Jonathan Brunt

To Willie H. Richey, charging swim fees in public pools wasn’t the way to solve park budget shortfalls. “Let us not get too shortsighted and slap the poor in the face,” he told the Spokane Park Board. “The poor need the pools’ use the most – and can afford it the least.”

After a two-month break, the Spokane Park Board tonight will resume consideration of a proposal to charge children to swim in public pools.

Citing fears of meddling by the United Nations and concern over increased government spending, some Spokane City Council members are opposing suggestions from a local task force that wants to help reduce this region’s dependence on foreign oil. Among the recommendations are ideas for making city vehicles more fuel-efficient, increasing recycling among residents and city workers, and supporting the use of electric vehicles. It also sets a goal for the city to acquire 100 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2030.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said there are no immediate plans to activate the county’s Emergency Operation Center in response to swine flu, as has been done in Seattle.

Health officials announced Wednesday night that a Spokane man likely has contracted the swine influenza virus that has caused widespread concern and warnings of a pandemic across the globe. They also confirmed that five other Washington residents – all from the West side of the state – also likely have the virus.

Spokane is well behind most Washington cities in the hours of operation at its libraries. That service level will fall even further if the Spokane Public Library is forced to ax 4 percent of its budget – as is under consideration by city leaders.

A rental home that neighbors said has been a source of problems for more than a decade burst into flames Friday night in the West Central neighborhood. Firefighters spotted items that caused crews to suspect the house may have been converted into a toxic meth lab.

As city leaders contemplate budget cuts and potential layoffs because of the ailing economy, some of Spokane’s highest-paid employees are poised to receive increases in their total compensation of about 5 percent annually over the next four years. The proposed contract with the Spokane Association of Fire Officers, which represents a dozen employees, will be considered Monday by the City Council.

As city leaders contemplate budget cuts and potential layoffs because of the ailing economy, some of Spokane’s highest-paid employees are poised to receive increases in their total compensation of about 5 percent annually over the next four years.

It’s a showdown for the right to sit down. The Spokane Transit Authority board on Thursday rejected a $38,000 contract to replace some of the bus benches ordered removed by the city of Spokane because they violate the city’s sign regulations.

Spokane leaders have three weeks to decide the future of the downtown YMCA or risk forfeiting $1 million. The Spokane Park Board put the money down on the Y, which is surrounded by Riverfront Park, in 2006 in an effort to prevent private development on the land. To avoid losing the down payment, the Spokane City Council must come up with the remaining $4.4 million by May 4.

In a time of economic hardship, a message of hope will be prominent this morning in Easter sermons across the Inland Northwest, several Christian ministers said Saturday. “I am going to be talking about the hard times that people are facing, but my focus is going to be more on turning to God to have your needs met,” said Dan Chance, who will be giving his first Easter sermon as lead pastor of Solid Rock Church in Post Falls.

The Spokane Police Department’s battered reputation may have hurt the city’s ability to win public support for new taxes, some elected leaders say. Earlier this month, voters rejected an $18.5 million property tax, most of which would have paid for a new police evidence building. The measure received 51 percent support but needed a 60 percent supermajority.

A deal that would pay off the Spokane Parks and Recreation Department’s $4.3 million obligation to finish buying the downtown YMCA appears to have the City Council support it needs to move ahead. Earlier this week, a divided Spokane County Commission agreed to use Conservation Futures property taxes for the land, which is surrounded by Riverfront Park and adjacent to Spokane Falls. But commissioners stipulated that that deal required the support of the Spokane City Council, which has been lukewarm or colder on the use of the county money.