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  • Power lines blocking I-90 in Spokane

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Nov 13, 2020

    SPOKANE -- Downed power lines are currently fully blocking traffic on Interstate 90 near milepost 277 just west of the conjunction with U.S. Highway 2 in the city of Spokane. Washington State Patrol officials indicated both east and west bound lanes of the interstate are blocked. No estimated time for reopening has been given. Update 1:32 p.m. -- Both directions of the interstate have now reopened....

  • Nine-match conference schedule for EWU soccer

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Nov 12, 2020

    CHENEY – After the traditional fall 2020 season was postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, a fresh 2021 Big Sky Conference schedule awaits the Eastern Washington soccer team, as announced by the conference office Nov. 5. The Eagles will play four matches at home and five on the road. The Big Sky Conference will continue its normal round-robin format, with each team playing each other once. However, there will be no conference tournament and the winner of the 2021 regular conference season will receive the l...

  • Car/semi collision blocks Four Lakes ramp

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Nov 11, 2020

    FOUR LAKES, WASH. -- A car semi-truck injury collision blocked the eastbound ramp onto Interstate 90 at Four Lakes early this morning, Nov. 11. According to the Washington State Patrol, the accident occurred at 5:50 a.m., partially blocking the ramp to I-90 from State Route 904. No other details were available at press time....

  • Major storm forecast for this weekend

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Nov 11, 2020

    SPOKANE – The National Weather Service is forecasting the possibility of a major weekend storm that could bring lots of rain, snow and high winds to the region. According to a Nov. 10 advisory, the storm coming in off the Pacific Ocean has the potential to be “high impact” to the Pacific Northwest. The first effects could begin with light snow Friday morning that could impact the local commutes, but progress through the rest of the day into very windy conditions and/or significant lowland snow accumulations, depending on th... Full story

  • Eastern names Lipold men's assistant coach

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Nov 5, 2020

    CHENEY – The 2020-21 Eastern Washington University men’s basketball season will include a new assistant coach, as T.J. Lipold moves from an operations position to a coaching role for the Eagles. Replacing Lipold as EWU’s director of basketball operations is Shawn James, a veteran of two previous seasons with the program. Lipold (pronounced “Lip-old”) began working for the program in June of 2017 in an assistant director of basketball operations/video coordinator role. The 2020-21 season will be his fourth overall at EWU, a...

  • WIAA outlines process for determining possible sport seasons

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Nov 5, 2020

    RENTON – The WIAA (Washington Interscholastic Activities Association) Executive Board approved a process for determining the status of upcoming WIAA seasons during the 2020-21 school year Nov. 2. The process outlines a timetable for decision making as well as a minimum participation requirement and is based on feedback from athletic directors. The Executive Board determined that, in order for a season to take place, 50% of schools in a WIAA region (by classification) must be eligible to participate in league games as per the...

  • EWU unveils six-game spring football schedule

    From Staff and News Service Reports|Updated Nov 4, 2020

    CHENEY--Eastern Washington University is scheduled to host a trio of teams starting this February as the result of an abbreviated 2020-21 football schedule announced by the Big Sky Conference on Nov. 4. Montana is scheduled to visit EWU's Roos Field on March 6, with Idaho coming to Cheney on March 27 and Cal Poly on April 10 in the return to EWU of new Mustang head coach Beau Baldwin. 10 of the league's 11 schools will play in the winter/spring, with Sacramento State opting out because of concerns with the short turnaround...

  • Wild Bill's hosts rescue dog fundraiser

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 30, 2020

    CHENEY--Wild Bill's Longbar is hosting a raffle fundraiser through closing time Oct. 31 to benefit rescue dogs through Rescue4All, a Spokane nonprofit. Several Cheney businesses and locals have contributed gift baskets which can be won through raffle, including The Mason Jar, West Plains Roasters, Bene's, Cheney Vet Clinic. The Cheney Free Press is raffling off a free year's subscription. Raffle tickets are $1, or $20 for 25 tickets. A large pumpkin is positioned by the front... Full story

  • Eagle women's basketball adds two to coaching staff

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 29, 2020

    CHENEY – Eastern Washington University head women’s basketball coach Wendy Schuller has added two new additions to her coaching staff, as announced in an Oct. 20 news release. Both serving in assistant coaching roles, Shannon Donegan and Nicole Mitchell bring local and national success to the program. “We are excited to welcome Nicole and Shannon to the Eagle family,” Schuller said in the release. “Both women come to us with great backgrounds, high basketball IQs and have reputations as hard workers. The thing that stood out...

