Sorted by date Results 401 - 425 of 477
Unintended consequence or bureaucratic power grab? Given the things being ordered behind locked doors of government offices, I’ll take the latter. Tonight, March 25, when the clock strikes midnight, the state Department of Fish and Wildlife is banning all fishing and boating statewide. This closure comes on the heels of a previous order to ban all camping on publicly owned, state-managed lands. The closures, Department of Fish and Wildlife officials say, is in keeping with G... Full story
Boys are boys and girls are girls. There’s no in-between, at least when it comes to sports. I know it’s not politically correct to say that in this day and age. But genetically (and generally) speaking, boys are stronger and faster than girls. As a result, we have separate sports for each gender. That is, unless your young athlete competes for a middle or high school, or a non-profit organization in Washington state. Here, the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association...
BOISE — The U.S. Geological Survey is reporting a magnitude 6.5 earthquake and five aftershocks shaking Central Idaho starting about 5:53 p.m. today, Tuesday, March 31. The main quake struck about 43 miles west of Challis, in the Shake Creek area, the USGS reported. The agency received calls that the earthquake was felt as far away as Spokane, Wash. It’s epicenter was at a depth of 6 miles, the USGS reported. Aftershocks followed of magnitudes: 3.6 in the Bench Creek area, 42 miles east-southeast of Cascade 4.6 in the Swa...
BOISE — Female athletes may not have to compete against so-called “transgender” women — in other words, biological males — in Idaho . That’s because Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 500, the Fairness in Women’s Sports Act, into law Monday, March 30. The measure amends state law to prevent those athletes born as males from competing in female-designated sports. The bill follows the Idaho Legislature’s finding of fact that, biologically, there are “inherent differences between men and women.” The finding points out the scie... Full story
OLYMPIA - Gov. Jay Inslee called on residents to tattle on friends, neighbors and businesses that fail to comply with his order to stay home during the state's coronavirus outbreak. "If we're going to beat it, all of has have to be engaged," he said. "Unfortunately, we have thousands of calls coming in ... some individuals and some businesses are not complying." The order generally requires so-call "non-essential" businesses to shut down and residents to remain at home. If tat...
SEATTLE -- The King County judge who initially blocked the $30 car-tab cap denied most of the challenges to the taxpayer-approved measure. Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson ruled this morning, Tuesday, March 24, that the measure meets constitutional muster and can go into effect. But he severed parts of the measure that related to how vehicle valuations are calculated in the Puget Sound region. Those valuations provide the basis for Sound Transit to collect taxes to expan... Full story
OLYMPIA -- The state earlier today announced all publicly owned lands managed by Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and Department of Fish and Wildlife are closed to the public. The closure will last at least two weeks, officials said, noting it includes wildlife areas as well as public access areas such as trailheads and boat launch facilities.. Gates and facilities will be locked and all public services suspended, officials said. Rangers will be "present to preserve and protect" resources," officials said.... Full story
As a member of the “Fourth Estate,” our newspaper staff regularly comes in close contact with people from all walks of life. Knowing that, we are doing our part to help prevent the spread of the coronavirus, COVID-19, colloquially dubbed “Wuhan flu” and “WuFlu.” Like you, we are washing our hands, covering coughs and sanitizing everything in sight. We’re also taking the unusual step of closing our offices to public access, in an effort to protect the staff that is keeping yo...
OLYMPIA — Residents who become unemployed due to government actions to reduce the spread of the COVID-19 coronovirus won’t have to worry about being evicted, at least for the next month. During a press conference this afternoon, March 18, Gov. Jay Inslee said he signed an order preventing landlords from evicting people who fall behind on rent after being sent home from work due the “WuFlu” pandemic. “I’m issue a statewide moratorium on evictions for failure to pay rent for the next 30 days,” the governor said. Inslee also p...
PASCO - "We won!" That was the reaction from Franklin County Commissioner Clint Didier earlier today, March 12, after a King County judge vacated most of a previous injunction on Initiative 976. That injunction has prevented the $30 car tab initiative from going into effect statewide. But today, King County Superior Court Judge Marshall Ferguson vacated most of the injunction. I-976 generally limits all car license tab taxes and fees to $30 for non-commercial vehicle. On Nov....
CHENEY — The Blackhawks district champion wrestling team ran into tough Yakima Valley competition at regionals Saturday, finishing third overall in their home gymnasium. But two local grapplers won Class 2A regional titles — Dylan Straley at 145 and Jackson Showalter at 152. Toppenish won the team title with 292 points, followed by Selah with 128 and Cheney with 116. Fourth-place went to Othello with 107 team points and fifth to Ellensburg with 80. Rounding out team sco...
OLYMPIA — A bill that would have limited the number of rounds of ammunition a firearm magazine can hold is “dead” for this legislative session. Substitute House Bill 2240 was on the docket for a second reading in the House, but was did not receive a second vote prior to 5 p.m. today, Feb. 19. “The attempt to ban magazines in Washington state is dead,” Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, said from Olympia in a live broadcast on his personal social media feed shortly after 5 p.m. “We just got word we are done today and the mag...
OLYMPIA – Larger cities and counties would be prohibited from creating single-family neighborhoods under a Senate Bill introduced by a King County Democrat. Substitute Senate Bill 6536 would require cities of more than 10,000 residents and counties with 50,000 residents to eliminate residential zoning rules limiting construction to single-family homes. Sen. Mona Das, D-Kent, wants to eliminate single-family neighborhoods in cities and in urban growth areas of counties. U...
