🌱Mayor Orders Audit Of Fire Dept. + New Bus Fare System Proposed

Rise and shine, Spokane! Let's get you started this Wednesday with everything you need to know going on in Spokane today.

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First, today's weather:

Cloudy. High: 37 Low: 30.

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Here are the top stories in Spokane today:

1. Spokane Mayor Nadine Woodward is ordering an investigation into a three-month spike in sick time taken by members of the Spokane Fire Department leading up to the vaccine mandate. The review will involve a forensic audit to closely examine increased sick time that the mayor said: "doubled the number of days taken in any given month even during the early months of the pandemic." The audit is expected to take several weeks to complete and will be used to inform future labor contract negotiations, budgeting, and spending. (KHQ Right Now)
2. The new year could bring new changes when it comes to how you pay to ride the bus.
   The Spokane Transit Authority is proposing a new fare system and before anything is set in stone, they want to hear from the public. Right now, a 30-day pass costs $60. For some families, though, that can be hard to come up with upfront. Those who can afford the pass may only ride 10 or 15 times, meaning they overpaid. Under the new capping system, you pay $2 at a time and once you have paid a total of $60, your rides are free for the rest of the month. (KXLY Spokane)
3. Spokane International Airport is expecting an influx of travelers this holiday season and also wants to remind passengers to wear masks while at the airport or on the plane. (KREM.com)
4. Spokane County Commissioner Josh Kerns and County Engineer Chad Coles joined up today to showcase the county's snow removal procedures and provide winter driving tips. They also took the opportunity to encourage job seekers to apply for a position in Public Works. (FOX 28 Spokane)
5. Families will once again get to ring in the new year with a fireworks show at Riverfront Park. The annual event is returning to the park after it was spread out across four locations this past year. (KXLY Spokane)

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Alrighty, you're all caught up for today. I'll see you soon! If you're feeling these newsletters, consider inviting some of your friends and neighbors to read along. You can send them this link to subscribe.

— Sean Peek

About me: Sean Peek is a writer and entrepreneur with a degree in English Literature from Weber State University. Over the years, he has worked as a copywriter, editor, SEO specialist, and marketing director for various digital media companies. He currently co-owns and operates content creation agency Lightning Media Partners.