  • Re*Imagine ML hosts Halloween Drive-Through

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 22, 2020

    MEDICAL LAKE – Re*Imagine Medical Lake is hosting a Halloween Drive-Through Festival on Saturday, Oct. 31, from 2 – 4 p.m. at the high school bus loop. The event is drive-through/walk-in style, with masks and social distancing expected by participants. There will be music, a costume contest, trunk-or-treat, pumpkins, Kettle Korn, prizes such as Amazon gift cards and more, including the crowning of the 2020 King of Candy at 2 p.m. by 2019 King Wispies Salon for the business that collects the most candy. According to a new...

  • State and local officials lift county recreational fire ban

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 22, 2020

    SPOKANE – The Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency has announced that the outdoor recreational fire restrictions imposed by local fire and county officials on July 20 has been lifted, effective Oct. 20. Restrictions were previously lifted by the Washington State Department of Natural Resources for their permit and rule burns for silvicultural burning on state-protected lands. Area residents are asked to follow all rules regarding specific burning practices. According to the Regional Clean Air Agency, recreational fires i...

  • Bill Stevenson brings experience as new Whitman County Gazette editor

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 22, 2020

    COLFAX – Bill Stevenson feels at home behind the editor’s desk at the Whitman County Gazette. The “new” editor brings 27 years of journalism with him, most of it being while in Eastern Washington. Two years of reviewing software while living in Japan, and a year in Nevada running a national magazine for motorcycles. “Writing 24 stories about motor oil took the glamour out of writing about the motorcycle industry,” he said. “I went back to the wonderful diversity of community reporting.” Stevenson started his career at a weekl...

  • Medical Lake schools first-graders return to in-person classes Oct. 26

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCE|Updated Oct 22, 2020

    MEDICAL LAKE – First-graders will be returning to in-person learning five days a week at Hallett and Michael Anderson elementary schools, the district announced Oct. 19. Superintendent Tim Ames said in an online newsletter that the district had success with bringing back preschoolers and kindergartners in-person. These students returned in person Oct. 12. Kindergartners are in school all day, and first-graders will follow suit. Preschoolers are on half days at Michael Anderson, with some students learning Monday/Wednesday a...

  • EWU remains in online winter quarter

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 22, 2020

    CHENEY – Citing health and safety reasons, Eastern Washington University officials announced last week that they will continue with offering most classes online during winter quarter 2021. As with fall instruction, some in-person classes will be allowed for specific courses. Following the “online-first, maximum flexibility” approach used this term, all winter courses that can be taught online will be delivered through this platform. Eastern will identify classes that cannot be offered online, such as some labs, and appro...

  • Westwood MS fun runs goes to virtual challenge

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 22, 2020

    WINDSOR – Fun runs play a huge part in funding local associated student body school events, but with Spokane County still not at a point where large gatherings of individuals are allowed under Covid-19 protocols, schools have looked to other means to fundraise. At Cheney School District’s Westwood Middle School, eight student leadership officers put their innovative heads together at the start of the school year and came up with an indoor version of the fun run that everyone could do. According to an Oct. 16 news rel...

  • Ballots to be mailed this week

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 21, 2020

    SPOKANE – It’s finally almost here. The Nov. 3 General Election is just 13 days, and by now most voters in Spokane County should have received their ballots. If you haven’t received a ballot, or haven’t registered and wish to do so, you have until Oct. 26 to turn in new registrations and check the status of a current one. If you haven’t received a ballot, contact the county Elections Department at 509-477-2320 to make sure your information, such as correct current address, is up to date. You can also go online at VoteWa.go...

  • EWU releases men's Big Sky basketball schedule

    From Staff and News Service Reports, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 15, 2020

    CHENEY -- Road trips will be few and far between for the Eastern Washington University men's basketball team, as the preliminary 2020-21 Big Sky Conference schedule has been released. On Wednesday (Oct. 14) the Big Sky Presidents' Council approved the league schedule, which will help limit travel because of the Covid-19 pandemic. League teams will typically play two games at a venue, with EWU's schedule starting with games on Dec. 3 and Dec. 5 versus Northern Arizona at Flagstaff, Ariz. Eastern will have 10 home games, starti...

