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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 >  Idaho

Silverwood ride debuts with a splash

On the walk to the top of the newest water slide at Silverwood Theme Park, many thought the ride seemed more pleasant than scary. But that was before sliding down Avalanche Mountain, which debuted Saturday.
News >  Spokane

More hopefuls file for city office

The president of a youth sports league active in the debate over a sports complex near Joe Albi Stadium wants a bigger say in city government. He was among those who joined races for Spokane offices Thursday.
News >  Business

Sanders named city economic development director

Spokane has a new leader for economic development. Mayor Dennis Hession has selected Theresa Sanders, who was second in command at the Spokane Area Economic Development Council until last year, as the new economic development director. She was offered the job on Wednesday, pending approval by City Council.
News >  Spokane

Spokane’s life aquatic

If anything's clear from a recently released survey of Spokane residents about the future of city pools, it's this: "They don't want our seasonal pools messed with," said Taylor Bressler, the city's park planning and development manager, when asked to interpret the numbers.
News >  Spokane

Sports park by Albi has new legs

Spokane voters may get a second chance to vote on a sports complex near Joe Albi Stadium, but this time the city would ask for money. The Spokane City Council on Monday heard arguments about an $11 million plan to build softball and soccer fields, a BMX track and skate park on land north of the stadium. But the city only has $4 million earmarked for the project by voters who agreed in 1999 to allow a sports complex to be built with the sale of park land.
News >  Spokane

4 council members back tax extension vote

The Spokane City Council could be on the verge of throwing the opposite of the Boston Tea Party – a revolt in support of taxes. Facing what they say are increasing needs for more police officers and firefighters, at least four council members say they are willing to ask voters to reauthorize increased property taxes.
News >  Spokane

Work blocks Centennial Trail

Bikers and runners are in search of new routes after part of the Centennial Trail closed this week near Pasadena Park. Spokane County on Tuesday closed Upriver Drive between Hodin Drive and Bessie Road, just west of Argonne, to install a sewer. The 37-mile trail between Riverside State Park and the Idaho border is attached to Upriver in that stretch, causing it to shut down as well.
News >  Spokane

City, unions make steps

City of Spokane officials are making progress in their stated goal of gaining medical benefit concessions from city unions. But the two contracts where sides have reached agreement are the smallest of the city's six unions, and they've come with a price.
News >  Voices

Senior housing planned

Facing health concerns and medical bills, Jeanne Koerner was forced to move from her home in the East Central neighborhood. Now, she wants nothing more than to move back. "This is my neighborhood," said Koerner, speaking from East Central's senior center. "I love it here."
News >  Spokane

City to fund land for fire station

The fire chief didn't ask for it, but the Spokane City Council on Tuesday gave his department $350,000 to buy land to build a new station in Latah Valley in southwest Spokane. Spokane City Councilman Brad Stark and Councilman Al French, who is running for mayor, had proposed spending $2 million of the $11 million the city had left over in 2006 to buy the land and construct the building.
News >  Spokane

Kendall Yards may seek wider subsidy

With one tax subsidy secured, Kendall Yards developers and the city are considering another. The upscale commercial and residential project in downtown Spokane may seek a portion of sales tax revenue generated within the development as well as increased property taxes, but probably not this year, city officials say. The money would be used for site preparation such as roads and utilities.
News >  Spokane

Water meter readers using radio transmitters

Finding a job reading water meters in Spokane is getting about as easy as finding employment as an elevator operator. New meter technology over the years already has allowed the city's reader staff to be cut in half, to eight, said Frank Triplett, the city's water superintendent.
News >  Spokane

Garbage pickup from some alleys ending

An estimated 2,200 north Spokane garbage customers were informed this week that garbage trucks will no longer drive through their alleys. The move has sparked complaints among some residents who say street collection makes little sense since alleys were designed specifically for services like garbage. Others wonder if the switch will cause other problems, like parked cars blocking their trash bins.
News >  Spokane

Spokane settles records case

The city of Spokane will pay $40,000 to an animal rights organization to settle a lawsuit that accused the city of violating the Public Records Act. The dispute arose from a records request made Jan. 30, 2003, by attorney Cheryl Mitchell, who represents Animal Advocates of the Inland Northwest, for all animal control complaints filed with the city for five years.
News >  Spokane

City adopts cyberstalking ordinance

Text messaging is becoming a more common way to torment people, but until Monday, the emerging form of harassment wasn't covered in city law. The Spokane City Council unanimously adopted a cyberstalking ordinance Monday night.
News >  Voices

Alcohol in city parks could happen

Alcohol could be allowed at each Spokane city park once a year under a new policy approved last week by the Spokane Park Board. The new rules also permit alcohol to be served at the Park Bench Cafe in Manito Park.
News >  Spokane

Shogan to seek position again

Spokane City Council President Joe Shogan said Wednesday that he will compete to keep his job. Shogan, 58, was appointed to the post in January 2006 after the former council president, Dennis Hession, was named mayor.
News >  Spokane

Al French’s condos tax-free for 10 years

Portions of a 10-story building planned by City Councilman Al French will be tax-free for 10 years. The City Council on Monday approved a multifamily tax exemption for ParcTwo20, a residential, commercial and office project across from Holy Family Hospital.
News >  Spokane

Spokane OKs Kendall Yards funding

A 78-acre development adjacent to downtown will get tax money. The Spokane City Council voted 6-1 to create a "tax-increment financing" district for Kendall Yards and the surrounding area.
News >  Spokane

Nonprofits wary of Kendall plan

A sentence in a city document giving notice about potential tax subsidies for an 80-acre development near downtown has some neighborhood leaders thinking River Park Square. Spokane City Council tonight will consider the creation of the tax-increment financing district for Kendall Yards and surrounding land that extends north to Boone Avenue and farther north on Monroe and the Maple-Ash corridor.
News >  Spokane

Tax-funded subsidies can fall short

With the City Council on the verge of approving a tax-funded subsidy to help one developer, another who already has benefited from such a plan says it's been a bureaucratic headache. Few question the benefits of the Iron Bridge development, an upscale commercial office complex across Trent Avenue from Union Gospel Mission. But the "tax-increment financing" package used to subsidize water, streets and other infrastructure in the development hasn't worked out nearly as well as predicted by the developer and city officials when it was approved in 2004.
News >  Spokane

Industry pushed Photo Red

Among those lobbying Spokane City Council members to begin using cameras to catch red-light violators was an advocacy group financed by two companies vying for the contract to operate the program. The National Campaign to Stop Red Light Running is a nonprofit organization financed by three firms that contract with local governments to run camera enforcement programs.
News >  Spokane

City Council approves cameras at stoplights

Catching red light violators just got a lot easier in the city of Spokane. The Spokane City Council on Monday approved rule changes allowing the city to place cameras at intersections to catch drivers who run red lights.
News >  Spokane

Kendall Yard moves forward

The Spokane City Council is ready to approve tax subsidies for a proposed 78-acre development near downtown. A majority of council members told Council President Joe Shogan on Friday that they support a $25 million tax plan for the Kendall Yards development. The public won't offer testimony until May 14.