In The News

KREM 2: New bill looks to lease state property near I-90 and North Spokane Corridor back to East Central community

KREM 2: New bill looks to lease state property near I-90 and North Spokane Corridor back to East Central community

The East Central Neighborhood in Spokane could see more changes along the I-90 corridor. The Washington State legislature passed Senate Bill 5853, which would allow the Washington Dept. of Transportation to lease state property near Interstate 90 and the north Spokane corridor back to the community. Thomas Speight's house used to be located near East 3rd Avenue and South Myrtle Street. "They were ...

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Spokesman-Review: Bill to allow state to lease land along I-90 to Spokane passes Legislature

Spokesman-Review: Bill to allow state to lease land along I-90 to Spokane passes Legislature

A proposal allowing the Department of Transportation to lease state property near Interstate 90 and the North Spokane Corridor back to the community won final approval from the Legislature Wednesday. The proposal, sponsored by Spokane Democrat Sen. Andy Billig, would allow the Department of Transportation to lease surplus land to the Department of Commerce or a community-based nonprofit organization, which can ...

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Spokesman-Review: Proposals to ‘undo the historical damage’ in East Central by reconnecting neighborhood move through Legislature

Spokesman-Review: Proposals to ‘undo the historical damage’ in East Central by reconnecting neighborhood move through Legislature

When construction began on Interstate 90 in the late 1950s, hundreds of homes were demolished to make way for the highway. The East Central neighborhood, home mostly to immigrant and Black residents, was split in half. And as the North Spokane Corridor makes its way through the city, a number of other homes and businesses have been removed. Now, years later, much ...

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Spokesman-Review: Bill backed by Billig to entice manufacturing jobs

Spokesman-Review: Bill backed by Billig to entice manufacturing jobs

A state Senate bill designed to provide incentives to create manufacturing jobs is receiving some support in Spokane, though it might reduce revenue for some public entities that were created to promote such job creation. Senate Bill 5901 would create a sale-and-use tax deferral of up to $400,000 for new buildings, machinery, and equipment used for manufacturing, research and development, commercial ...

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AP: Washington lawmakers kick off mostly remote session

AP: Washington lawmakers kick off mostly remote session

Lawmakers in Washington state have started a new legislative session amid the backdrop of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, and much of their work will be done remotely as leaders try to limit the possibility of exposure.

Since Friday, four Democratic senators — Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig and Sens. John Lovick, Mark Mullet ...

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Spokesman Review: Spokane-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Jubilant-HollisterStier breaks ground on ‘huge’ expansion

Spokesman Review: Spokane-based pharmaceutical manufacturer Jubilant-HollisterStier breaks ground on ‘huge’ expansion

Construction began Wednesday on pharmaceutical manufacturer Jubilant HollisterStier’s $92 million expansion in Spokane that’s expected to create at least 200 new jobs. Jubilant HollisterStier makes pharmaceuticals used in the global fight against COVID-19, including vaccines and therapeutics. The company, a subsidiary of Jubilant Pharmma Limited, is the only such drug manufacturer in the state of Washington . The company has said the ...

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NCSL: Senator and Baseball Owner Calls Plays at Statehouse and Ballpark

NCSL: Senator and Baseball Owner Calls Plays at Statehouse and Ballpark

Colleagues of Washington Senate Majority Leader Andy Billig will forgive him if he uses baseball metaphors in his speeches. Billig (D) is also a part owner of the Spokane Indians, a minor league baseball affiliate of the Colorado Rockies. In fact, his staff sometimes uses baseball phrases to communicate with him. “I had a senior staff member who was ...

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GSI Connect Magazine: The Legislature evolved with a new reality

GSI Connect Magazine: The Legislature evolved with a new reality

The date was March 13, 2020, and Senator Andy Billig was driving home from Olympia when he got a call saying all Washington schools were going to shut down because of COVID. It was the end of the legislative session – a time Billig said he usually looks forward to because he gets a chance to reflect on the hectic session, ...

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Spokesman Review: Sen. Billig, Rep. Ormsby, and Rep. Riccelli: Focus on key priorities made historic 2021 session a success

Spokesman Review: Sen. Billig, Rep. Ormsby, and Rep. Riccelli: Focus on key priorities made historic 2021 session a success

By Sen. Andy Billig, Rep. Timm Ormsby and Rep. Marcus Riccelli When a crisis bears down, you can panic, ignore it and hope for the best, or confront it head-on. We chose to confront the COVID-19 pandemic with every available legislative tool to protect and help workers, families, and small businesses that were hit hardest. That’s the story of the 2021 legislative session, ...

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The Spokesman-Review: Spin Control: Native American mascot bill points to something Spokane did well

The Spokesman-Review: Spin Control: Native American mascot bill points to something Spokane did well

Although I’ve never been a big believer in the Cascade Curtain, more than a decade in Olympia has taught me that there is a certain West Side bias that results in somewhat rare recognition, let alone praise, for things Eastern Washington does right. So it was a pleasant surprise last week, when debate over a bill to restrict the use of ...

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