The city of Spokane has hired the law firm of Kutak Rock to act as the city attorney’s office in the lawsuit brought against the city by former police Chief Frank Straub in relation to his forced resignation. Brian Coddington, the mayor’s spokesman, said the move was done to avoid conflicts of interest, due to city Attorney Nancy Isserlis being named in Straub’s suit.

Spokane County Sheriff’s Office a model of stability.

Former Spokane City Council President Joe Shogan has withdrawn his ethics complaint against Mayor David Condon, saying a “cone of silence is settling over the city and the City Council.”

Spokane should have a new police chief on the job by July 1, Mayor David Condon said Tuesday. During a meeting that sometimes grew tense, Condon discussed the next hiring steps with members of a committee he appointed to advise him on a job description and qualities needed in a new chief.

A letter from the City Attorney’s Office raises concerns that the Frank Straub investigation will be severely crimped.

Spokane city’s legal department has warned Council President Ben Stuckart and others that they could face criminal charges if they discloseinformation from a private meeting among city leaders held the day before Police Chief Straub was fired – even if asked to testify to city committees charged with investigating potential mismanagement in Mayor David Condon’s administration.

Doug Clark believes Mayor David Condon needs to apologize for hiring former Police Chief Frank Straub, and Doug has some ideas on how to do it.

The city’s Ethics Commission allowed one complaint against Spokane Mayor David Condon forward Wednesday, and dismissed others.

Two ethics complaints against Spokane Mayor David Condon were dismissed by the city’s Ethics Commission Tuesday evening. A third complaint filed by former City Council President Joe Shogan will proceed to a full hearing by the commission, which will likely occur in late February.

Kris Cappel, a principal in the Seattle investigation consulting firm the Seabold Group and a former federal prosecutor, has been chosen by Spokane Mayor David Condon and Council President Ben Stuckart to lead an investigation into the recent turmoil in the police department and City Hall.

A fourth ethics complaint has been lodged against Spokane Mayor David Condon for how he handled allegations of sexual harassment by former police Chief Frank Straub.