Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Posted By on Wed, Aug 24, 2016 at 10:48 AM

click to enlarge CONCERT REVIEW: Dave Alvin's Roots on the Rails tour makes most of Spokane stop
Dan Nailen
(left to right) Cindy Cashdollar, Christy McWilson, Dave Alvin, Eliza Gilkyson, Rick Shea

It's not every day that an artist ends a concert by announcing that the band — and part of the audience — has to hustle to catch a train to Montana. 

That was just one of the moments that made Tuesday night's "Roots on the Rails" tour stop at Chateau Rive, headlined by roots-rock singer-songwriter Dave Alvin, something special. 

Alvin led a crew of stellar folk artists including Eliza Gilkyson, Rick Shea, Cindy Cashdollar and Christy McWilson through two hours of swapping stories and songs to a packed room in the bottom of the Flour Mill building. The cast of performers rotates at each stop of the tour being done by train, and there was nothing to complain about with Spokane's lineup as each artist charmed with their own songs while jabbing and joking with each other in between tunes. 

The audience sat in rapt silence for most of the night, respectful of the performers, and the group included a bunch of folks traveling the whole six-stop tour through the West that came to Spokane from Seattle and headed to Glacier National Park for its next show. Among the travelers were 10 who flew all the way from England, and a couple I chatted with were utterly delighted by show's end. 

As well they should be, given what filled the show. Shea's straightforward folk kicked things off  with story-songs like "Mariachi Hotel" and "Sweet Bernadine." He then introduced Gilkyson, who dotted her set with hilarious commentary. At one point, she explained that she was trying to avoid repeating any songs over the course of the train tour, "so I keep going back to earlier and earlier material, from several marriages ago." 

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Posted By on Wed, Aug 24, 2016 at 9:41 AM

click to enlarge Teachers union deal lets kids out early some days, growing fires and morning headlines
Daniel Walters photo
The police chief interviews are restarting, less than a month after Meidl was appointed

On Inlander.com

Bartless

The Bartlett's music festival, Bartfest, has been canceled

Tour please
Brett Dennen's "Tour Por Favor" is touring in Spokane. Buy tickets now, por favor. 

HERE 

Heeeere weee go agaaaaain...

Police chief interviews are happening all over again, leaving those who did it the first time optimistic, but cautious. "Cautiously optimistic," as the kids are saying these days. [Spokesman-Review]

For When the Bells Toll

The Spokane Education Association has already approved an initial contract this year, which includes early-release Fridays — good news for harried teachers and kids who hate school. [Spokesman-Review]

And Fire in the Sky

The fires on Hart Road and Cayuse Mountain are growing. [KXLY]

THERE

Buzzsawed 
Buzzfeed will split its entertainment division off from its news division. That may be bad news for Buzzfeed's incredible investigative journalists — which profits from cat videos and Jurassic Park GIFS have supported. [CNN] 

The $ting

Want to stop your throat from constricting, and your eyes from watering and hives from breaking out? Want to be able to breathe again after a bee sting? Well, get ready to fork over 
as much as $600, as the EpiPen manufacturer has hiked prices to incredible rates. Congress is now looking into it. [New York Times]

Maybe It's All a Giant Coincidence Like When Clinton Made Tons of Money on Cattle Futures? 

The Associated Press reveals that "at least 85 of 154 people from private interests who met or had phone conversations scheduled with Clinton while she led the State Department donated to her family charity or pledged commitments to its international programs." If you're a math nerd, that's more than half. [AP]

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Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Posted By on Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 3:10 PM

click to enlarge Bartfest 2016 is canceled, as promoters cite low ticket sales
Daniel Topete
Twin Peaks are still heading to the Bartlett this fall.

In a day and age where music festivals continue to pop up like dandelions, some festivals are now struggling to compete (this year's Sasquatch! and Paradiso festivals didn't even sell out). Today, the Bartlett owners announced they would cancel Bartfest, a two-day music festival they had scheduled to run the last weekend of September/first of October at their venue and neighboring nYne. 

Although a two-day pass was listed at $30 (a far cry from the first Bartfest's $90) for a lineup consisting of up-and-coming indie acts Twin Peaks, TOPS, Tangerine, White Reaper, Soft Sleep and the Echolarks, the pre-sales were not enough to keep the 3-year-old festival afloat. Although Spokanites are notorious for not purchasing tickets until close to a performance/event date, owners Karli and Caleb Ingersoll had been burned before when their first Bartfest outing only sold a third of tickets needed to break even. 

