Roberta Simonson

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News >  Local Government

Deer Park has joined national litigation against manufacturers of ‘forever chemicals’

UPDATED: Mon., Sept. 11, 2023

After finding PFAS in three of its eight water sources, the city of Deer Park is joining national litigation against manufacturers of the chemicals.

News >  Local Government

Police, city hall among issues debated by Deer Park city council candidates

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 4, 2023

Deer Park voters have a choice between a longtime resident and a more recent arrival in a race for a City Council seat in November.

Sports >  Outdoors

Paragliders celebrate 50 years of flight at Steptoe Butte on the Palouse

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 10, 2023

At least 50 people, plus one dog, visited Steptoe Butte State Park in Colfax Saturday and Sunday for an event hosted by Center of Lift to celebrate 50 years of flight at the location.

News >  Transportation

Road work to look out for this week

UPDATED: Sun., Sept. 10, 2023

Night construction continues on Maple Street Bridge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night for road repair and improvement. Construction is expected to continue through mid-November. Starting Tuesday, full closure will switch from the northbound lanes to the southbound lanes, northbound traffic will be reduced to one lane.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

All evacuations lifted for the Gray and Oregon Road fires

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 5, 2023

As full containment nears for both the Oregon Road and Gray fires, all evacuations for the blazes have been lifted.

News >  Transportation

Here are some road projects that might affect Spokane drivers this week

Mon., Sept. 4, 2023

Night construction continues on Maple Street Bridge from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. each night for road repair and improvement. Construction is expected to continue through mid-November.

A&E >  Entertainment

Spokane County Interstate Fair is coming back Friday, featuring a live mascot

Sun., Sept. 3, 2023

The Spokane County Interstate Fair is back in 2023, bringing 10 days of food, fun and a live mascot: Cedar the Highland Cow.

Sports >  Gonzaga athletics

Gonzaga’s bulldog statue, on guard outside The Kennel, is available in the form of a bobblehead

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 31, 2023

In light of the start of the school year, the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has released a limited edition bobblehead: a replica of Gonzaga University’s iconic bulldog statue.

News >  Sci/Tech

It’s the last blue supermoon until 2037, but clouds may get in the way for viewers in Spokane. Here’s what to know

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 29, 2023

There’s once in a blue moon, and there’s once in a blue supermoon.

News >  Weather

Cooler, wetter weather headed to Spokane again

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 28, 2023

After two days of temperatures back in the 90s, cooler and wetter weather is expected to reappear in Spokane.

News >  Higher education

U of I research team identifies polar bears using DNA found in paw prints

UPDATED: Sun., Aug. 27, 2023

When Andrew Von Duyke, a wildlife biologist stationed in Fairbanks, Alaska, reached out to Jennifer Adams, a research scientist at the University of Idaho, for help with a research project involving polar bears, her answer was yes. Von Duyke was working to come up with a methodology to identify polar bears using the DNA left in snowy bear tracks. That was in November 2020.

News >  Military

‘We still have each other’: Fairchild’s fire department hosts cookout for military members affected by local fires

UPDATED: Fri., Aug. 25, 2023

Outside the garage of Fairchild Air Force Base’s fire station Thursday, several fire trucks were parked to create a space for rows of tables, two bouncy houses for kids and a DJ to play feel-good tunes. Firefighters in military garb lingered throughout the station with their friends and families.

News >  Agriculture

Cheney’s Mindful Me Farms harnesses the power of hydroponics to grow produce ‘richer than you buy at the store’

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 22, 2023

From the outside, one would think the Gainer family has a train car in their front yard. Inside the small structure, it looks and feels like the set of a sci-fi film.

A&E >  Food

Pig Out in the Park returns later this month for its 42nd year in Spokane

Mon., Aug. 21, 2023

Pig Out in the Park is coming back Labor Day weekend for its 42nd year.

News >  Weather

Air quality may reach unhealthy for all level for the first time this fire season later this week

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 17, 2023

While Thursday’s air quality was moderate and unhealthy for sensitive groups, Spokane’s air may become unhealthy for all in the coming days.

News >  Weather

Spokane has gotten almost no rain lately, and there’s a good chance it’ll stay that way

UPDATED: Mon., Aug. 7, 2023

On social media Saturday, the National Weather Service in Spokane warned of skies “turning stormy.”

News >  Weather

Fire roundup: Lightning, low humidity lead to increased risk of fire in southeastern part of the state as several blazes burn in Spokane area

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 3, 2023

Lightning storms are expected to sweep across the southeastern part of Washington and eastern Oregon in the coming days, boosting the likelihood of new wildfires across a parched landscape after several blazes broke out in the area Thursday .

News >  Local Government

It’s Election Day, but only one-in-five have voted in Spokane County

Tue., Aug. 1, 2023

Today is election day, and only 1 in 5 voters had cast ballots as of Monday.

News >  Features

A Cheney teenager rebooted the city’s farmer’s market, and the event is booming

Sun., July 30, 2023

At the beginning of the summer, it looked like Cheney would lose its farmers market this year.

TJ Meenach Bridge will be closed most of next week

UPDATED: Tue., Aug. 8, 2023

The TJ Meenach Bridge will close next week from Monday through Aug. 4.

A&E

‘Barbenheimer’ brings enthusiastic crowds to Spokane theaters as venues stagger showtimes for ‘Barbie’ and ‘Oppenheimer’

Tue., July 25, 2023

The pop culture phenomenon “Barbenheimer” has been blowing up the box office and pulling in waves of enthusiasm across the globe. In Spokane, that story is playing out on a similar scale, with pink-clad ticketholders hopping from one blockbuster to the next in the same day.

News >  Local Government

Spokane politicians reach out to youth who can vote in primary, including some 17-year-olds

UPDATED: Mon., July 24, 2023

Youth in Spokane County are preparing to vote in the August primary election, some for the first time.

News >  Weather

It’s been hot, but Spokane can expect a little relief soon

UPDATED: Fri., July 21, 2023

Spokane is feeling the effects of what might be earth's hottest month on record. Temperatures reached as high as 102 degrees 2.9 miles west of Mead Thursday, according to the National Weather Service.

News >  Local Government

City of Cheney is waiting for voters to OK bond for a new $13 million aquatics center

UPDATED: Mon., July 31, 2023

Cheney residents looking for a place to cool down will have the chance to vote for a new tax to replace the city’s shuttered pool.

News >  Local Government

Local attorney’s anti-camping initiative is set to make the ballot in November

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 18, 2023

Local attorney Brian Hansen’s initiative to prohibit encampments within 1,000 feet of Spokane schools, parks, playgrounds and childcare facilities is set to make the ballot this November.