Sorted by date Results 576 - 600 of 642
Earlier this month, state Department of Fish and Wildlife Director officials said they needed an additional $26 million to effectively manage its existing lands and programs. They said that if they didn’t receive additional money from the Legislature this coming session, they will have to reduce staffing and services. Agency Director Kelley Susewind himself said it would be “pretty catastrophic” if his agency doesn’t get more money. Why then is the agency simultaneously pushin...
For more than a century, Eastern Washington has sought separate statehood. Proposals included the state of Lincoln, Columbia and Liberty. Now, there’s a different twist on independence. A Seattle columnist is metaphorically calling for creation of the state of “King.” He has revived an old idea that King County secede from Washington. Hey King County, you’ve got my vote for statehood. We should’ve gotten to this divorce at several times in our state history already. This time...
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...
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...
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...
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...
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...
OLYMPIA – Several Western Washington lawmakers on Monday asked the state Supreme Court to overturn case law and allow an income tax to be imposed statewide. Fifteen Democrats partnered to file a brief asking for the high court to redefine income tax as justices are in the midst of an appeal by the City of Seattle to overturn previous court decisions and exhisting prohibitions on income taxes. The prohibition is codified in state law and enshrined in the state Constitution. T...
HUNTERS – A Stranger Pack wolf that wandered into Idaho has been killed. According to the state Department of Fish and Wildlife's report Monday, the wolf was “legally harvested.” The Stranger Pack inhabits the forest area in Stevens County north of Davenport near of Hunters. Officials said GPS tracking collar data last month showed the animal was in Idaho. But while one wolf in the pack was eliminated, game officials remain concerned about the pack and possible attacks on ca...
CHENEY – Mayor Chris Grover on Wednesday, Jan. 8, blamed voter approval of the $30 car tab tax cap for an expected transit funding shortfall and possible increased traffic congestion between the city and Four Lakes. “Unfortunately, I-976 (Initiative 976) takes a lot of money away from transit overall,” said Grover, who is also a Spokane Transit Authority board member. Grover's comments came during a report he gave during a meeting of the Cheney Merchants Association at Holid...
CHENEY – The Lady Blackhawks shot just six free throws and made five last Saturday night at 3A Greater Spokane League North Central, but none bigger than the final two by Tylin Hertel. After leading most of the game, Cheney suddenly found itself down by one, 39-38, thanks to an Indian basket with 12 seconds remaining in the game. After a timeout to draw up a play, the Lady Blackhawks missed an easy lay-in, only to have Hertel haul down the rebound and get fouled on the p...
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The congressman representing Adams County says the airstrike that killed Iranian Gen. Qasem Soleimani, the head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force. President Donald Trump ordered the early morning drone strike yesterday, Jan. 2, in the wake of attacks on the U.S. Embassy in Iraq. The president said the attack also came as Soleimani was planning another attack on U.S. diplomats and military personnel. “Soleimani was plotting imminent and sin...
CHENEY – The National Weather Service has issued warnings for potential severe weather overnight across most of Eastern Washington. A wind advisory has been issued for Stevens, Pend Oreille, Spokane, Whitman and portions of Lincoln and Columbia counties. The advisory was issued for early tomorrow, from 2 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 4. Sustained winds of 20-30 mph are expected, with gusts of up to 50 mph, the Weather Service said. In addition, a hazardous weather outlook has...
CONNELL -- State Highway 17 reopened about 3:15 p.m. today, Jan. 2, after crews finished cleaning up debris from a tractor-trailer crash that left crushed cars on the roadway. According to the Washington State Patrol, the crash occurred about 8:50 a.m. at Milepost 9, nine miles south of the city. Bruce H. Whiteaker, 60, of Wenatchee, was southbound on the highway when he lost control of his 2011 Mack truck towing a trailer carrying crushed cars, the patrol said. Whiteaker...
CHENEY – Area businesses will be paying their lowest-tier employees at least 12.5 % more beginning Wednesday, Jan. 1. That’s when the state minimum wage climbs $1.50 per hour to $13.50. The new minimum wage applies to all workers age 16 and older. State Department and Labor and Industries officials estimate the wage increase will be paid to 189,994 employees. Tips do not count toward the minimum wage, under state law. This year’s 12.5% increase is the final wage hike sched...
CHENEY – Area residents are awaking this morning to a Winter Weather Advisory issued for Spokane, Pend Oreille, Stevens and portions of Lincoln counties. The advisory was issued at 3:01 a.m. by the National Weather Service in Spokane and includes the Idaho Panhandle. It is set to expire at noon. "It also came as heavy snow was falling across the region. "The first in a series of wet and winter weather systems will arrive in the region through New Year's Eve bringing wintry t...
FOUR LAKES -- A crash near Milepost 269 of a snow-covered Interstate 90 has claimed the life of a motorist. The Washington State Patrol is still on-scene at the site of the fatality between the Four Lakes and Salnave Road exits. The crash occurred when a pickup truck and the flatbed trailer it was hauling separated, sending the truck down an embankment along the westbound lanes, the patrol said. The driver was ejected and pronounced dead at the scene. Information on the...
FOUR LAKES – The state Department of Transportation is reporting slick conditions on rural roadways this morning following overnight snowfall. Multiple collisions were reported on Interstate 90 between Mileposts 257-279, the department said. At 6:38 a.m., Transportation officials reported at least one eastbound lane one westbound lanes were blocked near Milepost 269 due to crashes. The Washington State Patrol dispatched units to the area, and an ambulance responded, officials said. Transportation officials also said U.S. H...
OLYMPIA — Despite the overwhelming objection of new gun control laws across most of Eastern Washington, State Attorney General Robert “Bob” Ferguson is pushing for more. As a result, Ferguson is now the subject of both impeachment and recall efforts statewide. Gov. Jay Inslee is also the subject of a request for impeachment. On Dec. 16, Matt Marshall of Eatonville filed a recall petition for Ferguson with the Secretary of State's Office. To get the recall on the ballot, Marshall has to collect signatures from appro...
OLYMPIA — The state Transportation Commission voted Tuesday to recommend the state implement a new pay-by-mile road tax. The commission recommendation is expected to be presented to Gov. Jay Inslee and the Legislature by Jan. 13, the first day of the 2020 legislative session. The recommendation calls for phasing in the new tax. Meanwhile, gas taxes will continue to be collected at the pump. The recommendation also calls for an additional $75 license tab fer on hybrid and e...
TACOMA – Initiative 976 sponsor Tim Eyman is calling on supporters to pack a meeting Tuesday as the elected Pierce County Council considers intervening in a lawsuit over the measure. The meeting is at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 10, in chambers at 930 S. Tacoma Way (10th Floor). Eyman, now a candidate for governor, suggests arriving early to sign up to testify on the measure, which generally caps car license tabs and taxes to $30 for non-commercial vehicles. King County Superior C...
ELK – State officials say three wolves from Eastern Washington have been tracked out-of-state. According to state Department of Fish and Wildlife wolf report released Monday, Wolves from Stevens and Pend Oreille counties have been tracked to British Columbia, Idaho and Montana. All three wolves had been previously captured and outfitted with satellite-tracking system collars, officials said. A wolf from the Carpenter Ridge Pack, which generally lives along the Stevens-Pend O...
