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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
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Jonathan Brunt

Jonathan Brunt

Current Position: Asst. Managing Editor (Govt)

Jonathan Brunt joined The Spokesman-Review in 2004. He is the government editor. He previously was a reporter who covered Spokane City Hall, Spokane County government and public safety.

Email
jonathanb@spokesman.com
Phone
(509) 459-5442

All Stories

News >  Spokane

Grant County deputy killed in one-car crash

A Grant County Sheriff’s deputy was killed Sunday evening in a one-car crash near Ephrata, Wash., said Kyle Foreman, spokesman for Grant County emergency management. Few details were available late Sunday, but Foreman said the deputy was on “routine patrol” when the incident occurred about 7 p.m. on state Highway 283 between George and Ephrata.
News >  Spokane

Old ‘diamond’ may get new shine

A last-ditch effort is under way to save a historic downtown warehouse from a date with a wrecking ball. A downtown developer who has restored other buildings in Spokane is asking the city and Washington State University-Spokane to hold off on the removal of the former Pacific Fruit warehouse at Riverside Avenue and Division Street.
News >  Spokane

Thief stabs man in arm

A man who surprised a burglar in his garage suffered minor injuries Tuesday evening when the thief stabbed him with a tool, the victim’s girlfriend said. Spokane police Officer Brian Eckersley said the break-in occurred about 6:30 p.m. at 228 E. Empire Ave.
News >  Spokane

Man stabbed as he surprises burglar in North Spokane

A man who surprised a burglar in his garage suffered minor injuries Tuesday evening when the thief stabbed the resident with a tool, the victim’s long time girlfriend said. Spokane Police Officer Brian Eckersley said the break-in occurred at 228 E. Empire Ave., about 6:30 p.m.
News >  Spokane

Yake, 90, helped reshape Spokane

The retired Spokane administrator who led the city’s engineering effort that transformed the industrialized, decaying core surrounding the Spokane Falls into a park that became the region’s central gathering spot died last week. Glen Yake was 90. Yake worked at City Hall for 33 years, including an 11-month stint in the top position, city manager.
News >  Spokane

Spokane City Council OKs 2010 budget

Spokane leaders last week climbed out of a $7 million budget hole and approved the city’s 2010 budget with no layoffs and no dramatic loss of city services. The approval allows officials to concentrate on a bigger financial challenge: a predicted deficit of more than $10 million in 2011.
News >  Spokane

Spokane sewer rates to rise

Sewer rates in Spokane will jump almost $5 a month next year. The Spokane City Council on Monday approved the new rates, which were proposed by Spokane Mayor Mary Verner, in a 4-3 vote.
News >  Spokane

Deal would trade police raises for extra vacation

Police in Spokane would get an extra week of vacation in 2010 in lieu of a raise as part of their proposed two-year contract up for consideration by the City Council on Monday. In return for no wage increase next year, members of the Spokane Police Guild would get an extra 52 hours of vacation in 2010. The group also would get a 4 percent raise in 2011.
News >  Business

Spokane economic official steps down

Citing concerns about her inability to “change the culture” at City Hall, Spokane’s top economic development official has submitted her resignation. Theresa Sanders, director of planning, community and economic development, announced her decision to Mayor Mary Verner on Nov. 24. Her last day will be Dec. 18.
News >  Spokane

Vote on Mobius was private

Spokane Park Board President Gary Lawton acknowledged Wednesday that the decision to continue negotiations with backers of a proposed science center was made in private several months ago, a move that could have violated government accountability laws. It is illegal under Washington law for governments to conduct votes in private “executive sessions.” Board members are allowed to discuss certain topics behind closed doors but must make any decisions in public.
News >  Spokane

SpokAnimal extends city agreement

Spokane police officers won’t have to double as dogcatchers after all. With the planned consolidation of city and county animal control agencies on hold indefinitely, SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. has agreed to continue to function as the city’s pet licensor and shelter operator for up to five years.
News

SpokAnimal will continue animal control services

With the planned consolidation of city and county animal control agencies on hold indefinitely, SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. has agreed to continue to function as the city’s pet licensor and shelter operator for up to five years.
News >  Spokane

Initiative rules to get more study

Changes to Spokane’s law for citizen initiatives will get up to four more months of study. The Spokane City Council voted 5-2 on Monday to delay a decision on proposed revisions to the city’s rules for placing proposals on the ballot.
News >  Spokane

Mobius backs off reliance on leases

Mobius Spokane was selected by city leaders in 2003 to develop a science center in large part because it agreed not to pursue government funding for its operations. Part of the group’s plan was to develop part of its allocated parkland into space it could lease for a profit. Site plan sketches included office buildings. That plan was part of an agreement approved this summer by the Spokane Park Board.
News >  Spokane

Science centers’ funding difficult

The goal of Exploration Place in Wichita, Kan., was to generate interest in science, create an attraction in the city’s core and become a source of community pride without the need for annual public subsidies. But less than five years after the museum opened with great fanfare in 2000, attendance – and revenue – had fallen. Sedgwick County, which includes Wichita, came to the rescue.
News >  Spokane

Ethics panel delays review of French

A review of city Councilman Al French’s work on bus bench advertising rules was delayed again Wednesday. For the second meeting in a row, the Spokane Ethics Committee did not reach a quorum.
News >  Spokane

County gives city time on YMCA debt

Spokane County leaders Tuesday expressed frustration with Spokane City Council’s vague response to their offer to pay off the city’s debt on its purchase of the downtown YMCA. After two rounds of debate, commissioners voted 2-1 to wait four months before revoking their offer to give the city money to pay the $4.3 million the city owes on the YMCA building, which it bought over the summer.
News >  Spokane

With caveat, city takes county money for Y

Most members of the Spokane City Council on Monday spoke in favor of transforming a building on an acre surrounded by Riverfront Park into apartments and commercial space. But facing a Wednesday deadline, a $4.3 million debt and budget deficit in 2010, the council tentatively agreed to accept county money to pay off what the city owes on the land, a step that would turn the property into park space and require the building, the former downtown YMCA, be torn down.