Wednesday, April 26, 2017
Last week, we published a story about the controversial response from the Spokane Human Rights Commission over City Councilman Mike Fagan's diatribe against "illegal aliens" during a council meeting.
Fagan's remarks detailed several gory and violent episodes involving assailants who were in the United States illegally. Several members of the human rights commission felt that by using these anecdotes, Fagan was painting a grossly inaccurate picture of undocumented immigrants.
But how about the reality? Is illegal immigration causing an uptick in violent crime or property crime in this city?
Last week, the Inlander called up Spokane Police Chief Craig Meidl, and he was crystal clear on the answer.
"We do not have an undocumented immigrant problem in the city of Spokane," Meidl says. "The complaints we are hearing in the community are not stemming from undocumented immigrants."
In his 23 years with the Spokane Police Department, Meidl says that, to his knowledge, he's had a grand total of two contacts with undocumented immigrants.
"One was an assault call unrelated to his documented status," Meidl says. And the other was a neighbor concerned about the way an undocumented immigrant was looking at his kids. That's all.
Just to make sure that his experience wasn't unique, Meidl says he brought in two of his majors and asked him the same question.
"We had over 80 years of experience [between the three of us]," he says. "All three of us had a total of five contacts with undocumented immigrants. The primary reason for these contacts didn't have anything with their immigration status."
For all the challenges that face the Spokane police department, he says, this certainly isn't one.
Tags: Craig Meidl , SPD , Mike Fagan , Immigration , News , Image
ON INLANDER.COM
NEWS: With a state mandate to make class sizes smaller for early elementary school students, and unexpected increasing enrollment, Spokane Public Schools are looking at changing which grades are placed at the same schools, which will hopefully save on costs to build new facilities.
ARTS & CULTURE: There's Something Rotten about the next season of shows ready to Rent the INB Performing Arts Center, bringing The Sound of Music and their Dirty Dancing to (Mo)town, for the Best of Broadway.
IN OTHER NEWS
Something in the water
Fairchild Air Force Base is among dozens of military bases where tests have found dangerous chemicals from foam used to fight fires in wells that aren't used for drinking water, and test results for nearby wells that are used for drinking are expected back next week. (Spokesman-Review)
Goodbye NAFTA?
Politico reports that the White House is putting together an executive order to pull the U.S. out of the North American Free Trade Agreement, possibly as a power move to renegotiate the agreement. (Politico)
Out of money? We'll throw your food in the trash, kid
An Army veteran is criticizing some Texas schools that take food from kids who can't pay for their food at the end of the lunch line and throw it away in front of them, then hand them a sandwich or other substitute meal. (KREM2/WFAA-TV)
That's so dirty
Too rich to get outside and do some good old-fashioned manual labor, but want that authentic working man's look? Nordstrom's got you covered, with a $425 pair of jeans they've made to look like they're muddy, so you don't have to.
According to Nordstrom, these jeans "embody rugged, Americana workwear that's seen some hard-working action with a crackled, caked-on muddy coating that shows you're not afraid to get down and dirty." (emphasis added)
But if you have to buy jeans that are pre-caked in mud for you, doesn't that mean you are afraid to get down and dirty? Asking for a friend...
Those of us who can't afford artisan mud stains will just have to keep dirtying our jeans with sweat and elbow grease, while you ponder just how authentic the stain on your butt pocket looks. (Kansas City Star)
Tags: morning headlines , schools , jeans , culture , school lunches , Fairchild , class size , Best of Broadway , news , Image
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Though its current season has yet to wrap up — still on the calendar is Cinderella (May 11-13) and this summer's blockbuster season finale, The Phantom of the Opera (June 28-July 9) — the musicals and stage shows coming to the INB Performing Arts Center starting this fall were just announced today. The 2017-18 season is now to be known as STCU Best of Broadway, as the Spokane Teachers Credit Union takes on a title sponsorship agreement.
Here are the shows to budget tickets for in the next season. (Season ticket packages are available now; individual tickets for each show will be released at a later date, to be announced.)
