Government

Nationwide contraception initiative arrives in Spokane

Effort provides training to clinics here

January 17, 2019

Multiyear initiative Upstream Washington is working to decrease the number of unwanted pregnancies by increasing same-day access to birth control, and has turned its attention to Eastern Washington, which has a higher-than-average rate of unintended

Housing organization to move Rose Apartments

Time line for relocation depends on state offer

January 17, 2019

Natasha Nellis

East Central Community Organization, a Spokane-based nonprofit housing organization, plans to move an estimated 360,000-pound brick apartment building it owns this year.

Public projects to carry Spokane building sector

Total volume of planned work is north of $412M

January 17, 2019

Natasha Nellis

More than $412 million in new public construction projects are slated across Spokane County this year, including work on the next phase of the North Spokane Corridor, the start of the Hamilton Street Corridor Enhancement Project, bridge improvements

Washington's condominium conundrum

Housing advocates say state law makes building condos cost prohibitive

January 17, 2019

LeAnn Bjerken

The Washington state Condominium Act adds to development costs and liabilities making condo construction an unattractive option for builders seeking to meet the demand for affordable housing, some construction industry professionals here say.

Mann-Grandstaff VA Hospital to adopt health record system by 2020

Spokane facility one of two pilot sites for big overhaul

December 20, 2018

LeAnn Bjerken

Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center, in northwest Spokane, plans to adopt fully a new electronic health record system by March of 2020, that eventually will be deployed across all VA facilities nationwide.

EnVision Center to open east of downtown Spokane

HUD-designated center receives funds from city

December 20, 2018

Virginia Thomas

A broad menu of social services will be available in a central location on the periphery of downtown when Spokane's EnVision Center opens late next month, those involved in the project say.

Legislative outlook: Spokane advocates seek $160 million-plus for projects, initiatives

Business advocates to fight tax increases first, though

December 20, 2018

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane-area interests are seeking funding for education, transportation, health care, and community projects and initiatives valued at more than $160 million during the upcoming state legislative session.

Mental health insurance coverage to broaden soon

System could deliver more holistic care, Frontier CEO says

December 6, 2018

Samantha Peone

Starting Jan. 1, behavioral health services traditionally covered through Medicaid also will be covered by some of the same managed care organizations that currently cover physical health services, says Jeff Thomas, CEO of Frontier Behavioral Health.

Washington state denies HydroOne's acquisition of Avista

Regulators says proposed acquisition wouldn't serve public interest

December 5, 2018

Mike McLean

Washington state regulators denied the proposed acquisition of Avista Corp. by Canada-based Hydro One Limited, finding the merger wouldn't service the public interest. The Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission determined the proposed merge

City of Spokane approves three land-use change requests

Fourth proposal tabled, fifth withdrawn, refiled

November 21, 2018

Samantha Peone

The Spokane City Council has approved three requests for land-use designation changes and postponed a fourth request, while a fifth request was withdrawn, says Dwight Hume, of Land Use Solutions & Entitlement LLC,