Good morning, Spokane.

Food banks in Spokane are struggling to meet a surge in demand as families rely on them during the government shutdown— the Salvation Army food pantry saw its daily visitors jump from 170 to 270.

Local businesses have joined the effort by offering free meals—an Armenian restaurant hosted over 100 people and advised residents to call ahead for service.

Small wooden boxes in Liberty Lake and Spokane County—set up by local communities—offer free food to those in need.

Organizer Noelle Otterson-Loperco said the pantries provide essential meals during colder weather and help remove the shame of asking for help.

Salvation Army staff and volunteers held an emergency food drive on Saturday at Shadle Park Walmart in north Spokane to restock the food pantry amid rising demand due to federal SNAP uncertainties—donating between 1 and 2 tons of food to help about 170 families in need.

The new Five Below store at 13806 East Indiana Avenue in Spokane Valley will host its grand opening event from Nov.

7 until Nov. 9 — offering trivia, activities and a $10 gift card for the first 100 families along with free drawstring bags while supplies last.

A new restaurant called Kindred opened today in Spokane + it will offer a fresh menu designed to draw local diners.

Traffic on North Division Street near West Hawthorne Road will change as lane closures start at 7 a.m. Monday.

Crews from the Washington State Department of Transportation will replace temporary asphalt with a permanent surface—lane restrictions, limited turns, and detours will remain until Wednesday, November 5, so drivers should plan for delays.

Washington State University officials submitted a remodel permit for a 1,300 square-foot health simulator at its campus—designed as the nation’s first indigenous-developed clinical simulation space where Native health professionals will guide both Native and non-Native learners—with a planned cost of $560,000 that includes a $250,000 grant from Bank of America.

Starting Saturday, Washingtonians can enroll or change health insurance plans on the state’s online marketplace amid a federal shutdown that leaves future tax credits uncertain—officials warn that without congressional action, premiums may surge and up to 80,000 residents could forgo coverage. The enrollment period runs until Jan. 15, with required deadlines to ensure coverage starts on Jan. 1.

Washington State Cougars swept the individual and team titles at the WCC Cross Country Championships at the Course Spokane Valley on Saturday morning under rainy, 50-degree conditions—marking the first women’s team win ever and the first men’s win in 50 years for the school.

Rosemary Longisa and Solomon Kipchoge set new course records in the 6,000 and 8,000-meter races.

Mt. Spokane captured the District 6 3A cross country titles on a rainy, windy Saturday at Wandermere Golf Course as the boys scored 61 points and the girls 46 points—Gaitlin Michaelsen returned from a stress fracture to post a strong third-place finish and Jane Wycoff led the girls to victory.

Spokane Valley’s new $7 million cross country venue hosted its first event Saturday when a dozen colleges competed in the Men's and Women's WCC Cross Country Championship—this soft launch will lead to a grand opening next year, with another championship planned for next week and the Nike Cross Nationals set for next year.

A new article reviews college basketball fan bases and their ongoing pain from repeated losses by teams like Tennessee, Gonzaga, and Purdue—fans who keep rooting for better postseason wins.

The piece ranks the fan bases based on close losses and notes that many look forward to future success.

Whitworth beat Pacific Lutheran 10-6 on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Pine Bowl — the fifth straight win keeps the Pirates at the top of the Northwest Conference.

They will travel to Willamette next weekend to try and keep their perfect record.

The Greater Spokane League season ended Friday with 10 teams earning playoff berths while seven teams will play a Week 10 nonleague game—giving coaches one more chance to work with their players.

State playoff brackets will be released today—top seeds in 4A, 3A and 2A could earn home games as strong wins by Gonzaga Prep, Cheney and West Valley set the stage for the postseason.

Kadabra Live at The Big Dipper

8:00 – 9:30 p.m. — The Big Dipper — Ticket details pending — Experience the magic of Kadabra live in Spokane.

GHENGAR: Surrounded Tour - Spokane

8-9:30 p.m. — Riverside Place — Tickets from $30 — Experience an electrifying performance by GHENGAR live in Spokane.

Children Of The Sun Concert

7-8:30 p.m. — The Big Dipper — Tickets available — Enjoy an evening of live music with Children Of The Sun as they perform their engaging tunes.

Darko Butorac Conducts Prokofiev's Fifth Symphony

3-4:30 p.m. — The Fox Theater — Ticket required — Experience a powerful performance featuring Prokofiev's Symphony and Mozart's Violin Concerto No. 4 with conductor Darko Butorac and violinist Karisa Chiu.

Gonzaga Bulldogs vs. Creighton Bluejays

7-9 p.m. — Gonzaga University — Watch live college basketball action — Don't miss this thrilling game between two competitive teams.

Stand-Up Comedy with Melissa Villaseñor

7-8:30 p.m. — Spokane Comedy Club — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy an evening of laughter with the first Latina 'SNL' cast member showcasing her comedic talents.

World Ballet Company: The Great Gatsby Ballet

7:00-8:30 p.m. — First Interstate Center for the Arts — $50.00 - $120.00 — Experience the glitz and tragedy of Gatsby's world brought to life through ballet.

Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet

3:00 – 4:30 PM — First Interstate Center for the Arts — Tickets required — Experience the enchanting story of the Nutcracker in this festive ballet perfect for all ages.

Stanford Cardinal vs Gonzaga Bulldogs Women's Basketball

1-4 p.m. — McCarthey Athletic Center — Ticket prices vary — Catch an exciting women's basketball showdown between two top teams.

JoJo Concert

8-11:30 p.m. — Knitting Factory — Ticket required — Enjoy a night of soulful music from JoJo as she performs her hits live.