Bloglander

The sound of shoe squeaks bounced around a near-silent McCarthey Athletic Center for 40 minutes as the Zags and Waves played in front of a sold out but student-less crowd Thursday night.

Back when the Zags were rising to national prominence the Waves were their chief competition in the WCC. This season Pepperdine sits dead last in the league with a 4-9 record. In conference play, though, there is so much familiarity that even last place can scare the league leaders. Gonzaga eventually rolled past the Waves, opening conference play with a win for the 21st consecutive season. But in the first half of this 92-62 victory, it wasn’t pretty.

Pepperdine in the first half shot over 50% from the field and connected on four of eight from long range against Gonzaga’s best-in-the-nation three point defense. But Gonzaga was lighting it up as well. Led by Jordan Mathews’ 5-11 shooting display four Zags combined to make 10 three pointers.

Przemek Karnowski and Nigel Williams-Goss led the team with 16 points a piece. Five Zags scored in double figures. Balanced, as always. Pepperdine’s Lamond Murray Jr. scored the game high with 19. And Chris Reyes added 10 points of his own, but suffered his second loss to the Zags in 2016. Reyes previously played for Utah, which Gonzaga knocked out of the NCAA Tournament.

Assistant coach Tommy Lloyd said at halftime that the Zags weren’t hustling. Well, early in the second half a full-court press forced the Waves to turn the ball over. And on the next possession enormous human Karnowski stole the ball. From that point the Gonzaga lead, which had been floating in the single digits for most of the game, expanded into the teens and twenties.

The game clearly in hand, Mark Few was able to empty his bench late, allowing fan favorite Rui Hachimura and birthday boy Bryan Alberts to see the floor. With their entrance the crowd erupted. It took until the 2:38 mark of the second half but there was a huge lead and a lot of noise. And the Kennel, even without its club, felt normal.

Next up for the 13-0 Bulldogs is a New Year’s Eve date with the Pacific Tigers in Stockton, California.

It’s OK if you haven’t locked down your New Year’s Eve plans; you still have some hours to decide which musically inclined adventure will take you into 2017. Here are some of the big events going down around Spokane Saturday night.

GOODBYE TWENTYSUCKSTEEN
For anyone in the mood to give a big F-you to 2016, the Observatory and the nearby Baby Bar are here to serve. The bars are teaming up for two local rock-filled lineups that are sure to please. The Baby Bar features Deer, Peru Resh and DJ Lydell while the Observatory offers up the talents of Wild Pacific, Fun Ladies and MC Positive Luv. The shows include a midnight champagne toast and balloon drop.
Goodbye Twentysucksteen NYE Party • The Observatory/Baby Bar • 9 pm • Free • 21+

SPIN THE NIGHT AWAY
As 1990s nostalgia has been huge this year, it makes sense that the Spin Doctors are coming to Airway Heights’ Northern Quest Resort & Casino to celebrate the end of 2016. We’re not sure about the band’s set plans, but their hit “What Time Is It?” would be a perfect for the midnight countdown. For those not wanting the party to end, the casino’s Club Impulse also offers a NYE party with DJ Patrick right next door.
Spin Doctors • Northern Quest Resort & Casino • 10:30 pm • $25 • 21+

CAVE IN TO THIS
Seattle’s Cave Singers are back in town (they were also here in July) to help the Bartlett ring in the New Year. Expect the indie-rock trio to blast its fruitful mix of folk and punk straight into your soul, while local openers the Smokes will impress with their scuzzy garage-rock sound. As in the past few years, the traditionally all-ages venue has made their NYE show 21+ only.
The Cave Singers and the Smokes • The Bartlett • 9 pm • $20 • 21+

REUNITED AGAIN
After five years apart, Small Town Nation heads to the Knitting Factory for one blowout reunion show. The popular local pop-punk act went far together over seven years, even recording an album with MxPx’s Mike Herrera, before eventually going their separate ways (two members are now in the Nixon Rodeo). The show openers include rock acts Punks in Drublic, Velafire, Good Kids Bad Ideas and Ragtag Romantics. The show should be done about 11:15, giving you plenty of time to hustle outside to view the downtown fireworks at midnight.
Small Town Nation NYE Reunion Show • Knitting Factory • 7:30 pm • Free • All-ages

NORTHSIDE ROCKS OUT
For those looking for a reason to stay away from downtown this New Year’s Eve, five Northside venues have banded together to offer Last Night. One $10 button gets you into all of the participating bars and music venues to watch more than 20 blues, rock and acoustic artists perform, including Supervillain, Sovereign Citizen & the Non-Prophets, Over Sea Under Stone, Karrie O’Neill and more. Click here for more lineup information. Last Night Spokane • The Palomino, The Venue, Jackson St. Bar & Grill, One Bridge North, Spike’s • 6 pm • $10 • 21+

For even more events, check right here.

ON INLANDER.COM

ARTS & CULTURE: Celebrate the Inlander poetry issue with us at Marmot Art Space Jan. 5.

NEWS: Washington attorney general Bob Ferguson won his first battle in a lawsuit against cable giant Comcast.

