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Reformed homelessness law effectiveness is reflected in data, mayor tells council

It’s been one week since Spokane’s implementation of a stricter homelessness law – and the method is yielding more police citations and connections to resources, Mayor Lisa Brown said in a Monday email to City Council.

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Local Government

Spokane eyes 12% commercial parking lot tax, half-rate for parking garages

Updated 46 minutes ago

Spokane mayor's budget proposal has fewer layoffs than originally projected
Reformed homelessness law effectiveness is reflected in data, mayor tells council
Three conservative challengers file 11th-hour write-in campaigns for Spokane Public Schools board

WA Government

‘I think it’s a particularly tough cycle’: Creative ads aim to draw attention to Tuesday’s election

Federal Government

Federal government to issue partial SNAP benefits amid shutdown

ID Government

While some states fight to restore Title X family planning funding, Idaho chooses to forfeit it

Education: K-12

2 seats contested on CdA School Board

Higher Education

State Supreme Court to decide whether WSU can be held liable for hazing death

Transportation

More than a third of drivers disobey ‘Move Over’ laws, study finds

Military

Trump directs Pentagon to test nuclear weapons for first time since 1992

Latest Stories

News > Federal Government

Today’s election day. Here’s a look at the most important race in next year’s election in Washington state

Tue., Nov. 4, 2025

VANCOUVER, Wash. – On a Sunday two weeks before Halloween, people flocked from across southwestern Washington to the pumpkin patch and harvest festival at Bi-Zi Farms, on the outskirts of the biggest city in this largely rural corner of the state.

News > Local Government

Reformed homelessness law effectiveness is reflected in data, mayor tells council

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 3, 2025

News > Local Government

Spokane County rings in Veterans Day with third iteration of ‘Operation Green Light’

Mon., Nov. 3, 2025

Spokane County wants residents to paint the town green this week to honor local veterans.

News > Government

Judges order Trump administration to keep funding SNAP. When will food benefits reach Washington and Idaho families?

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 31, 2025

WASHINGTON – Two federal judges on Friday ordered the Trump administration to continue paying for food assistance that was set to end amid the government shutdown, but it was unclear when families in Washington state and Idaho would receive the benefits.

News > Government

Government shutdown reaches 30-day mark with no end in sight, as NW Republicans and Democrats trade blame

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 30, 2025

WASHINGTON – The government shutdown reached the 30-day mark on Thursday, as senators left town for the weekend with no clear path to resolving the dispute over health care costs that has kept Congress from funding federal programs.

News > Local Government

‘Come and get me’: Higgins, Merkel have verbal altercation during Spokane Valley City Council meeting

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 31, 2025

Spokane Valley City Council meetings are usually fairly eventful amid tensions between Councilman Al Merkel and the other council members, but on TuesdayOct. 28, everything came to a head for Councilman Rod Higgins.

News > Government

‘A mistake and a disservice to farmers’: Top USDA official in WA fired with no explanation

UPDATED: Mon., Nov. 3, 2025

WASHINGTON – The top U.S. Department of Agriculture official in Washington state responsible for farm loans, disaster assistance and conservation programs was suddenly fired on Wednesday without explanation, according to multiple farmers who spoke with him.

News > ID Government

3 challengers bid against McEvers for Coeur d’Alene mayor race

Thu., Oct. 30, 2025

A year after he was appointed Coeur d’Alene mayor, Woody McEvers is running against three opponents who also want the seat.

News > Local Government

Spokane City Council candidates Zappone, Savage debate homelessness

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 30, 2025

In Spokane, homelessness has been on local streets and minds for years, and either Spokane City Council incumbent Zack Zappone or newcomer Christopher Savage will be elected to help address the problem.

News > WA Government

Acting chair of Spokane County Democrats charged with DUI

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 29, 2025

The acting chair of the Spokane County Democratic Party is facing a driving under the influence charge after he was arrested in early September, and now is being accused of violating a court order by continuing to use alcohol.

News > Local Government

Spokane mayor declares emergency following federal shutdown, increased need for homeless resources from new ordinance

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 29, 2025

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown declared a city emergency Wednesday to speed up the process for local residents and homeless people to access more resources following colder weather, a change in city law and instability within the federal government.

News > Federal Government

‘A sad reality’: Food banks, grocery stores, residents expect to feel the strain from impending SNAP benefit expirations

Wed., Oct. 29, 2025

Dozens of volunteers sifted through huge pallets overflowing with 40,000 pounds of pears fresh off a truck from the Wenatchee Valley on Tuesday afternoon at Second Harvest distribution center in Spokane.

News > Local Government

The Spokane region quietly reached an air quality milestone this summer decades in the making

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 29, 2025

Smog, and lots of it, blanketed Spokane for years.

News > Local Government

Business owners express relief for stricter enforcement while some homeless people question where to go

UPDATED: Wed., Oct. 29, 2025

A handful of business owners and homeless people downtown react to an amended law that broadens the ability of city police to addressing homelessness, granting officers discretion whether to make an arrest, issue a ticket, offer services or some combination thereof.

News > Local Government

Spokane City Council candidate Barrientos is sued for eligibility to run; a judge must hurry to decide

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 28, 2025

Three residents sued Spokane City Council candidate Alejandro Barrientos on Monday, questioning whether he resided in the district he is running to represent .

News > Local Government

New rules on street camping draw bipartisan support from Spokane leaders

UPDATED: Tue., Oct. 28, 2025

It was an oddity of Spokane politics.

News > Local Government

‘You don’t have hope, but what you do need is help’: Spokane Valley uses ‘co-deployment’ model to help homeless

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 24, 2025

Dawn Sherman and Gary Adams were both clad in winter coats and beanies, trying to keep warm in Tuesday’s frigid autumn air.

News > Local Government

Locals only rated quality of life in Spokane area as 3.3 out of 10. Here’s what else they said in new poll

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 24, 2025

Public safety and homelessness remain the top issues facing the Spokane region, and residents show an overwhelming dissatisfaction with the local response to their concerns, according to the latest survey from Greater Spokane Incorporated.

News > Local Government

South Spokane City Council candidates talk successes, failures of homelessness policies

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 23, 2025

Homelessness has permeated Spokane streets and minds for years, and Spokane City Council hopeful Kate Telis or Alejandro Barrientos will be next in line to address the problem.

News > Local Government

Rockford, Spangle ask for levies for emergency services

Mon., Oct. 20, 2025

The annual fire and police levies are once again on the ballot in the small southern Spokane County towns of Rockford and Spangle. The towns typically run one-year levies each year to pay for services or for contracts to provide needed emergency services that they can’t afford without the taxes.

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