Spokane Daily Local Briefing

PFAS cleanup order pushes city and county toward bottled water plan

State environmental regulators are giving Spokane city and county a tight deadline to spell out how they will get safe drinking water to West Plains residents whose private wells are contaminated with PFAS chemicals. The order ties the local governments and Spokane International Airport more directly to providing bottled water and whole-house filtration for affected homes and businesses. A draft plan is due within days, and neighbors are watching closely to see how quickly on-the-ground help arrives.

PFAS, sometimes called ‘forever chemicals’, have been detected above health standards in more than half of sampled private wells across the northeast West Plains. Local officials say they are coordinating with state agencies and a county task force to line up long-term funding and technology for treatment systems as the community awaits the new plan.

Residents asked to weigh in on Spokane’s long-range climate and land-use plan

City planners are wrapping up a major round of public input on an updated comprehensive plan that folds climate resilience into nearly every part of Spokane’s growth strategy. A draft environmental impact statement for the 2046 plan has been out for review through mid-February, examining how future land use, transportation and housing decisions could better protect vulnerable neighborhoods from climate and pollution risks.

City staff are now preparing the next phase of outreach, including virtual workshops focused on environmental justice and transportation. Officials say the feedback will help shape policies on everything from transit-oriented development to tree canopy and heat relief in hotter parts of town.

School bond failures revive debate over state supermajority rule

Recent school bond measures in parts of the Spokane region and elsewhere in eastern Washington appear to have fallen short, even in districts where a clear majority of voters said yes. Because the state still requires a 60% supermajority to pass bonds, local education advocates are renewing calls for the legislature to ease that threshold.

A new statewide coalition is highlighting how districts are turning to capital levies that pass with a simple majority but can be slower and more expensive ways to finance major construction. For Spokane-area families, the outcome could influence timelines for building upgrades, safety projects and classroom space over the next decade.

Quick-hit weather: bursts of snow, slick roads possible

Bands of brief but intense snow showers moved through Spokane County in recent days, creating spots of low visibility and slick roads, especially east toward the Valley and north of the city. Forecasters say accumulations are light, but timing around the commute can still cause trouble on untreated side streets and hills.

Drivers are urged to watch for changing conditions with passing bands, give themselves extra braking distance and be mindful of pedestrians navigating snow and slush near bus stops and school zones.

Sources

https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2026/feb/12/ecology-orders-spokane-city-and-county-to-provide/
https://ecology.wa.gov/spills-cleanup/contamination-cleanup/cleanup-sites/sites-with-pfas-in-drinking-water/west-plains-pfas
https://www.spokanecounty.gov/5881/West-Plains-PFAS-Response-Task-Force
https://my.spokanecity.org/planspokane/climate-planning/
https://www.spokanepublicradio.org/regional-news/2026-02-19/inland-journal-school-bond-issues-idaho-celebrates-americas-250th-birthday
https://www.wunderground.com/severe/us/wa/spokane-valley/99206