The Innovation Station: Pacific Northwest

The Innovation Station: Pacific Northwest

The U.S. Pacific Northwest shares some of its challenges—like those related to aquatic ecosystems, forest management, and community health—with other communities around the world. Learn about women-led innovations poised to address these challenges during The Innovation Station: Pacific Northwest, a virtual event on September 23, 2021, from 1:00-3:00 PM Eastern Time.

Prop 1 Ruled Invalid in Spokane Superior Court

Prop 1 Ruled Invalid in Spokane Superior Court

Today Spokane County Superior Court Judge Bjelkengren ruled that Spokane Prop 1 was beyond the scope of the local initiative process and enjoined it from heading to the ballot. The measure sought to permanently prohibit the City from restricting gas-use in new construction, which is considered critical to meeting climate change targets established in State law and the Spokane code.

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.