A storm system is passing close to the Inland Northwest today, which will create some short-lived changes in our weather. Temperatures on Thursday will climb into the upper 70s and low 80s across the Inland Northwest. After a sunny start, clouds will begin to build during the afternoon as atmospheric conditions become wetter and more unstable.

Showers and thunderstorms will develop during the second half of Thursday, tonight, and early Friday in Southeast Washington and the Central Idaho Panhandle. Chances for showers and storms in this area are 40 to 60 percent, while further north in Spokane and Coeur d'Alene the odds are more like 10 to 20 percent. Thunderstorms could produce bursts of strong gusty winds which could create blowing dust around the Palouse region, even miles away from active storm cells.

Conditions will dry out on Friday and Saturday as a ridge of high pressure builds over the Inland Northwest. High temperatures will remain five to ten degrees above average through Monday, hovering in the upper 70s to low 80s for most valley locations before a cooler system arrives for the middle of next week.

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Driver should expect Delays.

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September Snow Day runs from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. on September 18th and offers free admission and activities for families. The event features a snow machine to create an authentic winter atmosphere, a dedicated snowball fight zone, and live music from DJ Donuts.

Attendees can explore cross-country skiing, skijoring, and adaptive ski equipment on display, with staff available for ski gear sizing.

The evening also includes face painting, snowman crafts, sensory activities, and raffle prizes. A "Guess the First Day of Snow on Mt. Spokane" contest gives participants a chance to win while making predictions about the upcoming winter season.

Food vendors will be on-site, with Yo Dumplings offering dumplings and Kona Ice serving shaved ice. A portion of Kona Ice's proceeds will be donated to Spokane Nordic.

The event celebrates a significant milestone for the organization: 50 years of cross-country skiing on Mount Spokane.

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After reaching the Elite Eight last season, Mt. Spokane returns seven starters and 13 letterwinners. Among them are senior midfielders Avery Davidson and Liz Campos, who have been key pieces of the program since their freshman seasons.

For Campos, another deep postseason run isn’t enough.

“I feel like especially me and Avery since our freshman year, we’ve been watching these girls, like, we almost get to winning that state championship,” Campos said. “We almost get there every single year.”

The Wildcats have won three GSL titles over the last four seasons, but the state championship remains the goal.

Davidson said the expectations are established throughout the program, even after graduating talented senior classes.

“We just all want to win,” Davidson said. “We all have the same goals, and we all want to be good.”

That continuity has helped Mt. Spokane reload year after year. Davidson said younger players have consistently stepped into bigger roles, keeping the program’s standard high.

This season also brings a change on the sideline. Morgan Hartanov, who spent the past four years coaching the boys program, is taking over as head coach of the girls team. Hartanov said he’s inherited a group that already knows what it takes to compete.

“We got a really old squad,” Hartanov said. “I’ve seen exactly what I expected. Girls that want to get out here and they want to work hard.”

For Mt. Spokane, the GSL title remains an important part of the journey — but the ultimate target is clear: a state championship.

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The Giving Grid program uses solar technology to fund school programs for an entire decade. Freeman School District recently installed a 100-kilowatt solar power system at its transportation building that could save the district $15,000 per year for the next 10 years.

The savings go directly back to students through programs that were previously inaccessible to many families.

"We set it up so each individual school district gets to choose what those priority needs are," said Staci Nelson, director of grant services. "So in some cases that might be writing off lunch debts for students who can't pay for lunch. For other students that might be sport or music fees."

Freeman Superintendent Lisa Phelan said the district plans to use the savings to expand opportunities for all students.

"The different programs that we would seek out for them is to provide opportunities for all students to join robotics or our chess club or our extreme science because right now some of those are paid programs and it limits who can access them," Phelan said.

The solar installation was completed at no cost to the district and will remain free for the next 10 years. The project is made possible through partnerships with Zero Emissions Northwest and Partners for Rural Washington, managed by Washington State University Energy.

David Funk, founder of Zero Emissions Northwest, personally oversees the day-to-day operations of the solar projects.

"You're looking at the grounds crew. You're looking at the person who you know monitors the project every day and I run the weed whackers and make sure they're operating," Funk said.

Zero Emissions Northwest has already installed solar panels in the Sprague and Colville school districts and has planned projects with 13 other districts across the state. Colville Superintendent Kevin Knight said the project benefits both the district and its students.

