Tuesday, January 31, 2017
ON INLANDER.COM
SPORTS: It's official: The Zags are No. 1.
MUSIC: The Flaming Lips are just one of many awesome shows this spring in Spokane.
PHOTOS: Check out these photos from Sunday's protest of President Donald Trump's orders banning refugees and visitors from seven majority-Muslim countries.
NEWS: Washington state attorney general Bob Ferguson has sued Trump, declaring Trump's immigration order unconstitutional.
IN OTHER NEWS
No religious registry
Supported by a crowd that more than filled council chambers, the Spokane City Council passed an ordinance last night that would prohibit Spokane employees from helping to create a registry based on religious preference, fearing Trump will give federal orders to do so. (Spokesman-Review)
Student choices
Trump's travel ban has separated one student at Washington State University from her husband, who had planned to travel to the U.S. from Iran soon. In response to Trump's orders, local college leaders yesterday issued statements in support of immigrant students. (Spokesman-Review)
You're fired
Within hours after the acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates refused to defend Trump's immigration order, Trump fired her.
Trump's education secretary pick may have plagiarized
Plagiarism is bad, kids. But maybe, soon, it won't be so frowned upon in this country, since Trump's pick to lead the Department of Education appears to have plagiarized in her confirmation hearing. As I write this, a senate committee has approved her nomination.
Monday, January 30, 2017
Washington State Attorney General Bob Ferguson will file a lawsuit today against President Donald Trump, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and other Trump administration officials, Ferguson announced during a news conference this morning.
The lawsuit, which will be filed in the federal District Court in Seattle, asks a judge to declare unconstitutional key provisions in Trump's executive order on immigration. Specifically, the suit will allege violations of the Constitution's guarantee of equal protection, due process and religious freedom.
Lawsuits making similar claims have been filed by individuals in at least four cities, including Alexandria, Virginia, Boston, New York and Seattle. Judge's rulings on those cases have been narrower in scope but ruled against detention of individuals in airports.
"If successful, this will have the effect of invalidating the president's unlawful action nationwide," Ferguson says, adding that his office will also file a temporary restraining order to immediately suspend the executive order's implementation.
Tags: News , Bob Ferguson , Donald Trump , immigration , Image
Daniel Walters
A protester waves a "we are all immigrants" sign next to the Lincoln statue on Monroe street near downtown Spokane.
The suddenness of President Donald Trump's executive orders banning refugees and visitors from seven majority-Muslims countries late Friday took even members of his own administration by surprise. Chaos and confusion overtook airports across the nation as customs and border patrol officials began detaining incoming passengers.
Almost immediately, protesters flooded into the streets and airports objecting to the move. On Sunday, in Spokane, hundreds of protesters stood on the square in front of the Lincoln statue on Monroe Street, chanting and cheering as cars drove past.
It wasn't the first local protest against Trump, and it won't even be the last one this week. Tonight, protesters plan to pack the City Council chambers in order to (within the confines of council rules) urge the city to prevent local resources from being used to enforce or comply with Trump's controversial executive order.
We snapped a few pics of yesterday's protest. Check them out below:
Daniel Walters photo
City Council President Ben Stuckart holds a "Thank You ACLU" sign as he motions marchers to walk through the crosswalk next to local artist Hank Chiappetta.
Tags: Protests , Donald Trump , Immigration , Refugees , News , Image
You gotta love when the harsh, dark days of winter give way to warmer temps and an uptick in the number of touring bands heading to Spokane.
In just the last week we've heard about more-than-worthy shows scheduling the Lilac City, offering a diversity of sound and venues, and making music dorks like myself start some serious financial planning to handle buying all these tickets.
The highlight from today? Word that the incomparable Flaming Lips — they of the giant hamster ball, inexplicable Miley Cyrus collaborations and incredibly inventive tunes — are coming by the Knitting Factory on May 13 (a Saturday!). Tickets go on sale Friday at 10 am. and are $38 in advance/$40 day of show for the all-ages gig. (We fantasized about this happening just a couple issues ago. Behold our power!)
