Author: Tim Clouser | The Center Square

(The Center Square) – Amid allegations of a quid pro quo, the Spokane Ethics Commission voted Wednesday to initiate an independent investigation into Mayor Lisa Brown and the city council. The allegations claim that Brown and five of the seven council members violated the ethics code on June 16 by reversing their vote on a proposed camping…

(The Center Square) – After federal authorities arrested nine individuals in Spokane on Tuesday, some local officials rushed to call it politically motivated – an attempt to silence dissent against President Donald Trump’s immigration agenda – but the county sheriff says some actions have consequences. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Washington announced the arrests Tuesday…

(The Center Square) – Despite a majority vote, the Spokane City Council rejected a law Monday that would have banned warrantless searches by immigration authorities on “nonpublic” property. Councilmember Lili Navarrete proposed the law back in May as U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement scoured the Lilac City for illegal immigrants. Having emigrated to Spokane in 1988, she wanted…

(The Center Square) – Pepper spray, more than 30 people arrested, and the mayor issuing a curfew for the first time since 2020 in response to George Floyd’s death — Spokane is preparing for more unrest on Saturday after local police dispersed a protest at a federal immigration facility on Wednesday, organized by former City…

(The Center Square) – While Democrats say the proposal could level the playing field, their conservative counterparts argue it would allow homeless people to undermine local law. State legislators heard a second round of public testimony on House Bill 1380 on Wednesday, with over 2,300 people signed in.  Washington’s public affairs network, TVW, aired an episode…

(The Center Square) – After months of contention, debate and investigations, the Spokane Valley City Council agreed to sue Councilmember Al Merkel on Tuesday to force him to comply with state law.  The decision follows more than 60 public records requests related to Merkel, which the Valley claims they can’t fully respond to due to his…

(The Center Square) – As small-town publications close shop and communities lose touch, lawmakers are considering a bill to divert $20 million from higher education to support journalists covering civic affairs. Sen. Marko Liias, D-Edmonds, proposed Senate Bill 5400 following the launch of a state-funded news fellowship last April. The $2.4 million program facilitated by Washington State University employs several…

(The Center Square) – Spokane announced an expansion of its scattered-site homeless model on Wednesday. A new facility will open downtown next week as the city delays a proposal that could make it harder to site the services.  The city, in partnership with Providence, Empire Health Foundation and Jules Helping Hands, plans to open a…

(The Center Square) – The new year is here, but municipalities still need to finish collecting taxes from the last one. Spokane County is no exception, with sales tax revenue still 1.4% behind initial projections. Municipalities typically collect taxes each quarter, with the most recent data available through October 2024. Randy Bischoff, senior director of Finance &…

(The Center Square) – Gov. Jay Inslee proposed opening a new juvenile rehabilitation center in Aberdeen on Monday as another Chehalis facility grapples with a 60% increase in its population since 2023. Inslee and the Department of Children, Youth & Families laid out the proposal during a Monday press conference. While touting DCYF’s juvenile facilities, the governor also…