Sorted by date Results 226 - 250 of 562
SPOKANE – Chaos erupted on Memorial Day as a stolen van careened into another vehicle, leaving a trail of injuries in its wake. The reckless teenage driver, accompanied by three passengers, collided with a Kia Soul at a breakneck speed of approximately 50 mph on a residential street with a posted speed limit of 25 mph. Witnesses described the driver as a 17-year-old white male with long brown hair and a beard, clad in Chuck Taylor shoes and a black T-shirt adorned with doberman pinchers. Following the collision, the j...
LIBERTY LAKE – A local man was sentenced to federal prison in connection with child pornography charges. Rick Lynn Johnson, 69, of Liberty Lake, was sentenced to federal prison and ordered to pay $60,000 in victim restitution after pleading guilty to receipt of child pornography before U.S. District Judge Thomas O. Rice Between May 30, 2021, and June 16, 2022, federal law enforcement discovered numerous instances of child pornography being downloaded by Johnson, court records show. In November 2022, federal agents executed a...
SPOKANE VALLEY – In a letter following the May 21 city council meeting, City Councilman Al Merkel expressed his deep concern and disappointment with the RFP process. “As a contract city, we should be fully capable of conducting a fair and transparent competition that clearly outlines an actionable scope of work and specific evaluation criteria,” Merkel wrote. “Unfortunately, this was not the case with our recent RFP process.” Merkel criticized the use of undisclosed criteria and personal relationships in the selection...
SPOKANE VALLEY – The Spokane Valley City Council approved a contract for a new homelessness outreach program amid concerns over the selection process. The council voted five to one to award the contract to Frontier Behavioral Health, with Councilman Al Merkel dissenting due to transparency issues in the RFP process. During the May 28th meeting, Gloria Mantz, Sarah Farr, and Eric Robison provided an overview of the RFP process. Mantz explained that the RFP was posted on the city website in March and advertised in local n...
SPOKANE VALLEY — MultiCare and Premera Blue Cross have successfully negotiated a new agreement, ensuring that all MultiCare hospitals, facilities, and providers will remain in-network for patients with Premera commercial, Individual Exchange Plan, and Medicare Advantage products. In a statement provided by Kevin Maloney, Media Relations Manager of MultiCare, the update confirms the new agreement is effective immediately. “This agreement ensures that all MultiCare hospitals, facilities, and providers will remain in-...
SPOKANE – A local man has been arrested following a May 22 standoff. Jae W. Lee, 36, is facing charges of second-degree burglary, second-degree theft and obstructing law enforcement. His arrest stems from a Spokane County Investigative Unit detectives’ attempt to serve a warrant at his residence. Lee barricaded himself inside despite repeated announcements from law enforcement, records show. The situation escalated, necessitating the intervention of the SWAT Team due to Lee’s behavior and the cluttered, hazardous condi...
SPOKANE – Business owners, operators, and entrepreneurs seeking insights into navigating the intricacies of permitting, business licensing, public works bidding, and related transactions with the City of Spokane Valley, are urged to participate in a complimentary one-hour event scheduled from noon to 1 p.m. on Tuesday, June 4. Advanced registration is mandatory for both in-person attendance at the Greater Spokane Valley Chamber of Commerce, located at 10808 E. Sprague Avenue in Spokane Valley, and virtual participation via Z...
CHENEY — Eastern Washington University has been awarded a $1 million grant from Google’s Cybersecurity Clinics Fund to establish a new cybersecurity clinic, the university announced Wednesday. The funding, part of a $25 million collaboration between Google.org, the company’s philanthropic arm, and the Consortium of Cybersecurity Clinics, will provide EWU with resources, volunteers, and in-kind support to launch the clinic. “Eastern is thrilled to receive this funding from Google to help us continue our work in this fast-gr...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — The Washington State Department of Commerce has awarded $39,575,225 in grants to support the electrification of homes and businesses statewide, with the city of Airway Heights receiving $575,000. This funding, provided through Washington’s Climate Commitment Act, aims to enhance local programs that offer rebates and incentives for high-efficiency electric equipment to households and small businesses. Commerce Director Mike Fong highlighted the significance of these investments in combating extreme wea...
CHENEY — The Cheney City Council has taken a significant step toward the construction of a new aquatic center, approving bond financing at their meeting last Tuesday night. Jim Nelson, Managing Director at D.A. Davidson, and Danielle Quade, a partner at Hawley Troxell specializing in public finance and local government, outlined the plan to issue the bonds in two series. “Your plan is to issue the bonds in two series, $8 million is the first series coming up, the second series would be issued February 2025 for app...
CHENEY – The City Council convened on May 28 to address critical resolutions pertaining to the upcoming Aquatics Facility project. Public Works Director Todd Ableman presented three resolutions, each crucial for advancing the construction and associated services for the aquatic center, all of which passed unanimously. Resolution F-251 centered on the selection of a general contractor for the project. Ableman outlined the bidding process, noting the participation of three reputable firms: Leone & Keeble, Halme Cascade G...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Cryptocurrency scams are increasingly common throughout Spokane County. Large sums of money can be moved globally with ease using digital currencies, often facilitated by minimally regulated Bitcoin ATMs with high fees. The Airway Heights City Council convened on June 3, featuring a presentation by Deputy Tim Schwering of the Spokane Police Department, where he addressed the council about the increasing concerns over cryptocurrency and its connections to various criminal activities. “Cryptocurrency is a for...
