Sorted by date Results 551 - 575 of 3077
OLYMPIA – Praising Washingtonians for their efforts in what appears to be a slowing of the spread of the COVID-19 disease, Gov. Jay Inslee announced some plans to reopen the state’s economy during a televised address Tuesday afternoon, April 21. In outlining some of the steps needed to reopen, and some specific businesses that could do so, Inslee didn’t directly address recent protests from residents frustrated with the restrictions. He also didn’t reference steps some local jurisdictions have taken to defy the orders... Full story
MEDICAL LAKE – Long-time nurse at Eastern State Hospital has died due to complications from contracting the disease COVID-19. According to an obituary published in the April 19 Spokesman-Review, 64-year-old Esequiel (Zeke) Cisneros passed away April 13 after first contracting the disease and then being placed in the intensive care unit of a local hospital. Cisneros and his wife Brenda moved to Medical Lake in 2001. “The virus quickly devastated Esequiel's body and his family is thankful that he is no longer in pain,” the f... Full story
CHENEY -- School district officials have announced that #BeTheLight" event will take place Friday, April 17, to honor the graduating class of 2020 members who have lost their spring quarter events, sports and school year associations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The event will take place at 8:20 p.m. when the lights at Cheney High School's Tom Oswald Field will be turned on for 20 minutes. As with similar events around the region and nation, residents are invited to drive by... Full story
OLYMPIA – In a joint appearance Monday afternoon, April 6, Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal announced the extension of school closures for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. The order keeps both public and private schools closed in accordance with the governor’s original order on March 13. The governor’s proclamation prohibits in-person instruction through June 19, with exceptions for students with disabilities and English language learners for whom distance learning would prese...
OLYMPIA -- Beginning this Sunday, Washingtonians currently ineligible to receive unemployment benefits may get a chance to receive financial help. In a press conference this afternoon with Gov. Jay Inslee, Employment Security Department Commissioner Suzi LeVine said the state will begin to implement provisions of the federal C.A.R.E.S Act expanding unemployment benefits to independent contractors and others who typically don't qualify for benefits – including those who don't have the usually required 680 hours. Other a... Full story
CHENEY – With the closure of Cheney schools and subsequent cancelation of spring sports, local photographer Bridget Mayfield found herself with a lot of time on her hands. That’s when a friend tagged her on a Facebook post about a national movement called the “Front Steps Project.” “I thought what a fabulous idea to do,” Mayfield said she thought after reading the post. According to a March 27 article in the Times-Picayune newspaper, the project began on March 17 when Needha...
CHENEY – Trapped in homes and away from outside entertainment due to stay at home orders to fight COVID-19, many families have looked for new ways to fight boredom and keep healthy relationships alive. Many have resorted to playing games, watching movies, walks around the block and other avenues. The Travis Edwards family in Cheney have created two unique activities — themed dinners and donating vitamins. Edwards, who works in public affairs at Fairchild Air Force Base, sai...
OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee and Department of Corrections Secretary Stephen Sinclair have announced plans to release up to 950 state inmates from facilities who are part of population vulnerable to COVID-19, including nonviolent individuals due to be released within the coming weeks and months. The move comes after a state Supreme Court ruling April 10 instructing the Department “to take all necessary steps to protect the health and safety” of incarcerated individuals in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and submit a repor...
OLYMPIA -- Washington, Oregon and California governors announced they have agreed on a shared vision to reopen their states economies and provide unified efforts to control COVID-19 in the future. The pact is based around dealing with the severe acute respiratory disease sweeping the nation and the world that is built on three principles: Health of residents, using science and data instead of politics to drive decisions and being more effective through a unified approach. "We are announcing that California, Oregon and Washing... Full story
SPOKANE -- The Inland COVID-19 Response Team's Food Continuity Task Force is working with area agencies to provide access to resources in Spokane County for those experiencing food and meal needs. My Spokane 311 and the task force, together with community partners such as Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels, 2nd Harvest, United Way and the Spokane Regional Health District are collaborating on development and delivery of a "Food and Supply Needs" program, according to an April 10 news release. The program will be used to...
OLYMPIA – The state Department of Natural Resources is implementing burn restrictions on DNR-protected lands in Eastern Washington, beginning Friday, April 10. DNR officials cited a front scheduled to pass through the region the next couple of days creating dry conditions and forecasted gusty winds as a reason for instituting the ban earlier than normal. According to an April 9, news release, all outdoor burning, which includes permit and rule burning (small debris disposal fires), is not allowed in eastern Washington. T...
CHENEY – Cheney Care Center residents appear to be free of any signs of the severe acute respiratory disease COVID-19. After a positive report of the disease in a resident of the skilled nursing portion of the facility was reported last week, Care Center officials got some help from Multicare, who came by on Saturday, April 4, and tested all skilled nursing residents. "All of our residents are negative for COVID-19," Executive Director Keith Fauerso said Monday, April 6. The r...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The Kalispel Tribe of Indians has filed a $21.27 million lawsuit against companies including 3M and Tyco Fire Products along with the United States government over chemicals used in firefighting foam that have contaminated drinking water sources in Airway Heights. The lawsuit filed Monday, March 30, in federal court in Washington joins others around the country dealing with alleged harmful effects of polyfluoroalkyl substances, referred to as PFAS, used in firefighting foam and other products. Fairchild A...
