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News Broadcast 6 AM, Stories by Megan Burton

The Arc of Spokane is hoping to give family members and caregivers a break with the opening of a new respite home. The north Spokane home opened on May 11th and will provide a place to stay for individuals who qualify through the Developmental Disabilities Administration. According to the Inlander the home will provide on site staff and a care plan designed to meet their needs, giving a much needed break for those who normally care for them. Lynnette Richardson the supported living administrator for The Arc, explains that the parameters include family members, a guardian or any unpaid caregiver in a home setting. There are about 6,000 people in Spokane living with developmental disability, with family members who may be taking care of them and not know that there are options like this available. This respite home is one of only a few in the whole state and the second to be opened east of the cascades. More information on overnight respite care in Washington can be found at informingfamilies.org.

Gov. Jay Inslee called last Friday for a major change to how Washington state mental health facilities are built and run. Inslee is hoping to receive bipartisan support to change the focus from large state hospitals to smaller mental health facilities that are based in local communities. According to Jim Camden with the Spokesman review, the idea is that more forensic patients that are waiting to be evaluated to see if they are fit to stand trial will go to the larger state hospitals, while those who are involuntarily committed can go to smaller facilities in hopes that smaller locations will allow patients to receive a higher standard of care immediately and be close to families and friends while they are admitted. This will also elevate the current backlog of forensic evaluations in Washington state, which has caused sanctions against the state because of the slow or inadequate services. Inslee wants the state to open “about a dozen” facilities of 16 beds around the state by 2023, although the cost of building and staffing those units has not yet been determined. Other states around the nation have seen success with using the smaller facilities and Inslee stated that the state should stop pouring money into an outdated model.

Spokane Area National Organization of Women in partnership with the Women’s March on Washington, and the Washington state branch has released a joint statement of support for Councilwoman Kate Burke. Burke was recently issued cease and desist letters for calling a non-profit contractor a “sexual predator.” According to the Spokesman Review, the non-profit, which has not been named in the media, has investigated and states that they found no evidence to back up the claims. Spokane Area NOW and the Women’s March said that they continue to support Burke and those who speak up for women and underrepresented communities and also called on their supporters to speak last night at the City Council meeting to show their support of Burke.

News Broadcast 4 PM Stories by Brooke Nicholson:

On Friday, Governor Jay Inslee proclaimed a state of emergency for the counties experiencing flood conditions in Eastern Washington

In total, 20 counties are impacted by extreme flood conditions. Okanogan, Ferry, and Pend Oreille counties have reported record flood conditions. The flooding has caused road closures, evacuations, damage to property and more. At press time, Okanogan River was expected to reach 21 feet by Thursday which is well above the 15-foot flood stage.

According to the press release, The State Emergency Operations Center at the Washington Military Department’s Camp Murray was activated to monitor local efforts and coordinate resources to help local officials respond. The proclamation will allow the governor to activate resources of the Washington National Guard if conditions require it.

Inslee stated quote, “Flooding caused by recent rains and snow melt has fouled water and sewage treatment facilities, threatened state highways and local roads, and caused some people to leave their homes. Continued higher temperatures are predicted to increase snow melt and cause additional flooding as rivers and streams continue to rise to record or near record levels.” unquote

On Monday the U.S. Supreme Court overturned a federal sports gambling law but Washington State will not be quick to allow sports fans to place their bets

Previously, the 1992 Professional and Amateur Sports Protection Act (PASPA) allowed some sports gaming only in the “grandfathered’’ states of Nevada, Delaware, Oregon and Montana. Of the four, only Nevada was allowed to offer gambling on the results of a single game. Now with the latest ruling, the individual states can decide to legalize sports gaming. The argument against legalized sports gambling centered around maintaining the integrity of sports teams if the leagues were not monitored allowing for games to be thrown due to bribing or coercion.

Washington state legislature would require a two-thirds super-majority or a voter referendum to change the anti-gaming laws in the state. Chris Stearns, a commissioner with the Washington State Gambling Commission stated quote, “Washington is still a pretty conservative state as far as gambling goes. And this is entirely, 100 percent in the hands of the legislature. So nothing can happen, obviously until next year at the earliest.” unquote. Currently, Washington State only allows gambling on horse races.

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