Bloglander

HERE

How the Hugo Awards went down in Spokane. (AV Club)

This year's fire season is now officially the worst in Washington state history. (Spokesman-Review)

YMCA's Camp Reed, the local summer camp best known as the place my parents met and fell in love, just celebrated its 100th year anniversary. (Spokesman-Review)

The guy who broke into the Public Safety building has been arrested. (Spokesman-Review)

THERE

After Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans got a chance to reinvent their school system from the ground up. (New York Magazine)

Thanks to trouble in China, the stock market's been going crazy all morning. (Bloomberg)

The United Kingdom is ordering Google to censor articles about the United Kingdom's censorship. (Slate)

At long last, improvements to America's most boring pastime. (New York Times)

A THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATION ON THE INTERNET

Conor Friedersdorf chatted with a Seattle woman about the pros and cons of Black Lives Matter interrupting presidential candidate Bernie Sanders speech. It's actually a pretty great conversation. (The Atlantic)

Last week we published a blog clarifying that, no, the Spokane City Council is not looking at bumping the current $9.47 minimum wage up to $15 an hour. 

It's important to look at that in context. A website called Smartasset recently looked at the 141 largest cities in the United States, examined their minimum wage, and then adjusted it for cost of living. In other words, if you're being paid $9.47 an hour, how much does that $9.47 actually get you? 

Smartasset dubbed it the "Real Minimum Wage." And of all those cities, the Real Minimum Wage in Spokane is the second highest in the country, just behind Kennewick. 

Working a full 40 hours, every single week, that would be $19,697.60 per year. If you took two weeks of unpaid vacation, that's $18,940 a year. 

One classic metric of how easy it is to survive on your salary is to look at how much of your income is being swallowed up by rent. Traditionally, 30 to 33 percent was the ideal target. (Today, there are critics of using such a figure.) 

I live in a one-bedroom apartment in Browne's Addition. The bathroom and kitchen are a little small, but as far as location, it's absolutely perfect. Nearly everything I need is in easy biking distance. It only costs me $450 a month, electrical bill not included. That's $5,400 a year. 

Right now, there are 66 weather alert items on the homepage of KREM 2 news: wind advisories for Chelan, Douglas and Okanogan counties — some of the hardest hit by the still out-of-control fires burning in the past week (this map shows where all active fires are located) — as well as the ever-present fire weather warnings for basically all of the Inland Northwest, along with blowing dust advisories and poor air quality alerts. The entire region is under a red flag warning, currently in effect until 11 pm tonight, with wind gusts in the Okanogan Valley predicted up to 45 mph.

President Obama this morning signed a Declaration of Emergency for all of Washington state, which sends federal aid our way via FEMA. There's no way around it — the outlook right now, and through this weekend, is bleak. Some are even comparing the current situation to the Great Idaho Fire disaster that happened 105 years ago yesterday, on Aug. 20, 1910, that scorched 3 million acres in two days, killed 87 firefighters and destroyed five towns. 

As unnerving as it is also inspiring, the Washington state Department of Natural Resources has put out a call — for the first time in state history — for volunteer citizens to help on the fire lines. 

While many of us are protected by the concrete embrace of the city, it's too easy to feel helpless or guilty that we aren't able to help stop this unprecedented modern disaster. From monetary donations to disaster relief organizations like the local Red Cross chapters, to dropping off supplies to give our hard-working firefighters' what little relief we can, Inlander staff have complied a list of resources and ways we can all help out during this troubling time:

Where to donate monetary support:

• STCU and KREM have joined up to help fire victims with a fund called "HELP2NW." STCU members can make a donation via transfer to the fund's account at STCU, and anyone, including nonmembers, can donation in person at an STCU branch. 
  
• The Northwest Region chapter of the American Red Cross is always accepting donations to help displaced families through its Disaster Relief Program.
  
• The Community Foundation of North Central Washington has set up a Chelan Valley Fire Relief Fund online.
  
• The Okanogan County Community Action Council is accepting donations via its website to be designated for use to help those affected by the fires.
  
• The Salvation Army's Emergency Disaster Services are responding to communities affected by fire in both Washington and Idaho. 
  
• Donations can also be made to the United Way of Chelan and Douglas Counties. 
  
• In Idaho, the Kamiah Community Credit Union is matching up to $100,000 of donations made to its Kamiah Fire Relief fund.
  
• The Chelan-based nonprofit Give Naked is also accepting donations to support victims of the fires surrounding the community. 
  
• The Washington State Animal Rescue Team supports animals and their owners — domestic pets and livestock — during natural disasters within the state. Monetary donations to the nonprofit to support this work are preferred right now for logistical ease so responders can focus on helping animals as needed.
  

Where to donate items and other physical resources:

• Joe Pakootas, who ran for election to Washington's 5th Congressional District seat last fall, is helping collect donations to help those displaced by fires around Colville. A list of items needed can be found here, and donors can drop off supplies this Sunday and Monday (Aug. 23-24) between 10 am-3 pm at the Pakootas campaign headquarters in Spokane (1410 W. Dean). Volunteers to transport supplies to Colville on Tuesday afternoon are also needed.
  
