Whatever you think of the outcomes, Spokane city leaders have tackled several issues that could shape the city for decades to come. What do you think was the most important news at City Hall in 2009? What was the top news in 2009 at Spokane…
Washington state will loan the Spokane Housing Authority more than $2.5 million to help turn the old Hillyard High School into apartments for homeless and low-income residents.The loan is among some $22.5 million in loans and grants from the state Commerce Department’s Housing Trust Fund…
As the national media craft year-end rememberances of those who passed in 2009, it's worth mentioning three who transformed Spokane.The three men who served in the top spot at Spokane City Hall stretching from 1963 until 1991 died in just the last five months.Two of…
The U.S. Supreme Court will take a peek at whether those names on the Referendum 71 petitions are public records or private info.The Washington Secretary of State's office, which says they are public records, announced today the Supremes have put the Ref. 71 issue on…
If Santa didn't make it to your house this year, here's why:
Everybody's going to be asking the Legislature for something in the coming months. TVW takes a look at what the Legislative Youth Action Council will be seeking in this recent video.OK, at 38 minutes, it's longer than it needs to be. But it shows young…
Gov. Chris Gregoire ordered state flags lowered to half staff today in honor of Pierce County Deputy Sheriff Kent Mundell, who died yesterday of wounds suffered in answering a domestic violence call. They'll stay lowered for a week, through close of business on Jan. 5.Western…
The folks at JibJab have a new Web video out, taking a look at 2009.Try JibJab Sendables® eCards today!
Monday’s City Council meeting was the last with Al French as a member.French is finished with his second term representing northeast Spokane. Term limits prevented him from running again, but he has announced his candidacy for the Spokane County Commission.
In honor of the holidays, Spin Control lays off politics to brighten our readers’ spirits with the annual Christmas Quiz. It’s a tradition that dates back at least to the last time Christmas was on a Sunday and there were no good topics for a…
A bit of Christmas cheer to go with the quizzes.
From December 2007Merry Christmas, political junkies. With the War on Christmas held down to a few skirmishes this year, such as the assault of a firefighter Santa in Spokane, it’s likely that only the truly politically obsessed would be reading this column near or on…
Happy Holidays from Olympia, where a 75 foot noble fir graces the Capitol rotunda, a menorrha and a message of general goodwill from atheists is on the lawn by the fountain outside, and if the lions aren't lying down with the kids, the Democrats and…
For many years, the last leg of my commute to work included a walk across the Monroe Street Bridge into downtown, reminding me of some things I like best about Spokane.The river below, which rushes so fast in spring the mist rises above the bridge,…
.Spokane County is looking for a new operator of its racetrack who will have to have something the last operator did not – experience running a track.A request for qualifications to bid on the contract for the Spokane County Raceway Park was released Wednesday and…
Gov. Chris Gregoire said today she's checked out some energy-efficient cars while at the climate sumitt in Denmark, talked up Washington state with "green" manufacurers, had meetings with other governors and provincial premiers and spent time assuring delegates from around the world that things are…
Most of the time, when a plane takes off and lands, that's not news. It's only when it fails to take off or land that we get news.Today's an exception, however, because Boeing's newest plane design, the 787 Dreamliner, took off and landed for the…
Six Spokane area contractors are suing Spokane County over unpaid bills from the county's West Plains racetrack.In the latest move in the ongoing dispute over the track's management by Austin Motorsports, the six contractors say they are owed a total of $1.13 million for worked…
OLYMPIA – A former Newport, Wash., man should not be pardoned for helping slay his former son-in-law, a state board has recommended.The Clemency and Pardons Board recommended unanimously last week that Gov. Chris Gregoire not grant a pardon and early release to Morris “Mel” Goldberg,…
Customers of the nation’s largest satellite television service are being lured into long contracts they don’t understand with fees they don’t know they must pay, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna contends.A spokesman for DirecTV said the company is “disappointed” the suit was filed but predicted…
Spokane County commissioners seem to have the upper hand in their battle with county unions in the public relations war over next year’s budget.In adopting a budget last week that cuts positions or hours for almost every agency and department, the commissioners fired a broadside…
Gov. Chris Gregoire’s proposed “all cuts, no new taxes” budget was described as everything from a good starting point to an unrealistic plan Wednesday in a Spokane forum. But even Gregoire’s own legislative liaison made clear it is far from a done deal.Democratic leaders told…
The Air Force's top aerial act, the Thunderbirds, will perform at Fairchild Air Force Base next July.Fairchild announced today the Thunderbirds put the Skyfest 2010 event on their schedule, which was released yesterday at a convention in Las Vegas.Maj. Angela Oconnell, a base spokeswoman, said…
Alex Wood said he will retire from the Legislature at the end of next year, creating a possible free-for-all among Democrats in central Spokane's 3rd District.Wood told the Warren G. Magnuson Democratic Club at lunch today that the upcoming session (sessions, perhaps if they can't…
To go directly to the special budget spreadsheet, click here.Later this week, Spokane County commissioners will take a $10.5 million whack out of the county’s general fund budget.They’d need $146.8 million to keep everything the county did and offered at the end of next year…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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