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SPOKANE VALLEY – As 2024 comes to a close, the community reflects on the events that have shaped life in Spokane Valley and Liberty Lake. From local crime to local politics, these stories have defined our year. Mother charged with murder of infant Amlyann Harry was initially arrested for assaulting her five-month-old baby, who later died of severe injuries. The charge was upgraded to first-degree murder. Major Crimes Detectives continue investigating the July 21 incident in S...
COLFAX — A local lawmaker is co-sponsoring a pair of bills that would give some workers in Washington state a reprieve from the long-term care tax. Rep. Joe Schmick, R-Colfax, is co-sponsoring the bills with Rep. Peter Abbarno, R-Centralia. The bills would reopen a limited opt-out period for WA Cares and let individuals who have paid into the program transfer benefits to a spouse. WA Cares deducts 58 cents per $100 earned for every worker to fund a limited lifetime benefit – up to $36,000 – for long-term care costs. Befor...
SPOKANE VALLEY – Two people were injured in a car accident on North Pines Road and East Trent Avenue in Spokane Valley on Christmas morning. The crash prompted an investigation by Washington State Patrol. One driver has been charged with vehicular assault for driving under the influence during the collision. According to officials, Robert A. Garcia, 39, was driving a 2006 Ford 250 northbound on SR27 when he crossed the centerline and collided with a southbound 2009 Chevrolet Silverado driven by Tia M. Rosetti, 61. Both d...
OLYMPIA — With a new year just around the corner, a host of new statewide laws will soon impact Washingtonians’ wallets beginning Jan. 1. Here are some of them. Minimum wage The state’s minimum wage – already the highest state-level minimum wage in the nation – will increase 38 cents. According to the state Department of Labor & Industries, the minimum wage will rise to $16.66 an hour next year, a 2.35% increase over the current minimum wage of $16.28. The increase applies to workers age 16 and older. Employers may pay 85% o...
As Washingtonians take a welcome year-end break to spend time with family and celebrate Christmas, our state’s political leaders are hard at work drafting the agenda for the upcoming legislative session. The legislature doesn’t meet formally until January 13th, but the governor’s budget proposal, a list of 215 pre-filed bills, and a curious leaked e-mail give us hints of what some lawmakers are planning. Tax collections are up and there is ample revenue to fund government ser...
City Council holds meeting SPOKANE VALLEY – On Tuesday, Jan. 7, the City Council will be holding a regular meeting in the City Hall Council Chambers at 10210 East Sprague Avenue. The public is invited to join in person or at the regularly scheduled zoom meeting at 6:00 p.m. Interested residents can find the agendas, minutes and videos at spokanevalleywa.gov. Members of the public may provide comments at all regular meetings, and, unless specified, after most action items. Attendees can give in-person comments at the time s...
“Just as a leaking faucet results in the loss of water for no gain to the homeowner, concurrent enrollment results in additional costs to taxpayers without a benefit to the people served by Medicaid,” writes Democrat Pat McCarthy, Washington state’s auditor. She wrote it in a summary statement for an October report about wasteful spending in Medicaid that hurts both state and federal taxpayers. In an October report, “Examining Washington’s Concurrent Medicaid Enrollme...
SPOKANE VALLEY – This year, local schools showcased a dynamic year of sports, with athletes excelling in basketball, football, wrestling, soccer and more Here’s a month-by-month breakdown of the stories that shaped Spokane Valley sports in 2024. JANUARY Cheney boys fall to Ridgeline Cheney’s Evan Stinson scored 21 points but struggled in the final quarter as Ridgeline outscored Cheney 21-7. Ridgeline’s Easton Amend and Caden Andreas led the Falcons to a league victory. FEBRUARY Freeman wrestlers shine at state Freeman...
SPOKANE – A Spokane man accused of causing a six-hour SWAT standoff in the Hillyard neighborhood appeared before a judge on Christmas Eve. Kyle Fergesen, 36, was charged after police say he entered the rec room at Silvan Place Apartments with a kitchen knife and threatened to kill everyone present. The incident led to a tense, drawn out standoff with police last Monday night. Fergesen is currently undergoing a mental health evaluation and has been held on a $100,000 bond. He is scheduled to return to court next m...
