Today's fun video: JibJab looks at 2013
JibJab, the makers of personalized music videos take a look at the year that's almost over.
Spin Control archive for Jan. 1, 2013
THURSDAY, DEC. 26, 2013
TUESDAY, DEC. 24, 2013
Richard Rush returning to Spokane City Hall
Richard Rush is returning to Spokane City Hall. After being tossed from office two years ago by Mike Allen, who won by just 88 votes, Rush has been hired by new Councilwoman Candace Mumm to serve as her full-time staff aide. Mumm called Rush, 62,…
THURSDAY, DEC. 19, 2013
Today's fun video: Sign up 'cause it's hot
Not the best Obama spoof in the world. But it's got a good beat, and he can dance to it.
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 18, 2013
Liquor Board would limit medical marijuana
Washington should severely cut the amount of marijuana that medical patients can possess, require them to register with the state, have annual medical checkups, and pay most of the same taxes as recreational users, a state agency recommended today. In a move sure to draw…
TUESDAY, DEC. 17, 2013
Inslee proposes 'hold steady' budget
Gov. Jay Inslee proposed what he called a "hold stead budget in a get ready year." It has some mandatory increases in spending for mental health services for children, higher rates for family home child care providers and covering the costs of last season's wildfires.…
Council delays police votes
The Spokane City Council voted late Monday to delay a police ombudsman ordinance and a labor contract with the Police Guild in a pair of voice votes. The city clerk this morning confirmed that the vote to defer the ombudsman ordinance passed 5-2 with council…
Inslee unveils supplemental budget today
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Jay Inslee will introduce his proposal for changes in the 2013-15 biennial budget this morning at 11 a.m. Inslee doesn't have much to work with. Forecasts for the remainder of the biennium project only slight changes in revenue, with continued slow economic…
MONDAY, DEC. 16, 2013
Today's fun video: SNL jabs Obama
President Obama provided plenty of grist for Saturday Night Live's mill last weekend, particularly for their open.
TUESDAY, DEC. 10, 2013
Obamacare blamed for reduction in dump service
Boundary County, Idaho, is cutting the number of hours people can drop off garbage for the county landfill because of health care reform, the county said in a news release today. Here's how the news release put it: "Due to increased expenses of the Federally…
MONDAY, DEC. 9, 2013
Results don't change in futile Ahern recount
A recount that couldn’t change the winner also didn’t change the vote totals. Last week, Spokane City Council candidate John Ahern paid to have a partial recount in his race against incumbent Jon Snyder. Ahern, a former state representative, lost the race by 5,669 votes…
SUNDAY, DEC. 8, 2013
Sunday Spin: Same-sex marriage, one year out
As of Friday, same-sex marriage has been legal in Washington for a year. So the obvious question is: How much worse off is your marriage now that men can marry men and women can marry women? Couples who tied the knot in the last 365…
THURSDAY, DEC. 5, 2013
Special Session cost: $28,626, so far
OLYMPIA – The tab for last month’s three-day special session to approve tax breaks for Boeing stands at $28,626 and counting, the most recent reports filed by legislators show. Requests for the $90 per diem that legislators can claim have been processed, with some filling…
Take a shot at the news quiz
There's still time to try to win something through That's News to You, the newspaper's weekly news quiz. As a discerning reader of Spin Control, you might do pretty well. And even better if you know a few of the "tricks of the trade." A…
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 4, 2013
Pot store applications growing
Washington has received 230 license applications for recreational marijuana stores. As the map shows, many are concentrated between Everett and Tacoma -- no surprise because that's where the state's population is concentrated. But the proposals for stores are also starting to dot the rest of…
Marijuana growers seek licenses around state
Map courtesy of Gina Boysun, Spokesman.com Online Director. The demand for licenses to grow legal marijuana in Washington is growing -- if you'll forgive the expression -- like a weed. In the first two weeks that it has been accepting license applications for marijuana businesses,…
Today's fun video: Capitol Christmas tree gets lit
The official lighting of the Capitol Christmas trees, starring a spruce from Eastern Washington, took place last night with House Speaker John Boehner almost getting upstaged by the cute kid chosen to help flip the switch. He should remember W.C. Fields dictum: Never work with…
Pot License applications for Eastern WA
The second week of applications for marijuana business licenses are in, and Eastern Washington has its share of would be pot entrepreneurs. Pot-trepreneurs? This map shows the addresses on applications for retail stores,represented by the red push pins, small and medium size growing operations of…
TUESDAY, DEC. 3, 2013
Ahern: Race against Snyder not over yet
Former state Rep. John Ahern, who lost his race against incumbent Councilman Jon Snyder by a nearly 2-to-1 margin is questioning how he could have performed so poorly. Ahern is requesting a partial recount in the race just to "double-check" the accuracy of the ballot…
After thumping in election, Ahern pays for hand recount
A Spokane City Council candidate who lost big in his attempt to unseat incumbent Councilman Jon Snyder is demanding a recount. John Ahern, a former state representative, sent a letter to the Spokane County Auditor’s Office on Monday requesting that four precincts be recounted. A…
MONDAY, DEC. 2, 2013
GSI Legislative Forum Wednesday
Greater Spokane Inc. will hold its annual legislative forum and reception Wednesday afternoon at the Davenport Hotel, where a quartet of legislators is expected to talk about two sessions: the upcoming 2014 regular session and a possible special session for transportation that may or may…
GOP candidates on display tonight
Spokane County Republican precinct officers in the 4th Legislative District have to pick a replacement for Rep. Larry Crouse, who is retiring this month with a year left on his term. There are five would-be legislators eager for the job, but only three can be…
SATURDAY, NOV. 30, 2013
Sunday Spin: Behind the low turnout numbers
Conventional wisdom for campaign seasons like the one just passed says local elections help boost turnout for the statewide contests. Voting for people you might know, or at least have a chance to bump into and harangue in line at Rosauers or Starbuck’s – and…
WEDNESDAY, NOV. 27, 2013
Today's fun video: Snyder says "Thanks"
City Councilman Jon Snyder borrowed a bit -- OK, he kind of outright stole -- from "Vision Quest" to say thanks to supporters for his re-election. But he acknowledged it on the video. "Snyder Quest" features the councilman and his bike, has good shots of…
TUESDAY, NOV. 26, 2013
86 pot licenses sought for Spokane
.OLYMPIA – A tally of the first week of applications by would-be marijuana businesses shows a certain amount of creativity in coming up with names for what in most of the country is an illegal business. Cheech and Chong might be proud of some who…
Election results to be certified today
Counties around Washington will certify their election results today, clearing up any lingering questions about who or what won some close contests. Most races in Spokane County, which certifies its results at 1 p.m., have long been decided, but there are a couple of close…
The Spokesman-Review's political team keeps a critical eye on local, state and national politics.
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