Facebook's new scandal, Washington isn't actually splitting up, and other headlines

ON INLANDER.COM

NEWS: The Seattle PI made a goof when columnist Joel Connelly wrote that the Spokane Valley City Council was going to vote on a proposal to split Eastern Washington from Western Washington. It's an idea that's come up in the past, notably from fringe conservative Rep. Matt Shea, who represents the Valley. But otherwise, we aren't sure where Connelly is getting his info from, and neither is the Spokane Valley City Council for that matter.

NATION: President Trump may be willing to budge on his $5 billion demand for a border wall and avoid a government shutdown, according to the White House.

IN OTHER NEWS...

"I always feel like / Somebody's watching meeee!"
Facebook gave major tech companies more "intrusive" access to your data than it previously disclosed, according to a report from the New York Times. What does that mean? For example: "Facebook allowed Microsoft’s Bing search engine to see the names of virtually all Facebook users’ friends without consent, the records show, and gave Netflix and Spotify the ability to read Facebook users’ private messages."

But we're just skimming the surface. More than 150 companies benefited from the access, the Times reports. Read more here.

Pay the man
Google and Facebook agreed to pay fines for violating political ad laws in Washington state totaling $455,000 rather than face upcoming trials. Citing state law, The Stranger first reported on the issue. They have more details here.

Good for the fishies
After months of negotiating, multiple governments (including Washington, Oregon and the Nez Perce Tribe) agreed to establish a "new regime" for spill over the Columbia and Snake River dams that is said to benefit young salmon migrating to the sea. Republicans Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers and Rep. Dan Newhouse (Sunnyside), however, are opposed to the agreement, calling it "worse than useless," according to the Seattle Times.

Bulldog blowout
The Zags defeated UT Arlington, 89-55, last night. (Spokesman-Review)

Zags win!

🖐 players with double-figures, led by @rui_8mura with 20 points and 11 boards. @brandonclarke23 added 17 points and 13 boards #UnitedWeZag pic.twitter.com/goUTnGeE79

— Gonzaga Basketball (@ZagMBB) December 19, 2018

And you thought Washington was safe from natural disasters
A rare tornado ripped through Port Orchard, Washington, on Tuesday afternoon. About 50 homes and commercial properties were damaged by the tornado, though no injuries have been reported yet, according to the Kitsap Sun. I grew up in Kitsap County, and I can tell you that's the most action we've had since an angry cow escaped from a trailer in downtown Kingston. A meteorologist said the extreme weather appeared to break off from a larger storm and then targeted a specific area.

Criminal justice overhaul
The Senate passed the bipartisan First Step Act on Tuesday. (New York Times)