• Local radio station KEY 101 FM is helping host a donation drive to collect supplies for firefighters at several Spokane and Coeur d'Alene locations, as mentioned via this post on the station's Facebook page. The donation drive is part of a larger effort spearheaded by Spokane resident Katie Marie Rafter, who asks that people please only donate items that are mentioned on the provided list.
  

Organizations offering animal transport and shelter:

With much of the fires' impact hitting rural areas, humans aren't the only species being displaced.

• The Washington State Animal Response Team has created a Google survey/application where people can sign up to offer to provide animal supplies, shelter and other resources.
  
• A Facebook group started by local citizens called Emergency Displaced Animals and Helpers serves as a resource for those offering to help transport and house pets and livestock affected by fires, and a place for those forced to evacuate to find help.
  
• Another Facebook page called Chelan and Okanogan Wildfires Lost and Found Pets is a resource for those whose animals may have gotten loose during an evacuation.  
  

We know this list is not comprehensive. If you have suggestions of legitimate efforts to support the countless people and animals affected by wildfires, please email cheys@inlander.com. 

FRIDAY
Olympia punk comes to the Bartlett tonight in the form of riotous three-piece Naomi Punk. The group plays along with Broken Water tonight at 8 pm. Cost is $10 at the door. Read our preview story on the band here.



Note that tonight's Silver Treason and Pine League show at nYne has been canceled. DJ C-Mad will still be there. 

SATURDAY
Think of Octapalooza as a continuation of what once was essentially a huge house party at Levi Steverding’s octagon-shaped house in the Hillyard neighborhood. Now, with 18 bands and two stages, Octapalooza is hitting the big time with a new location in Airway Heights. Featuring national touring acts (like headliners 12 Stones from Louisiana) as well as local talent, the goal is to bring in as many types of rock bands as possible. This year is the first time the festival is open to all ages, a perfect innovation, as last year’s event saw kids outside the fences trying to get a view of Norma Jean. Tickets are $20 if you get them now and the show starts at 3 pm. See the full lineup here.

Does Spokane need another independent record store? Garageland owner JJ Wandler, a Spokane native who recently moved back to town, argues that we do, especially one that’s downtown (230 W. Riverside) and includes a bar, vintage store and a sometimes live music space.
“Spokane is currently underserved as far as music and recorded music goes,” Wandler says. “I would even say there’s room for more than just us.”
This weekend, Garageland celebrates its grand opening, with giveaways, snacks, discounts and free live music from local rock acts Whiskey Dick Mountain, at 3 pm Saturday, and Loomer at 4 pm Sunday. Wandler plans to have the store open every day, 10 am-6 pm.

SUNDAY
Sunday night at shows are sometimes dead because people would prefer to be in bed or just be boring. Sunday, Baby Bar/Neato Burrito opens its doors to the awesome Australian hard rock band DEAD. Openers for this free show include Drunk on Self Enlightenment and Lazarus Long and some comedy from Matt Slater.

In a fire season such as this, trying to report on each fire individually gives an inaccurate account of the entire situation. Inevitably, though, as fire resources are stretched thin, so is the ability to report on all incidents simultaneously and with the breadth and depth they warrant. Those who try still end up seeing only a piece of the larger story.

As anyone with skin and the most remote connection to media (TV, online, print, radio, whatever) knows, it’s exceptionally hot, exceptionally dry, and exceptionally dangerous in the Northwest this year.

That’s led to more than 70 fires burning over millions of acres in Washington, Idaho and Oregon. (Overviews for each state: Washington; Idaho; Oregon.)

A note on those numbers: 1. They’re out of date the second they’re typed since so much growth has happened over the past three days – and will continue today. 2. The number of fires doesn’t reflect all the fires burning at any given time, just those large enough to be named and traced by the federal fire incident coordination system.

Use the interactive map below from the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center for tracking fires. Zoom in, scroll around, and see all the fires and their current boundaries and areas of spread. 



Procession for Firefighters Killed in Twisp
The three firefighters killed Wednesday in the Twisp River Fire (a branch of the larger Okanogan Complex) were transported by ambulance and procession of emergency vehicles yesterday.

