Leadership Letters
Jasmine Vilar
Federal Funding: Because You Asked

TLC’s Board President Kate Vanskike addresses questions about federal funding impacts.

Federal Funding: Because You Asked

Lawsuit to Challenge Validity of Nationally Backed Ballot Initiative

Lawsuit to Challenge Validity of Nationally Backed Ballot Initiative

Spokane, WA—A challenge to a murky Spokane ballot initiative, Prop 1 (The Spokane Cleaner Energy Protection Act) became official yesterday with a lawsuit, filed in Spokane Superior Court, arguing that Prop 1 is an improper initiative and must be stricken from the ballot. The lawsuit alleges that Prop 1 violates several of the legal limitations on the local initiative process. A local initiative cannot be used to stop the city from carrying out state policy, to limit the City Council's statutory powers, or to address administrative issues. As Prop 1 violates all of these rules, Plaintiffs Kate Burke and the nonprofit Protect Spokane Action are seeking to strike the measure from the ballot.

Grazing Permits on Colville National Forest Threaten Imperiled Bull Trout 

Grazing Permits on Colville National Forest Threaten Imperiled Bull Trout 

To defend threatened bull trout and bull trout critical habitat on the Colville National Forest—and with much of northeast Washington under extreme drought—conservation groups have warned the U.S. Forest Service that they will amend an existing lawsuit against the agency’s grazing management to include claims under the Endangered Species Act if the agency does not respond.

Some neighborhoods have it made in the shade – and some don’t

Some neighborhoods have it made in the shade – and some don’t

By Shawn Vestal, Spokesman Review

It was 109 degrees on a Wednesday afternoon in Hillyard.

Sierra Delgado, her aunt and her kids were in the front yard, trying to find a bit of relief in an above-ground pool and the dim shade of a Russian maple.

“We wouldn’t survive out here without this tree,” Delgado said, sitting in a lawn chair under the maple. “The pool’s in the direct sun, but us adults usually sit here in the shade. It helps.”