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News >  Local government

Spokane Valley City Council to review SCRAPS contract after calls from local animal rights advocates

Tue., March 12, 2024

Spokane Valley is re-evaluating its contract with the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service after several community members raised concerns at city council meetings last month.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: Sprague Avenue to see biggest transformation in decades

Mon., March 11, 2024

Despite years of debate, land disputes and ballot measures, Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley has remained relatively the same for decades.

News >  Nation

Northwest lawmakers react to Biden’s most important State of the Union Address yet

UPDATED: Thu., March 7, 2024

President Joe Biden’s State of the Union Address on Thursday may have been the most consequential of his term, and Northwest lawmakers believe it highlighted exactly why – or why not – he should serve another four years.

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News >  Local government

Spokane Valley to purchase land for affordable housing development

Thu., March 7, 2024

The city of Spokane Valley will use federal COVID relief funding to purchase land it hopes to develop into affordable housing.

News >  Local government

Spokane Valley City Council reprimands Councilman Al Merkel, provides update on investigation into complaints against him during another dysfunctional meeting

UPDATED: Tue., March 5, 2024

The Spokane Valley City Council meeting on Tuesday once again devolved into disarray with Councilman Al Merkel’s behavior drawing the ire of other council members.

News >  WA Government

Washington Legislature loosens restrictions on police pursuits as Legislature backs initiative walking back chase reforms

UPDATED: Thu., March 7, 2024

The Washington Legislature has loosened restrictions on police pursuits for law enforcement agencies in the state, circumventing the need for voter approval in November. 

News >  Local government

Retired Air National Guard member announces candidacy, hopes to unseat county Commissioner Al French

UPDATED: Mon., March 4, 2024

A retired Washington Air National Guard member has announced her candidacy to represent the West Plains on the Spokane County Board of Commissioners.

News >  Local government

Spokane Valley City Councilman Al Merkel warned to stay out of Spokane Valley City Hall except for meetings during investigation into his behavior

UPDATED: Fri., March 1, 2024

Spokane Valley City Councilman Al Merkel has been warned to stay out of Spokane Valley City Hall as a result of an investigation opened into his behavior toward city staff.

News >  Higher education

Washington universities extend decision deadlines due to problematic new FAFSA rollout

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 29, 2024

Most four-year colleges and universities in Washington have extended decision deadlines for prospective students after compounding delays in the federal financial aid system have left students across the country in a bind.

News >  Local government

Spokane Valley faces slew of challenges in filling newly approved deputy positions

Thu., Feb. 29, 2024

Spokane Valley is moving forward with plans to bolster the city’s police department, but it could take more than a year for new deputies to hit the streets.

News >  Local government

Spokane Valley will get larger police force, at the cost of road maintenance and other city services

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 27, 2024

Spokane Valley residents will pay more this year for owning a vehicle, but it will result in less funding for improvements to the city’s streets. On the other hand, it will help free up funding to hire more deputies dedicated to the Spokane Valley Police Department.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: County set to break ground on roundabout in Moran Prairie as urban sprawl continues to creep up South Hill

Mon., Feb. 26, 2024

The intersection of 57th Avenue and Freya Street doesn’t seem like much of a problem area on any given weekday afternoon.

News >  Local government

Spokane Valley Councilman Al Merkel’s neighbors have an issue with his car collection

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 26, 2024

Before Spokane Valley City Councilman Al Merkel started ruffling feathers on the city council, he was irritating his neighbors.

News >  Agriculture

From a neighbor’s farm to your table: Spokane food system gets state grant backing

Sun., Feb. 25, 2024

Farming is hard work, and getting into the industry as a relative outsider makes it harder.

News >  Spokane

Levy fails for northwest Spokane County fire district, but it may not have been legal anyway

Tue., Feb. 20, 2024

Voters in northwest Spokane County last Tuesday rejected a levy lid lift for their fire district for the fourth time in the last decade.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: Illegal dumping closes West Plains county road indefinitely – ‘It’s horrible, and it stinks to high heavens’

Mon., Feb. 19, 2024

Defunct refrigerators, piles of old tires, construction materials and bags brimming with rotten food. You name it, and Debbie Child has probably seen it thrown out of the back of a truck near her home on the West Plains.

News >  Local government

Amber Waldref appointed to statewide council on homelessness

Fri., Feb. 16, 2024

Spokane County will now have some representation on the state’s advisory council for homelessness.

News >  Spokane

Moritz Kundig, prolific mid-century architect behind Spokane Civic Theatre, several iconic homes, dies at 98

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 16, 2024

Renowned architect Moritz Kundig, one of Spokane’s most prolific midcentury modern champions, died last Saturday at the age of 98.

News >  Local government

Voters overwhelmingly support Fairfield joining Spokane County Fire District 2

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 14, 2024

Fairfield residents in southeastern Spokane County will now have more say over their firefighting services.

News >  K-12 education

Spokane County voters reject school bonds, but give backing to levies

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 14, 2024

For the first time in more than 50 years, Spokane voters chose to fail a Spokane Public Schools bond.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: BNSF halts work in Spokane Valley, likely adding to delays for Pines Road project

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 12, 2024

A major public works project meant to alleviate traffic stoppages at one of the busiest railroad crossings in Spokane Valley has hit another hurdle.

News >  Washington

‘Diamond in the rough’ Bear Lake in northern Spokane County set to receive slate of upgrades

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 12, 2024

Jennifer Goff believes Bear Lake Regional Park, nestled off U.S. Highway 2 just north of Chattaroy, might be one of the best-kept secrets in Spokane County.

News >  Local business

Painted Hills development saga could finally come to close this spring

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 6, 2024

The fate of a 584-unit housing development at the site of a formerly bankrupted golf course in Spokane Valley could be decided by early March.

News >  WA Government

State lawmaker proposes heat pump grant to help homeowners rebuild in wake of Spokane County fires

Tue., Feb. 6, 2024

A state budget committee on Monday voted in unanimous support of a proposed grant program to sustainably rebuild structures lost in wildfires around Washington. Inspired by the devastation the Gray and Oregon Road fires brought to Spokane County, the bill was born out of a monthslong debate among eastern Washington residents over changes to building code in the state that take effect next month. The state Building Code Council announced those changes last year.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: Airway Heights seeking community input on plans to make U.S. 2 more walkable, bikable, friendly to local businesses

Mon., Feb. 5, 2024

The city of Airway Heights has never had much of a downtown.