"Canceling is definitely a self-protective move," the Ingersolls wrote in a Facebook post today. "If people don't buy tickets, our venue is put at risk because festivals are based on guarantees only and not percentages of ticket sales. So, when people don't show up, we suffer."

But all is not lost. Twin Peaks is still booked to perform at the Bartlett that weekend and TOPS will play at the Observatory, both on Sat, Oct. 1. The owners plan to keep moving forward. 

"Bartfest may re-emerge at some point, but for now we are going to focus on what we feel the most confident in — bringing in really great bands weekly and giving them a great space to play in," the Ingersoll's wrote. 

Read the full Facebook post below: 

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Posted By on Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 12:50 PM

click to enlarge Brett Dennen bound for Spokane on Tour Por Favor
Brett Dennen brings his folky acoustic style to Spokane come September.

Brett Dennen has known some degree of stardom ever since he released his self-titled debut album in 2004. The folk singer/songwriter was born in Oakdale, California, and spent his early homeschooled days basking in creative freedom and learning to play the guitar and write music. A social activist at heart, Dennen led anti-smoking campaigns during his time at the University of California, Santa Cruz, and is still involved with The Mosaic Project, a Bay Area nonprofit dedicated to fostering peaceful intentions in youth of different backgrounds and ethnicities. 

Following the release of his first album, Dennan has put out five subsequent records, including his most recent, Por Favor, which hit shelves in May. Over the course of his musical career, he's toured with John Mayer and Pete Murray, and collaborated with Jason Mraz on a song included on the compilation album Songs for Survival, the proceeds of which went to charities focused assisting tribal peoples in the Amazon.

Now, Dennen is on tour to promote his latest album's release — a tour that will take him to Spokane's Knitting Factory on Friday, Sept. 30. It's not the first time Dennen has graced the Inland Northwest with his presence, but a number of years have passed since his last visit.

At the show, the artist is likely to focus on songs from his newest record, one that he strived to imbue with raw honesty and some degree of looseness. It's an album with a generally uplifting sound despite the seemingly somber nature of some of its subject matter, which includes Dennen's grappling with feelings of loneliness and loss.

Tickets to the show go on sale Friday, Aug. 26, at 10 am on the Knitting Factory's website, and will cost $20 before fees. At the door, the base price will increase to $22.

Here's Dennen performing one of the songs on Por Favor, titled "Cassidy," live:

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Posted By on Tue, Aug 23, 2016 at 9:07 AM

click to enlarge Police chief confirmation stalls, wildfires continue and news to start your day
Daniel Walters photo
Craig Meidl has not yet been confirmed as Spokane's police chief

ON INLANDER.COM


NEWS: A Spokane County Sheriff's Office detective has been sharing memes, videos and articles on Facebook that trash the Black Lives Matter movement.

NEWS
: We thought Spokane City Council would vote last night on Mayor David Condon's pick for police chief, but then we found out Meidl's fate would not be decided until later. He will now go through the same interview process as the other candidates.

ARTS & CULTURE
: Spokane Arts director Laura Becker is leaving Spokane for Santa Monica, California. 

IN OTHER NEWS

Eastern Washington fires
The Yale Road fire 15 miles south of Spokane has now burned 4,000 acres and destroyed at least 10 homes. The Hart Road fire northwest of Spokane has burned 10,000 acres and nearly a dozen buildings and forced evacuations of the town of Wellpinit. Both fires are at 0 percent containment, according to firefighters.  (Spokesman-Review)

Smoke in the air
You may have noticed Spokane is filled with smoke. The air quality is now somewhere between "Unhealthy for Sensitive Groups" and "Moderate," according to Spokane Clean Air. Check for yourself here. (KHQ)

Clinton's emails
A federal judge has ordered that the State Department accelerate the release of nearly 15,000 Hillary Clinton emails, meaning they could be released weeks before the election. Meanwhile, Republicans allege that emails released Monday from Clinton's tenure as Secretary of State show that Clinton traded favors for donations to the Clinton Foundation. Clinton and the foundation deny the charge. 

Trump on immigration
Donald Trump says he has an immigration plan, and it apparently no longer involves deporting 11 million people using a "deportation force." Rather, it will be similar to what Obama is doing, but with "a lot more energy." 

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Monday, August 22, 2016

Posted By on Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 5:02 PM

click to enlarge Actually nevermind, the city council probably won't vote on Craig Meidl's appointment tonight
Daniel Walters photo
Meidl's confirmation will have to wait, mayor agrees.

Earlier today we posted a blog about the impending decision before the Spokane City Council tonight — whether or not Craig Meidl will be Spokane's next police chief. 

Well, about that... 