The Oklahoma psychedelic rock crew has a new album Oczy Mlody and a stage show unlike anything you'll catch from most bands with nearly four decades of performing under their belts. Here's a trippy vid from their new album:
Also announced recently, alt-country cats Son Volt are swinging by The Barlett for a show on Sunday, May 7. The band is led by Jay Farrar, possessor of one of the great voices in modern American music, as well as former Uncle Tupelo bandmate with Wilco's Jeff Tweedy. Son Volt has a new album, Notes of Blue, arriving on Feb. 17. Tickets for the show are $25 in advance, $28 day of show through The Bartlett website.
Thursday's game at BYU airs on ESPN2 at 8 pm
Johnathan Williams is one of the top-tier transfers who helped Gonzaga get back to No. 1 in the polls.
This won't come as a shock to anyone who pays attention to such things, but Gonzaga's men's basketball team officially scaled to the top of the Associated Press Top 25 basketball poll when the results of the latest round of voting were revealed this morning. It's only the second time they've reached No. 1 in school history.
It's no surprise because a week ago the Zags were at No. 3, ranked behind Villanova and Kansas, two formidable presences. But both those team took losses last week, while Gonzaga continued steamrolling through its West Coast Conference schedule. On Saturday, they went on the road and delivered a 96-49 beatdown of Pepperdine that's become almost normal in its efficient ruthlessness this season.
What makes Gonzaga different than the typical No. 1 team in the weekly poll? Well, they rarely get to the top spot during the regular season, even though teams regularly move around within the upper tier of the rankings. Call it an East Coast bias, or simply disrespect to the quality of Gonzaga's conference opponents, but voters typically don't give the Spokane squad much love.
Also making Gonzaga different? This year, they just might not give up the No. 1 before March Madness rolls around. They still have road games against BYU and St. Mary's (currently ranked No. 18), their two toughest foes in the WCC, but this ain't your normal Zags team. They're not even that similar to the team that reached No. 1 four years ago, in that the combination of excellent transfers (Nigel Williams-Goss, Jordan Matthews, Johnathan Williams) and homegrown talent (Przemek Karnowski, freshman Zach Collins) has blended quickly into a defensive force, as well as the offensively explosive team Zags fans have come to expect through the years.
Gonzaga always has a target on its back in the WCC as the team to beat, and being ranked No. 1 in the nation won't change that. Next up? What is suddenly the biggest game of the year when the Bulldogs visit Provo for a showdown with BYU at the school's 19,000-capacity Marriott Center. The game is Thursday at 8 pm and will be shown on ESPN2.
ON INLANDER.COM
WHAT'S UP: This week, SpIFF continues, Gruitfest recreates the hop-less beers of yesteryear, and the Spokane Symphony performs the soundtrack to the 1925 Phantom of the Opera, live. Have a great week, Spokane, that's all I ask of you.
MUSIC: Read about the new Smithsonian project paying tribute to Woody Guthrie's Pacific Northwest songs.
GREEN ZONE: Washington is the only state with a recreational marijuana market that doesn't allow for home grows, but bills to change that are coming down the pipeline.
IN OTHER NEWS
"This is not a Muslim ban," says Trump.
Trump's 90-day ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim countries — including people with green cards, but later rolled back — has travelers stranded and protests erupting all across the globe. Unsurprisingly, none of the banned countries have ever had immigrants or refugees commit an act of terror in America, nor does Trump have business ties to any of them. (New York Times)
"Yes, it is," says Spokane, Seattle and many other cities.
Protestors turned out in Spokane to object to Trump's immigration ban; check out this Guide to the Immigration Ban to understand Trump's executive power and the limits to the ban. (KXLY, New York Times)
Zags thump Pepperdine
Gonzaga didn't blink an eyelash at Pepperdine on Saturday, defeating them 96-49 and remaining unbeaten now with 22 wins. (Gonzaga Sports)
Congrats to the new Lilac Queen
August Corppetts showed bullies who the real winners with her 2017 Lilac Queen victory. Her majesty plans to become a civil rights lawyer to continue giving a voice to the underrepresented. (Spokesman-Review)
Have a great week!
