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SPR's Inland Journal for January 26, 2025

Spokane Public Radio | By Owen Henderson,
Doug Nadvornick
Published January 26, 2025 at 3:00 PM PST

Spokane's mayor reviews 2024 and talks about homelessness; Washington's new lands commissioner outlines his priorities; why medical debt is unusually high in Native Americans communities.

We check in with Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown and ask her what she considers the city’s successes of 2024. We also asked her thoughts about the changing face of housing.

Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown gives her year-end 2024 address via video distributed by the city.
Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown gives her year-end 2024 address via video distributed by the city.
20250126_Inland Journal_Lisa Brown.mp3
20250126_Inland Journal_Brown_homelessness.mp3

We talk with Washington’s new lands commissioner, Dave Upthegrove, about his priorities as he takes over for Hilary Franz.

New Washington state Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove
Genna Martin
New Washington state Lands Commissioner Dave Upthegrove
20250126_Inland Journal_Upthegrove.mp3

InvestigateWest Indigenous affairs journalist Melanie Henshaw briefs Owen Henderson about her recent reporting regarding disproportionately high levels of debt among Native people in the Northwest.

Courtesy U.S. Department of Transportation
20250126_Inland Journal_Native medical debt.mp3
Inland Journal
Owen Henderson
Owen Henderson is a 2023 graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he studied journalism with minors in Spanish and theater. Before joining the team at SPR, he worked as the Weekend Edition host for Illinois Public Media, as well as reporting on the arts and LGBTQ+ issues. Having grown up in the Midwest, he’s excited to get acquainted with the Inland Northwest and all that it has to offer. When he’s not in the newsroom or behind the mic, you can find Owen out on the trails hiking or in his kitchen baking bread.


See stories by Owen Henderson
Doug Nadvornick
Doug Nadvornick has spent most of his 30+-year radio career at Spokane Public Radio and filled a variety of positions. He is currently the program director and news director. Through the years, he has also been the local Morning Edition and All Things Considered host (not at the same time). He served as the Inland Northwest correspondent for the Northwest News Network, based in Coeur d’Alene. He created the original program grid for KSFC. He has also served for several years as a board member for Public Media Journalists Association. During his years away from SPR, he worked at The Pacific Northwest Inlander, Washington State University in Spokane and KXLY Radio.

See stories by Doug Nadvornick