We just got word that Meidl's fate likely will not be decided tonight. Instead, he will go through the same process as the 10 semifinalists considered by the selection committee, according to a press release from the city. That means Meidl will answer the same written and video questions that other outside candidates were required to answer.

"We appreciate the Mayor's willingness to take this additional step in the process of finding Spokane's next police chief," Councilwoman Lori Kinnear says, who along with Councilman Breean Beggs submitted a letter with this proposal to Mayor David Condon. 

"We want to be clear that our call for completing the promised public process with a comparison between candidates is in no way an indication of a negative judgment on Craig Meidl's ability to perform the job," the letter reads (embedded below). "We have worked closely with him over the last few months as he has performed his duties of acting chief and found him to be very cooperative, talented and sincere."

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Posted By on Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 2:41 PM

click to enlarge City Council to vote tonight on Mayor David Condon's pick for police chief
Young Kwak Photo
Craig Meidl addresses reporters following his nomination as chief of police

Tonight is the night. 

The City Council is scheduled to vote to approve or reject Craig Meidl as Spokane's next chief of police. 

In interviews leading up to tonight's vote, City Council President Ben Stuckart says he intends to vote against Meidl's approval. 

"I'd be doing a great disservice to all the citizens involved ... if I discounted all their work," Stuckart says. "Two of the [Police Leadership Advisory Committee] recommendations are very specific to involving the public from the beginning." 

Two weeks ago, Councilwoman Karen Stratton indicated to the Inlander that she hadn't yet been convinced to vote in favor of Meidl's confirmation. Councilman Mike Fagan has come out in support of Meidl.

Councilman Breean Beggs did not say whether he's decided either way, though he articulated potential compromises — such as appointing Meidl for a "test period" and allow for more vetting. 

Councilmembers Amber Waldref and Candace Mumm have not publicly stated which way they're leaning. Last week, Kinnear indicated that she was still sifting through the public comment before making her decision.

The vote comes three weeks after Mayor David Condon discarded two outside candidates for chief and appointed Meidl, sparking outrage among those who participated in the vetting process.

In the aftermath of former Chief Frank Straub's forced resignation, Condon hired a recruiting firm and assembled a selection committee of nine city leaders and community members to help whittle down the original list of 31 candidates. He also arranged four interview panels, totaling more than 40 people to vet the finalists.

Those who participated in those events expressed frustration with Condon's unilateral decision to appoint a man who did not apply for the job and initially stated he did not want to be chief. 

In February, Condon had reiterated his commitment to using an outside firm to recruit a police chief through a national search. 

"We will do a national search and the citizens will have the best person to fill the job," Condon said then. "One of the key things the PLAC suggested was to use an outside firm ... As they provided feedback on what would be their prerogative, the vast majority of them thought we should use a recruiting firm to recruit nationwide."

Following the announcement earlier this month, Condon also announced that he would not, at that point, seek approval from the City Council, as is required by the city's charter, "out of an abundance of caution and concern for [Meidl] and his career." 

That prompted the city council to schedule two community forums followed by tonight's vote.

"Had Craig Meidl gone through the process and come out as the top candidate, we'd be having a very different conversation," Stuckart says. 

Daniel Walters contributed reporting

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Posted By on Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 2:09 PM

Spokane Arts director Laura Becker to leave the citywide arts nonprofit this fall
Kristen Black / Chris Bovey
Outgoing Spokane Arts director Laura Becker, in a photo illustration from the Inlander's 2015 Fall Arts issue.

After a little more than a year and a half at the helm of the city's nonprofit arts fund/commission, Spokane Arts executive director Laura Becker is leaving her role there later this fall.

In a recent email letter to the organization's supporters, the Spokane native expressed sincere appreciation for the opportunity to lead the organization since the start of 2015, and being able to contribute to the growth of the local arts community, which has been building positive momentum for several years now.

Becker has accepted a position as cultural affairs supervisor for the City of Santa Monica, California. In her resignation announcement, she writes:
There were several factors informing my decision to move on. First, my partner is wrapping up his time here in Spokane and is moving back to his home state of California. This is a move that I have delayed for as long as possible but ultimately, I needed to consider this relocation a reality for us. In addition, I have been offered and have accepted an incredible opportunity to serve as the Cultural Affairs Supervisor to the City of Santa Monica’s public art program, a role for which my background and experience make me an ideal candidate.

