Kip Hill

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News >  Spokane

Spokane asks residents to leave trash on curb by 7 a.m. starting Feb. 27

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 25, 2017

Residents will be asked to leave their garbage carts at the curb by 7 a.m. on collection day beginning Feb. 27, to coincide with route changes instituted to lower costs, the city announced Wednesday.

News >  Spokane

Sen. Patty Murray maintains pressure on Betsy DeVos, other Trump nominees, defends NAFTA

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 25, 2017

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray on Tuesday said President Donald Trump’s cabinet nominees posed unprecedented “complex financial and legal issues” ahead of planned confirmation votes. The long-serving Democrat also advised against gutting the North American Free Trade Agreement and said she was spurred by the protests against Trump’s campaign rhetoric this weekend.

News >  Spokane

Reversal on trade pact leaves some in Northwest worried, others relieved

UPDATED: Mon., Jan. 23, 2017

Washington business and trade groups characterized President Donald Trump’s move Monday to back off from a proposed trade pact among Asia-Pacific nations as a setback for the state’s economy.

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News >  Marijuana

Idaho State Police seize 378 pounds of marijuana in traffic stop Friday near Kellogg

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 20, 2017

An Idaho State Police trooper pulled over a Chevy Tahoe carrying the marijuana on Friday morning, valued at more than $1 million.

News >  Spokane

Mayor David Condon among Inland Northwest residents attending Trump inauguration

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 20, 2017

Local Donald Trump supporters who made the 2,000 mile trek to Washington, D.C., witnessed both a hopeful populist address from their new president and the unrest caused by his political opponents.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Republicans celebrate Donald Trump’s inauguration

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 20, 2017

Supporters called Donald Trump’s speech hopeful and unifying Friday morning at a gathering in the party headquarters of the Spokane County Republican Party.

News >  Spokane

Trump inauguration draws Inland Northwest revelers, dissidents to D.C.

UPDATED: Fri., Jan. 20, 2017

Estimates place the number of attendees at this weekend’s inauguration events in Washington D.C. at nearly 1 million people. Among them will be Inland Northwest residents on both sides of the political spectrum.

News >  Spokane

Looff Carrousel’s new home comes with a $7 million construction price tag

Thu., Jan. 19, 2017

The bid from Walker Construction is about $29,000 more than what was budgeted for the project, according to the Parks Department, but is within contingency reserves for construction. The new home for the 1909 carousel, named for its designer, is slated to open in February 2018.

News >  Spokane

Obama praised for poise, resolve by members of Spokane’s black community

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 18, 2017

President Barack Obama entered office eight years ago with the hopes of many black Americans that life would improve. Spokane residents say the president set an example that will be followed by a new generation and fought against obstacles, political and otherwise.

News >  Spokane

California woman targets Spokane, other U.S. cities to help stop dog meat trade in Korea

Sun., Jan. 15, 2017

Giny Woo grew up learning that dog meat, a main ingredient in soup prepared in her native South Korea, had medicinal qualities. She’s launched a petition-writing campaign, including Spokane, asking city leaders to pressure Korean officials to stop the practice.

News >  Spokane

Melting snow will stress Spokane’s in-progress stormwater system

Sat., Jan. 14, 2017

With rain and temperatures in the 40s forecasted next week, the amount of melting snow will likely cause sewer overflows into the Spokane River. But the city is pushing forward with plans to bury more massive underwater tanks to trap water runoff and limit such overflows during future weather events.

News >  Business

Snoop effect? Local pot shop sees sales jump after rapper’s visit

Fri., Jan. 13, 2017

The owners of retail pot shop Royal’s Cannabis may have money on the mind after a visit in December by rapper Snoop Dogg. The store posted a 10.6 percent sales increase last month compared to their sales in November, according to numbers reported by the Washington Liquor and Cannabis Board.

News >  Spokane

Local leaders look for silver lining in Fairchild tanker announcement

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 12, 2017

While the West Plains military base will likely not get the next generation of fuel tankers, local leaders stressed Thursday that Fairchild may end up benefiting from the decision by receiving a larger allotment of current generation aircraft.

