Colin Tiernan

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News >  Pacific NW

100 years ago, J Harlen Bretz figured out Eastern Washington’s geological backstory

Sun., Dec. 31, 2023

On a map, the Channeled Scablands look like a couple of melting gray jellyfish draped across Eastern Washington.

News >  Local government

Spokane County Commission approves $937 million budget

Tue., Dec. 5, 2023

The 2024 budget includes funding for about 20 new law enforcement vehicles, a $34,000 bomb suit for the Sheriff’s Office and various upgrades for county buildings.

News >  Local government

Spokane County Commission votes against property tax increase

Sun., Dec. 3, 2023

The decision will save the owner of a median home — $433,000 — about $3 next year.

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News >  Local government

Liberty Lake hearing examiner dismisses ethics complaint against City Council member

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 5, 2023

Hearing examiner Brian T. McGinn ruled that Liberty Lake City Councilman Chris Cargill is not violating the city's ethics code by voting against all of the mayor's appointees. 

News >  Local government

Inland Empire Paper Co. seeking millions from feds to maintain ‘working forests’ as development pressure builds

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 28, 2023

Spokane County’s largest private landowner is seeking millions of dollars from the federal government in exchange for conservation easements that would permanently protect from development thousands of acres of forest next to Mount Spokane.

News >  Transportation

Getting There: 4 years after it closed, the Euclid Road Bridge is reopening

Mon., Nov. 27, 2023

"That bridge made life impossible," Erika Von Scheele said. 

News >  Local government

Spokane’s scooter contract with Lime ends this month. How could it change next year?

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 28, 2023

The Spokane City Council this winter will likely look to tweak its scooter contract in hopes of keeping the vehicles off of sidewalks and out of the Spokane River. 

News >  Local government

How will the 2023 election change the direction of the Spokane Valley City Council? No one seems sure.

Mon., Nov. 20, 2023

The Spokane Valley City Council's tendency to focus on small-town issues, combined with the theoretically nonpartisan nature of municipal government, makes it relatively difficult to assess the importance of council turnover.

News >  Washington

Gray and Oregon Road fires were among the most destructive in Washington history

Sun., Nov. 19, 2023

By at least one metric, the Gray fire on the West Plains was the second-most devastating Washington has ever seen.

News >  Local government

Spokane Valley cracks down on junk cars

Fri., Nov. 17, 2023

Owning multiple junkers or unlicensed vehicles in the Valley will now be a lot more difficult. 

News >  Local government

Fairfield looks to join Spokane County Fire District 2

Tue., Nov. 14, 2023

Fire District 2 fights fires in Fairfield. But Fairfield isn't in Fire District 2. 

News >  Local government

Spokane City Council could place $225 million parks levy on ballot

Sun., Nov. 12, 2023

The tax would pay for three new parks, replace dozens of playgrounds and pay for major upgrades to the parks system citywide. 

News >  Local government

Spokane Public Library seeking property tax renewal

UPDATED: Sun., Nov. 12, 2023

The library's property tax levy accounts for nearly a fifth of its annual budget. 

News >  Local government

Spokane County voters shot down a sales tax that would have paid for a new jail. What happens now?

Thu., Nov. 9, 2023

Measure 1, the 0.2% sales tax proposal that would have raised $1.7 billion for public safety and paid for two new jails, failed in dramatic fashion Tuesday.

News >  Local government

Liberty Lake voters mostly opt for incumbents in election focused on library issues

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 7, 2023

Only one incumbent, Phil Folyer, has lost his seat. 

News >  Local government

Spokane County voters overwhelmingly reject sales tax that would have paid for new jails

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 7, 2023

More than 60% of Spokane County voters opposed a 0.2% sales tax that would have raised an estimated $1.7 billion over 30 years, paid for the construction of two new jails and funded a variety of undefined public safety projects. 

News >  Local government

Woodard thumped by Merkel in Spokane Valley City Council race; Hattenburg holds large lead over Chase

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 7, 2023

Arne Woodard, the longest serving city councilman in Spokane Valley's brief history, lost to Al Merkel by 30 percentage points. 

News >  Local government

Get your ballots in while you can, Spokane County voters – today is election day

UPDATED: Tue., Nov. 7, 2023

Heads up procrastinating citizens, if you want to participate in democracy this year you've only got a few hours to get your ballots in the mail or slip them into a drop box. 

News >  Local government

Spokane has a telegraph tax that hasn’t collected a dime this century. Why it and other outdated laws in Washington are still on the books

Mon., Nov. 6, 2023

Most cities, counties and states have outdated or frivolous laws, and few lawmakers think that proactively undoing them is worth the trouble.

News >  Local government

Liberty Lake city councilman files ethics complaint against fellow Liberty Lake city councilman

Fri., Nov. 3, 2023

Councilman Tom Sahlberg said believes Councilman Chris Cargill is violating Liberty Lake's code of ethics by refusing to vote for mayoral appointees and promising to vote against library budget requests. 

Sports >  Outdoors

Some Inland Northwest bird species to be renamed in light of racism from historic namesakes

UPDATED: Thu., Nov. 2, 2023

The American Ornithological Society on Wednesday announced it will rename 80 or so birds named after people. 

News >  Transportation

Getting There: Spokane Valley creates transportation benefit district, a likely precursor to new taxes

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 30, 2023

The Spokane Valley City Council appears to be on the cusp of adopting a new tax or fee to generate millions of dollars of new revenue for road work.

News >  Local government

Spokane Valley looking to crack down on hoarders of unlicensed cars

Sun., Oct. 29, 2023

The Spokane Valley City Council is considering an update to city law that would, in many circumstances, make it illegal for property owners to have more than one unlicensed vehicle on their land.

News >  Local government

For the 15th year in a row, Spokane Valley opts against 1% property tax increase

Sat., Oct. 28, 2023

Spokane Valley’s longtime anti-taxation streak will continue for at least another year.

News >  Local government

City Council candidates debate Spokane Valley issues at S-R event

UPDATED: Sat., Oct. 28, 2023

City Council candidates Thursday night debated major Spokane Valley issues at the Mirabeau Park Hotel and Convention Center.