  • Gusty winds expected late Tuesday

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES, Cheney Free Press|Updated Oct 13, 2020

    EASTERN WASHINGTON -- A cold front moving through the region beginning Monday night is expected to bring more rain and windy conditions to the area Tuesday. Rain is expected in the morning, with winds picking up through the afternoon and into the evening. Forecasters at the National Weather service are predicting potentially damaging wind gusts from 40 --60 mph peaking between 4 -- 8 p.m., with 60 mph gusts possible locally. A High Wind Watch has been issued for Tuesday afternoon and evening from the Wenatchee area east... Full story

  • Medical Lake/Interstate 90 interchange eastbound closing Oct. 11

    FROM STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 9, 2020

    MEDICAL LAKE -- State Department of Transportation crews working on the Interstate 90/Medical Lake - State Route 902 interchange will be closing the eastbound off ramp to reconstruct the ramp and complete the interchange's final roundabout. The ramp will be closed beginning Sunday, Oct. 11 at 6 p.m. and remain closed until 5 a.m. Thursday, Oct. 15. Travelers using this ramp will need to plan additional time to their trip to accommodate detours. Travelers needing to access eastbound I-90 at the interchange will be detoured to...

  • Slightly spooky, mysterious, strange library programs for kids, tweens, teens

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 1, 2020

    SPOKANE – The County Library District is offering programs and events for kids, tweens and teens in October that are slightly spooky, mysterious and strange. According to a Sept. 29 news release, kids in grades 6–12 are invited to the “Whodunit Costume Ball Mystery.” Participants try to solve the puzzles and crack the codes to figure out the whodunit and discover the mystery of the ball. Costumes are encouraged – getting into a sleuthing character can help to solve the virtual mystery. Registration is required, and you’ll ne...

  • Eastern's Women and Gender Studies undergoes name change

    STAFF AND NEWS SOURCES|Updated Oct 1, 2020

    CHENEY – Eastern Washington University’s Women and Gender Studies has undergone a name change while also now being offered as a major. Gender, Women’s & Sexuality Studies (GWSS) replaces the program name that started as Women’s studies in 1974 and was changed to Women and Gender Studies in 2007. It is now also being offered as a major, incorporating current best models into its structure, types of courses offered and expansion of student choice while also retaining its long-standing commitment to social justice and community...

  • Levin-Stankevich returns as EWU Provost

    From staff and news sources|Updated Sep 17, 2020

    CHENEY – Eastern Washington University has announced that Brian Levin-Stankevich, Ph.D., is returning to the Cheney campus to serve as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs. Levin-Stankevich previously served at EWU from 1995-2006 in a variety of roles that included one year as interim president and three years as provost. He helped Eastern win approval from the state for new degree programs such as the doctorate in physical therapy (the first doctorate at a c...

  • Malden, Pine City fires near containment

    Staff and news sources|Updated Sep 17, 2020

    From MALDEN -- Access to the towns of Malden and Pine City continues to be restricted as crews continue to mop up Babb Fire hotspots. The fire grew to 15,266 acres and was 90% contained, according to Northwest Interagency Incident Management Team No. 10, which was managing fire operations until 6 p.m. Monday evening. At least 110 firefighters and 26 engines remained in the area. Local fire officials have since assumed control of the wildfire the swept across southern Spokane...

  • Air quality to deteriorate over weekend

    From Staff and News Service Reports, Cheney Free Press|Updated Sep 11, 2020

    SPOKANE -- Officials at the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency are warning residents in the region that, depending on the winds and fire activity, air quality over the next several days is expected to worse. According to a Sept. 10 news release, air quality today (Sept. 11) could possibly reach the Orange Range (Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups) or worse of the Air Quality Index (AQI). Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 12-13, the air quality could decline even further to the Purple...

  • Haz-mat incident in Cheney

    From Staff and News Service Reports|Updated Sep 9, 2020

    CHENEY -- Emergency response crews are onsite at a hazardous materials incident at Centennial Mills in downtown Cheney, 601 1st St. According to an alert posted on the city's website, 1st Street is closed between C Street and College Avenue. Residents are asked to avoid the area if possible. According to an employee, the incident involves a chlorine leak that happened as a result of a broken chlorine bottle at the Archer-Daniels Midland facility. Response teams from Cheney... Full story

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