Monday, November 27, 2017
ON INLANDER.COM
NEWS: Through two programs, Spokane plans to put panhandlers to work (if they want to) and redirect donations from citizens to city meters that will pass that money through to homeless services the city and outside agencies already provide.
IN OTHER NEWS
Who's in charge?
There's a question as to who should really be in charge of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today, after the director stepped down last week, appointing his deputy director to captain the ship in the interim, but President Trump also named Mick Mulvaney as interim director (on top of his role as director of the Office of Management and Budget), the New York Times reports. The matter has been taken to court.
Fuzz buzz
Spokane's police department did not get a federal grant to pay for more officers next year, so the city will have to pay for new officers on its own, the Spokesman-Review reports.
Transgender Day of Remembrance
Today has been declared Transgender Day of Remembrance in Spokane, and a proclamation will be presented tonight at 6 pm at City Hall, KREM reports.
Tax plan quickly burdens poor, CBO analysis finds
According to a Congressional Budget Office analysis released this weekend, the Senate Republicans' tax plan, which could go to a vote this week, would cost low-earning Americans more than they currently pay as soon as 2019, but give tax breaks to high earners through at least 2027, the Washington Post reports.
Tags: transgender , day of remembrance , spokane , tax plan , congress , police , consumer financial protection , banks , panhandler , homeless , News , Image
Sunday, November 26, 2017
Monday, Nov. 27
MUSIC | Johnny Lang has moved from being a blues-guitar prodigy to a grown-ass man with some serious skills as a performer and songwriter incorporating rock and soul, too. He headlines the Bing tonight. UPDATE: Lang's show has been postponed until April 10, 2018, due to illness.
COMMUNITY | Head over to Northern Quest for a chance to spin the big wheel on The Price is Right Live!
Tuesday, Nov. 28
MUSIC | A Perfect Circle brings their prog-rock weirdness to the Spokane Arena tonight. Read our interview with the band before you go.
Tags: What's Up? , Video , Image
Friday, November 24, 2017
Huskies reduced to spoiler role at home; USC awaits North Division champion
For all that Luke Falk has accomplished in a record-shattering four years in Pullman, there's one thing he's never done: beaten the Huskies. In fact, he hasn't come close: Washington State has been outscored by an average of 23 points in his two Apple Cups.
Falk's last chance, and that of 19 other seniors, comes Saturday at a rainy Husky Stadium (5 pm; KAYU 28, KXLY 920 AM) in the 110th battle for state bragging rights, against a Washington team that lost its chance to win consecutive Pac-12 North Division titles when Cal came up three points short at Stanford last Saturday. Now the Cardinal — who physically dominated the Huskies in the second half two weeks ago, holding on for a 30-22 victory one week after getting Falked 24-21 on Senior Day in Pullman — are UW's biggest fans as well.
It's the second straight year that the Cougars, ranked 14th in the AP Top 25 poll, not the No. 15 Huskies, play for the division championship and not merely the Governor's Trophy. On Saturday, they'll opt for a traditional gray-and-white look, with a splash of crimson.
No matter the outcome, it's a Pac-12 title-game rematch next Friday in Santa Clara, California, just a short drive from Palo Alto. South Division champion USC — with the benefit of nearly two weeks of rest, an advantage WSU enjoys this week — rolled Stanford 42-24 on Sept. 9 at the Coliseum, but lost 30-27 to the Cougars less than three weeks later on a nationally televised, frenzied Friday night in Pullman.
Falk, poised to keep going where no Pac-12 quarterback has before, extending his records for career passing yards (14,112; eighth in NCAA history) and touchdown passes (118; 10th all-time), hasn't exactly played poorly in his two Apple Cups, completing 61 percent of his passes for 624 yards. Two years ago, six days after being concussed vs. Colorado on Martin Stadium's frigid turf, he watched from the sidelines in Seattle as the Cougars turned the ball over seven times in a 45-10 loss.
But his other numbers are telling: three touchdowns in two starts isn't enough, and five interceptions is too many. The same goes for six sacks.
