Government

Road-through-park lawsuit against Spokane County OK'd

Appellate court overturns trial court's case dismissal

November 20, 2014

A Washington state appellate court panel here has reversed the dismissal of a lawsuit alleging that Spokane County commissioners improperly authorized the construction of a road through dedicated parkland in the Wandermere area north of Spokane to serve a

Spokane County Assessor's Office endeavors to keep pace with growing market

Property values increase, near peak reached in '09

November 20, 2014

Judith Spitzer

With nearly 72 percent of the votes in the recent election, Republican Vicki Horton has four more years as Spokane County Assessor-and a mandate to keep doing what she's doing.

Big expectations for big expansion at the Spokane Convention Center

Development brings exhibit hall space to 100,000 square feet

November 20, 2014

Katie Ross

The first phase of the $50 million, 92,000-square-foot Spokane Convention Center expansion project should be completed by mid-December, says the Spokane Public Facilities District.

Guide to help employers get workers back on the job

Effort aims to put people on clock within three days

November 20, 2014

Judith Spitzer

A Washington State University Spokane nursing professor has published a guide to help employers and employees with job-related injuries get back to work, using a $138,000 grant from the state's Safety & Health Investment Projects (SHIP) Grant Program.

Spokane International Airport, tenant association object to proposed FAA hangar policy

Hangar regulations viewed as overreaching

November 6, 2014

Katie Ross

Spokane International Airport and the Spokane Airport Tenant Association claim a controversial airport hangar use policy proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration has significant flaws. The policy outlines the use of hangars at any airport that re

Growth rate slows for Spokane County's biggest tax bills

Avista retains No. 1 ranking among property owners

November 6, 2014

Mike McLean

Tax bills levied on the top 50 property owners in Spokane County for 2014 totaled $46.3 million, up 4.4 percent from the total tax bills for the top 50 property taxpayers in 2013, county records show. The rate of increase, though, was substantially slowe

Fairchild Air Force Base doubles down on KC-135

Passed over on new KC-46, West Plains installment wants more old tankers

November 6, 2014

Katie Ross

Col. Charles 'Brianâ€ McDaniel, 92nd Air Refueling Wing commander at Fairchild Air Force Base, says he's identified his main objective for the base, since taking command on July 25. 'For me, I want it to be the center of excellence in air refueli

Spokane Regional Transportation Council gives nod to newest transportation program

$304 million to be spent on 96 projects in county

October 23, 2014

Katie Ross

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council has rolled out its 2015-to-2018 transportation improvement program for Spokane County, which contains 96 projects totaling $304 million. Anna Ragaza-Bourassa, a senior transportation planner with SRTC, says th

NWBDA appoints new leader as Acevedo steps back

Debbie Shipman named president of SBA lender

October 23, 2014

Mike McLean

Debbie Shipman has been named president of the Northwest Business Development Association, and longtime president Gil Acevedo plans to stay on with the nonprofit to help with the transition until May, when he plans to retire. Shipman says her goal for th

Spokane Valley council mulls new parking restrictions for big rigs

Mayor hopes to nail down plan at Oct. 28 meeting

October 23, 2014

Judith Spitzer

Spokane Valley city council members will consider two options next week that would prevent commercial tractor-trailers and potentially even recreational vehicles from parking in residentially zoned parts of the city, says Dean Grafos, Spokane Valley mayor