HERE

A bed sheet rope was found hanging from federal inmates’ jail cell window, but no one escaped. (Spokesman-Review)

More than 70 firefighters from Down Under travel to the U.S. to help tackle deadly Western wildfires. (KREM) Meanwhile, fires continue to grow. (Seattle Times)

A former North Idaho College administrator said in court he traded financial aid for sexual favors. (KXLY)

THERE

Caitlyn Jenner could face manslaughter charges in fatal Malibu car crash. (NBC News)

North Korean troops are ordered to be on war footing after an exchange of fire with South Korea. (BBC)

Reuters found that some emails sent to Hillary Clinton's private email account as secretary of state were of the sort that the U.S. government rules as classified. (Reuters)

HERE

The Twisp blaze killed three U.S. National Forest firefighters last night. (KREM)

Spokane’s skies now look somewhat post-apocalyptic from all of the ash, and air quality conditions are expected to remain unhealthy today. (KHQ)

Police continue to search for a Hayden Lake-area arsonist, suspected of starting 16 fires. (Spokesman-Review)

Sasquan, aka the World Science Fiction Convention, begins today downtown Spokane and nerds everywhere are excited. (Inlander)

THERE

North and South Korea have exchanged fire, prompting border evacuations. (BBC)

Nine have been arrested after St. Louis police fatally shoot teen while trying to issue search warrant (St. Louis Post-Dispatch)

Former president Jimmy Carter announced he'll have radiation treatments on melanoma spots found on his brain."I am perfectly at ease with whatever comes," he said. (NBC News)

Welcome back to Weed Wednesday, your weekly dose of pot news. Wondering what this is about? Click. Looking for our previous marijuana coverage? Click. Got a question or tip? Email me at jaket@inlander.com

In Idaho, milepost 420 has been removed from highways in the state. The milepost has been changed to 419.9. to stoners kept stealing it.

Tacoma will see most of its 60 medical marijuana dispensaries close in response to a state overhaul of pot laws.

An initaitive to legalize pot in Ohio has qualified for the ballot.

The vast majority of federal money spent on researching pot has been on its potential for abuse. Just a sliver has gone to study its medicinal effects.

The Oregonian, which is a drug-free workplace, is looking for a pot critic.

Randy Simmons, a bureaucrat who helped implement Washington’s pot law, is leaving his post. But not before getting in a few pot shots.

HERE

The Houston Fire near Airway Heights, which began Tuesday afternoon, evacuated 50 homes and has now reached 60 acres. (KREM)

With so many fires roaring around the Inland Northwest, air quality is reaching unhealthy levels. (KXLY)

Nope! Spokane City Council is not planning a $15 minimum wage ordinance. (Inlander)

THERE

Jared Fogle, of all those Subway commercials, is to plead guilty today to child porn and sex with minors. (Indy Star)

The FDA has approved a libido pill for females. (New York Times) It was a long time coming.

The bomb attack that killed 20 people in Bangkok Monday was carried out by a "network", Thailand's chief of police has said. There are currently two suspects. (BBC)

Fans of the Spokane River can plan on enjoying it even more with new, unprecedented access when the downtown Spokane River access point has its grand opening Wednesday.  

The new access point is located just east of the Convention Center, right underneath the Division Street bridge. The grand opening will start at noon and last about 30 minutes, include a few words from Mayor David Condon as well as representatives from other community stakeholders, and feature children from the Northeast Youth Center paddle-boarding with Outdoor Recreation Supervisors. 

Anyone with non-motorized boats (like kayaks, canoes and paddle boards) is invited to try out the new access point directly after the ceremony. Here’s information on parking and make sure to visit the Spokane River website for a map of access points on the water trail.

City of Spokane Parks & Recreation Marketing and Communication Director Monique Cotton says this new access point shows how city organizations are focused on bringing people to the river.

“This river access point symbolizes our commitment – as a city and as a community – to invest in our greatest natural resource, which is our river,” she says.

Cotton references the Riverfront Park Master Plan as another example of city commitments; the master plan says one of its core principles is “bringing people to the center,” that is, drawing people to the Spokane Falls and the park surrounding it.

“There are very few cities that have a large river running directly through them, and even fewer that have direct access to that river directly in the downtown core,” she says. “It’s a very unique opportunity that we want to celebrate to reconnect with the river.”

The project is the result of collaboration between City of Spokane Parks & Recreation, Spokane Public Facilites, Avista Utilities and the Spokane River forum. It was first visualized in the 2011 Spokane Convention Center Completion Study.

Parks and Recreation and Spokane Public Facilities passed an agreement in Fall 2013 that funded the development of this river access point; the access point then had to clear permitting falling under Spokane Municipal Code (Section 10.19.010, Ordinance C-C-34982 Section 1) which allows permits to be given to access to the south channel between Havermale Island and the South bank known as the forebay. The permitting process officially began in Spring 2014.

Those who want expert guidance on what to do and where to go from the trail can sign up for a $15 guided tour on Saturday, September 5 – all proceeds will go back to the Recreation Fund. More information will be available in the next few weeks at spokaneparks.org and facebook.com/spokaneparks. 

UPDATED, Aug. 24, 2015: An earlier version of this post incorrectly stated that the City Council allowed non-motorized boating west of the Division Street Bridge. That is inaccurate. Spokane Municipal Code allows permits to be granted by the Chief of Police to allow entry in the forebay (which is the south channel between Havermale Island and the South bank). The area allowed to be accessed from the new access point is clearly marked; it is unsafe and illegal to leave this marked area. The post has been corrected to reflect this information.