Jonathan Brunt

Date set for new car tab fee

Snyder, Stark say they're unlikely to run for council president

Envision Spokane will make second run at 'Community Bill of Rights'

Recovering from surgery, Verner makes 'fashion statement'

A group that sponsored a ballot proposal that was thoroughly rejected by Spokane voters in 2009 says it hopes to offer voters a shorter list of requests this year. Gone from Envision Spokane’s new “Community Bill of Rights” are stipulations for the city of Spokane to guarantee its residents affordable preventive health care, affordable housing, affordable and renewable energy and regulations on local banks.

Waldref gives birth to healthy girl

It’s possible that radioactive material released as a result of fires, partial meltdowns and explosions reported at Japanese reactors will be detected in Washington, but highly unlikely that levels could affect human health on this side of the Pacific – even if the situation gets worse, experts say. “I don’t believe that there is any way we could get to the level where there would be a health concern to us,” said Dan Jaffe, environmental sciences professor at the Bothell campus of the University of Washington who has documented air pollution from Asia traveling to the United States.

It’s possible that nuclear products released as a result of problems facing Japanese reactors will be detected in Washington, but highly unlikely that levels could affect human health on this side of the Pacific – even if the situation gets worse, experts say.

Waldref expected to have baby soon

The three men who were hailed as heroes by Spokane’s mayor and police chief for finding a bomb and reporting it to police say they lost their jobs for their actions that day. The three men were employed by Labor Ready and working under contract for the Spokane Public Facilities District on Jan. 17, when they came upon a backpack and discovered the bomb that was placed along the route of the annual march commemorating Martin Luther King Jr. The names of the men had been withheld since the incident even as high-profile leaders labeled them heroes. Kevin Twohig, CEO of the district, said they didn’t want to disclose their names until a bomber had been arrested to protect their safety.

A suspected thief shot multiple times by a Stevens County sheriff’s deputy disputed law enforcement reports Sunday that he was armed with a pistol even though authorities say they recovered a gun and several other stolen items at his home. “I woke up with my body hit like a freakin’ target,” said Trinidy C. Lopez, 23, who explained during a brief telephone interview from his hospital bed that he had been asleep in his bedroom after a night of partying when deputies arrived at his Loon Lake home early Saturday and one of them began shooting. “I woke up in excruciating pain.”

A man shot multiple times by a Steven County sheriff’s deputy early Saturday was threatening the deputy with a stolen gun, Stevens County Sheriff Kendle Allen said Sunday.

Ben Stuckart enters race for Spokane City Council president

Spokane Mayor Mary Verner has her first official opponent in this year’s mayoral race. Christopher W. Fenton, 32, filed paperwork last month announcing his intention to run for the city’s highest office, becoming the first potential challenger eligible to begin accepting campaign contributions.

Six months before the debut of a new tax on vehicles, city leaders are starting to debate how to spend the revenue. Spokane will begin collecting $20 tab fees on vehicles registered in the city around Sept. 1. The city expects to collect about $800,000 this year and $2.6 million annually after that.

Six months from the introduction of a new tax on vehicles, city leaders are starting to debate how the money will be spent.

Recent Whitworth grad is Verner's first challenger