From Spokane Public Radio, it’s SPR News Today.
- We’re taking a look at Washington’s 7th Legislative District Senate candidates.
- Voters in Idaho will see Prop 1 on the ballot. How it would expand access to abortion in the state…
- The Spokane County commissioners approve a new fentanyl ordinance.
- And SPR’s Audrey Nelson talks with Danny Brigman, the creator of an app that teaches people which Indigenous lands they’re walking and running on.
Those stories and more, coming up on SPR News Today.
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All non-emergency calls for assistance within the city of Spokane should now go to 311, rather than the old Crime Check number.
311 is also the number to call for other city services, such as utility billing information, Parks and Recreation programs or other programs.
Remember, in an emergency, call 911 for immediate assistance.
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The Spokane County commissioners have voted to increase the penalties for people convicted of recklessly exposing people to fentanyl.
Prosecutor Preston McCollam pushed for the new ordinance. It allows judges to impose a sentence of up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine. McCollam says it’s a weak punishment for someone who exposes children and other vulnerable people to such a devastating drug.
Commissioner Josh Kerns agreed. He says legislators in Olympia have refused, for years, to act on legislation that would impose stricter penalties.
JOSH KERNS: “I would like to call on the state legislature to make this a felony, add it to the RCW that already addresses these same things, but in regards to methamphetamines, add fentanyl to that list. I think that is something that should not be a heavy lift for our legislators.”
The commissioners voted unanimously to approve the new ordinance. McCollam says it applies to crimes committed in unincorporated areas of the county. He says state law allows cities to adopt tougher penalties.
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Spokane County’s commissioners say cryptocurrency kiosks must go. The board voted unanimously Tuesday to give the owners of the virtual machines 60 days to move them out of unincorporated areas of the county.
Prosecutor Preston McCollam says the goal is to protect vulnerable populations, especially seniors, from being swindled by people with crypto schemes. He says it gives people who are pressured to put money into crypto machines more time to think about what they’re doing.
McCollam says the new ordinance mirrors bans approved by the cities of Spokane, Spokane Valley and Airway Heights. He says it does not forbid the sale and trading of crypto currencies.
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Washington Governor Bob Ferguson signed an executive order Tuesday that created the state’s first Chief Fraud Prevention Officer. The order also created a statewide fraud prevention workgroup.
The Chief Fraud Prevention Officer will work with state agencies and departments to improve program integrity and protect federal funding. They will work alongside the state auditor, who investigates fraud allegations and whistleblower reports.
The fraud prevention workgroup is tasked with creating a statewide framework to establish a coordinated approach to fraud prevention in Washington. Its deadline is June 30, 2027.
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Residents of Washington’s 7th Legislative District will face a choice on next week’s ballot — between incumbent state senator Shelly Short and challenger Ron McCoy.
Short, a Republican, has served in the legislature since 2008. McCoy is a Navy veteran and a former Chewelah city council member running as an independent.
They agree the 7th District faces a housing crisis. But they differ on their plans to solve it.
Short supports scaling back some building code regulations. She’s also in favor of expanding land use availability at the local level.
SHELLY SHORT: "I think the Growth Management Act has had a huge role in exacerbating that cost and the cost of land, period. It was designed to have counties do thoughtful planning for future growth and development. I don't disagree with that. The problem is it's really turned into a regulatory document and one that groups continue to use against local county government."
McCoy wants to increase housing supply by repurposing vacated buildings and building smaller homes.
RON MCCOY: "I mean, how many people do you know that are looking for a six-bedroom home? The family sizes have shrunk, the budgets aren’t there, our home incomes aren’t there, so where do you do it? You can still get tiny homes, brand-new build. There’s one over in Ione, or Cusick, I believe. I just think we need to start thinking more responsible."
The candidates also disagree on the biggest issue that the 7th District faces. Short says it’s wildfires. McCoy believes it’s struggling small businesses.
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This November, Idahoans will vote on a ballot initiative that would expand access to abortion. NWPB's Rachel Sun reports.
If enacted, Idaho’s Proposition 1 would repeal the state’s current law, which makes performing abortions a felony in almost all cases.
In contrast, Proposition 1 would create a right to abortion until the point of fetal viability, as determined by a physician. According to the Idaho Medical Association, that’s usually around 20 to 24 weeks.
Prop 1 also allows for abortion in the case of medical emergencies as determined by physicians on a case-by-case basis.
The proposition would further codify existing reproductive freedoms including the right to contraception, childbirth care, fertility treatment, and care before, during and after pregnancy or miscarriage. It also includes the right to privacy in those healthcare decisions.
