Stories by Mitchell Roland for the Spokesman-Review

Former state Supreme Court Justice Richard Guy, a Gonzaga graduate, dies

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 11, 2025

Former Washington state Supreme Court Chief Justice Richard Guy, a Gonzaga Law School graduate who called his time on the state’s highest court “the greatest job I could possibly have,” died last month at his home in Seattle. He was 93.

News > Higher education

WSU suspends controversial transgender continuing education courses

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 6, 2025

Washington State University has suspended continuing education courses offered by an organization designated as an anti-LGBTQ+ hate group as it reviews whether the materials comply with accreditation standards.

Governor tours Western State Hospital as state looks to improve staff safety

UPDATED: Fri., Nov. 7, 2025

Gov. Bob Ferguson worked from the campus of Western State Hospital in Lakewood this week and toured the construction site of the new 350-bed forensic hospital, which is slated to open in 2028.

Governor Ferguson to make weekend trip to Spokane

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 5, 2025

Gov. Bob Ferguson will make a trip to Spokane this weekend, marking at least his fourth visit to the area since taking office earlier this year.

Democrats find success in Legislative races

UPDATED: Wed., Nov. 5, 2025

While Tuesday’s election was predominantly focused on city and county races, voters in six legislative districts in western Washington also decided who should represent them at the state Capitol.

Spokane progressives post strong showing on Election Night as voters signal they’re receptive to taxes

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 4, 2025

Spokane voters in early returns Tuesday mirrored national trends in their support for left-leaning politics and demonstrated an appetite for more taxes in spite of economic uncertainty.

Voters OK investment of WA Cares funds in stock market

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 4, 2025

A year after voters rejected making the state’s long-term care program optional, they backed an amendment that supporters say will better fund it.

Spokane voters return trio of municipal court judges to bench

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 4, 2025

Early results show that all three incumbents seeking to serve on the Spokane Municipal Court appear to have been elected to another term on the bench.

‘I think it’s a particularly tough cycle’: Creative ads aim to draw attention to Tuesday’s election

Tue., Nov. 4, 2025

The video opens on a close-up of people booty -bumping with copies of the U.S. Constitution and Declaration of Independence sticking out of their jean pockets, as an instantly recognizable drumbeat begins to loop in the background.

Federal government to issue partial SNAP benefits amid shutdown

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 3, 2025

Cindy Evenson and Jack Stevens typically drive their Toyota Sienna van approximately 40 minutes from their home in Springdale to north Spokane in search of a deal when they shop for groceries.

‘People wanted to ditch the switch’: Daylight saving time continues despite broad frustration

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 31, 2025

As you change your clocks this weekend to mark the end of daylight saving time, you might think: Didn’t we end this?

News > Government

Judges order Trump administration to keep funding SNAP. When will food benefits reach Washington and Idaho families?

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 31, 2025

WASHINGTON – Two federal judges on Friday ordered the Trump administration to continue paying for food assistance that was set to end amid the government shutdown, but it was unclear when families in Washington state and Idaho would receive the benefits.

States challenge SNAP funding freeze as governor pledges additional funds for food banks

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 28, 2025

Washington has joined 24 other states in a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Agriculture to require the agency to use contingency funding to pay for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, otherwise known as food stamps.

Meta challenges $35 million fine for campaign finance violations in Washington Supreme Court

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 28, 2025

Social media company Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has asked the Washington state Supreme Court to overturn a $35 million fine for not complying with the state’s campaign finance laws regarding digital advertising.

‘Everybody that’s retired now is scared’: Washington residents to lose food stamps if shutdown extends beyond Friday

UPDATED: Sun., Oct. 26, 2025

Nearly a million Washingtonians will lose access to food benefit programs, including food stamps, if the ongoing federal shutdown continues beyond next week.

State Supreme Court to decide whether WSU can be held liable for hazing death

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 23, 2025

The Washington Supreme Court will decide whether universities have a duty to protect students from hazing in a case arising from the 2019 death at a Washington State University fraternity.

News > Transportation

State to demolish damaged I-90 overpass near Cle Elum

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 23, 2025

The Washington state Department of Transportation will demolish a portion of the Bullfrog Road overpass on I-90 near Cle Elum after an oversized truck struck the roadway late Tuesday night.

Lawmakers remain at impasse over healthcare tax credits as government shutdown continues

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 22, 2025

OLYMPIA – Discussions over extending federal health care tax credits remain at a stalemate as the ongoing federal government shutdown stretches into its 22nd day, now the second longest in the nation’s history.

News > Transportation

Westbound I-90 near Cle Elum closed after crash causes ‘significant damage’

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 22, 2025

Travelers planning to drive westbound across Snoqualmie Pass should expect “significant” delays after a late-night crash damaged an overpass over Interstate 90 near Cle Elum.

News > Crime/Public Safety

‘South Hill rapist’ Kevin Coe kicked off Muckleshoot tribal land

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 21, 2025

The Muckleshoot Indian Tribe ordered “South Hill rapist” Kevin Coe off their land two weeks ago, prompting his latest move to a group home in Federal Way.

Arraignment delayed for man accused of breaking into Washington Capitol

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 18, 2025

The arraignment of the man accused of breaking into the Washington State Capitol and damaging several state artifacts has been delayed until at least Nov. 4 as the suspect undergoes a 14-day “involuntary treatment/detention” in Grays Harbor County, an attorney representing him said during a brief court appearance Friday.

News > Transportation

State highway system in ‘early states of critical failure,’ needs billions in repair money

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 17, 2025

Inadequate funding over the past 25 years has left needed road maintenance uncompleted and could result in higher future repair costs, Washington transportation officials said this week.

State health officials outline impacts of federal Medicaid cuts

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 16, 2025

A collection of state health officials said Thursday that cuts to federal Medicaid and food assistance programs’ funding, adopted this summer, have left them looking for ways to minimize the impacts on Washington residents, though they warned the changes could “ripple across the health care system.”

Health official warns thousands across Washington could lose health care if tax credit not extended

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 14, 2025

An estimated 80,000 Washingtonians could be priced out of health insurance if the tax credits at the center of the ongoing federal government shutdown expire, according to the CEO of the Washington Health Benefit Exchange.

General election ballots to be mailed this week as Auditor’s Office continues to advise early return

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 15, 2025

The Spokane County Auditor’s Office will begin mailing approximately 370,000 ballots to registered voters this week ahead of next month’s general election. Given recent changes to the U.S. Postal Service’s operations, County Auditor Vicky Dalton has advised voters who want to return their ballots via mail to do so earlier than in years past.

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