The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper The Spokesman-Review
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883
Current Temperature
70°F
Current Conditions
Clear sky
View complete weather report

Color Scheme

Subscribe now
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

Construction crews unearth coffin

It may be hard to believe, but there was a Spokane before the neon signs, pavement and traffic jams. Proof in point – as discovered in the last few days – Division Street may have been built over the graves of early settlers.
News >  Spokane

Roaring fire damages apartment complex

Flames destroyed a north Spokane apartment unit Friday night as residents watched from a courtyard. Fire crews were called to Cedar Springs Apartments, 1015 E. Cozza Drive, at 8:25 p.m., said Spokane Fire Chief Bobby Williams.
News >  Spokane

Women jump Geiger fences; one still at large

Two women jumped three fences at Geiger Corrections Center and escaped the minimum- and medium-security jail west of Spokane. One of the inmates, Jaymie C. Fowler, 21, remained at large Wednesday night.
News >  Spokane

Boys badly burned while playing

Two boys were critically burned Saturday afternoon in an unusual accident in north Spokane that fire investigators were struggling to explain. The children, about 4 years old, were playing in a neighbor's back yard at 7515 N. Napa Court about 3:30 p.m. when they were burned on or near a plastic slide, said Spokane Fire Battalion Chief Mike Inman.
News >  Spokane

Geiger inmate captured after short-lived escape

An infamous Spokane criminal briefly escaped the custody of Geiger Corrections Center Friday afternoon after he was taken to see his public defense attorney. Freddie Joe Hall was not handcuffed at the time of his escape despite Geiger policy that requires that inmates wear waist chains and handcuffs while being transported, said Geiger director Leon Long. The rule was created in April after a Geiger inmate escaped custody while being taken to the corrections center.
News >  Spokane

West staying put to defend himself, lawyer says

Despite calls for his resignation, Mayor Jim West is staying in office, at least in part to defend himself, his attorney said Thursday during a televised forum. "There is no forum for the mayor to respond to other than the court of public opinion," attorney Bill Etter said during a panel discussion about the mayoral scandal that's gripping City Hall and receiving national media attention.
News >  Spokane

Ex-manager accused of stealing from disabled

A former financial manager may face jail time after being accused of stealing thousands of dollars from people with mental disabilities. Christina A. Davis, 35, was a financial manager for Midstream Inc., a Spokane company that provides in-home assistance to 26 people with developmental disabilities. Police believe she wrote checks from the accounts of Midstream clients and had two acquaintances cash them for her.
News >  Spokane

Washtucna wins it

Washtucna may have had more riding on its float entry in Saturday night's Lilac Parade than most other towns. "You either do things or you die," said Grant Miller, one of numerous Washtucna residents who helped build the float. "We've got to turn our population around in school, and this is one way to do that."
News >  Spokane

Furloughed felon surrenders

When furloughed felon Jeremy A. Arnold arrived back in the Spokane County Jail on Friday – a week after he was supposed to report back to authorities – two things had changed. First, the potentially good news for Arnold: He has a new wife.
News >  Spokane

Deal reached on mine discharge

A mining company agreed Wednesday to tighten environmental standards at a mine in northeastern Washington. The company, Teck Cominco American, negotiated the stronger regulations with the state and three groups that challenged a wastewater permit Teck Cominco was issued for its Pend Oreille Mine, north of Metaline Falls.
News >  Spokane

Man seeks $1 million from Spokane after charges he raped twins dropped

The man accused in March of raping two adult sisters while impersonating a police officer has filed a $1 million claim against the city of Spokane. All charges against Preston Tensley were dropped April 1 after the women told media and other authorities that they had not been raped. Spokane police, however, still believe the twin sisters were attacked by Tensley, as one of the two indicated in a 911 call.
News >  Spokane

Fire experts ”preparing for the worst”

Wildfires were a big concern for Bill Bealer when he and his wife decided to build a house south of Spokane. When construction was completed last year, the couple moved into a home with a non-flammable roof, deck and siding and a lawn with fire-resistant plants.
News >  Spokane

