In two terms on the Spokane City Council, Mike Fagan stood alone in warning of the potential perils of 5G wireless connectivity, an influx of illegal immigrants across the Canadian border, and the existence of chemtrails, a long-debunked conspiracy theory. But when a constituent called, Fagan answered.

Preview of the city council race between Michael Cathcart and Tim Benn in the northeast.

Northeast Council District’s light voter turnout was weakness for Mike Fagan’s council president bid.

The picture that emerged on Tuesday night remained essentially unchanged after more votes were counted Wednesday in the primary election for Spokane City Council president, setting up a contest between a sitting council member campaigning on his record and a newcomer who believes a reorientation is needed.

The Hillyard Festival featured 80 retail booths and 11 food vendors — more than double the amount in 2015. Future iterations of the festival could include carnival rides and games.

Ben Stuckart and Nadine Woodward have raised – and spent – nearly the same amount of money in their campaigns for mayor. Both describe their base of support as diverse, but criticize the source of the other’s funding as representing outside interests.

Four candidates hope to past the primary election for Spokane City Council president.

Although the clothing may feel freeing, serving up coffee in a bikini – or less – at a business isn’t free expression protected by the First Amendment, the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week. The ruling relates to the “Dress Code Ordinance” created by the city of Everett requiring employees to wear at least a tank top and shorts at “quick service facilities” because of a “proliferation of crimes of a sexual nature” occurring at local bikini barista stands. The owner of a local bikini barista chain and seven employees responded with a lawsuit in 2017.

Spokane City Council candidates were divided on how to make Spokane safer and reduce homelessness, with some arguing for mandatory drug treatment and more police, and others saying more housing was the best way to get people off the street.

Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan pumped his fist while leading his audience in an enthusiastic chant Thursday evening, seemingly offering full-throated support to a conservative secessionist movement that would turn Eastern Washington into a 51st state called Liberty. But on Friday, Fagan, who’s running for council president, said he’s not necessarily a supporter of the movement.

Seven candidates have filed for the City of Spokane’s two top positions on the first day of filing.

Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan is running for the council’s highest position.

Spokane City Council may vote on a law to open up City Hall to the public during their meeting next week, a proposal that was deferred for months after the city’s union raised concerns about employee safety.

Now that Spokane’s shelter capacity has increased by 275, the city will resume enforcing a law that bars people from sitting, sleeping or lying on the streets of downtown Spokane beginning Feb. 8.

Washington voters likely will have the chance to eliminate fees that many cities, including Spokane, use to pay for paving and transit projects. With members of a ready-made opposition campaign present, Tim Eyman, along with Spokane City Councilman Mike Fagan and his father Jack Fagan, presented the final boxes of signatures for Initiative 976 to the Washington Secretary of State’s Office last week.

The City of Spokane has approved a funding plan to start paving the 54 miles of unpaved roads across the city, starting with District 1 and 2.

After more than two years of talks, the Spokane City Council seems poised to pass new local regulations on ride-hailing company drivers that will include a new driver’s license fee for those taking their fares from a smartphone app. The city lawmakers leading the charge say they hope the changes will put those industries on a more even playing field with traditional cab drivers when picking up passengers in town.

The Spokane City Council will soon vote on an ordinance that would impose a civil infraction for people who are caught misrepresenting their pet as a service animal.

City Council could soon vote on a proposal to allow people to stay in City Hall’s lobby all day, which one council member said could turn the building into a warming shelter.