NEWS: Four people charged with federal crimes in Eastern Washington received special attention from President Barack Obama in his historic clemency efforts.

IN OTHER NEWS

Two women dead
When a neighbor noticed newspapers had been piling up outside a home, police came and found two women dead in the Spokane house. Detectives are investigating. (KXLY)

Death sentence reprieved
A man who raped and murder a 14-year-old girl in 1995, and was then sentenced to death, has now been granted a reprieve by Gov. Jay Inslee. The Whatcom County prosecutor had asked Inslee to make an exception on the governor's death-penalty ban. (Bellingham Herald)

A solution to snow in driveways?
The city of Spokane is testing out a "snow boot," which would prevent snow from piling up onto sidewalks and driveways when plowed. That sounds great, of course, except that they end up breaking too often and take twice as much time to plow the streets.  (KREM)

No tit-for-tat response from Russia
The United States imposed sanctions on Russia for interfering with the presidential election, and those sanctions included expelling Russian diplomats. But Vladimir Putin, while saying the move was "aimed at further undermining Russian-American relations," said he would not expel U.S. diplomats.

College in Canada?
Apparently, more college-bound students are considering Canada for their higher education in the wake of Donald Trump's election.

The new issue of the Inlander has a decidedly literary bent, as we recruited former Spokane Poet Laureate Thom Caraway to help us put together our first-ever Poetry Issue.

Caraway ended up reading more than 500 submissions from throughout the Inland Northwest, an the range of subject matters and styles was pretty incredible, as was the sheer number of poets who submitted (264) and their age-range (5 to 90). You can read Caraway's thoughts on putting the issue together before you delve into the poems.

We're confident you'll be as impressed with the local talent — both the familiar names and unknowns-til-now — that you'll read in the issue, so much so that we decided to throw a little party to celebrate it and, more importantly, the poets presented in its pages and online.

The party will be on Thursday, Jan. 5 at 7 pm at the Marmot Art Space, 1206 W. Summit Parkway in Kendall Yards, right near Inlander home base. It's free and family-friendly since a couple of our poets are under 21.

Who knows, maybe you'll be inspired to write some poems and submit for the next poetry issue.

ON INLANDER.COM

INHEALTH: Carrie Fisher's death inspires a heart-health checkup for women; plus, flex-spending and kid time.

HERE

Man found dead in home
Coeur d'Alene police, responding to a domestic dispute this morning, found a man dead and a woman outside with "obvious trauma to her head and face." (Spokesman-Review)

Socked in
We all are happy that the streets are being plowed, except when the plowed snow traps you in your home, which is what happened to this Spokane Valley man. (KHQ)

A dream come true
A three-year-old child battling cancer was welcomed as an honorary sheriff's deputy by the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office on Wednesday. (KHQ)

THERE

Cease-fire in Syria
The Syrian government and Russia have reached a cease-fire with Turkey and some Syrian rebels, a potential turning point in the six-year civil war.

Broken heart syndrome
One day after Carrie Fisher died at age 60, her mother, Debbie Reynolds — an actress and singer — died unexpectedly at the age of 84. Did she die of a broken heart? Doctors discuss.

The Bundys aren't happy
President Barack Obama has designated two national monuments in Utah in Nevada to the displeasure of Republicans who don't want more federal control of public lands.

Heartbroken
For Star Wars fans, the news of the death of Princess Leia, actress Carrie Fisher, at age 60 from a heart attack seemed astonishing. But here are some surprising facts from the Women’s Heart Foundation:
• 83,000 American women under the age of 65 have heart attacks each year
• Heart attacks account for a third of all deaths in women
• 71 percent of women experience early warning signs of heart attack with sudden onset of weakness that feels like the flu—often with no chest pain at all.

About the only good news? “Women’s hearts respond better than men’s to healthy lifestyle changes."

Flexible Spending account about to expire?
If you have set money aside in a flexible spending account to cover health care expenses, be aware that the time to use it is rapidly diminishing as the year draws to a close. On the upside, you might be surprised at all the things you can buy. Some require a doctor's note, but there are many things you can purchase without a note. So don’t waste that hard-earned cash, spend it!

Kid Time
Worried your kids aren’t make the most of their potential during this holiday break? Take a tip from the Danes, and let them play, unhindered by adult intervention. You’ll enjoy it, and so will they.

HERE

Cougs flail in San Diego
Washington State had seemingly every advantage heading into its Holiday Bowl matchup against Minnesota. The Gophers team was embroiled in controversy leading up to the game, with 10 players being suspended for sexual assault allegations, and the rest of the team briefly boycotting all football activities leading up to the game in protest. But what looked to everyone like smooth sailing for the Cougs — they were 10-point favorites going into the game — turned into a debacle and a boring as hell 17-12 loss that will surely have WSU coach Mike Leach staring wistfully into his collection of pirate memorabilia for a while.

