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UPDATED Jan. 5, 2021 at 3:56 p.m. -- CNN has just released a statement from 5th District Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers that after witnessing the pro-Trump violence in Washington D.C. today she is changing her mind and will not support the objections to the Electoral College results in contested states. The combined House and Senate is scheduled to reconvene its joint session to read and accept the results from the Electoral College tonight at 8 p.m. Eastern Standard Time. The...
OLYMPIA – Health care workers in the state could start receiving a Wuhan coronavirus vaccine as early as Tuesday. During a press conference this morning, Sunday, Dec. 13, Gov. Jay Inslee said doses of a vaccine should arrive Monday, Dec. 14. “I’m thrilled that Washington state has now authorized the vaccine,” the governor said. According to the governor, the states of California, Oregon and Washington created their own Western States Working Group comprising 17 members to review the vaccine. “I fully agree with FDA’s dec...
COLFAX — A local couple has shut down their tavern after being threatened by fines and revocation of their liquor license for not complying with coronavirus mandates. Dale and Liz Mann have temporarily closed the Hyde Out Bar and Grill, 215 N. Main St., following a Dec. 1 visit from Spokane-based Liquor and Cannabis Board Retail Liquor Enforcement Officer Dale Golman. "He issued us a warning," Dale Mann said. "He didn't shut us down." Golman issued the couple a citation, c...
OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled a new cellphone-based coronavirus exposure notification system Monday. During an afternoon press conference, Inslee touted the new "WaNotify" application designed in corroboration with University of Washington, Google and Apple. The cellphone application is voluntary and uses Bluetooth technology to connect to other cellphones with the application. According to the governor, users who are within 6 feet of someone for 15 minutes who has the application and is reporting the viral infection v...
RITZVILLE — A local lawmaker is stepping down from his leadership position in the state Senate, but he is not retiring. Sen. Mark G. Schoesler, R-Ritzville, confirmed Tuesday morning, Dec. 1, that he won’t be seeking re-election as the Senate minority leader. “It’s real simple,” Schoesler said of his decision. “I’d like to turn my cellphone office and my email off for a bit of time.” With 65.34% of the vote, Schoesler won re-election to the Legislative District No. 9...
FAIRCHILD AFB-Nov. 17 was the 92nd Air Bombardment Wing's 73rd birthday at Fairchild Air Force Base. To celebrate, the base hosted members of the media, including reporter Drew Lawson and publisher Roger Harnack of the Cheney Free Press, on a refueling flight on a KC-135 Stratotanker. The 92nd Air Bombardment Wing became the 92nd Air Refueling Wing in 1994 after several name changes to reflect the base's changing missions and remains so in present day. The experience began as...
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....
