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OLYMPIA — Calling the current status of the coronavirus outbreak the "third wave," Gov. Jay Inslee ordered more shutdowns this morning, Nov. 15. Indoor service at restaurants and bars is prohibited from midnight Monday through Dec. 14. In addition, church services are being limited to 25% capacity or 200 people, whichever is less, the governor said, calling today the "most dangerous public health day" in state history. Choirs, singing and ensembles are banned, but a solo performance will be allowed. "In-action here is not a...
If we can provide it, maybe we should return to polling place voting Over the last few months, all eyes have been on Washington’s 16-year-old vote-by-mail system. National media has been holding it up as an example of what should become the norm nationwide. But should it? Yes, we have fastidious local election employees resolving problems. And yes, we have years of experience making vote-by-mail work. But the nation isn’t ready for all-mail elections, whether it’s our system or another state’s. Simply put, voting by mail ap...
OLYMPIA — A day after Gov. Inslee told residents to have virtual Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations this year, he issued a travel advisory calling on travelers to quarantine 14 days. The governor’s advisory also suggests only “essential” travel outside of the home. All residents or visitors who travel out of the state should quarantine 14 days, he said, following the lead of California Gov. Gavin Newsom and Oregon Gov. Kate Brown. “COVID-19 cases have doubled in Washington over the past two weeks,” he said. “This puts...
CHENEY - The National Weather Service has issued a winter weather advisory as heavy snow is expected to move into Northern Idaho and Northeast Washington. The advisory runs from 11 p.m. until noon tomorrow. "A wet storm system will move in tonight and spread snow across much of North-Central and Northeast Washington and into the Idaho Panhandle, the advisory said. "Snow will be heavy at times over the mountain passes and mountain valleys with winter travel likely by Friday...
OLYMPIA — The governor and his wife tonight called on state residents to forgo Thanksgiving and Christmas celebrations with family this year. Speaking together from a couch, Gov. Jay Inslee said we’re “going to have to pause” traditional family Thanksgiving celebrations and “December holidays.” “We have to rethink these holidays so we can be thankful when we don’t lose more lives to COVID,” he said, calling the situation that has dragged on since February only “temporary.” The Inslees said they will be having a virtual Than...
CHENEY – Drivers should expect wintry conditions and slick roads overnight tonight. The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Weather Advisory for 10 p.m. tonight to 10 a.m. Tuesday in advance of a storm that's expected to bring 1-3 inches of snow across the area overnight. "Light now will develop overnight," the advisory said. "Wintry driving conditions will be possible during the Tuesday morning commute, especially on untreated roadways." 1-2 inches of snow is e...
OLYMPIA – Despite a parental uprising over an “inclusive” sexual education mandate, Referendum 90 was passing after an initial election night tally Nov 3. Approval of R-90 reaffirms a law passed by Democrats in Olympia last spring that requires all public schools to start teaching a sexual education curriculum, which includes alternative lifestyle intimacy, in all grades starting with kindergarten. The initial count showed the measure had 1,916,159 supporting votes state...
SPOKANE — Eastern Washington’s two incumbent Republican congressional representatives were leading by large margins following the initial general election tally Tuesday night. In the 5th Congressional District, Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Spokane was leading Democrat Dave Wilson, 195,907 votes to 133,419 (59.4% to 40.4%). In the 4th Congressional District race, Rep. Dan Newhouse of Sunnyside was leading Democrat Doug McKinley of Richland, 126,355 votes to 67,533 votes (65...
SPOKANE – Spokane County voters were backing Republican President Trump in his re-election bid by a narrow margin following an initial count in the general election.’ Meanwhile, the state was leaning toward Democratic challenger Joe Biden. Here, 126,675 votes, or 49.3%, have already been counted for Trump and 122,188, or 47.55%, had been tallied for Biden. Only two counties in Eastern Washington — Whitman and Walla Walla — were supporting Biden. Statewide, Biden was leading...
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee declared victory in the general election Tuesday night, Nov. 3, over Republican challenger Loren Culp. “I cannot express the honor I feel to be elected to a third term as governor,” Inslee said, celebrating victory even more than a million ballots have yet to be counted statewide. “The people of Washington have given my administration a unique place in history, and I will work hard for you every day, just as I have for the past eight years....
SPOKANE VALLEY — Liberty state supporters have a new champion in Olympia following yesterday's general election. Republican Rob Chase of Spokane Valley will be filling the 4th Legislative District seat being vacated by Rep. Matt Shea. As of the end of ballot counting Nov. 3, Chase had 61% of the vote to Democrat Lance Gurel's 39%, according to the Spokane County Election Office. Chase is a former Spokane County treasurer and was backed by Rep. Shea. Liberty state is the most current iteration in Eastern Washington's c...
