Spokane County

08/31/2026

Spokane County will be flying a drone carrying a lidar (light detection and ranging) sensor over the Spokane River between Sullivan and Barker Roads. Lidar uses laser light to collect topographical information in high resolution.

Spokane County will be flying a drone carrying a lidar (light detection and ranging) sensor over the Spokane River between Sullivan and Barker Roads. Lidar uses laser light to collect topographical information in high resolution. This works by bouncing the laser off of the surface and timing how long it takes to be received by the sensor. This topographic information of the dry Spokane River bed will help provide more information for understanding the drivers behind the river running dry. One of the potential drivers is that the bed elevations may have changed or there is some elevational difference in the riverbed contributing to the loss of flow.

The Spokane RiverKeeper, Spokane Community College, the Spokane Aquifer Joint Board (SAJB), the Idaho Washington Aquifer Collaborative, and GSI Water Solutions, AVISTA, and others concerned about the Spokane River running dry are coordinating their various efforts to study this reach of the Spokane River. The County is contributing to these various efforts where possible, including this lidar data collection.

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Click on the link to see the where the drone will be flying 👇
fil:///C:/Users/eamurphy/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/HXXMKEYJ/GSI%20Suggested%20Reach%20for%20LiDAR%20Survey%20of%20Spokane%20River%20(Aug%202026).pdf

08/27/2026

Spokane County Planning Commission Public Hearing:
Thursday, August 27th at 4:30 p.m.

📍Planning Commission Workshop in the County Commissioners’ Hearing Room (lower level of Public Works Building at 1026 W. Broadway Ave.)

Background: Spokane County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved imposing a pause on land use and permit applications for Data Centers until December 15, 2026. The pause provides time for the Planning Department to draft a zoning text amendment for review by the Planning Commission. The pause also provides opportunities to gather public input concerning both the pause and the draft zoning amendment.

08/25/2026

Spokane County Commissioners and Planning Commission Announce Dates for Public Hearings on Data Centers

On August 18, 2026, the Spokane County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved imposing a pause on land use and permit applications for Data Centers until December 15, 2026. The pause provides time for the Planning Department to draft a zoning text amendment for review by the Planning Commission. The pause also provides opportunities to gather public input concerning both the pause and the draft zoning amendment.

📅Public Meeting/Hearing Schedule
Thursday, August 27th at 4:30 p.m.
Planning Commission Workshop in the County Commissioners’ Hearing Room (lower level of Public Works Building at 1026 W. Broadway Ave.)

📅Tuesday, September 15th at 2:00 p.m.
County Commissioners’ Public Hearing concerning the pause in Data Center land use and permit applications in the County Commissioners’ Hearing Room.

🖊️Written testimony should be mailed to:
Spokane County Commissioners
1116 W. Broadway Avenue
Spokane, WA 99260

🗣️Those testifying will be allowed three minutes and be limited to addressing the pause in Data Center land use and permit applications.

📅Thursday, September 17th at 9:00 a.m.
Planning Commission work session on Data Center zoning code in the County Commissioners’ Hearing Room.

📅Thursday, October 15th at 4:30 p.m.
Planning Commission Public Hearing on proposed Data Center Zoning Code in the County Commissioners’ Hearing Room.

08/24/2026

This afternoon, Governor Bob Ferguson met with Spokane County Commissioner Chris Jordan, Spokane County Commissioner Al French, Spokane County Emergency Management, the City of Spokane - Municipal Government, and other Elected Officials to discuss updates for the Spokane Complex Fire.

08/24/2026

Spokane County is clarifying that the more than $44 million in federal wildfire recovery funding for the Oregon and Gray road fires is not money sitting in a county bank account—it works more like a line of credit, with eligible costs reimbursed as approved recovery work is completed.

Read more:

"We don't have $44 million of HUD money sitting in a bank account,” one county commissioner says.

08/22/2026

Spokane County has confirmed that $44 million in federal wildfire recovery funding is now moving — but Commissioner Josh Kerns wants residents to know the money is not sitting in a county bank account, and fire survivors are still encouraged to apply for help three years after the 2023 Gray and Oregon Road fires

08/21/2026

Contrary to a misleading story on last night’s evening news – Spokane County is NOT withholding millions of dollars from victims of the Gray and Oregon Road fires!

