn’t run for re-election as planned so that he could seek the state Senate seat held by Lisa Brown, who announced that she would not run for a new term.

The scramble is on for a state House seat in central Spokane, part of the fallout of Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown’s surprise decision not to seek re-election. Brown said Thursday that she would not run again for her 3rd Legislative District Senate seat. State Rep. Andy Billig immediately said he would run for Brown’s Senate seat, leaving a vacancy that often attracts multiple candidates.