Government

Parkwater railyard cleanup cleared by Ecology

Soil, water near tracks had been contaminated by petroleum products

May 19, 2022

Contamination at a Spokane-area railyard has been resolved, the Washington state Department of Ecology has determined. Now, the state agency has proposed lifting groundwater-use restrictions and removing the property from the state's list of hazardous

Conservation district campus enters new stage

Envisioned site will connect businesses with nature, public

May 5, 2022

Erica Bullock

The Spokane Conservation District's 50-acre conservation and business campus, dubbed 8th Avenue Quarry, is entering a new stage of development with a goal to bring in businesses to the property to work onsite.

Cannabis store robberies prompt response

Cashless transaction options available to retailers; industrywide adoption said to be slow

May 5, 2022

Virginia Thomas

In response to a series of armed robberies in the Puget Sound area, the Washington state Department of Financial Institutions and the state Liquor and Cannabis Board are collaborating to solve the problem of an industry that historically has been

Whatever happened with: Citywide Internet efforts

Workgroup hasn't been asked to reconvene since before pandemic arrived

April 7, 2022

Mike McLean

Work by a city-appointed group tasked with exploring options for a fiber optic network has been on hold since the pandemic began. But City Council President Breean Beggs anticipates the city will revisit the subject and perhaps regroup this spring.

Union participation rate grows in Spokane

Growth outpaces U.S., remains lower than state level, data show

April 7, 2022

Karina Elias

The union participation rate in the Spokane-Coeur d'Alene area trails Washington state, but outpaces the nation as a whole, according to recently released data. At all levels, the rate of unionized workers has grown during the pandemic. In the Spoka

War and Wheat: Grain prices rise as Russia's invasion of Ukraine persists

Costs also increase as conflict complicates international trade

April 7, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Russia's invasion of Ukraine has boosted prices for wheat, benefitting Inland Northwest farmers. Potential profits, however, are threatened by increases in growing costs, agricultural experts here say.

Post Falls veterans home to be completed in fall

$54M facility to have 64 private rooms

March 24, 2022

Mike McLean

Construction of a long-planned North Idaho Veterans Home, in Post Falls, is expected to be completed in the fall, says Tracy Schaner, Idaho Division of Veterans Services deputy chief administrator, who's overseeing the project. The 83,400-square foot

Preparations underway for downtown sports stadium

Completion of $31M-plus facility expected within two years

March 24, 2022

Virginia Thomas

Spokane Public Schools' new $31 million-plus sports stadium near the Spokane Arena is expected to begin taking shape soon. Greg Forsyth, director of capital projects for the school district, says the site is being prepared through the general

Performing Arts Center continues capital campaign

$36 million project slated to get underway this fall

March 24, 2022

Erica Bullock

Yvonne Johnson, executive artistic director of the Spokane Valley Summer Theatre, says the capital campaign for the theatre's envisioned $36 million Spokane Valley Performing Arts Center has entered the second year of a five-year campaign.

Post Falls, Rathdrum corridor project to be completed

Work scheduled to begin Route 41-Interstate 90 interchange replacement

March 24, 2022

Mike McLean

On the heels of a $59.2 million state Route 41 expansion and improvement project that reaches from Post Falls to Rathdrum and is expected to be completed this year, the Idaho Transportation Department expects to begin construction on a $60 million to