News >  Spokane

Trump, Clinton and Sanders campaigns haven’t paid back Spokane

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 12, 2017

The City of Spokane says it cost about $100,000 to provide security for campaign rallies by Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders this year. The campaigns, billed for those services, haven’t paid back a dime.

News >  Spokane

Spokane businessman pleads guilty to stealing $1 million in lottery winnings from Oregon woman

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 12, 2017

Scott K. Brett, 55, pleaded guilty on Friday in Richland to a single count of wire fraud after soliciting $1 million in lottery winnings from an Oregon woman. He faces a potential four year prison sentence and must repay at least $855,000 to the victim as part of the plea deal.

News >  Business

Developer Douglass appeals Spokane City Council’s denial of Indian Trail apartment complex

UPDATED: Wed., Jan. 11, 2017

Harley Douglass has appealed the City Council’s universal rejection of his plans to build 750 housing units on 50 acres of property in the North Indian Trail neighborhood, citing disobeyance of planning documents in favor of intense public pressure.

News >  Spokane

State incentives for film production, used by Spokane-based ‘Z Nation,’ are set to expire

Thu., Jan. 5, 2017

An incentive program credited for bringing “Z Nation” to Spokane is set to expire in June, and local leaders are asking lawmakers to extend it for the second time.

News >  Spokane

Kip Hill: My favorite stories of 2016

Wed., Jan. 4, 2017

A murder-for-hire case, a presidential election, arcades, records, a scandal at City Hall - it was all in a year’s work.

News >  Spokane

Garco Construction in line to build University District pedestrian bridge for $9.5 million

Tue., Jan. 3, 2017

Garco Construction, which has already completed several multimillion-dollar public works projects throughout Spokane, entered the low bid to build a pedestrian bridge in the University District. Some have criticized the bridge’s construction cost, which is $9.5 million, though supporters say the project will open up the neigbhorhood to further development.

News >  Spokane

Inmate cleanup crews target downtown Spokane viaducts, overpasses

Fri., Dec. 30, 2016

Inmates at the Geiger Correctional Facility have cleaned up hundreds of thousands of pounds of garbage over the past three years as part of a county-run grant program. They’re working this winter in viaducts that are often used as shelter by the city’s homeless population.

News >  Spokane

City, county officials eyeing rate hikes for garbage disposal

Tue., Dec. 27, 2016

Spokane County officials have proposed a 3.5 percent increase in rates to dispose of garbage at the county’s two transfer stations in Colbert and Spokane Valley.

News >  Spokane

Spokane’s recycled glass ends up in area landfill, due to lack of interested buyers

Mon., Dec. 26, 2016

With traditional markets such as bottling companies and fiberglass manufacturers either inundated by product or going out of business, Spokane’s recycling collectors have turned to an area landfill to bed down recycled glass. The Department of Ecology has said that glass shouldn’t count as part of the county’s inventory of recycled materials, but there’s no easy fix in sight.

News >  Spokane

Weather service issues winter storm warning for Inland Northwest on Monday night

Mon., Dec. 26, 2016

Heavy snow is expected to fall around the region, beginning after 6 p.m. Monday. Driving conditions will be poorest between midnight and 4 a.m., forecasters say, with snow moving out of the area by the time rush hour hits in Washington. Idaho should see even more snowfall.

News >  Spokane

Christmas snow sends sledders to hills at Spokane parks, schools

Mon., Dec. 26, 2016

A frosty Christmas that saw 5 inches of snow on the ground around the Spokane area prompted several revelers to head outside and find a hill to careen down.

News >  Spokane

Plows begin full-city routes in Spokane ahead of more expected snowfall Monday

Sun., Dec. 25, 2016

Snowplows will be rolled throughout the city of Spokane on Christmas, with an additional 4 to 6 inches of accumulation expected overnight Monday and into Tuesday. Residents are asked to clear their sidewalks and parked cars of snow, and to move their vehicles to the even side of the street.