Jonathan Brunt

The $4.3 million question facing city leaders Monday isn’t whether to buy the old downtown YMCA. They purchased the 43-year-old building months ago.

A north Spokane gas station was robbed at gunpoint Friday night, the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office reported.

The results of this month’s Spokane County election were certified on Tuesday, but the counting isn’t over. Elections officials next week will recount by hand the votes cast in the race for Airway Heights mayor.

Incumbent mayor behind by 2

City Hall’s largest union will give up half of its promised 2010 pay raise to prevent layoffs, if the Spokane City Council signs off on a new agreement. Officials last week released details of the city’s concession deal with Local 270 of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. That deal, which affects more than 1,000 city workers, won more than 90 percent support from membership in a vote earlier this month.

Less than a month after the defeat of a citizen initiative opposed by each member of the Spokane City Council, officials are considering rule changes that critics say will make it harder for residents to use the ballot box to seek changes in municipal operations. Under the proposal, residents still could change city ordinances by gathering signatures to put an issue before voters. However, the question that appears on ballots would have to be written by a city attorney – not the citizens proposing change.

A plan to build a science center and children’s museum on the north bank of Riverfront Park appears to be in jeopardy. Concerns have arisen over how to handle private development alongside the proposed complex, and the protracted negotiations have left some Spokane Park Board members feeling frustrated.

About 150 people are about to become Spokane residents. The Spokane City Council this week approved the annexation of Greenfield Estates, an 83-lot subdivision that borders Hillyard.

After months of debate, a proposal to raise business license fees is ready for City Council consideration. City administrators have developed a plan to increase the city’s base license fee from $60 to $110 a year.

A tentative deal Spokane city leaders made this week with the Spokane Police Guild would save 12 police officer positions next year, city administrators said Wednesday. The guild is the last city union to reach a tentative agreement aimed at making concessions to prevent layoffs. Without the agreement, officials said the department would lose 22 positions. Because of attrition and a hiring freeze, only two of those lost jobs would have been through layoffs.

A tentative two-year deal Spokane city leaders made this week with the Spokane Police Guild will save 12 police officer jobs next year, administrators said today.

Spokane’s $33 million fire bond appears to have failed. Tuesday’s tally of remaining ballots from last week’s general election shows the proposed property tax increase fell just short of the needed 60 percent supermajority, capturing 59.5 percent of the vote.

Spokane’s $33 million fire bond appears to have failed. Tuesday’s tally of remaining ballots from last week’s general election shows the proposed property tax increase fell just short of the needed 60 percent supermajority, capturing 59.5 percent of the vote.

A $17,000 study about the future of the former downtown YMCA has come to the same conclusion reached by the Spokane Park Board: The structure will become a strain on city resources unless it’s torn down to become part of Riverfront Park. The Park Board agreed in 2006 to buy the old Y, which is surrounded by the downtown park and sits along the south shore of Spokane Falls. The agreement to pay $5.3 million for the building was designed to block a developer from turning it into high-rise condos.

Mike Allen conceded his Spokane City Council seat Thursday to magazine publisher Jon Snyder. Because Allen was appointed to his seat to fill a vacancy, Snyder will take office as soon as the vote is certified. That’s expected Nov. 24.

Incumbent Spokane City Councilman Mike Allen conceded Thursday in his reelection bid to magazine publisher Jon Snyder.

A fresh batch of election results Wednesday inched incumbent Spokane City Councilman Mike Allen closer to defeat. With about 70 percent of what is expected to be the final number of ballots counted, Out There Monthly publisher Jon Snyder leads Allen with 52.5 percent of the vote.

A fresh batch of election results Wednesday inched incumbent Spokane City Councilman Mike Allen closer to defeat. With about 70 percent of what is expected to be the final number of ballots counted, Out There Monthly publisher Jon Snyder leads Allen with 52.5 percent of the vote.

New numbers expected soon; turnout rises above 50 percent

McLaughlin movin' on up?