Looking forward, I must prioritize my family and manage my professional life with greater balance – this position and a move closer to my family are a clear path for me. I have great love for Spokane and am honored to have led this organization for as long as I have and with so many accomplishments to account. I am immensely hopeful that Spokane Arts will attract an extremely qualified and passionate leader who can continue the work that we have all contributed to this organization’s young life. Given this decision, I have heavily considered plans for a sound and harmonious organizational transition. 
Becker was hired in fall 2014 to take on the role as Spokane Arts' executive director after the departure of its first leader, Shannon Halberstadt, who left after just a year to relocate back to Seattle with her husband. Becker brought years of experience to her role with Spokane Arts, having worked in administrative positions for several Seattle arts groups since 2001.

During her tenure at Spokane Arts, Becker helped bring in thousands of dollars of grant funds, assisted with the implementation of numerous public art projects like the downtown Mobile Murals project and the traffic signal-box art, and continued to grow October's Spokane Arts Month, along with many other initiatives. 

Until a new director is hired, starting on Sept. 23 Spokane Arts will be led by interim director Ellen Picken, who currently serves as its program manager. Karen Mobley's duties as public art program contractor will also expand, along with those of other staff members.

A search committee for Becker's replacement has been formed, and the job posting for Spokane Arts next executive director is posted online.

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Posted By on Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 1:09 PM


A Spokane County sheriff's detective's Facebook page is dotted with memes, videos and links to articles that trash the Black Lives Matter movement, espouse an "us vs. them" attitude and at times diminish the role of race in police interactions.

Damon Simmons, an African American detective for the Spokane County Sheriff's Office and a former officer in Great Falls, Montana, recently shared a meme on his public Facebook page from the Operation Officer Down — A program of the NAIDW page. Over an aerial photo of the recent flood in Louisiana are the words:

"NO BLM OR BLACK PANTHERS COMING TO HELP. ONLY THE POLICE, NATIONAL GUARD, AND LOCAL GOOD SAMARITANS. BUT THAT'S NONE OF MY BUSINESS."

This post — and others on Simmons' page — offer a peek into conversations about Black Lives Matter and community and police relations among some local law enforcement, both active and retired.

Under the Louisiana flood meme, NAACP Spokane President Phil Tyler (who was a lieutenant in the Sheriff's Office as a corrections officer) commented that Simmons' post was "distasteful," and that "professionals should be more professional."



The meme pits the police against Black Lives Matter and the Black Panthers over a tragic natural disaster that has nothing to do with police shootings of black people. However, Simmons says the post is meant to express his frustration that the Black Lives Matter movement is only concerned about black lives when they're taken by police officers. When African Americans are victims of intraracial violence or, say, the victims of a natural disaster, Black Lives Matter protesters are silent, Simmons argues.

"If we're going to say black lives matter, well, we're all one race," Simmons tells the Inlander. "All lives should matter. There needs to be a wake-up call there."

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Posted By on Mon, Aug 22, 2016 at 9:12 AM

click to enlarge Wildfires rip through region, woman survives shooting and other morning headlines
Wildfires are surrounding Spokane

ON INLANDER.COM


THIS WEEK: Tons of tunes, Gathering at the Falls PowWow, Jim Jefferies and more
MUSIC: The Spokane Symphony's new season features Harry Potter, a scary silent film and romantic Rachmaninoff
NEWS: Why Raise Up Washington believes it's worth ditching the exemptions from Spokane's sick leave policy
NEWS: People keep stealing the giant toy eggs from Spokane Valley's Discovery Playground

IN OTHER NEWS

Wildfires in Spokane 
Three fires surrounding Spokane burned more than 13,000 acres, destroyed homes and forced evacuations yesterday and continue today. (Spokesman-Review)
  • Firefighters say the Hart Road Fire near the town of Wellpinit, northeast of Spokane, erupted overnight and has grown to 10,000 acres, prompting level 3 evacuations in the town. (KHQ)
  • As of last night, the Yale Road Fire near Spangle, south of Spokane, tore through multiple homes Sunday and grew to 2,500 acres in size. Both that fire and the smaller fire near Beacon Hill in northeast Spokane are now being referred to collectively as the Spokane Complex Fire. (KXLY)
Woman shot in the head
A woman was shot in the head at a Spokane motel on Sunday night but is expected to survive, according to police. The suspect is at-large. (Spokesman-Review)

Cyclist injured in Idaho
A 65-year-old cyclist was seriously injured when hit by a car in Kootenai County on Sunday afternoon. (KHQ)

End of Olympics
The Rio Olympics are over, and Team USA, by far, took home the most medals. But that was expected, and these games may actually come to be defined by the lies of Ryan Lochte, the swimmer who can't even endorse Speedo anymore. (Washington Post)

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Moonshine: Artisan Night Market @ Commellini Estate

Wednesdays, 5:30-10 p.m. Continues through Aug. 27
  • or