Government

UW business development arm looks to expand to Spokane

Seattle-based CoMotion in talks with Ignite Northwest

December 15, 2016

The CEO of a Spokane-based incubator for fledgling tech companies says CoMotion, a business development department arm of the University of Washington in Seattle, is exploring the possibility of expanding its startup efforts here. Donna O'Neill, the ma

Funding education tops legislative priority list

Legislature still grapples with McCleary court ruling

December 15, 2016

Mike McLean

With the deadline approaching in the upcoming biennium for the Legislature to meet basic education funding requirements, local groups will look to lawmakers to focus on following through with earlier funding commitments. Due to the state Supreme Court'

Spokane Airports' spending on capital projects to rise

City, county approve 2017 budget totaling $72 million

December 15, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

The Spokane Airport Board will enter 2017 with a budget that's up about 25 percent over this year's budget, an increase that it says is due entirely to a planned boost in capital spending. The city of Spokane and Spokane County, which jointly own and

Drivers' license surrenders rise in Spokane County

Economist says improved markets aiding in-migration

December 15, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Recent data from the Washington state Department of Licensing show out-of-state drivers' license surrenders have increased here again this year, an indication that new residents are still moving to Spokane County and the state as a whole. Although the

Stuckart to run for Congress

Spokane council president to vie for McMorris Rodgers' seat

December 9, 2016

Staff Report

Spokane City Council President Ben Stuckart said he intends to run for 5th Congressional District representative in an anticipated special election to replace U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, who reportedly is expected to be named as Department of the In

$400 million in new projects targeted in grant awards

Three developments cited could generate 620 jobs

December 1, 2016

Mike McLean

Three potential projects here could generate more than $400 million in capital investments and lead to the creation of 620 manufacturing and distribution jobs, according to data released with recent Washington state Department of Commerce grant awards.

Spokane Transit Authority, Uber mull pilot programs

Agency meets with ride-sharing service, discusses partnerships

December 1, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

Spokane Transit Authority is looking into partnerships with ride-sharing services, such as Uber. Steve Blaska, STA's director of operations, says the organization's staff met with Uber's regional operations manager, Jonathan Hopkins, in October to

Garco Construction lands $8.7 million DOT project

Contractor to start work in Wenatchee next spring

November 17, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

The Washington state Department of Transportation has awarded to Spokane-based Garco Construction Inc. an $8.7 million contract to build a new North Central Region Administration building in Wenatchee. Rich Wagner, a project manager for Garco, says the c

Transportation plan update gears up

SRTC board starts talking to groups, rolls out survey

November 17, 2016

LeAnn Bjerken

The Spokane Regional Transportation Council has begun work on an update to its long-range transportation plan for the region, known as Horizon 2040. First adopted by SRTC's board in December 2013, Horizon 2040 is a metropolitan transportation plan for

Hillyard rail cleanup plan review due by year-end

Recommendations won't affect north-south freeway

November 17, 2016

The Washington state Department of Ecology's site manager for the Black Tank property in Hillyard says the department expects by the end of the year to submit changes to recommended proposals from two companies charged with removing contaminated oil on