SPANGLE - The Liberty Lancers wrestling team took top district honors Thursday night, Feb. 6, with 297 points in the Northeast 1B/2B-South tournament. The Lancers had six individual champions at the tournament in their home gymnasium on senior night. Liberty's Owen Prince won the 120-pound class, Ashton Strobel 132, Cole Prince 160, Jesse Turner 170, Josiah Cwik 220 and Charlie Harrington 285. Davenport was a distant second with 246 points, followed by Reardan in third with...
PASCO — Franklin County Republicans joined the growing call Tuesday night, Feb. 4, to have Rep. Matt Shea reinstated to his previous party and committee statuses. The embattled Shea, accused of being a domestic terrorist, was previously suspended from the Republican Party House Caucus by Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox, R-Yelm, . Shea, R-Spokane Valley, was removed on a split vote by party leadership in the House. Republicans in Olympia, thus far, have declined to say who voted to oust Shea. And those invited into a closed-door s...
OLYMPIA — Four Western Washington senators apparently don't want to hear what voters think of tax and fee increases approved by the Legislature. They are co-sponsoring a bill to do away with public advisory votes, also known as straw ballots. Under Senate Bill 6610 — co-sponsored by Sens. Patricia Kuderer of Bellevue, Sam Hunt of Olympia, Jamie Pederson of Seattle and Claire Wilson of Federal Way, all Democrats — advisory votes would be eliminated. The bill would create a tas...
WASHTUCNA — A local resident was killed and another injured in a head-on crash Tuesday afternoon, Feb. 5. Sally J. Graves, 76, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash near Milepost 57 on state Highway 261, the Washington State Patrol said in an updated report. Garth A. Blauert, 57, was the driver of the second vehicle. According to the patrol, Graves was northbound on the highway in a 2003 Mitsubishi Outlander at about 3:02 p.m. when her vehicle crossed the center line and struck Blauert's tractor-trailer head-on in t... Full story
SPANGLE -- A local Liberty High School girl has been selected as a WIAA Athlete of the Week. Wrestling at 115 pounds, junior Maizy Feltwell was selected Wednesday, Feb. 5, after remaining undefeated on the mat this season. According to the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association, Feltwell has a 32-0 record. On Jan. 25, she won the Dream Duals tournament in Spokane, officials said. And she's previously won matches and tournaments at Central Valley (Spokane), Newport, Tri-County, the Lady Huskie Invite in Othello and...
DAVENPORT - The Eastern Washington Council of Governments will hear from Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers and discuss regional issues when it meets at 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 31. The meeting is open to the public and takes place in the Lincoln County Courthouse, 450 Logan St. Discussion of a contract with Ferry County and a presentation from McMorris Rodgers, R-Spokane, will lead off the meeting. The group follow up those items with a report on state and federal matters, the...
COLVILLE — Stevens County commissioners returned fire on Western Washington gun-control advocates earlier this week, unanimously voting to back a resolution to nullify Initiative 1639 and new gun-control measures being considered in Olympia. Commissioners Steve Parker, West McCart and Don Dashiell all backed the resolution. “We're not claiming any immunity,” Parker said. “We're just challenging the legality of the legislation that's upcoming that runs afoul of the constitution...
SPOKANE VALLEY – As the Legislature opened its 60-day session, Republicans outside Olympia lined up behind Rep. Matt Shea, saying he's being "Trumped" by Democrats and Republican Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox. During the last week, at least three counties' Republican committees voted to support Shea and chastise Wilcox. Cowlitz County Republicans approved their resolution Monday night. On Sunday, the 26th Legislative Republican District Committee, which represents part of P...
SPRAGUE – Sprague Chamber of Commerce President Tim Wilken was named 2019 Citizen of the Year during the organization's annual banquet Monday night at Sprague Elementary School. Wilken received multiple nominations for the award, selection committee spokesman Chris Canaday said. "This gentleman has been life-long in Sprague," Canaday said during the presentation of the award. According to Canaday, the 35-year-old Wilken has been instrumental in city improvements and is a... Full story
OLYMPIA – A bill has been introduced in the state House of Representatives that would protect child entrepreneurs wanting to sell lemonade in the summer or hot chocolate in the winter. House Bill 2232, introduced by Rep. Luanne Van Werven, R-Lynden, would protect children from overzealous bureaucrats trying to collect business license and other fees, or restrict their ability to occasionally sell non-alcoholic drinks to passersby. A public hearing on the measure took place J... Full story
OLYMPIA – A bill that passed the state Senate today, Jan. 22, could mean young public schools pupils will be exposed to "inclusive" sex education. In a 28-21 vote, Engrossed Substitute Senate Bill 5395 was opposed by all Republicans and one Democrat, Sen. Tim Sheldon of Potlatch. The bill now heads to the Democrat-controlled House. Under the bill, public schools will be required to teach medically accurate, age-appropriate sex education to students at all grade levels from k... Full story
OTHELLO – The Liberty (Spangle) girls wrestling team finished 20th Saturday in the Lady Huskies Invite. The Lancers girls came home with 56 team points, the best of any 1B/2B school in the competition. The Top 5 teams were Hanford with 163 points, Sunnyside with 156.5, Othello with 116, Toppenish with 110 and Wapato with 101. Maizy Feltwell brought home gold, topping the 115-pound class and Charlie Johnson was second at 170. Feltwell remains undefeated this season. She o...