OLYMPIA – In an afternoon press conference that was part policy, part pep talk, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee outlined several steps taken to bring help to small businesses and individuals impacted by the measure taken to battle the COVID-19 disease. Inslee said there were signs of encouragement in the state’s attempt to slow the spread of the severe acute respiratory disease that resulted in 8,682 confirmed cases and 394 deaths, according to state Department of Health statistics through April 6. “Based on the science that...
MEDICAL LAKE -- The Spokane County Sheriff's Office is asking for the public's helping in identifying an individual wanted for questioning in a series of vehicle prowls that took place in Medical Lake April 6. According to an April 7 news release, the male was captured on two separate home security cameras. He is described as a white male, approximately 20-30 years old, thin, wearing all black, and riding an orange and black bicycle. The Sheriff's Office activity log for...
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Jay Inslee and Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal today announced the extension of school closures for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year. The order keeps both public and private schools closed in accordance with the governor's original order on March 13. The governor's proclamation prohibits in-person instruction through June 19, with exceptions for students with disabilities and English language learners for whom distance learning would present challenges. Facilities remain...
OLYMPIA -- Gov. Jay Inslee has extended his "Stay Home, Stay Safe" order until May 4. The order, issued to slow the spread of the severe acute respiratory disease COVID-19, was set to expire on Wednesday, April 8. The order has banned all gatherings and temporarily shuttered non-essential businesses. Public gatherings remain banned and non-essential businesses may reopen May 5. If gatherings are held in violation of the order, individuals are encouraged to notify their local police department. Do not call 911. All grocery... Full story
SPOKANE COUNTY -- A man who said he was just doing a homeowners dishes was shot by the homeowner in a possible occupied residential burglary last night. According to a Spokane County Sheriff's Office report, deputies and Airway Heights police officers were called to the home on the 2600 block of North Colville Road -- northeast of Airway Heights and north of Palisades Park just off Trails Road -- at about 11:55 p.m. on a call of a burglary in progress. The report said the homeowner and his wife were upstairs watching TV and...
Updated April 5, 5:39 p.m. -- Spokane County Department of Emergency Management officials have announced the number of cases of COVID-19 have risen. As of Sunday, April 5, the number of cases in the county is 219 individuals. The death toll has also risen and now stands at 11. SPOKANE -- COVID19 cases in Spokane County have topped 200, with the death toll from the severe acute respiratory disease rising as well. In an April 4 news release, Spokane County Department of Emergency Management officials said the total number of...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS --The Kalispel Tribe of Indians, its economic authority and the Northern Quest Resort & Casino have filed a $21.27 million lawsuit against companies including 3M and Tyco Fire Products along with the United States government over chemicals used in firefighting foam that have contaminated drinking water sources in Airway Heights, including tribal lands. The lawsuit filed Monday, March 30, in federal court in Washington joins other lawsuits around the country dealing with alleged harmful effects of... Full story
SPOKANE COUNTY – Greater Spokane County Meals on Wheels is in need of coolers, ice packs and volunteers to bring meals to over 1,000 participants — many who are over age 60. In a March 30 press release, GSC Meals on Wheels said the closure of their 12 Silver Cafes — where mobile seniors come and enjoy a fresh-cooked meal — due to COVID-19 restrictions has reduced nutrition options for those seniors. One of those cafes was at the Cheney Care Center's Sessions Village Commons. GSC Meals on Wheels say they have subsequ... Full story
CHENEY -- A resident at the Cheney Care Center has tested positive for the severe acute respiratory disease COVID-19. According to news reports, the resident was transferred to a local hospital on March 30 and tested positive for the disease on April 1. The resident is in quarantine at the hospital, and Care Center officials say there are no other confirmed or suspected cases at the facility. John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].... Full story
AIRWAY HEIGHTS -- The City Council moved five items out of last Monday's study session for passage consideration at its next meeting April 6 -- one of which dealt with what to do once the Air Force releases its analysis of options to deal with contaminated groundwater in the area. Council will consider a $27,500 appropriation to hire consultant to perform a hydrogeological assessment of the contamination, allegedly created when firefighting foam used at Fairchild Air Force Base leaked into the aquafer over a number of years....
MEDICAL LAKE – Feed Medical Lake officials have announced they will be providing weekly “grab-and-go” sack lunches/dinners as originally planned. The meals will take place every Monday, beginning March 30, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 223 S. Hallett St. Feed Medical Lake organizers had hoped to provide these meals along with groceries, but after Gov. Jay Inslee’s March 16 proclamation ordering Washingtonians to “stay home, stay safe,” as part of efforts to slow the spread of the severe acute respiratory d...
CHENEY – Most changes involved in slowing the spread of the COVID-19 disease have been announced publicly. One, however, was done almost quietly in the dead of night. Gov. Jay Inslee signed a proclamation March 24 amending his state of emergency declaration by suspending aspects of the Open Public Meetings and Open Public Records acts that involve public contact. The proclamation noted the suspension of these requirements runs to midnight April 23; however ,the Inslee’s office has indicated it is considering extending lim...
