Jonathan Brunt

The architect of Spokane City Hall’s controversial handling of the fatal police confrontation with Otto Zehm was fired Monday, marking the latest fallout from the excessive force case that already has led to a federal conviction of a police officer and contributed to the ouster of former Mayor Mary Verner in last November’s election. Assistant City Attorney Rocky Treppiedi was dismissed Monday by City Attorney Nancy Isserlis.

Spokane City Council chambers overflowed Monday as scores of people showed up to debate the state’s new gay marriage law. About 300 people turned out to Monday’s meeting, an overflow crowd not seen at a council meeting in years.

The Spokane police officer whose daughter accidentally shot herself in the leg on Sunday has an extensive disciplinary record, including at least two lengthy suspensions. Barry O’Connell, who has been on the force since 1994, could face further punishment for the shooting because his daughter shot herself with O’Connell’s service gun, and police policy requires weapons to be secure.

In all its faded glory, Spokane’s flag hung Tuesday in its rightful place, third only to the American and Washington flags. What would normally be unremarkable background at a mayoral news conference in a City Hall conference room became a highlight because city officials have largely shunned the city’s flag in recent years – so much so, in fact, that the only known remaining city flag is wrinkled, yellowing and had been missing for years.

Change has come to Spokane City Hall courtesy of voters, who in November ousted Mayor Mary Verner from office in favor of David Condon. In his first 100 days as mayor, Condon has shown a willingness to shake up the city’s bureaucracy perhaps more than any mayor since voters in 1999 adopted a strong-mayor system, placing the mayor firmly in charge of City Hall.

Summer water bills for most city of Spokane water customers appear headed to a tumble. But winter bills and costs for people who use the least water likely will increase a bit.

The last moneymaking venture inside the former Ridpath Hotel in downtown Spokane has been ordered to close. The city of Spokane announced Monday that, starting this week, it will enforce a “no-occupy order” for the Ridpath, including on Diamond Parking, which operates parking in the hotel’s garage in the lower levels of the building. Jersey barriers will be placed by the city in front of the garage this week, city spokeswoman Marlene Feist said.

The last tenant of the former Ridpath Hotel in downtown Spokane will no longer be allowed to operate there.

Rain pooled from March’s record rainfall on an auto shop in north Spokane caused the building’s roof to collapse early Sunday, according to the Spokane Fire Department. Crews were called to Ulricks Service Center, 3100 N. Division St., after the roof over the business’ south garage fell about 1 a.m.

Record rainfall likely caused the closure of two rail lines in North Idaho, a highway blockage in Pend Oreille County, a roof collapse in North Spokane and flooding along some local rivers this weekend.

The debate on gay marriage is headed to the Spokane City Council. City Councilman Jon Snyder is sponsoring a nonbinding resolution in support of “marriage equality,” and despite a Republican-leaning majority on the City Council, it appears the resolution is on track for approval.