Spokane County News

Spokane County's unemployment rated dropped by 1 percent in June, nearing the state average as it fell to 5.6 percent.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency has authorized the use of federal funds to help with firefighting costs for the Watermelon Hill Fire, burning in Lincoln and Spokane County, Washington.

Receive FREE access by logging in to or creating your Spokesman.com account. The Watermelon Hill fire about 7 miles southwest of Cheney has grown to about 13,000 acres, fire officials said this morning.

How are your tomato plants growing? If you're having troubles with them, or have in the past, you're not alone.

Authorities said the fire jumped the lake and started burning in Spokane County.

Jeremy B. Jeske, 43, a Spokane County Sheriff's deputy, has been charged with two counts of insurance fraud in connection with a case that was investigated by Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler's Special Investigations Unit.

Receive FREE access by logging in to or creating your Spokesman.com account. A Spokane County sheriff's deputy saved a newborn's life Friday by clearing her airway and performing CPR until paramedics arrived on the scene.

Air quality has worsened dramatically this afternoon after the National Weather Service issued an air quality alert for much of the Inland Northwest as winds drive Central Washington wildfire smoke eastward.

A guest at the Apple Tree Inn, 9508 N. Division St., told a manager he was beaten and robbed in his room about 4 a.m., police spokeswoman Teresa Fuller said.

State Rep. Leonard Christian is an incumbent in the unusual position of facing two primary opponents who have as much or more name recognition as he has.

Spokane County Detention Services has identified the corrections officer involved in a shooting at Deaconess Hospital on Monday as Sandy Rief.

A man running for office against Spokane County Republican Matt Shea says he's concerned about Shea's association with the Oath Keepers, a group that describes itself as dedicated to "defend[ing] the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us God."

Greater Spokane County/Valley Meals on Wheels - Volunteers are needed to deliver hot meals to elderly and disabled people.

When the Liberty Lake City Council approved a moratorium on the growth, processing and sale of marijuana back in January, much remained uncertain regarding the statewide implementation of an initiative that had passed in November 2012.

The Inland Northwest Blood Center used a new mobile bus in July to collect blood from donors.

A South Hill couple slept soundly inside their home overnight Monday while someone snuck into their home and burglarized it.

Receive FREE access by logging in to or creating your Spokesman.com account. Republican Spokane County Commissioner Al French is facing a potential rerun of 2010, when he ousted Democrat Bonnie Mager in a close race.

A local Spokane couple woke up on Tuesday morning to find that there home had been burglarized while they were sleeping.

Authorities declared a state of emergency late Tuesday night as multiple wildfires continued to burn, threatening homes and other structures in Eastern Washington.

Receive FREE access by logging in to or creating your Spokesman.com account. A Spokane County Sheriff's deputy was fired this week after he billed a local business for work he didn't do, Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich said Tuesday.