J
ust days before what was expected to be an announcement that Spokane County would be rolled back to Phase 2 restrictions due to a recent spike in coronavirus cases instead, the county is staying in Phase 3 for at least the next two weeks local restaurant owners were feeling, yet again, thrown into a state of limbo. News of the potential rollback came as many were beginning to ramp up staffing to meet an increase in demand for in-person dining, while also dealing with an unprecedented dearth of applicants. Several owners reflected, in their own words, on the trials and triumphs of the past 13 months, ranging from permanent changes the pandemic has brought to what s keeping them going. Their responses were edited for length and clarity.
Young Kwak photo One thousand three hundred miles from the U.S.-Mexico border, the Greyhound Bus Station in Spokane allowed U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents to indiscriminately target undocumented immigrants. I
have been accused of being a radical leftist professor. A self-centered academic, perched on an ivory tower, looking down on those who don t hang on my every word. As a critical race education scholar, my teaching is centered on transformational dialogue. This method of teaching and learning invites my students to a deeper understanding of meaning because it gives us many different perspectives of the world we share. It intentionally centers the voices of those historically marginalized, including queer women of color, Indigenous people, Latinx, African Americans, and the working poor to name several. Co
Latah Creek Winery s Natalie Barnes is anxious to talk wine again.
No sector of the hospitality industry was left untouched by COVID-19. Wineries across the Inland Northwest faced a range of issues related to the pandemic, from figuring out how to sample and sell wine when tasting rooms were ordered closed to navigating special rules on outdoor seating and requirements that all alcohol-serving establishments offer food. Since passing the pandemic s one-year anniversary, however, the future s looking brighter and wineries are eager to make a comeback. For the 17 members of the Spokane Winery Association, that road to recovery is symbolized by the return of the annual Spring Release Weekend, happening May 7-9.
WSU AD Pat Chun has received a contract extension through 2026 that will eventually increase his base salary to $700,000 with annual increases beginning next year.
Young Kwak photo Pet Emergency Clinic was in talks to merge with a massive veterinary company when two former vets sued, alleging unfair business practices. W
hen Liz Rall s beloved 13-year-old dog, Maya, had an extremely bloated stomach and started throwing up foam in March, her veterinarian recommended taking the Labrador mix to Spokane s Pet Emergency Clinic. Not only is PEC the only 24-hour emergency veterinarian hospital in town, it is one of the only places to get serious surgeries done. Often, they re the only place admitting last-minute patients. Dogs can get an extremely serious and deadly condition known as bloat, where the stomach actually flips around inside the body, and with blood flow cut off, the animal can die suddenly if not treated.