Featured Stories Archive
Unabashed
March 11, 2010
When Anna Franks and Planned Parenthood found themselves in a pitched battle over a new clinic in Pasco, they drew upon a quiet, inner resolve, and an assist from Jeffry Finer and the Center for Justice.
Read UnabashedBob Rosen’s Second Wind
March 9, 2010
It didn’t take very long to see that a senior social worker and the Center for Justice were a perfect fit for each other. Story by Tim Connor
Read Bob Rosen’s Second WindOrchard Prairie’s Day in Court
March 4, 2010
Federal judge hears arguments in the Bigelow Gulch Road expansion controversy.
Read Orchard Prairie’s Day in CourtJustice Calling highlights Community Advocacy
February 17, 2010
Our February e-newsletter marks the Fifth Anniversary of a dynamic project that doesn’t get a lot of headlines.
Read Justice Calling highlights Community AdvocacyRelentless
February 3, 2010
Center for Justice joins citizen coalition in advancing new police accountability ordinance for Spokane.
Read RelentlessHunger Pangs
January 27, 2010
In search of Michael Pollan, a fresh tomato, and a good argument about food. By Jamie Borgan.
Read Hunger PangsZehm Case Clears a Hurdle
January 26, 2010
Federal Judge will allow most state claims to proceed in Zehm civil case.
Read Zehm Case Clears a HurdleLet Freedom Sing
January 23, 2010
Center for Justice weighs in (again) for street musicians being harassed on downtown sidewalks.
Read Let Freedom SingBlackwell Island, Detox
January 19, 2010
Revised plan would remove highly contaminated sediments from flood prone area where Lake Coeur d’Alene empties to the Spokane River.
Read Blackwell Island, DetoxHeartbreak in Haiti
January 16, 2010
Buck Close’s account of a grim journey through Port au Prince and what you can do to help.
Read Heartbreak in HaitiRace & Consequences
January 6, 2010
Federal appeals court panel sends sparks flying with dramatic ruling on racial discrimination, justice, and voting rights in Washington state.
Read Race & ConsequencesAmber Arrives
December 29, 2009
With touches of humor and history, Community Building alumnus Amber Waldref becomes the youngest woman to join the Spokane City Council. (VIDEO FEATURE).
Read Amber ArrivesNever Mind
December 18, 2009
Mobius Spokane suddenly abandons pursuit of Riverfront Park location for new science center.
Read Never MindTaking on Toxics
December 1, 2009
Spokane Riverkeeper Rick Eichstaedt serves notice on City of Spokane over illegal PCB discharges to Spokane River.
Read Taking on ToxicsA Community Building Thanksgiving
November 26, 2009
(VIDEO FEATURE) Volunteers pitch in to serve 175 of Spokane’s neediest.
Read A Community Building ThanksgivingReversal of Fortune
November 19, 2009
Amid charges of back-door deals and Cowles family influence, the Mobius Science Center project hits a snag at the Spokane Park Board.
Read Reversal of FortuneGreen Morning
November 18, 2009
At a Breakfast for the Environment, the Center lauds the “heroic” work of Bart & Lindell Haggin, and lays out the path ahead for the Spokane River and other regional environmental challenges.
Read Green MorningBlast from the Past
November 11, 2009
This week marks the Centennial of the IWW’s electrifying free speech campaign in Spokane. How today’s activists brought the historic conflict back to life.
Read Blast from the PastBiting Taxpayers
November 4, 2009
County spends $4,500 to settle case where police dog attacked security guard.
Read Biting TaxpayersJustice Calling, Issue 6
October 26, 2009
Test drive the Center’s popular electronic newsletter.
Read Justice Calling, Issue 6Hail Mary
October 20, 2009
After another surreal and tension-filled hearing on police oversight, the Spokane City Council throws a long and clearly unwelcome pass toward the Mayor.
Read Hail MaryLiving Through It
October 17, 2009
Attorney James V. Cook on how to survive an arrest when you haven’t done anything wrong.
Read Living Through ItYou and a Thirsty River
October 16, 2009
In a three part video tutorial, Riverkeeper Rick Eichstaedt talks about the need to reverse the decades-long trend of low water flows in the Spokane River, and what all of us can do to help.
Read You and a Thirsty RiverToxic Algae Update
October 13, 2009
As health districts downplay risks, Avista moves swiftly to try to address concerns at Long Lake.
Read Toxic Algae UpdateMyth-Busted
October 12, 2009
In a pivotal ruling with clear implications for Spokane, the state’s Public Employment Relations Commission clarifies the limited reach of labor agreements when it comes to independent oversight of police misconduct.