The next solar installation is scheduled for schools in Lamont in two weeks, with more projects planned throughout Washington in the coming months.

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Around 700 children and their families enroll in Head Start in Spokane each year. The income-based program provides families with affordable child care while giving children opportunities to learn, play, and receive medical and dental care—services increasingly difficult to find in the region.

The Trump administration's proposed modifications to the federal Head Start program are expected to be finalized next month. The federal government says the changes will decrease administrative costs, but providers warn the proposal will alter student-to-teacher ratios and restrict eligibility for enrollment.

Taylor Hattenburg, a Head Start parent, credited the program with enabling her to return to work and pursue education. "My kids have been going to head start since they were 8 weeks old," Hattenburg said. "That gave me the ability to go back to work full-time. Now I'm also in school full-time. My kids have been thriving in Head Start."

Parents fear the modifications will result in larger class sizes, particularly affecting children who require additional support. Lisa Blashill, a Head Start parent, emphasized the importance of current staffing levels.

"The class size now allows the teacher to fully connect with each child, to fully be aware of each child and their needs," Blashill said. "When you add more kids in, that teacher has to spread themselves that much further."

Lisa Blashill's daughter, Emmaline, has Williams Syndrome and depends on Head Start's specialized services. "Emmaline would fall farther and farther behind without the early interventions, without the specialized teaching, without the health and nutrition services," Blashill said.

Parents also worry the federal proposal would lower standards for training Head Start teachers. Nicci Gooch, another Head Start parent, raised concerns about hiring practices and safety protocols.

"I think we're also forgetting just the level of care," Gooch said. "At general child care facilities, what procedures go into hiring safe and healthy people to be in those spaces?"

Spokane College runs 11 Head Start programs in the Spokane area and expects the federal proposal would weaken mandates for support services and staff. The Washington Head Start Association reports that the proposal could eliminate approximately 300 jobs at Head Start programs in Eastern Washington.

Bobbi Woodral, district director of Head Start at Spokane College, emphasized the importance of current oversight. "Right now, we screen every child to make sure they're developing as appropriate, make sure they're getting to the doctors, they're getting to the dentist," Woodral said. "Those positions would be cut in these performance standards proposals. That means we wouldn't have the oversight."

Spokane College is encouraging community members to submit public comments on the Head Start and Human Services proposal. The deadline for public comments is October 6th.

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While some voters have concerns about the district's use of its funds, the district said it needs the money to bridge funding gaps and avoid cutting staff and programs.

"Our community has been very supportive and helping support the programs that are in the schools, programs that are in our community," said Kyle Rydell, the district's superintendent. "And so, it's just that 'thank you' to our taxpayers for what they've done previously and, hopefully, what they're going to continue to do."

The first levy covers educational programs and operations. Currently, property owners pay $2.50 per $1,000 of assessed value — the maximum amount allowed under state law. If voters approve the replacement levy, that rate would remain unchanged.

The second levy funds capital projects, including building updates and school safety improvements. This levy also would stay at $1 per $1,000 of assessed value.

Planned capital improvements funded by the levy include security system upgrades at all schools and a library addition at Pasadena Park Elementary.

For a homeowner with a $400,000 house, the two levies combined cost $1,400 annually. If approved, the renewed taxes would take effect in 2028.

Superintendent Kyle Rydell said the district faces mounting financial pressure from declining student enrollment and increased operational costs. Lower enrollment means fewer state dollars flowing to the district.

Ahead of this school year, the district cut some positions through attrition, retirements and layoffs, which Rydell said saved $2.5 million.

"It's hard making reductions throughout any program," Rydell said. "You always really try to look at what are necessary in each of the schools."

However, not all community members support the levies.

Ryan Rose used to work as one of two school safety officers in the district. His job was among those that was cut, but he still coaches football and wrestling at Centennial Middle School.

While he backs the programs the levy would fund, Rose said the district is managing its money poorly and cutting the wrong positions.

"I'm in support of all of the things that the levy is intended to pay for, but when we write an open check to an administration that chooses to spend the money where they see fit, then what do the people do?" Rose said.

The district has maintained one school safety officer and its contract with the Spokane County Sheriff's Office for school resource deputies.

Still, Rose believes the district should find savings elsewhere rather than making cuts to school safety -- and other positions he said are essential to students.