Broadway touring shows:
Something Rotten, Oct. 3-7
Rent (20th Anniversary Tour), Nov. 30-Dec. 3
Motown: The Musical, Jan 24-28, 2018
The Sound of Music, March 22-25, 2018
Dirty Dancing, April 26-29, 2018
Special engagements:
A Night With Janis Joplin, Oct. 15
Tuesdays with Morrie: The Play, Nov. 14
New York Voices, The Pedrito Martinez Group (EWU Jazz Dialogue Festival), Nov. 17
Mannheim Steamroller by Chip Davis, Nov. 18
Wizard of Oz, Dec. 5-6
Darlene Love, Dec. 13
Tags: Best of Broadway , West Coast Entertainment , STCU , theater , Arts & Culture , Image
In 2003, when Spokane Public Schools was coming up with a long-term plan for construction, the task was simpler.
Enrollment was declining at the time, so they didn't need to plan to add more school buildings — just better ones.
Two things have put a hitch in that plan. First, in the past few years, enrollment in the district has increased by a couple of thousand students. Second, districts across Washington have been mandated by the state to reduce class sizes in kindergarten through third grade.
The class size reduction alone, says Spokane Public Schools associate superintendent Mark Anderson, means the district would have to add more schools — around five new elementary schools just for the K-3 size reduction.
So the district is trying to find a way to configure the grades in a way that will cost less for new buildings and make sense for the community. The best way to to do that is up for debate.
Tags: Spokane Public Schools , grade configuration , Mark Anderson , News , Image
ON INLANDER.COM
NEWS: Spokane County doesn't plan to put body cameras on Sheriff's deputies, even when a free deal (for a year) comes along.
COMMENT: It's time to stop acting like Spokane needs a stamp of approval from Seattle.
IN OTHER NEWS
Diets aren't for everyone
The city of Spokane, despite some opposition from businesses, is moving forward into the design phase of its $7.1 million North Monroe "road diet" plan. (Spokesman-Review)
Post Falls company under fire for racism
Take a look at this, let's say, questionable image of a black girl eating a watermelon that a Post Falls company posts on the side of its trucks. This company, Dixie Services, also uses a Confederate flag as its logo. People are calling for the company to take the images down, but the owner says "there's a lot of goodness and happiness" associated with the flag, and he sees nothing wrong with the picture of a black girl eating watermelon. (KXLY)
Is it finally happening?
In the the seemingly never-ending plan to turn the Ridpath Hotel into affordable apartments, Spokane City Council has now decided to loan developer Ron Wells $1.75 million once he closes on the property next month. (Spokesman-Review)
Build that wall! (someday)
President Donald Trump may not get his border wall as soon as he hoped for, after backing down from demanding payment for it on Monday to avoid a potential government shutdown. (Associated Press)
Tags: News , body cameras , racism , Spokane , Dixie Services , Post Falls , Ridpath Hotel , Ron Wells , North Monroe , road diet , Trump , border wall , Image
Monday, April 24, 2017
Earlier this month, Axon (the company formerly known as Taser), announced that it is offering free body cameras and a year's subscription to its cloud storage service to any American law enforcement agency.
Even with the discount, Spokane County commissioners say it's unlikely that county Sheriff's deputies will start wearing what many police reform advocates say is an essential police accountability tool any time soon.
"Where are we going to get the biggest bang for the buck for the public?" Commissioner Al French says. "My suspicion is that means putting more deputies on the road than putting cameras on the ones we have."
In theory, French says, he's in favor of body cameras. Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich agrees.
"If I had half a million dollars I could throw at this, my world would be a whole lot better," French says. "I just don't have the funds. That's where the rub is."
Tags: News , body cameras , Spokane County Sheriff's Office , Spokane Police , police , Axon , Taser , Image
Pump up the Volume
The lineup for Volume 2017 is here, and it includes Built to Spill, Chastity Belt, J GRGRY, Ras Kass, Lithics, and many, many more performers. Check out all the bands and venues for the June 2-3 event here.
There's nothing to do around here... not!
There is SO much to do this week, including concerts, comedy, live discussions about national parks and rainforests, symphony, theater, film and food!
IN OTHER NEWS
Doomsday is nigh
With plenty of construction throughout the Bloomsday course, Doomsday Hill is ready for the race, and other parts of downtown under construction will be prepped for all the foot traffic. (Spokesman-Review)
French opt for two out-of-the-mainstream candidates
The two candidates who voters sent on to a runoff vote next month in France's presidential election are both outsiders; one is a former investment banker and pro-European Union, while the other opposes the EU and wants far-right "France first" policies. (New York Times)
UW prepares for research cuts
For many years, federal money has been used for research and building new facilities at the University of Washington, which receives more federal research funding than any other public university in the country, but President Donald Trump's budget proposal could put that in jeopardy. (Seattle Times)
Tags: French election , University of Washington , research , Doomsday Hill , events , calendar , Volume , news , Image
Sunday, April 23, 2017
Barreling toward the end of April, there's plenty of reason to get out and about and enjoy all Spokane has to offer, as found in our event listings and Staff Picks at all times.