I’m Rachel Sun, reporting.
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Residents from Bayview turned out in spades for Tuesday's Kootenai County Board of Commissioners meeting. Many that showed up are opposing the possibility of the Bayview boat ramp on Lake Pend Oreille being owned by a private entity.
Kootenai County Commissioners say they’ve renewed leases with Lakes Highway District to keep it open and maintain it. But, the board says it’s not ADA compliant or being properly maintained.
Here’s County Commissioner Leslie Duncan.
LESLIE DUNCAN: “This is the highest non-compliance boat launch that the county operates.”
In a letter and petition to commissioners, the Bayview Community Council says it wants Kootenai County to continue management of the boat launch and docks. The council is also worried about the public losing access to the ramp.
The county says it’s currently publicly accessible, with no fees being charged. No formal decision has been made on the future of it.
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A new app called Homelands Fitness lets people in the Northwest see what traditional Indigenous lands they’re walking and running on. Homelands’ creator is a Spokane tribal member — and as SPR’s Audrey Nelson reports, he has big dreams for his app.
The story of Homelands Fitness is wrapped up with the story of Danny Brigman.
DANNY BRIGMAN: “It's pretty customary for us to introduce ourselves based off our family relations. So I'm the son of Ron and Terry Brigman. I'm the grandson of Bill Brigman and Alvina Wood. On my mom's side, it's Gene and Marlene Kennedy.”
Brigman is a Spokane tribal member. He grew up in Wellpinit, on the Spokane Indian Reservation.
He says his community is tight knit — full of people who take care of family and make sacrifices for friends. He went to WSU for college. But he always knew he’d return to the reservation.
DB: “This community filled up my cup so much, it was overflowing. And so instead of just letting all of that water just hit the floor, I want to fill up everyone else's cup as well.”
In 2021, horrific news hit Brigman’s community. In Kamloops, British Columbia, the remains of 215 Indigenous children were discovered on the grounds of a former boarding school.
DB: “Most tribes, we were already aware of it, but to kind of finally have it verified…that one specifically hit close for me. I have family in Kamloops. I have family that went to that specific residential school.”
At the time, Brigman was getting into long distance running. He decided to use it as a way to reach people unfamiliar with Indigenous history and affairs.
DB: “Now — you’re already outdoors, moving, appreciating the outdoors — now let’s teach you more about it and teach you about the tribes that are still here, still around.”
He organized a 215-mile relay to honor the Kamloops children.
DB: “The last mile, some of the Colville Tribal Council came with us, and we all walked the last mile together. It was really powerful. And so that event kind of set me on another path, of, ‘I want to do something. I want to do something.’”
Brigman went on to organize more running challenges, asking runners to log their miles, then learn about the Indigenous lands they’d run on.
But moving between different trackers and websites was a pain. So Brigman started wondering: What if he put it all in one place?
He reached out to Native Land Digital, a global database that maps Indigenous territories. From there, he found an app developer. Then, with a runner’s typical stubborn mindset, he set about making the Homelands Fitness app happen.
DB: “The goal in front of you, and the next goal, and the next goal, and the bite sized chunks, and framing the hard work, and putting in the work day after day for the payoff.”
This fall, after years of financial roadblocks, Brigman finally launched Homelands. On a recent visit to the Wellpinit Powwow Grounds, he took out his phone and pulled up the app.
DB: “Then down below it shows my activity by day, how active I’ve been. Clearly I honestly haven’t been that active on my own app. And then down below, it shows me whose Native lands I've been on. Just kind of a nice summary.”
Brigman is the first to admit that Homelands has a long way to go.
His dream is to get tribes involved in a Wikipedia-style platform, where tribal members can submit oral histories and share important cultural knowledge on the app. That living, breathing exchange is what he hopes will make Homelands more than just a fitness tracker.
DB: “A lot of the time when here in the U.S. the general public learns about Native Americans, it's in the past tense. And I hope Homelands can be a vehicle towards helping change that just the tiniest bit, and start seeing us in the present tense.”
For now, like any other race he’s run, Brigman’s taking Homelands one step at a time.
I’m Audrey Nelson, reporting.
Just a note — we first heard about Danny Brigman and his app through our media partner, FāVS News.
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SPR News Today is a production of Spokane Public Radio.
Reporting today was contributed by Doug Nadvornick, Audrey Nelson, NWPB's Rachel Sun, and me, Ember Braun - today’s host and producer.
Web support is provided by Anna Gyure Havlek.
Thanks for listening. This is SPR.
