Good morning, Spokane.

The U.S. Army said four soldiers were killed when a military helicopter crashed near Joint Base Lewis—McChord on Sept.

17 during routine training, and investigators are still looking into the cause.

Spokane small businesses will face new retail sales taxes on advertising services and live presentations next month—this includes an extra 9% tax on online ads.

Some owners said they may raise prices or even move out of state to avoid the new tax burden.

Gonzaga University welcomed President Katia Passerini on July 15 as its 27th president—she earned respect for her research in digital technology, business management, and knowledge work that has shaped education innovation.

Gonzaga University was named one of America’s most innovative higher education institutions in the US News Best Colleges 2026 rankings released today.

The new ranking shows Gonzaga at No. 48 among top schools — and highlights gains in programs like engineering and business.

Whitworth University earned strong recognition in the U.S. News 2026 Best Colleges Rankings by placing No. 5 in Best Value Schools, No. 15 in Best Regional Universities, and No. 11 in Best Colleges for Veterans in the West.

Its undergraduate engineering program ranked No. 162 and its social mobility rating improved to No. 37—highlighting the university’s solid commitment to quality education.

Spokane’s City Council voted unanimously Monday to remove regulatory hurdles for daycare facilities in residential neighborhoods— the change takes effect immediately under a new statewide law and aims to ease the local childcare shortage.

Spokane Public Schools and Spokane Parks Department will host a town hall meeting tomorrow night at North Central High School on North Howard Street from 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.—the meeting will cover proposed school and park projects including updates to the outdated culinary arts kitchen and theater.

Today, the Washington State Patrol issued a bus safety alert after record bus collisions in September 2024, reminding drivers to stop 20 feet away when a bus displays flashing yellow lights and a red stop paddle—drivers on two-lane roads must come to a complete stop.

The alert warns that on multi-lane roads only vehicles traveling in the same direction must stop—violators face fines starting at $500.

Drivers on southbound N.

Ash St. between Augusta Ave. and Maxwell Ave. face lane reductions from three lanes to one lane until Sept 24 due to postponed stormwater work—leading to peak-hour slowdowns. Crews will resume installing a new water transmission main for the Francis and Assembly project, which will cause street closures on Sept 22, Sept 24, Sept 30, and Oct 2 to boost water reliability.

High school football fans are asked to vote for the game to be featured on Friday Night Sports Extra on Sept.

26—this vote will decide this week's Game of the Week.

Ben Brainard Live Comedy Show

7:30 – 9:00 PM — Spokane Comedy Club — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening of laughs with comedian Ben Brainard's unique storytelling and humor.

Stand-Up Comedy by Don McMillan

7:00–8:30 p.m. — Spokane Comedy Club — Ticket prices vary — Experience engineering humor with graphs and charts from America's Got Talent finalist Don McMillan.

Felipe Esparza Stand-Up Comedy Show

7-8:30 p.m. — Bing Crosby Theater — Tickets required — Enjoy an evening of laughter with comedian Felipe Esparza, a highlight from 'Last Comic Standing'.

Stand-Up Comedy with John Caparulo

7-8:30 p.m. — Spokane Comedy Club — Tickets from $22 — Experience a night of laughs with comedian John Caparulo, known for his appearances on Chelsea Lately and The Tonight Show.

Some Like It Hot

1:00 – 2:30 PM — First Interstate Center for the Arts — Ticket prices vary — Experience a top theater pick in Spokane with a dazzling performance.

EXIN BCS Artificial Intelligence Essentials Training

9 a.m. – 5 p.m. — Regus - Spokane Washington Trust — Cost info not provided — Dive deep into the essentials of Artificial Intelligence with this one-day training course.

VS Code Dev Days - Spokane

1-4 p.m. — IntelliTect — Free entry — Hands-on workshops to enhance coding skills using VS Code and GitHub Copilot.

Will Evans Live Concert

7:00-9:30 p.m. — Knitting Factory — Tickets available — Experience a unique fusion of folk and roots music with Will Evans and his eclectic performance style.

Demetri Martin Live

8:00 – 9:30 PM — Bing Crosby Theater — Tickets required — Enjoy a night of laughter with acclaimed standup comedian Demetri Martin.

Spokane Zephyr FC vs. Lexington SC Women's Soccer Match

6-9 p.m. — One Spokane Stadium — Tickets starting at $148 — Watch an exciting women's soccer match featuring local talent.