I did a little legwork for ya — here are some highlights of the week ahead:
Monday, April 24
Live Bands | Get a little reggae on mere days after 4/20 as The Expendables drop by the Knitting Factory to headline a show.
Sports & Outdoors | Head to REI and get to know what might be YOUR park — this time the discussion focuses on North Cascades National Recreation Area. Enjoy it while we still have it.
Tuesday, April 25
Live Bands | Jimmy Eat World headlines a gig at Knitting Factory, and you can read our interview with lead singer Jim Adkins right here. And while they're always solid, don't be shocked if you leave the show talking about Beach Slang, the explosive opener. Even so, no denying this Jimmy Eat World tune:
Film | The Garland Theater hosts the SFCC International Film Festival, tonight screening The Life of a Guide Dog, a Japanese doc that shows all the work that goes into training a working pup.
Tags: What's Up? , Image , Video
Friday, April 21, 2017
Built to Spill, Chastity Belt, Ras Kass, Windoe, Belt of Vapor, Folkinception among featured bands
Northwest indie-rock favorites Built to Spill and Chastity Belt will play a new outdoor stage at the Steam Plant at Volume 2017 this June 2-3, part of a sprawling lineup of nearly 100 artists ranging from hip-hop to punk, folk to synth-pop, metal to electro-rock.
The Inland Northwest's best bands provide the backbone for Volume, as they have every year in its six-year history. Cathedral Pearls, The Dancing Plague of 1518, Itchy Kitty, Belt of Vapor, Empty Eyes, Summer in Siberia and Jan Francisco are among the locals who will play alongside visitors like rapper Nacho Picasso (Seattle), electro-pop crew J GRGRY (Seattle), grease-slathered Southern rockers Shawn James and the Shapeshifters (Fayetteville, Arkansas), art-rockers Lithics (Portland) and California-based Ras Kass, who Pitchfork once called "one of the best rappers of all time."
That's just the start of what is the best lineup yet for the largest, most diverse music festival in the Inland Northwest. You can see the entire lineup here, or scroll down for a complete list.
The venues for Volume 2017 include The Baby Bar (all-ages), The Bartlett (all-ages), The Big Dipper (all-ages), Boots Bakery, Mootsy's, The Observatory, The Pin! (all-ages), The Red Room Lounge, nYne Bar and the Washington Cracker Co. Building (Terrain stage; all-ages), plus the new Steam Plant Outdoor Stage on Saturday (all-ages).
Tickets are just $25 in advance for two days of amazing music ($35 if you wait until the festival), and you can get those right here.
Here's a sample of Boise-based Built to Spill:
Chastity Belt formed in Walla Walla:
Ras Kass gets topical on his latest:
Myke Bogan's "Take the Night Off" featuring Blossom:
Tags: volume , built to spill , chastity belt , For Fun! , Music , Video , Image
ON INLANDER.COM
One man's trash, another man's treasure. Or woman's treasure.
Find junk that you can turn into craft supplies tomorrow. It's called recycling, and it's a thing now.
Can you spare 50 dimes?
We've previously reported that you can text "CHANGE" to 50555 to give money to Catholic Charities. You can still do that!
IN OTHER NEWS
Hostage saved in the Valley
A hostage crisis in Spokane Valley was resolved safely. (Spokesman-Review)
Bridge builders
Blessings Under the Bridge is going to be on Lifetime's Live Life Forward TV show. (Spokesman-Review)
Punishing the sanctuaries
The Justice Department sent warnings to nine "sanctuary city" jurisdictions. But not Spokane, because Spokane isn't a sanctuary city. (New York Times)
Extreme reactions
The far left and far right have gone to war in Berkeley, California. (Washington Post)
Tags: Morning Headlines , News , Spokane Valley , Blessings Under the Bridge , sanctuary cities , Berkeley , Image
Moonshine: Artisan Night Market & Moonlit Movie @ Commellini Estate
Wednesdays, 5:30-10 p.m. Continues through Aug. 27