Tags: Apple Cup , Washington State , Washington , Cougars , Huskies , Pac-12 North , Husky Stadium , Stanford , USC , Luke Falk , Mike Leach , Hercules Mata'afa , Alex Grinch , Speed D , Myles Gaskin , Jake Browning , Dante Pettis , Sports , Image
If you've got some downtime when you aren't gorging on Thanksgiving leftovers — and you're willing to put on pants and get out of the house — there are (finally) some interesting new films in theaters. Amongst them: the latest colorful effort from Pixar, an eye-opening nature documentary, and a coming-of-age comedy that's certain to be one of the best movies of the year.
COCO (3 stars)
On the eve of Día de los Muertos, 12-year-old Miguel finds himself in the land of the dead, where he discovers he’s descended from a legendary Mexican musician. In his review, Eric D. Snider says the latest from Pixar creates a vivid world and then runs around in it, all while conveying a message about the importance of family that actually feels sincere. Rated PG.
JANE (3 stars)
Documentarian Brett Morgen explores the early life and groundbreaking work of Jane Goodall, whose up-close-and-personal studies of African chimpanzees had seismic effects on science. Most of the film consists of astonishing, never-before-seen footage shot in the 1960s by nature photographer (and Goodall’s husband) Hugo van Lawick. At the Magic Lantern. Rated PG.
Tags: Films , opening , Coco , Jane , Lady Bird , The Man Who Invented Christmas , Roman J. Israel , Esq. , Arts & Culture , Image
City leaders are pushing ahead with two programs they hope will provide meaningful assistance to people experiencing homelessness and living on the streets in Spokane.
The city's "Give Real Change" campaign, which is already active, hopes to redirect well-meaning donations away from panhandlers and into designated bright-orange city meters.
On Tuesday, the city announced it has added more locations for people to donate to the program, which will direct the money toward the city's investment in a 24/7 shelter system run by outside organizations.
Give Real Change meters (which take coins or card) are located downtown, and now also in the STA Plaza and at both screening checkpoints at the Spokane International Airport.
“As a partner through the City's co-ownership of the airport, the Spokane Airport Board fully supports the Give Real Change initiative,” said Larry Krauter, CEO of Spokane Airports, in a city announcement about the new containers. “We hope that voluntary contributions from the generosity of passengers and employees at the Airport will bring additional resources to the City's efforts to address homelessness."
People can also donate by calling 311, or opting to round up their monthly city utility bills.
HOPE WORKS
In conjunction with the city's efforts to discourage panhandling, the Downtown Spokane Partnership, Catholic Charities, the city and Goodwill Industries of the Inland Northwest are partnering to help put those asking for money to work.
Tags: Spokane , Hope Works , panhandling , homeless , homelessness , services , work , change , There's a Better Way , Albuquerque , Downtown Spokane Partnership , Mark Richard , downtown , Give Real Change , News , Image
ON INLANDER.COM
A big bite of the Apple Cup
A Q&A with WSU Hall of Famer Paul Sorensen ahead of tomorrow's annual battle for bragging rights in the state of Washington; kickoff is at 5 pm.
Eating right, and doing right
Samantha Wohlfeil reports about local programs that are helping low-income families afford healthy food, including fruits and veggies.
Sans cellphone
Audience members who've whipped out their cellphones for a photo or video of A Perfect Circle performance have quickly found themselves out on their ass. The rock supergroup is playing the Spokane Arena next Tuesday; you've been warned.
IN OTHER NEWS
Black Friday is here
More than 1,000 people lined up outside the Best Buy in North Spokane, some since about 7 pm Wednesday, for deals on electronics. (KXLY, Spokesman-Review)
Has Flynn flipped?
