Government

Crescent Court owner erred in tenant eviction, appeals court says

Ruling overturned against ex-Daiquiri Factory owner

November 19, 2015

A Washington state appellate court panel here has reversed a Spokane County Superior Court ruling that had favored the owner of the Crescent Building in downtown Spokane in a dispute with the tenant owner of the former Daiquiri Factory bar.

Sex shop violated Spokane Valley city code, court rules

Citizen complaint started inquiry at Erotic Boutique

November 19, 2015

The Washington State Court of Appeals has unanimously upheld a lower court ruling that viewing rooms in a sex shop don't conform to Spokane Valley municipal regulations.

The city of Spokane's mobile home debate

Councilman contends measure limits park owners; proponent disagrees

November 19, 2015

Outgoing Spokane City Councilman Mike Allen thinks the city violated its Comprehensive Plan when council members recently changed language in the plan in a way that he believes limits the ability of manufactured and mobile home parks to sell their propert

City of Coeur d'Alene considers moving ahead with Seltice Way project without federal funds

Grant constraints would slow work, add to costs

November 19, 2015

Mike McLean

The city of Coeur d'Alene is seeking $3.5 million from its urban renewal agency to reconstruct a 1.5-mile portion of Seltice Way in the west section of the city by 2017, rather than wait for federal funding, says Tony Berns, the agency's executive dir

Fairchild Air Force Base begins updating tanker instruments

Upgrades to give aircraft more modern avionics

November 19, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

The first KC-135 Stratotanker has returned to the Fairchild Air Force Base after receiving what is known as the Block 45 upgrade, which includes cockpit instrument panel improvements and other changes intended to update the aircraft. A base spokeswoman w

Largest county taxpayers see rise in their annual bills

Avista holds top ranking among property owners

November 5, 2015

Tax bills levied on the top 50 property owners in Spokane County for 2015 totaled $49.5 million, up 6.4 percent from last year, county records show. That compares with a 4.4 percent increase in 2014, compared with the prior year's total tax bill for th

Fairchild Air Force Base upgrades landing system

New equipment replaces 40-year-old technology

October 22, 2015

LeAnn Bjerken

Airmen at Fairchild Air Force Base, west of Spokane, are working on installing and upgrading what is known as the Instrument Landing System (ILS) on the flight line. The ILS is known as a ground-based instrument approach system that uses a combination o

Public Facilities District to improve Spokane Arena's ticket area, administrative offices

$1.5 million project to start soon, wrap up in February

October 8, 2015

A $1.5 million project to remodel the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena's ticket and administrative offices at 720 W. Mallon is scheduled to start this month.

Median income growth rate in Spokane County topped state, U.S. last year

Trend aided by increase in high-paying job sectors

October 8, 2015

Mike McLean

Household median income in Spokane County rose at a higher rate in 2014 than statewide or national rates for such growth, although the county still lags behind both in other income and wage measures, says Patrick Jones, executive director of Eastern Washi

Proposition One opposition ramps up

Business leaders worry about measure's effects

October 8, 2015

Spokane business owners say they are increasing education efforts in the community to try to persuade city residents to vote no on the looming Proposition 1 ballot measure also known as the Worker Bill of Rights. Meanwhile, Greater Spokane Incorporated,