Spokane County was awarded $44 million by HUD as a Community Development Block Grant in January 2025. However, due to federal grant freezes and process requirements the contract between HUD and Spokane County was not signed until January of this year. The grant contract released ‘reimbursement funding’ for Spokane County up to $44 million.

Here’s how it works: As a contractor builds homes, they send their receipts to Spokane County. The County pays the contractor using County funds. Spokane County then sends the receipts to HUD…and HUD reimburses the County out of the $44 million grant.

One of the requirements of the grant contract is a ‘Request for Qualifications’ (RFQ) from interested contractors and agencies. The RFQs were issued in June 2026. DSW Homes was selected as the contractor and the Spokane Long Term Recovery Group was selected for their Service Navigators in July 2026.

We are moving forward with rebuilding!

More information is available on our website: www.spokanecounty.gov/5816/Disaster-Recovery-Home

08/18/2026

Spokane County Commissioners Approve Resolution on ‘Pausing’ Data Center Applications Until December 15, 2026

Today, at their regularly scheduled Tuesday afternoon meeting, the Spokane County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved imposing a pause on land use and permit applications for Data Centers.

Spokane County Commissioner Mary Brooks said, “The County Commissioners determined a pause on Data Center applications through mid-December would provide time for the County’s Planning Department to draft a zoning text amendment. It also supplies two opportunities to gather public input on a subject that has captured the community’s interest.”

The County Planning Commission will schedule a public hearing on a draft zoning text amendment. The Board of County Commissioners will also schedule a public hearing within 60 days of the Data Center land use application pause. The dates, times and locations of both hearings have yet to be determined, but will be advertised in advance.

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08/18/2026

Thank you to our dedicated SCRAPS officers, the PEC team, and our community for helping animals like Chet find their way home. Chet’s journey is a reminder of how important microchips can be, so if your pet is not chipped or your contact information needs updating, now is a great time to take that step. 🐾

The Power of a Microchip: A Success Story of Chet’s Journey Home

On August 12, SCRAPS received a call from a resident on the 5700 block of W Woodside Ave who had noticed a cat on their property that appeared injured or sick. The caller shared that their home had been destroyed in the recent fires and despite everything they were facing, they were worried for the cats wellbeing.

A SCRAPS Animal Protection Officer was dispatched right away but the cat could not be located. The next day, APO Frazier arrived and set a humane trap on the property with hopes of getting the cat into safety and care.

On August 16, that effort paid off and SCRAPS was able to secure the cat. APO MacArthur transported him to the Pet Emergency Clinic for medical attention. At PEC, APO MacArthur and the clinic staff scanned the cat and found a microchip that allowed APO MacArthur to contact the owner, Courtney. Courtney explained that their home had also been lost in the fires and they feared their beloved cat Chet had been lost as well.

But Chet had survived.

After receiving some much needed TLC at PEC, Chet was brought back to SCRAPS. Today, Courtney arrived at the shelter and was joyfully reunited with Chet and able to take him home. It was a moment full of relief and hope and love. ❤️

A heartfelt thank you to APO Frazier and APO MacArthur for their dedication, compassion, and persistence in getting Chet off the streets, into care, and back into the arms of his family. Their work makes reunions like this possible.

Chet’s story is a powerful reminder of how important it is to microchip your pets and to keep your contact information up to date. Even in the middle of a large scale disaster, that microchip made it possible to reach Chet’s owner almost immediately and reunite them after just one night at SCRAPS.

Thank you to our dedicated officers, the PEC team, and our community for helping animals like Chet find their way home. Chet’s journey is a reminder of how important microchips can be, so if your pet is not chipped or your contact information needs updating, now is a great time to take that step. 🐾

From all of us at SCRAPS, we send a fond farewell to Chet and we are so glad he is back home.

08/17/2026

For the latest updates, resources, and ways to help regarding the Spokane Complex Fires and recovery efforts, follow the Spokane County Emergency Management page or visit our website at www.SpokaneCounty.gov.