President Trump's former national security advisor Michael Flynn has cut off communication with the president's lawyers, indicating that Flynn could strike a deal with prosecutors. (New York Times)
Pot-shop holdup
A 42-year-old man has been arrested in connection with an pot-shop robbery earlier this week. James Jordan allegedly walked into Starbuds Cannabis shop in northeast Spokane on Tuesday evening wearing dark clothes and shot an employee, who was taken to the hospital. The employee is expected to survive. (Spokesman-Review)
Hammer and nail
Inmates at Geiger Corrections Center are learning construction basics to build a greenhouse and toolshed. The garden maintained on the jail's grounds produces about one ton of food for the community each year. (KXLY)
#BelieveWomen
There are plenty of reasons why women don't report sexual assault, including the chance that they'll be criminally prosecuted for doing so. (New York Times)
Tags: News , Apple Cup , Washington State , Washington , Cougars , Huskies , Paul Sorensen , healthy food , A Perfect Circle , cellphones , Black Friday , Michael Flynn , Starbuds , robbery , Geiger Corrections Center , women , sexual assault , Image
Wednesday, November 22, 2017
When Paul Sorensen hit an opponent on the football field, he delivered a powerful blow.
A Cougar for just two seasons after transferring from
Selected by the Cincinnati in the fifth round of the 1982 NFL draft (one of 10 players from that 1981 Cougars team to be drafted from 1982-86), he spent a season with the Bengals, another with the 49ers, and played in the USFL. You might know him better as the color commentator and analyst on Eastern Washington football radio broadcasts for the past 14 years, and as a color commentator on WSU radio broadcasts from 1985-98; during that 14-season span, he called some of the most memorable games in Cougars history.
In September, Sorensen was inducted into the WSU Athletics Hall of Fame. He answered questions regarding his Apple Cup experiences ahead of Saturday's game in Seattle:
Q: This is the biggest Apple Cup of the Pac-12 era; arguably the biggest for Cougars fans in 15 years, since the 2002 game. What would a victory, with the prospect of a rematch with USC in the Pac-12 title game, mean to this football program?
A: The 2016 Apple Cup was for the Pac-12 North title and the Huskies won it in Pullman. The 1981 Apple Cup decided the conference championship outright; with either a win or tie by the Cougs, WSU would be conference champions for the first time since 1931. The Huskies won that game 23-10, then went on and won the Rose Bowl game over Iowa.
Tags: Sports , Paul Sorensen , Apple Cup , Washington State , WSU , Cougars , UW , Huskies , Husky Stadium , Holiday Bowl , Rose Bowl , Ryan Leaf , Jim Walden , Dan Lynch , Image
Opioids are killing people at a rate that is skyrocketing out of control — on average, two people per day in Washington state, according to a report released today by Attorney General Bob Ferguson's office.
The report, released in concert with Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste and Skagit County Prosecuting Attorney Rich Weyrich, lays out several policies to eradicate the drug's devastating impact.
The recommendations touch on public awareness, overprescribing by doctors, data collection, treatment and illegal sales.
Ferguson is also submitting three bills to the state legislature, one of which addresses the state's prescription-monitoring program that tracks when doctors prescribe drugs such as opioids.
Tags: Washington , opioid crisis , heroin , drugs , Bob Ferguson , John Batiste , Rich Weyrich , News , Image
Hopefully you’ve at least gone to the grocery store by now, because there may not be any worse time to be braving the cart-congested aisles than the night before Thanksgiving. If not — or if you’re simply feeling anxious that you’ve missed planning something specific for Thursday’s big feast — we’ve rounded up some helpful features from around the foodie web.
Last-minute cooks can rejoice over this handy resource from the culinary writers at the New York Times, which offers a guide to making your full meal, from the turkey to dessert, all at once over an 8-hour cooking marathon the morning before dinner.
The Times also offers up some tasty suggestions on taking full advantage of all those leftovers.
From the hive mind at Tasty, check out this overview of some easy and fast vegetable sides, like microwaved corn-on-the-cob, along with pan-fried broccoli and roasted carrots. All three take less than 20 minutes.
For a delicious use for all that leftover turkey, check out this recipe from Tasty for turkey skillet pot pie with buttermilk biscuits — yum!