Read Myth-BustedOfficer Thompson’s New Beat
October 7, 2009
In a CFJ exclusive by investigative reporter Bill Morlin we learn that indicted Spokane police officer Karl Thompson has been assigned to train other officers on “high risk” incidents, and that Police Chief Anne Kirkpatrick is actively seeking a new job. UPDATED 10/08/09 With a response from Chief Kirkpatrick.
Read Officer Thompson’s New BeatLong Lake’s Toxic Algae
October 5, 2009
In this video feature, Scott Chaney talks about his troubling discovery, and what he’s trying to get done to protect people and animals.
Read Long Lake’s Toxic Algae“Pound Sand”
September 24, 2009
City blasts back at Justice Department and Center for Justice in response to government’s charges of obstruction and manipulation.
Read “Pound Sand”“Blunt Force Trauma”
September 23, 2009
Government identifies expert witnesses expected to provide testimony in the criminal trial that head injuries sustained by Otto Zehm were from baton blows.
Read “Blunt Force Trauma”Tangling with Treppiedi
September 16, 2009
In a bombshell of a motion, the Justice Department discloses an ongoing criminal investigation into obstruction of justice in the Zehm case, and requests a stay in the civil case to protect its investigation from the city’s defense tactics.
Read Tangling with TreppiediThe Un-Smearing of Van Jones
September 12, 2009
Jim Sheehan’s friend resigned as Obama’s Green Jobs Czar after he became the target of a Glenn Beck-fueled campaign of character assassination. That won’t be the end of the story. UPDATED 9-16-09
Read The Un-Smearing of Van JonesGwen Melcher’s Moments of Truth
September 5, 2009
Last November a hallway at the Valley Montessori School became the scene for a harrowing confrontation with a notorious white supremacist. As frightening as that was, things only got worse when Washington’s Department of Early Learning got involved.
Read Gwen Melcher’s Moments of TruthSpokane: A Political History
August 23, 2009
Bill Stimson’s ten-part look at the history of Spokane power and politics, “Insiders & Naysayers,” is now available with a new introduction in our Kitchen Table section.
Read Spokane: A Political HistoryRoom to Speak
August 13, 2009
At the Center’s urging, the City of Spokane Valley decides not to follow Spokane’s lead on a “panhandling” ordinance.
Read Room to Speak“Vindication.”
August 11, 2009
Appeals Court rules for Neighborhood Alliance in Harris Records Case.
Read “Vindication.”Stop Mucking Around
July 31, 2009
Lawyers’ discovery of mudflow into Fernan Lake leads Idaho conservation groups to file Clean Water Act violation notice on Federal Highway Administration (FHWA).
Read Stop Mucking AroundOutside Looking Back
July 4, 2009
Karen Dorn Steele arrived in Spokane in despair. And then she became one of America’s most versatile and accomplished journalists. In her first interview since leaving the Spokesman-Review, she reflects on the challenges she faced, and the hard choices she made.
Read Outside Looking BackIn the Cause of Trent Yohe
July 1, 2009
Center sues Spokane County and three deputies over a death in the Valley.
Read In the Cause of Trent YoheThe Mayor Wades In
June 30, 2009
Mary Verner walked into a tension-packed Spokane City Council meeting on June 29th to fight for her police ombudsman pick.
Read The Mayor Wades InThe Tipping Point?
June 25, 2009
In a CFJ video journal, the Center’s Breean Beggs offers a frank assessment of how the recent federal indictment in the Otto Zehm case is affecting public attitudes toward city leaders and Spokane police.
Read The Tipping Point?The Indictment
June 22, 2009
Spokane Police Officer Karl F. Thompson, Jr., is indicted on two federal felony counts in the Otto Zehm case.
Read The IndictmentA Fine and Pleasant Soaking
June 14, 2009
Thanks to Peter Grubb and ROW Adventures, the Center’s new Spokane Riverkeeper program gets a ceremonial launch through the white water of the Bowl & Pitcher and the Devil’s Toenail–See the Video.
Read A Fine and Pleasant SoakingThe Shooter and the White Hat
June 13, 2009
The Washington Supreme Court’s decision to deny DNA testing in the case of Alex Riofta is bad news for Riofta. But it may help other Washington convicts seeking to prove their innocence.
Read The Shooter and the White HatSeizing the Moment (and the Podium)
May 29, 2009
In a move intended to show the depth of public commitment to police oversight, Spokane citizen groups take to City Hall to demand an independent Ombudsman’s office.
Read Seizing the Moment (and the Podium)Shining a Light on Community Advocacy
May 9, 2009
The Center’s innovative program to help Spokane’s neediest gets a morning to show where it’s been, and explain where it’s going.
