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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Spin Control archive for Sept. 2012

THURSDAY, SEPT. 27, 2012

TUESDAY, SEPT. 25, 2012

Council will consider repeal of beer restrictions

The West Central Neighborhood Council wanted restrictions on the sale of high-octane beer and now it doesn’t. But while council members used the council’s support as a reason to create a voluntary Alcohol Impact Area in West Central, the neighborhood’s change of heart won’t make…

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MONDAY, SEPT. 24, 2012

Spokane shrinks tax subsidy area

It will be harder next year to qualify for tax subsidies to build apartments and condos in Spokane. The Spokane City Council on Monday reauthorized Spokane’s multifamily tax exemption for another five years. The decision significantly reduced the areas that will qualify for the subsidy…

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FRIDAY, SEPT. 21, 2012

McMorris Rodgers backed national park at Hanford

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, on Thursday backed a proposal creating a national park at three sites central to the creation of atomic weapons, including Hanford. The vote was bipartisan in its support and opposition. It failed 237-180. It needed supermajority support to move…

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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 19, 2012


Obama on Letterman, Romney in USA Today

The pre-debate debate continues: President Obama on Letterman last night talked about Mitt Romney's "47 percent" comments. Romney, in a guest column in USA Today, criticized Obama's policies as creating dependency. Read the column here. Not sure what all this is about? See the original…

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 18, 2012

Gregoire extends fire emergency

OLYMPIA -- Gov. Chris Gregoire is extending the fire emergency for all counties east of the Cascade Crest, which means the Washington National Guard will continue to help fighting wildfires and the burn ban stays in effect until at least next Monday at midnight. Gregoire…

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MONDAY, SEPT. 17, 2012

Answer to Constitution Day question

The marker commemorating the Bicentennial of the Constitution, which would have been in Sept. 17, 1987, can be found on the northwest side of the Thomas S. Foley U.S. Courthouse in downtown Spokane, Main and Riverside. It's across the street from the big statue of…

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Today's fun video: SNL's new Obama

It's only 50 days to election, which means there are about 47 days for Saturday Night Live to find good political material for their opening sketches. They've got a new Obama this year in Jay Pharoah -- Fred Armisen did a good handoff -- but…

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Happy Constitution Day

It's Constitution Day., Did you remember to send a card or flowers to your favorite Amendment? We celebrate the nation's charter because this is the day Constitutional Convention signed the document. This is the 225 anniversary of that vote in 1787. Unfortunately, there's no special…

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FRIDAY, SEPT. 14, 2012

1 U.S. Senate debate set

U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwell will debate her Republican challenger, state Sen. Mike Baumgartner, at least once this fall. The Cantwell campaign announced it has agreed to an Oct. 12 debate in Seattle at KCTS, the public television station. It will be taped, and shown on…

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THURSDAY, SEPT. 13, 2012

Fire emergency declared

OLYMPIA – Gov. Chris Gregoire is activating some National Guard units to help fight fires in Eastern Washington in what she labeled “one of the worst fire situations I can recall” during her tenure. The activation order is part of an emergency proclamation Gregoire signed…

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WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 12, 2012

Today's fun video: Music in Lt Gov race

OLYMPIA -- The lieutenant governor's race doesn't garner anywhere near the attention of the state's top executive spot. While many people can't name their current lieutenant governor without a hint or two, it's rare for an incumbent to get ousted. Facing that challenge in his…

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Frank Straub answers questions on Tuesday, Sept. 11, 2012 at his first press conference since he was named Spokane's Director of Law Enforcement by the Spokane City Council on Monday. (Jonathan Brunt)

What if Straub doesn't get commissioned?

If the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission today doesn’t grant the new leader of the Spokane Police Department’s request to waive a requirement to join the state police academy, it’s unclear if the city will bother making him the chief. City officials are confident…

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TUESDAY, SEPT. 11, 2012

A flag placed in a name at the 9/11 memorial at Ground Zero. (Jim Camden)

9/11 remembrances

Flag placed in a name of a victim of the 9/11 attacks at the Ground Zero memorial in New York. Sept. 11 is traditionally a day for politicians to reflect on their thoughts and remembrances of that day in 2001. Today was no different. Inside…

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MONDAY, SEPT. 10, 2012



Baumgartner baby born

State Sen. Mike Baumgartner took time off from the campaign trail Monday for the birth of his second child. His wife Eleanor delivered a boy, just before 11 a.m. in Spokane. Roman Otway Leo Baumgartner weighed in at 6 pounds 10 ounces, the campaign said.…

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Candidate forum Tuesday evening

The Riverside Neighborhood Council hosts a candidate forum starting at 5 p.m. Tuesday at the Downtown Spokane Library. The schedule is set up to give voters a chance to meet candidates before the forum, and to ask them questions during it. Confirmed for the forum,…

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Liquor sales up in July

OLYMPIA -- After dropping during the first month of private liquor sales, the amount of liquor sold and the taxes the state got for it went up in July. The state Revenue Department said sales were up about 15 percent this July compared with July…

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The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.



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