CHENEY – At the recent City Council meeting on May 28, the council members unanimously approved Resolution F-255, authorizing the mayor to sign an acceptance of funding agreement with the Spokane Regional Transportation Council (SRTC) for the purchase of electric vehicles and a charging station. During the meeting, Public Works Director Todd Ableman outlined the details of the agreement, stating, “This is the agreement for two types of funding for us to purchase electric vehicles. Right now, we’re looking at Ford Lightening T...
CHENEY – At the latest Cheney city council meeting on May 28th, Fire Chief Tom Jenkins presented a resolution for the acquisition of a like-new F150 Fire Chief Emergency Response Vehicle. The resolution, labeled F-250, was met with unanimous approval by council members. Chief Jenkins expressed gratitude for the support, stating, “You all blessed me last year for this year’s budget.” He elaborated on the procurement process, highlighting the challenges faced in securing the necessary vehicle. “I got on a state bid purchasin...
CHENEY — Graduation ceremonies for four local high schools are set to take place next week, marking a significant milestone for the Class of 2024. Cheney High School’s graduation ceremony will take place at the McCarthey Athletic Center on Gonzaga University’s campus, 801 N. Cincinnati St., Spokane. The event, scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Thursday, June 6; tickets are not required for entry. Parking is available in the south lot and the BARC parking deck one block north. Disabled parking spaces are offered on a first-come, first...
MEDICAL LAKE – In response to community concerns following last summer’s devastating Gray Fire, the Medical Lake City Council addressed the issue of fireworks during their meeting on May 21. Mayor Terri Cooper emphasized the heightened anxiety within the community regarding fireworks. “The people impacted by the fire are very nervous about fireworks,” Cooper said. “I think our plan should be if we get into a critical fire danger, and the fire chief has the authority, then the fire chief has the authority to say there can...
CHENEY – It’s not easy for School Boards to pass a bond or tax levy in the wake of the 2020 coronavirus shutdowns. D.A. Davidson Managing Director Cory Plager highlighted the challenges in gaining bond approval during the School Board meeting May 22. Despite rising property values and increased support, the district also faces hurdles in passing necessary bonds, especially outside of presidential election years, Plager said. Plager promoted running the bond in the November election, citing it as easier for validation compared...
CHENEY – World War II veteran Fred Wilcox of Cheney will be turning 98 years old in July. Wilcox was stationed off the coast of Japan with 500 other ships when the United States signed the armistice with Japan in September 1945. He was 18 years old at the time. After the armistice was signed, Wilcox and other U.S. military personnel were allowed to walk into Tokyo. The 1945 armistice followed the Aug. 6 bombing of Hiroshima and the Aug. 9 bombing of Nagasaki. Wilcox also owns property in Medical Lake, according to Chief W...
WEST PLAINS – MultiCare and Premera Blue Cross have successfully negotiated a new agreement, ensuring that all MultiCare hospitals, facilities, and providers will remain in-network for patients with Premera commercial, Individual Exchange Plan, and Medicare Advantage products. In a statement provided by Kevin Maloney, Media Relations Manager of MultiCare, the update confirms that the new agreement is effective immediately. “This agreement ensures that all MultiCare hospitals, facilities, and providers will remain in-...
CHENEY – School Board member Kelly Niccolls and Superintendent Ben Ferney presented an overview of the district’s strategic plan during a May 22 meeting. The strategic plan, developed by Ferney and Nicholls is based on six criteria. “It’s based on the idea of continuous improvement,” Ferney said. Community input played a role in shaping the strategic plan, with surveys, focus groups, and feedback sessions guiding the development process, he said. Ferney emphasized the importance of community engagement, stating, “We brought b...
CHENEY – During a recent School Board meeting on May 22, Jamie Reed, in charge of the Finance and Enrollment Report, highlighted the district’s financial stability and successful completion of audits with no significant deficiencies found. Despite national staffing challenges, the district has managed to maintain its workforce and avoid teacher layoffs. Reed began by addressing the district’s fund balance, noting a peak balance of $11.24 million in April, which has since started to decline. Despite this, Reed assured the b...
CHENEY – The City Council met on May 14 to discuss the possibility of joining the Spokane Re gional Broadband Public Development Authority (PDA). The meeting featured a presentation by Arianne Schmidt, the executive director of Broadlinc, outlining the benefits and mission of the PDA. Broadlinc was established in December 2022. It is governed by an in dependent board and includes towns, cities, and unincorporated areas of Spokane County. Schmidt explained, “It was created to em body the three-pronged mission of the PDA – t...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – At the recent West Plains Safety Alliance (WPSA) meeting, local leaders discussed the urgent need for enhanced crisis response teams and efforts to address youth violence through federal grants. Chief Brad Richmond of Airway Heights underscored the necessity of more intensive commitment. “We need more intensive commitment to enhance our crisis response teams,” Richmond said, referring to a $200,000 WA grant aimed at this initiative. Alise Mnati, the grant writer for Airway Heights, detailed the city...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS — Licett Garbe, the Eastern Washington Director for Senator Patty Murray’s office, addressed local leaders at the West Plains Safety Alliance meeting on May 16, emphasizing the resources available to smaller municipalities through federal grants. “We have access to significant funding fol lowing the fiscal year and the CDS cycle,” Garbe said. “We’re preparing for the next funding bill with a dedicated grants department, including a director and six interns.” Garbe highlighted the office’s commitment to a...