Tags: Entree , Thanksgiving , Thanksgiving meal planning , recipes , Food , Image
ON INLANDER.COM
NEWS: With the intent of preventing teen suicide and the help of a generous donation, Daybreak Youth Services opens a new Spokane psychiatric evaluation and treatment center for girls under 18 in crisis.
SPORTS: The Apple Cup is Saturday in Seattle; we've got a Q&A with Cougars Hall of Famer Paul Sorensen, who weighs in on WSU's fast and aggressive defense.
NEWS: The Federal Communications Commission announced plans to dismantle landmark net neutrality regulations ensuring equal access to the internet. The proposal by FCC Chairman Ajit Pai would be a sweeping repeal of rules put in place by the Obama administration. (via New York Times)
NEWS: A security breach at the ride-hailing company Uber, kept secret for the past year, put the personal data of more than 57 million people at risk. (via New York Times)
IN OTHER NEWS
Trump nearly endorses Roy Moore
President Trump threw embattled Alabama GOP Senate candidate Roy Moore a lifeline yesterday, breaking with prominent D.C. Republicans who've said they believe several women accusing the 70-year-old Moore, a former Chief Justice of Alabama's Supreme Court, of pursuing sexual relations with teenagers when he was in his 30s.
• Unlike their elders, the New Yorker says that Alabama's young Republicans are wrestling with the allegations against Roy Moore. (New Yorker)
• Moore was banned from a Gadsden, Alabama, mall in the 1980s for aggressive behavior that included making sexual advances to underage girls, reports the New Yorker.
• Beyond teenage girls: Every other terrible thing about Roy Moore. (New York Times)
Navy plane crashes off coast of Japan
A U.S. Navy C2-A Greyhound propeller cargo plane carrying 11 crew members and passengers crashed today southeast of Okinawa, Japan, the fifth accident this year for the Seventh Fleet, the Navy’s largest overseas fleet. Eight people were rescued; U.S. and Japanese naval forces are searching for the other three. (New York Times)
House Democrats move against Conyers
Democratic leadership moved swiftly against the House’s longest-serving member, calling for the Ethics Committee to investigate sexual harassment charges against 88-year-old Michigan Rep. John Conyers Jr., the Judiciary Committee's top Democrat. Conyers, first elected in 1964 from a Detroit district, confirmed settling a wrongful termination complaint from a staff member who had accused him of sexual harassment. (New York Times)
• The unfolding Conyers scandal has jolted House Democrats. (Politico)
City council may extend "ban the box" policy
Monday night, Spokane's city council will consider an extension of the “ban the box” policy applying to private employers within city limits, after eliminating the question about prior criminal history from public employment applications in 2014. (Spokesman-Review)
Avista shareholders OK deal
Avist, founded 128 years as the Washington Water Power Company, announced that its shareholders have approved the Spokane-based utility company’s acquisition by the Ontario company Hydro One, a deal that would pay Avista $5.3 billion. (Spokane Public Radio)
Search continues for missing submarine
Ships and planes combed a wider area of the frigid South Atlantic in a fruitless hunt for signs of the ARA San Juan, a missing Argentine submarine with a crew of 44, adding to growing concerns about the sub not heard from in six days; it's believed to have only enough oxygen to last for seven days. (CBS News)
• What we know about Argentina's missing submarine. (CNN)
Grows on the down low
Even in an age of legalization, marijuana grows deemed illegal by the state continue to proliferate in Washington; the latest numbers from the Washington State Patrol show that 89 illegal grow ops were shut down over the past year. (Spokane Public Radio)
RIP, David Cassidy
The actor/musician, best known for playing teen heartthrob Keith Partridge on the early-'70s music sitcom The Partridge Family, died at 67 of liver failure. (NPR)
Tags: News , Daybreak Youth Services , Apple Cup , FCC , net neutrality , Trump , Roy Moore , Alabama , Senate , U.S. Navy , plane crash , Spokane City Council , John Conyers , Avista , Hydro One , ARA San Juan , submarine , South Atlantic , David Cassidy , Image