"You do the things that you have to do to make sure the budget fits your needs," Rose said. "And our budget doesn't fit our needs right now, as a school district."

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During the viaduct closure, the city will conduct a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) analysis to determine what steps can be taken to improve the area. The analysis will evaluate environmental design enhancements and seek partnership with BNSF to improve safety conditions of the property it owns and operates. Potential improvements include installing additional lighting and cameras.

Mayor Lisa Brown emphasized the coordinated approach underlying these actions. "This is what a coordinated community safety system looks like. From homelessness to behavioral health to housing, these challenges are intertwined and demand an 'all-of-the-above' approach," Brown said. "These actions bring the right tools together: enforcement when it's necessary, outreach and services when they can help, and investments that address the conditions that allow challenges to persist."

Local business owners in the area are welcoming the changes but say the city needs to do more to address the broader issue. One bar operator located within a block of the viaduct reported making multiple public safety calls per week for incidents involving homeless individuals threatening customers and using facilities to use drugs.

"From our shop we've seen people who are obviously in an altered state of mind, people experiencing overdoses, and people showing aggressive behavior. There has been vandalism, trash, and various bodily fluids waiting for whoever is opening shop that day," the business owner said in a statement. "Closing the viaduct will, I believe, help our business, but will do nothing to address the actual problem and merely move the problem onto other businesses or communities. Our city needs a better way to address both the current reality of homelessness and its prevention."

The city is expanding hours at its navigation center, a specialized facility that serves as a centralized location where people experiencing homelessness can connect with critical services. The navigation center will operate from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

To find out more about the navigation center go to this website.

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Governor Ferguson signed the income tax into law earlier this year, imposing nearly a 10 percent tax on anyone earning more than $1 million annually. However, not everyone was a fan. The group "Let's Go Washington" gathered more than 500,000 signatures to place Initiative 645 on the November ballot.

Now, two campaigns for and against the initiative are in full swing as the election approaches.

The group "Let's Go Washington" is leading the effort to repeal the tax.

"Washington state has always rejected an income tax, and the legislature chose not to give people a voice on this one. And so 645 gives people the opportunity to vote on it and to repeal a dangerous policy for Washington state," said Hallie Herzberg, communications director for "Let's Go Washington".

LGW says they if the tax continues, it could open the door for state legislatures to eventually start an income tax on everyone. Herzberg noted that concerns about the tax are already having an impact on people the organization has talked to.

"People are certainly leaving the state, with just the implication of this tax. It hasn't even started," Herzberg said.

Today, the "NO on 645" campaign stopped in Spokane to spread their message, that the state should proceed with the millionaires tax. The group included members from planned parenthood, nurses, small business owners, childcare providers, and others. Senator Marcus Riccelli, who was also present, says if the tax is eliminated, billions of dollars would not be raised for K-12 schools, childcare, and healthcare.

"I-645 will blow a huge hole in the state budget. We will lose $13 billion over four years. That means all the tax cuts for working and middle-class families and small businesses that I mentioned would go away," Riccelli said.

"Stripping funding away from kids and working people," said Luc Jasmin III, a member of the "No on 645" campaign, describing what would happen if the measure passes.

If Initiative 645 fails, the millionaires tax will take effect in 2029. The Spokane County Elections Office is currently preparing for the midterm election, with ballots scheduled to arrive in voters' mailboxes in about a month.

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The 2026 Wildfire Emergency Loan Program targets businesses, nonprofits, agricultural operations, and other qualifying organizations licensed in Washington State that have experienced documented wildfire-related impacts.

"Wildfires can create immediate financial challenges for businesses and organizations, from lost revenue and damaged equipment to unexpected operating expenses," said Frank Metlow, Executive Director of TEDD. "This program is intended to provide accessible financing to help our local businesses navigate those challenges and keep moving forward."

Loans range from $2,500 to $25,000 at a fixed interest rate of 5.00%, with repayment terms of up to 60 months. There is no application fee. TEDD will review most complete applications within five business days. For eligibility requirements, loan terms, and application information, visit TriCountyEDD.com/wildfire-loan-program.

The service area includes Adams, Asotin, Benton, Chelan, Douglas, Ferry, Franklin, Garfield, Grant, Lincoln, Okanogan, Pend Oreille, Stevens, Whitman, and rural Spokane counties.

Applicants with questions can contact Shelly Stevens at 509-684-4571 or sstevens@teddonline.com.

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