Government

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

Hangar regulations viewed as overreaching

November 6, 2014

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

Proposed abandoned property law stirs debate

City council slated to vote on ordinance this month

October 9, 2014

Judith Spitzer

City leaders say a proposed registry of vacant, single-family Spokane homes in foreclosure would hold companies and banks accountable for keeping the properties in good condition, but a mortgage lending association representative says many mortgage lender

Valley Fire Department updates two of its stations

$1.4 million in renovations to be finished yet this year

October 9, 2014

Katie Ross

The Spokane Valley Fire Department is wrapping up $1.4 million worth of renovations to its University and Otis Orchards stations, says Larry Rider, deputy chief of support systems for the fire department.

Plugging stricter parking enforcement

City looks to add to coffers with more, smarter meters

August 28, 2014

Judith Spitzer

With the addition of 350 parking meters on Spokane city streets outside the downtown core, a high-tech tool to find people with unpaid parking tickets, and steel boots that put teeth into previously unenforceable meter violations, the city of Spokane esti

Ex-Im bank supporters weigh reauthorization

Manufacturers here contend its closure would hurt them

August 14, 2014

Judith Spitzer

The fight over whether to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank, the government's export credit agency that helps foreign companies buy U.S. goods, is frustrating to some Spokane-area manufacturers and business owners. They support the reauthorization of t