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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Nicholas Deshais

This individual is no longer an employee with The Spokesman-Review.

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News >  Spokane

Leaders propose early review of initiatives

A legal review of citizen initiatives filed in Spokane has been proposed by city leaders as a way to bring “certainty, clarity and transparency” to a form of participatory democracy that Washingtonians helped usher into American politics more than 100 years ago. Standing side by side at City Hall, Spokane Mayor David Condon and Council President Ben Stuckart announced Wednesday they would work to amend the city’s initiative process by adding a “quasi-judicial” legal review of the initiatives by the city’s hearing examiner, a position currently held by Brian McGinn.
News >  Spokane

Downtown loop adds bikes to flow

Sara Stime bikes to work every now and again. A couple of days a week, she throws her bike in her car and drives down Sunset Hill to Browne’s Addition, where she parks. After unloading her bike, it’s a quick ride to Atticus, the downtown Spokane coffee shop where she works.

News >  Spokane

Spokane City Council backs gun control plan

About 10 men openly carrying their firearms went to the Spokane City Council on Monday to show their support for gun rights. The council unanimously supported a firearm ordinance sponsored by Councilman Mike Fagan that he said “synced up” city code with state law. Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin was absent.
News >  Spokane

Spokane city council approves firearms ordinance

About 10 men openly carrying their firearms went to Spokane City Council Monday to show their support for gun rights. The council unanimously supported a firearm ordinance sponsored by Councilman Mike Fagan that he said “synced up” city code with state law. Councilwoman Nancy McLaughlin was absent.
News >  Spokane

City may strengthen firearms ban in public assembly facilities

Lay down your arms – at least when attending a Spokane Shock game or Bon Jovi concert. Spokane city leaders are considering changes to local ordinances that strengthen rules banning firearms in public assembly facilities, specifically the Convention Center, the INB Performing Arts Center, Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena and Joe Albi Stadium. Among other things, the ban clarifies that even handguns carried by individuals with concealed pistol permits are prohibited.
News >  Spokane

Council hopeful loses challenge over residency

The troubled candidacy of Mark Hamilton came to an end Friday. A Superior Court judge ruled that Hamilton failed to meet residency requirements for a Spokane City Council seat and prohibited his name from appearing on the general election ballot in November.
News >  Spokane

Chief: Department didn’t sell Stephens submachine gun

The Spokane Police Department is denying that it sold a submachine gun to former Assistant Chief Scott Stephens, despite its own internal affairs investigation saying Stephens’ possession of the SWAT-style weapon contributed to some officers feeling he was “capable of carrying out the threat” to “go home and get a rifle” and resort to violence. “Scott did not buy an MP-5 from the Spokane Police Department,” police Chief Frank Straub said Wednesday, explaining that Assistant Chief Craig Meidl was mistaken when he claimed otherwise in internal affairs documents from last December’s investigation into reports that Stephens had made threatening comments after learning of his demotion.
News >  Spokane

Police officers feared Scott Stephens’ intent

When fellow police officers heard Assistant Chief Scott Stephens say he wanted to “go home and get a rifle” after hearing of his impending demotion last December, they feared it might be more than an idle threat. After all, they knew Stephens had recently purchased a used submachine gun from the department’s armory and that he felt embarrassed, betrayed and cast aside by a City Hall administration that once praised his leadership abilities. Within hours, new Chief Frank Straub discussed the possibility of sending officers to Stephens’ home to confiscate his firearms collection, but decided against it in part because of concern it could trigger a violent backlash.
News >  Spokane

Council members refer to trial parking meters as ‘Big Brother’

It was raining, but the woman leaving the spot still popped out of her car to tell Sarah Beemer there was time left on the meter. More than enough time – 34 minutes – for Beemer to run across the street to pick up her alterations at Nordstrom. She took the spot. “People pay it forward in Spokane,” said Beemer, 51. “I appreciate that kindness.”
News >  Spokane

Library branches’ hours extended

First came the money, then the hours. The Spokane Public Library board of trustees voted Tuesday to open three outlying branches eight hours a day, five days a week. The decision follows the February special election, when voters passed a four-year property tax levy enabling the Eastside, Hillyard and Indian Trail locations to increase operations to 40 hours a week.