Partner benefits challenged

Opponents of an ordinance that extends benefits to unmarried partners of city employees filed a referendum petition Friday seeking to overturn the measure. Members of a group called Choice of the People now have a month to gather 5,145 signatures to force the measure onto the ballot this year.
News >  Spokane

Two bike-car collisions kill man, injure girl

One man was killed and a teenager injured in separate bike-car collisions this week in Spokane Valley. "Bikes come out with the good weather," said Spokane Valley police Officer Jesse DePriest. Bike-vehicle crashes "happen more often at the beginning of summer than in the end of it. People are more used to seeing them by the end."
News >  Spokane

Holocaust memorial dedicated

The Spokane Community Holocaust Memorial, which was dedicated Thursday evening, honors not just the 6 million Jews killed in Nazi concentration camps, but those who lived. "It was important to remember that there are survivors and families of victims in Spokane," said Pam Silverstein, who led the committee that worked for the memorial. "It wasn't just an event that affected Jews that live elsewhere."
News >  Spokane

Hundreds get early release

More than 400 suspected criminals have walked free from the Spokane County Jail this year simply because police and prosecutors failed to file crucial paperwork within three days of the arrests. The 72-hour filing deadline is a legal requirement intended to limit the amount of time authorities are able to detain individuals without formally charging them with a crime.
News >  Spokane

Spokane police warn of identity theft scam

Police believe a con artist has targeted widows in an attempt to get personal identification information and use it to commit fraud. A woman whose husband died last month recently received a call from a person claiming to be from an area hospital, said Spokane Police fraud detective Stacey Carr at a press conference Wednesday. The caller said she needed the woman's husband's birthday and Social Security number for insurance paperwork.
News >  Spokane

Police warn of identity theft scam

Police believe a con artist has targeted widows in an attempt to get personal identification information and use it to commit fraud. A woman whose husband died last month recently received a call from a person claiming to be from an area hospital, said Spokane Police fraud detective Stacey Carr at a press conference Wednesday. The caller said she needed the woman's husband's birthday and Social Security number for insurance paperwork.
News >  Spokane

Florida crash ends life of generosity

Before Steve Heitner died of cancer last year, he and his wife, Kathy, talked about taking a trip to Florida with their kids and grandchildren. After he died, Kathy Heitner saved money and spent several weeks planning that trip, which was under way last week when a car crash killed Heitner and sent seven of her family members, all from Spokane, to a Tampa hospital.
News >  Spokane

Orthodox prepare for Easter

Late tonight, worshippers of Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church will celebrate the holiest moment in Christianity, the resurrection of Jesus. "The faith is not just a religion. It's a reflection of what God is, and what God is, is love," said lifelong Holy Trinity member Nick Damascus. "God didn't send his own son to be butchered. He was offering the gift of salvation."
News >  Spokane

Police arrest four in series of robberies

Police apprehended four people Thursday whom they believe are responsible for a series of violent robberies of homes in Spokane and Kootenai counties. "The community is significantly safer than it was two days ago," said Al Odenthal, Spokane's deputy police chief.
News >  Spokane

Shooting victim dies from wounds

The teenager shot Wednesday in a north Spokane alley has died. Police have not identified the teen, but neighbors said he was Frank Silva, a former student at Holmes Elementary and Glover Middle schools.
News >  Spokane

Teenager clings to life after shooting

A teenager was clinging to life Wednesday night after he was shot in broad daylight Wednesday in a north Spokane neighborhood. The victim, who was not identified by police, was with a man and another teen in an alley behind 2410 W. Boone Ave. when an argument arose, Spokane police Chief Roger Bragdon said.
News >  Spokane

Workers get help off tall building

Hanging outside one of Spokane's tallest buildings wasn't scary, just boring, said two workers who spent much of Tuesday afternoon contemplating how to make it to the roof after an equipment failure left them stranded. The men were on a platform about 1 p.m. preparing Metropolitan Financial Center's exterior for a chemical wash when they noticed they could no longer move the stage along the building. They were stuck next to the structure's south side, about 15 feet from the top.