Mike Prager

Spokane County commissioners are going to decide who will fill a vacancy on the board of Fire District 9 after the two remaining fire commissioners failed to agree on an appointment. The county commissioners on Tuesday opened the position for applications through 5 p.m. on Aug. 3.

The first Spokane street maintenance jobs financed by a new vehicle license fee will be getting under way across the city in the next few weeks. The City Council last Monday approved about $1 million in a pair of contracts for the work.

A growth management update in Spokane County would expand the boundary where urban uses are allowed, opening new land for development. Spokane County commissioners this week asked for additional environmental review on a handful of locations so that they can take a comprehensive look at areas proposed for urban use.

The sizzling heat of the past week could get dampened starting tonight. Earlier today, the National Weather Service upped the chance of rain and thunderstorms to 90 percent tonight, but the latest forecast is calling for a 30 percent chance.

Perhaps the choicest piece of property in Spokane’s city real estate portfolio is going up for sale. The Spokane City Council voted unanimously Monday to sell the building where Anthony’s Restaurants has served seafood with a view of the Spokane Falls since 2004.

The historic Fancher Beacon tower that once held a powerful rotating light for early aviation is now gone from atop Beacon Hill in east Spokane. Named after Maj. John T. Fancher, the beacon was erected in 1928 just months after his death at an air show in Wenatchee and named in his honor.

Veterans who are looking for work are getting a new online tool to help them in their job searches, the Washington Department of Employment Security announced. Job seekers can now list their veteran status on the agency’s online resume service at go2worksource.com.

Up to 7 inches of rain drenched the Inland Northwest this month, setting records at numerous locations across the region. An inch or more fell in areas north of Spokane and Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday, adding to the already copious rain accumulations in Stevens, Pend Oreille, Bonner, Shoshone and Boundary counties.

Up to 7 inches of rain have drenched the Inland Northwest this month, setting records at numerous locations in the region.

Spokane County Commissioners and the city of Spokane appear to have reached a deal on keeping city inmates in the county jail system for now and working on reforms to reduce costs for criminals. The commissioners on Tuesday approved a new agreement promising cost-saving reforms by Dec. 15, in time for budget reductions for 2013.

The Kootenai River at Bonners Ferry overflowed its banks on Monday with minor flooding, and forecasters said the river may rise to a foot above flood stage by today. High river flows out of Canada combined with higher-elevation snowmelt and near-record rain in June are contributing to the flood.

Financing expansion of the Spokane Convention Center and Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena may require an increase in the current room tax to raise bond funds for the $65 million in projects approved by voters in April. Spokane city officials have said they’d prefer an increase in the hotel-motel tax from 10.7 percent to the state-allowed maximum of 12 percent, which would get City Hall off the hook for a loan guarantee. Such a guarantee was being sought by the Spokane Public Facilities District to raise funds on the municipal bond market, officials said last week.

A strong Pacific storm system is taking aim on the Inland Northwest on Tuesday with moderate to heavy rain expected. An inch or more could fall in some locations, forecasters said today.

A risk of thunderstorms returns to the forecast today, and some of them could be severe, the National Weather Service said.

A vehicle licensing agent in Spokane is under criminal investigation for a series of irregularities in transactions with vehicle owners, Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton said today.

When summer arrives at 4:09 this afternoon, it will close the record on yet another cool, wet spring in the Inland Northwest. But a taste of heat is in the forecast for the next few days.