SPOKANE — Eastern Washington’s two incumbent Republican congressional representatives were leading by large margins following the initial general election tally Tuesday night. Reps. Cathy McMorris Rodgers of Spokane and Dan Newhouse of Sunnyside had comfortable leads in their districts at press time. In the race for the 5th Congressional District, McMorris Rodgers was leading Democrat challenger Dave Wilson, 195,907 votes to 133,419 (59.4% to 40.4%). Due to technical issues, Whitman County has yet to report; the county is...
SPOKANE — Interstate 90 westbound is closed between Freya and altamont avenues due to a fatal crash. According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred at 12:59 p.m. and the interstate's three westbound lanes are blocked. "Traffic is getting by on the right shoulder," the patrol reported, noting the eastbound left lane is blocked by emergency vehicles. An ETA on reopening is not yet available; westbound motorists are advised to find alternative routes, the patrol said. There are no other details available at this t...
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...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The West Plains Chamber of Commerce has a new interim leader today. Deanna Williams took over the business organization this morning, Wednesday, Oct. 21, after former Executive Director Toby Broemmeling stepped down and the chamber's governing board accepted his resignation. Neither Williams nor Broemmeling could not be reached for comment by press time. Chamber board Chairman Erik Puthoff announced Broemmeling's departure in an email to members Tuesday, O...
AIRWAY HEIGHTS – The National Weather Service has issued a Winter Storm Watch for Friday afternoon and night in advance of a cold front that's expected to bring moderate to heavy snow to the U.S. Highway 2 corridor. The watch includes much of Northeast Washington, mostly north of U.S. Highway 2. Davenport, Reardan, Airway Heights, Medical Lake and Cheney are in the watch area. "Travel could be very difficult, including the Friday evening commute," the weather service said. "...
CHENEY - Two Free Press Publishing staffers were honored Friday night for their newspaper work in 2019. Graphic artist Walter Willand and Publisher Roger Harnack were among those recognized in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association's Better Newspaper Contest. Willand and Harnack contribute to all of Free Press Publishing's newspapers and websites, including the Cheney Free Press. Willand received second place for his 2019 Outdoors section cover design. Harnack, was...
OLYMPIA — Republic Police Chief Loren Culp came out swinging and kept incumbent Gov. Jay Inslee on the defensive during their only planned gubernatorial debate Wednesday night, Oct. 7. Culp, R-Republic, blasted Inslee, D-Bainbridge Island, for mismanaging state agencies, violating state and constitutional rights, and a lack of leadership. "What we have right here in Washington is a leadership crisis," Culp said as the one-hour debate kicked off. Rather than defend his r...
Crews were busy replacing old and damaged tiles Monday morning on Cheney's historic Northern Pacific Railroad Depot. The depot was moved to its new location on 1st Street this summer and is undergoing repairs with the intention to return it to some form of public use in the future....
MALDEN – Angry residents wanted an answer Tuesday on why the city's fire siren never sounded on Labor Day when the Babb Fire swept through town. During a meeting that attracted more than 150 residents, volunteers and government officials, several residents loudly demanded an answer. Among those residents is Vanessa Place, whose home was destroyed, leaving her, her husband and four kids living out of a travel trailer in the burned-out town. "It (the siren) goes off at noon ever...
CHENEY – Two Free Press Publishing employees will be recognized next month for their newspaper work. Publisher Roger Harnack and graphic artist Walter Willand are among the award-winners in the Washington Newspaper Publishers Association’s Better Newspaper Contest. While the actual awards have not been announced, they will be recognized for work in the categories of photography and special sections, according to the organization. They are being recognized for their work from April 1, 2019, through March 30, 2020. In add...
PULLMAN - The Police Department has released the body-video camera footage of Washington State University basketball coach Kamie Ethridge issued a $150 citation Aug. 28 for violating Gov. Jay Inslee's coronavirus quarantine orders. The municipal ticket was written as a civil infraction under the city's nuisance party law, which prohibits parties in the city. Pullman and Washington State University, as well as the city of Cheney and Eastern Washington University, have...
MALDEN – Local leaders called for unity and cooperation Tuesday in the "arduous" task of rebuilding the community in the wake of the Babb Fire. More than 150 people turned out Tuesday afternoon for a post-fire planning meeting at the makeshift Town Hall on a grassy field next to Mayor Chris Ferrell's home. Whitman County commissioners, Mayor Ferrell, Town Council members, residents and volunteers attended. Endicott pastor Fred Tribble led the discussion on recovering from t...
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...
MALDEN - Don't call them wildfires. Call them "climate fires." That was the message Gov. Jay Inslee gave reporters during a brief appearance about noon today, Thursday, Sept. 10, in one of two cities nearly wiped out by the Babbs Fire. That press conference followed a presentation he made to town residents and leaders only minutes before, a presentation in which he requested all media be excluded from. Inslee arrived in a black SUV via Pine City-Malden Road, passing numerous...