Read Shining a Light on Community AdvocacyA Man for All Reasons
May 6, 2009
Mike Chappell finds himself in the right place at the right time to help Gonzaga convene a new environmental law clinic devoted to the Spokane River and other regional waterways.
Read A Man for All ReasonsResurrection With a Cause
April 22, 2009
Jennifer Thompson-Cannino and Ronald Cotton lived through a tragedy of injustice that drenched their lives in violence and hate. What emerged were stunning personal transformations and a powerful new partnership to try to protect the innocent.
Read Resurrection With a CauseEyes on the Water
April 19, 2009
Center for Justice wins approval to head up Spokane Riverkeeper project.
Read Eyes on the WaterEnding the ‘Culture of Denial’
April 7, 2009
In an appearance before area Democrats, Breean Beggs makes a non-partisan appeal for public accountability and major reforms in Spokane law enforcement.
Read Ending the ‘Culture of Denial’Notes for the Medicine Wheels
March 25, 2009
In a circle knotted with fear and confusion, Spokane’s Native American community tries to absorb the shock of a jury’s verdict, and to find ways to heal the wound with the Spokane Police Department.
Read Notes for the Medicine WheelsSingularly Suellen
March 3, 2009
A decade ago, Suellen Pritchard came to the Center for Justice looking for help in turning her life around. But that’s only where the story, and her remarkable contributions to the Center’s work, begins.
Read Singularly SuellenEvery Breath He Takes
March 2, 2009
Ten Years Ago, Tim Krautkraemer was a sick kid who just wanted to play football. Today he’s a thriving witness to his family’s courage and to a CFJ lawsuit that continues to protect the health of thousands of people.
Read Every Breath He TakesKind of Like Beauty
February 26, 2009
In a freestyle interview, Center for Justice founder Jim Sheehan explains the essence of justice, and the Center’s first ten years.
Read Kind of Like BeautySafe at Home
February 24, 2009
To protect Nancy Sonduck’s rock of security, Shannon Bedard and the CFJ Community Advocacy team had to dig back through time, and outfox the wolf at her door.
Read Safe at HomeSame Old Smell?
February 23, 2009
The Center’s Rick Eichstaedt testifies against a hastily introduced bill to relax cleanup timelines for the Spokane River and other state waters.
Read Same Old Smell?Larry’s Latest
February 10, 2009
Former Camas Magazine editor Larry Shook has published “Deathtrap,” a must-read answer to the question of what-ever-happened to the River Park Square criminal investigation, and the inquiry into Jo Savage’s tragic death.
Read Larry’s LatestAn Unforgettable Day for Holly Cork
February 5, 2009
In a strongly worded ruling, the state Supreme Court says Washington should never have removed Spokane woman’s son from her custody.
Read An Unforgettable Day for Holly CorkToxics at the Track
February 1, 2009
Spokane County is notified that its newly purchased raceway will be added to Washington’s “Hazardous Sites List” after dangerous solvent is discovered in one of the site’s two main water supply wells.
Read Toxics at the TrackTorrents of Talk
January 24, 2009
Against an undercurrent of conflict, an overflowing Spokane River Forum Conference brings new hopes and ideas for addressing regional water problems.
Read Torrents of TalkMr. Sunshine
January 22, 2009
On his first full day as President, Barack Obama sent memos to federal managers announcing his commitment to “an unprecedented level of openness in Government” and calling upon agencies to be proactive in the release of government information and records.
Read Mr. SunshineCracking down on “Silent Withholding”
Washington Supreme Court says statute of limitations can’t trump an agency’s failure to adequately identify records it seeks to shield from public disclosure.
Read Cracking down on “Silent Withholding”The Rising
January 19, 2009
Almost live, from D.C., the frozen toes and joy of the inaugural festivities. Photos and video links included.
Read The RisingGetting to “No.”
January 14, 2009
Commissioner Bonnie Mager forced Spokane County to finally deal with some harsh realities about its wastewater treatment plan. But it wasn’t enough to get her vote for the CH2M Hill contract.
Read Getting to “No.”Twitching with Alan McCoy
January 5, 2009
A cold, hard look at the Audubon Society’s Christmas bird count in west Spokane.
Read Twitching with Alan McCoyCity Courts for City Problems
December 11, 2008
The Center’s Chief Catalyst, Breean Beggs, finds promise in the City’s move to establish a new Municipal Court.
Read City Courts for City ProblemsFasten Your Life Jackets
December 8, 2008
At a critical juncture in the battles over the Spokane River, the Center’s lead water attorney, Rick Eichstaedt speaks candidly about how we got here, and what lies ahead.
Read Fasten Your Life JacketsStuck in the Membrane with CH2M Hill
How Spokane County gave itself over to an omnipresent contractor and an expensive sewage treatment plan that’s getting us nowhere.