Not in the holiday spirit
A worker at Main Market in downtown Spokane was sexually assaulted by a customer earlier this month, fighting him off with a broom handle. Police arrested Jason A. Harbine in the case. (Spokesman-Review)

Adolescent rape case
A 13-year-old boy stands accuses of raping a 10-year-old girl after both children ran away from a group home in Indian Trail and stayed at an abandoned house nearby. (KREM)

THERE

Two-state solution in peril
While president-elect Trump tweets about how he'll help Israel come Jan. 20, outgoing Secretary of State John Kerry warns that hopes for a "two-state solution" where both Israelis and Palestineans peacefully coexist in contested lands on Israel's West Bank is in peril. The region is suddenly back in the news after a U.N. vote to condemn Israeli settlements on the West Bank. (CNN)

No way!
Russia is no longer contesting allegations that the country has a doping program to help its Olympic athletes. This comes as a surprise to virtually no one who pays any attention to Olympic sports. Or Russia. Or doping. (New York Times)

Trump being Trump
In addition to filling administration positions and occasionally getting a security briefing while he chills in Florida for the holidays, president-elect Trump took to Twitter this morning to whine about Obama putting up roadblocks to a smooth transition. This despite much evidence to the contrary. In semi-related news, Obama trumped Trump in a Gallup poll to determine "America's Most-Admired Man."

R.I.P. Carrie Fisher
She rocketed to fame in Star Wars, and went on to inspire people everywhere with her humor and honesty addressing addiction and mental-health issues. Carrie Fisher died Tuesday after an apparent heart attack over the weekend.

ON INLANDER.COM

THIS WEEK: Bro Dads, New Year's Eve and First Day Hikes all on tap

HERE

Cougars and Gophers face off
Washington State University will play Minnesota today in the Holiday Bowl, capping off a season that went relatively well for both teams on the field, but not so well off the field. Here's what to expect in the game kicking off at 4 pm.

Watch the road
After the snowstorm overnight, expect high winds today with gusts up to 45 mph, creating "blizzard like conditions" on some roadways. (KXLY)

Passing the trash
Trash pickup at the curb could become a bit more expensive in a few months. Spokane County officials are proposing a $3.5 percent boost in rates to dispose of garbage at two transfer stations in Colbert and Spokane Valley. (Spokesman-Review)

Almost a crash landing
For an apparently unknown reason, a pilot landed her plane at Felts Field Tuesday morning with the landing gear up. She wasn't hurt, and the FAA is investigating. (KREM)

THERE

If you don't count California...
With the Trump administration seemingly unwilling to take climate change seriously, California leaders — including Gov. Jerry Brown — will take it upon themselves to work directly with other nations to fight climate change in the U.S.

Russian sanctions
The Obama administration is figuring out the best way to punish Russian hackers for interfering with the election.

Trump defends his foundation
In the "what will Donald tweet today?" news, the president-elect defended his charitable foundation that has come under scrutiny and is being investigated by the New York attorney general. The Washington Post takes the opportunity to point out who actually donates to the Donald J. Trump Foundation (hint: Trump has given less to his own foundation than other people) and what the charity's money is actually used for.

Hopefully the celebratory spirit stuck with you through the Christmas weekend, because we're just a few days away from putting 2016 to bed. And there shall be much rejoicing.

Check out our event listings and Staff Picks for some ideas for keeping yourself entertained. Here are a few highlights for the days ahead:

Tuesday, Dec. 27

COMEDY | Join some of the funniest folks in town for Spokane Comedy's Standup Showdown at the Observatory, a battle royale where everyone with a sense of humor wins.

Wednesday, Dec. 28

THEATER | CYT North Idaho's Play in a Day brings a bunch of kids together to throw a show, doing all the work in one 24-hour span. This year's show is The Pied Piper of Hamelin, so if you have a theater-inclined kid between 10-18, this is a great chance to do a quick show over Christmas break.

COMEDY | The Bartlett welcomes Bro Dads, in which two Spokane comics, Philip Kopczynski and Harry J. Riley, come together for a night of stand-up where they’ll each take to the microphone to tell mostly true stories of their misadventures in fatherhood.

ON INLANDER.COM

NEWS: The city of Spokane's new human resources director's brother-in-law is the longtime president of the city of Spokane's biggest union. Is that a problem?

IN OTHER NEWS

click to enlarge

Young Kwak

A City of Spokane Streets Department plow removes snow in 2015

White Christmas
It could snow up to six inches before Christmas, making holiday travel difficult before the sun comes out Sunday. (KHQ)

Housing first
Rob McCann, the executive director of Catholic Charities, thinks we can end homelessness in Spokane within three to four years. (Spokesman-Review)

Potato kings
The Idaho Vandals football team ended the year on a positive note, winning the Potato Bowl over Colorado State. (Idaho Statesman)

Cold War II
A day after the president-elect went to Twitter to talk about how the U.S. should expand its nuclear weapons arsenal, Donald Trump called for an "arms race" and added, "We will outmatch them at every pass and outlast them all."

Fighting Ebola
A study has found that an Ebola vaccine was 100 percent effective in combating the virus that killed more than 11,000 people in West Africa in 2014.

Berlin attacker killed
The man thought to have been responsibly for the truck attack that killed 12 people at a Christmas market in Berlin was shot dead by Italian police on Friday.