Community-Funded Journalism

News >  Business

Itron posts record margins as AI, data center buildout reshape long-term prospects

UPDATED: Tue., July 28, 2026

Itron Inc. surprised Wall Street with higher-than-expected profits during the second quarter and a rosy forecast for the rest of the year, sending shares of Spokane’s largest publicly traded company 25% higher on Tuesday.

Sports

‘Just checks so many boxes’: Gesa Field resurfacing produces sports memorabilia

UPDATED: Mon., July 27, 2026

Just in time for next month’s new football season, Washington State University is currently laying Gesa Field with fresh turf. Unlike past resurfacings, however, the retired turf won’t be out of commission for good.

Sports >  High school sports

The Colfax Way: Inside a small-town sports hotbed as three former high school coaches enter Hall of Fame

UPDATED: Mon., July 27, 2026

Three Hall of Fame inductions in the span of a month would be an extraordinary accomplishment for most athletic departments.

News >  Pacific NW

Never Forget Garden and Cherry Trees planned for Riverfront

Sat., July 25, 2026

Spokane’s celebrations of America’s 250th aren’t quite over yet.

A&E >  Movies

Film on palliative care, ‘Winter Hymns,’ comes to Magic Lantern Theatre

Sat., July 25, 2026

Nathan Deming’s new film “Winter Hymns” was an unexpected hit at the 2026 Wisconsin Film Festival, selling out two screenings in an hour. Now, it’s on tour, and this weekend the film is coming to Spokane’s Magic Lantern Theatre.

News >  Federal Government

Top USDA trade official visits Eastern Washington farmers, touts Trump’s trade deals

UPDATED: Sat., July 25, 2026

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s top official in charge of foreign trade and humanitarian assistance made his first trip to Washington state last week, visiting growers of potatoes, pulses and tree fruit before a stop at the Port of Seattle.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Law enforcement notified of Spokane man impersonating firefighter

UPDATED: Thu., July 23, 2026

Spokane Valley Fire Department officials have notified law enforcement regarding a man who is impersonating a firefighter on social media.

News >  Spokane

Spokane City Council formally endorses transit tax renewal

UPDATED: Thu., July 23, 2026

The Spokane City Council voted 6-1 Wednesday evening to support the Spokane Transit Authority’s upcoming tax measure on the August ballot, with Councilman Michael Cathcart as the only dissenting vote.

News >  Local business

D. Lish’s Burgers to open second location in Coeur d’Alene

UPDATED: Thu., July 23, 2026

Popular Spokane restaurant D. Lish’s Burgers will be opening a second location in Coeur d’Alene.

News >  K-12 education

Two West Valley School District levies will be on November ballots

UPDATED: Wed., July 22, 2026

Voters in West Valley School District will have their say on two property tax levies on November ballots.

News >  Business

Kaiser Aluminum reports record Q2 results

UPDATED: Wed., July 22, 2026

Kaiser Aluminum reported record sales for the second quarter, notched profits of $97 million and paid dividends to shareholders during heady times for the American aluminum industry.

News >  Federal Government

Northwest Republicans help House pass $95 billion budget framework for Iran war, despite debt concerns

UPDATED: Wed., July 22, 2026

WASHINGTON – Northwest Republicans on Wednesday helped the House of Representatives approve $95 billion in new spending on the Iran war, aid for farmers and grants to encourage states to adopt voting restrictions, despite the GOP lawmakers expressing concerns about the measure adding to the national debt.

A&E >  Dining

Tay Tay’s Cafe aims to be a safe space and community hub

Wed., July 22, 2026

In an old apartment building on Spokane’s lower South Hill lives a cafe that was created not just for good food.

Sports >  Area sports

Spokane Wolfpack dethrone defending champions for first league title

UPDATED: Tue., July 21, 2026

The Spokane Wolfpack’s season began with a loss to the team that had dominated the West Coast Pacific Minor League for three years.

News >  Federal Government

Patty Murray pushes back as Pete Hegseth asks Congress for more Iran war funding

UPDATED: Tue., July 21, 2026

WASHINGTON – Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth asked a Senate panel on Tuesday for more than $87 billion for costs related to the war with Iran, but a senator from Washington state with power over federal spending signaled that Democrats won’t support the Trump administration’s request for additional money.

News >  Idaho

The search is on in an Idaho forest for this year’s U.S. Capitol Christmas tree

Tue., July 21, 2026

Buried in 4 million acres of dense woods, rocky canyons and winding rivers of central Idaho’s Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests, the next Capitol Christmas tree looms.

News >  Local Government

Nearly 6,000 Spokane County ballots improperly missing county library or STA tax measures

UPDATED: Tue., July 21, 2026

Nearly 6,000 Spokane County voters were sent ballots missing tax measures in the Aug. 4 primary.

News >  Washington

Air quality, high temperature advisories remain in effect across Inland Northwest

UPDATED: Mon., July 20, 2026

Hazy conditions and poor air quality are expected to improve by Wednesday in Eastern Washington, as light winds carry Kaiser Canyon wildfire smoke southeast to Spokane from the Northern Columbia River Basin.

News >  K-12 education

School supplies or school vouchers? A new federal K-12 scholarship program waits for Ferguson to hop on board

Sun., July 19, 2026

A new Trump administration initiative could redirect hundreds of millions of dollars from the nation’s coffers to the pockets of Washington students in a first-of-its-kind nationwide K-12 scholarship tax credit program.

News >  Federal Government

Idaho Democrats think Jim Risch could be beaten, but they aren’t sure they want a Democrat to run for Senate

UPDATED: Sat., July 18, 2026

WASHINGTON – Democratic Party leaders in Idaho’s most populous county think they have their best chance in decades to oust an incumbent Republican senator. They just aren’t sure a Democrat is the one to do it.