Spokane Public Radio

Spokane City Council to vote on new city civil rights office

By Rebecca White • 1 hour ago

The City of Spokane is poised to create an office of civil rights to investigate discrimination and collect data on hate crimes in the region.

The move is supported by community groups, who say the office is desperately needed by communities that have been targeted, or disproportionately impacted, during pandemic.

In 2017, the Spokane City Council passed a set of human rights protections that went beyond state, or federal law, including people using housing vouchers, refugees and domestic violence victims, as well as other groups.

Do vaccines stop infections from the omicron variant? Early results are released

By Debbie Elliott & Michaeleen Doucleff • 2 hours ago

Instagram CEO to testify at Senate hearing on potential dangers for young users

By editor • 2 hours ago

Starbucks workers decide whether to form first U.S. union

By Alina Selyukh & Tom Dinki • 3 hours ago

Starbucks workers in upstate New York are deciding whether they want to join a union, a move that would be unprecedented at stores owned by the company in the United States.

More than 80 baristas and shift supervisors from three stores around Buffalo have been voting by mail on whether to join Workers United, affiliated with the Service Employees International Union. The election ends Wednesday, and the result is expected Thursday afternoon.