Read Stuck in the Membrane with CH2M HillA Sweeter Tune
November 25, 2008
Responding to CFJ and public feedback, Spokane City Council makes several changes to ordinances regulating panhandling and street musicians.
Read A Sweeter TuneA Big Win for Windmills
November 20, 2008
State Supreme Court upholds its authority and state powers in Kittitas County battle over the siting of wind turbines.
Read A Big Win for WindmillsShattered
November 19, 2008
When he looked into the eyes of a Spokane police officer on August 5th, Bob Chambers knew he had only a few weeks left to live. He was trying to find an answer to the question that had tormented him, every day, for the last three and a half years of his life.
Read ShatteredThe Wail of the Whales
November 16, 2008
U.S. Supreme Court’s decision in Navy sonar case is ear-shattering news for marine mammals. It also leaves an ominous crack in one of the nation’s best environmental tools.
Read The Wail of the WhalesThe River and Ron Hall
October 14, 2008
The Spokane River and the people who love it have a talented new friend who’s given us a new way to look at things.
Read The River and Ron HallSlow Dancing With a Nightmare
October 7, 2008
Karmen Hassinger was forging a good life for herself and her children. Then the State of Washington entered her world like a flaming spear. If it could happen to her, she says, it could happen to you.
Read Slow Dancing With a NightmarePolice Rules
October 6, 2008
Despite Misgivings, Spokane Council Unanimously Adopts Police Ombudsman Ordinance.
Read Police RulesEPA Takes the Bullet
September 26, 2008
In a remarkable public meeting, agency apologizes and takes brunt of criticism for reversing course on how it will regulate Spokane River pollution.
Read EPA Takes the BulletThe End Run Highway
September 25, 2008
Center to seek federal court injunction on behalf of Bigelow Gulch neighbors to force environmental review of a controversial road expansion that looks a lot like the de facto North-South freeway.
Read The End Run HighwayWithout A Leg To Stand On
September 8, 2008
Grant County and City of Moses Lake agree to $25,000 compensation and jail reforms in case involving seizure of prisoner’s prosthesis.
Read Without A Leg To Stand OnRiver Reversal
September 4, 2008
In a major victory for the Center for Justice and Sierra Club, the Environmental Protection Agency changes course on how it will regulate pollution in the Spokane River.
Read River ReversalBecoming Carol Weltz
August 21, 2008
Jim Sheehan founded the Center for Justice nine years ago. Today the woman who embodies its heart and soul is a forty-five year-old grandmother, who loves her motorcycle.
Read Becoming Carol WeltzQuestions About Tasers
July 27, 2008
A year ago, 28-year-old Josh Levy jumped off the Monroe Street bridge after a police effort to end a long standoff by using a Taser failed. On the anniversary of this tragedy, Center for Justice Chief Catalyst Breean Beggs describes how Tasers work and delves into the serious questions that are being raised as the supposedly non-lethal devices gain wider use.
Read Questions About TasersSame Dam Problems
July 7, 2008
Center will represent Sierra Club and CELP in appeal of Ecology’s Avista-friendly remedy for the Spokane River.
Read Same Dam ProblemsPieces of Sunshine
June 20, 2008
River Park Square souvenirs for Washington’s “Blue Ribbon Committee” on public records exemptions.
Read Pieces of SunshineMrs. Rodgers’s Neighborhood
June 9, 2008
Thirty months ago, Cherie Rodgers left Spokane City Hall as one of the most popular and longest-serving council members the city’s ever known. On June 9th she was back to talk about one of her enduring causes–open government.
Read Mrs. Rodgers’s NeighborhoodMoot Court
May 30, 2008
Court of Appeals victory for Center’s clients in two high-profile Spokane land use cases also shows how, under Washington “loophole,” developers can win even when bad decisions get reversed.
Read Moot CourtCrossing the Line Draws a Crowd
May 17, 2008
Mayor Mary Verner joined an audience that packed the CenterStage hall for a Whitworth student presentation examining issues of police violence.
Read Crossing the Line Draws a CrowdMagic Pollution, Part 1
May 12, 2008
How the Environmental Protection Agency Used a Paper Trick to Clean Up the Spokane River
Read Magic Pollution, Part 1Remembering Otto Zehm
March 20, 2008
Two years ago Otto Zehm went into a north side convenience store for a bottle of pop and a Snickers bar. In the aftermath of his tragic death, it became utterly clear that Spokane had a lot of work to do to rebuild confidence in its police. It’s time to finish the job.
Read Remembering Otto ZehmThe Whistleblower
December 20, 2007
What scientist Drea Traeumer’s story says about the fate of the Spokane River, and the state of the State of Washington.
Read The Whistleblower