The Spokane County Deputy Sheriffs Association on Thursday announced its endorsement of Douglas Orr over Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich in this year’s race for the county’s top law enforcement official. Orr, a Spokane police detective, is expected to file to run for sheriff against Knezovich, and the two Republicans already have met in one debate.
A leader in the movement to reform criminal justice said she would bring her expertise to the Spokane County Board of Commissioners if voters choose her over two other candidates for the District 3 commissioner seat this year. Mary Lou Johnson, a Democrat and a member of the Smart Justice coalition in Spokane, formally announced her candidacy Thursday at a gathering of supporters.
New rules governing weddings on Green Bluff are coming up for a round of public debate at the Spokane County Courthouse later this month. The county commissioners have spent the past year considering a series of measures to allow weddings and other social events in small-agriculture zones with the goal of keeping them consistent with agricultural uses and ensuring public safety is protected.
Former Democratic County Commissioner Bonnie Mager is seeking a rematch with the Republican who unseated her in 2010, only this time she is running as an independent. Mager lost in a close race to Commissioner Al French for the District 3 seat on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners. French beat Mager by 2,700 votes out of 173,000 that were cast.
The Inland Northwest is going to see its warmest days of the year as the weekend arrives, but a low pressure area is moving this way by Saturday to cool things down and bring a small chance of showers on Sunday. In downtown Spokane, high temperatures under sunny to mostly sunny skies should reach 79 today and 80 on Friday.
Spokane Transit Authority is encouraging Bloomsday participants to ride buses downtown during the trade show and registration pickup periods on Friday and Saturday. Parking and access to the Convention Center is limited this year as a result of construction of a hotel at Spokane Falls Boulevard and Bernard Street.
National Weather Service forecasters Monday upped their forecast for warm weather this week – they’re now saying downtown Spokane could reach the lower 80s on Friday. The warm weather isn’t expected to stretch into Sunday for the 38th annual Bloomsday race, however.
National Weather Service forecasters this afternoon have upped their forecast for warm weather this week. They are now saying that downtown Spokane could reach the lower 80s on Friday.
U.S. Highway 2 north of Spokane has become increasingly busy with traffic over the years. The four-lane, high-speed route exposes drivers to turning and crossing movements at a series of intersections, leading to accidents.
Spokane County’s 28-year-old jail is showing its age. Water collects on the floor in the basement kitchen because drains don’t work. Doors to the walk-in coolers are jammed. The subfloor is failing. Elevators are touch-and-go.
Forecasters said that scattered rain showers today should give way to rain overnight and more showers on Sunday, but warm sunny weather is not far away.
Rain and showers are dominating the forecast as the weekend approaches. A storm system carrying a feed of moisture from the southwest was expected to arrive overnight and continue well into this afternoon, bringing breezy conditions later today.
Work will resume today on the unfinished interchange at U.S. Highway 195 and Cheney-Spokane Road. Selland Construction, of Wenatchee, suspended work late last fall when cold weather arrived.
Spokane County and city officials will hire a Washington State University assistant professor with expertise in criminal justice to lead the initial implementation of criminal justice reforms recommended by a blue-ribbon panel last winter. Jackie van Wormer is expected to be hired under a $26,000 yearlong contract to serve as project manager for instituting recommendations in the 60-page report by the three-member panel.
A cold front approaching the Inland Northwest is causing wind gusts to pick up late this afternoon, but Easter Sunday is still on track to bring a mild sunny day with highs in the upper 50s.
Sewer utility customers who pay their bills to Spokane County are going to get a little more flexibility in payments in a change that may help some people avoid foreclosures for unpaid bills. County officials this week said they are now accepting partial payments, which will be especially useful for homeowners who find themselves behind on their bills.
Morning commuters on East Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley found themselves in a traffic jam Wednesday morning because of a construction delay in a repaving project that started earlier in the week. Sprague is being repaved from Park to Vista roads in the first of several repaving jobs along Sprague this construction season.
Brian and Laurie Hopkins are going for the triple play in historic designations. On Monday, the Spokane City Council approved listing of their 1912 Craftsman-style home to the Spokane historic register.
Don’t let today’s weather trick you into thinking the coming weekend is going to be a complete washout. Saturday and Sunday should both bring sunshine with highs in the 60s. Saturday will likely be the nicest of the two days.
Spokane County officials want to team up with other local agencies to seek $45 million in park and sports facility improvements through a ballot measure next year. About half of the money would pay for an indoor sports field house on city-owned park land on the north bank of the Spokane River adjacent to Riverfront Park.
Neighbors opposing a controversial subdivision in north Spokane County are taking their objections to court. A group that calls itself Citizens Affirming Responsible Development filed the lawsuit last week in Spokane County Superior Court seeking to overturn a preliminary plat for 25 homes on five acres at 17714 N. Hatch Road.
A repaving project on Sprague Avenue from Park to Vista roads that was delayed from 2013 will get started today. Crews were nearly finished with the work last fall when a sudden cold snap ended the paving season, said Craig Aldworth, Spokane senior engineer.