(Bleacher Report)Chris Pronger could’ve just ended Justin Bieber's life pic.twitter.com/XffnH4A5xl
— Spittin' Chiclets (@StoolChiclets) January 28, 2017
Sunday, January 29, 2017
We're barreling into February will full force this week, so let's send January out with a bang, shall we? Check out our event listings and Staff Picks for some fine options for blowing it out proper.
Here are some highlights of the week ahead:
Monday, Jan. 30
FILM | Moody Bible College hosts a screening of Poverty, Inc, an examination of what all of us do to contribute to poverty on the planet. Squirm-inducing? Probably. Valuable. Definitely.
FILM | The Spokane International Film Fest continues its run all week long at venues around town. Go get ya some!
Tuesday, Jan. 31
COMMUNITY | Current president got ya down? I hear ya. Join some like-minded folks at the Resist Trump: Community Meet-Up and learn how to get involved locally to take your mind off the national madness.
Wednesday, Feb. 1
FOOD & DRINK | The folks at Bellweather Brewing are going really old school with Gruitfest, one night dedicated to old beer styles that don't rely on hops. Read our story about the festival, and go thirsty.
Tags: What's Up? , Image , Video
Friday, January 27, 2017
Ranked the No. 2 women's bantamweight, Peña stands to gain a title shot if victorious
Peña (left) won her last UFC match, against Cat Zingano, in July 2016.
If you're a follower of mixed martial arts and the UFC, you may know that Spokane's highest-ever ranked athlete in the organization is facing her next opponent Saturday night. If you're not a follower (or rather, more of a casual fan of the oft-bloody combat sport) we're here to fill you in on feisty Spokane daughter Julianna Peña's next turn in the octagon this weekend.
Currently ranked the No. 2 women's bantamweight (135 lbs.), Peña has been rising in the ranks since returning to the division in 2015 following a serious knee injury that was almost career-ending. As the main card event for this weekend's UFC Fight Night Denver, Pena faces the No. 1 Valentina Shevchenko of Kyrgyzstan. (In the UFC, each division's champion is at the "zero" spot; Brazil's Amanda Nunes is the current bantamweight champ.)
Though the odds favor Peña's opponent, they're very, very close odds, which means it stands to be a close five-round match with high potential to be quite exciting, considering Peña's early, aggressive bursts. And if she wins, and thereby moves into the No. 1 spot, Peña is almost ensured that her next fight will be against the champ Nunes.
Tags: UFC , MMA , Julianna Pena , mixed martial arts , UFC Fight Night Denver , Ronda Rousey , Amanda Nunes , Valentina Shevchenko , Sports , Image
A house fire in Spokane Valley took the life of 3-year-old Latoya Monica Dinet Bables-Paradise a few days ago, devastating the family and leaving them short of money for a burial.
That's where No-Li Brewhouse stepped in to help raise $15,000 through the sale of some t-shirts designed by local graphic artist Chris Bovey and printed on the fast-track by Giant Screen Printing, adorned by the words "Spokane Has Heart." You can see the basic design here.
No-Li is hoping to sell 375 of the shirts on Monday and Tuesday at the brewhouse. They cost $40 a pop, with all proceeds going to the girl's burial. If the shirts sell out, the fundraiser will reach its goal. No-Li will be selling the shirts from 9 am to 5 pm on Monday and Tuesday, or until the shirts sell out.
There is also a GoFundMe page to raise money for the parents and surviving siblings recover from the fire.
There's a bevy of fine tunes happening all over the region this weekend, so go hit up our music listings to get a groove on. Here are a few highlights of the weekend:
TONIGHT
The Bartlett is celebrating three years of making the Spokane music scene a much better place, and they're doing it the best way they know how — by delivering some excellent tunes. Tonight, catch Super Sparkle and The Dancing Plague of 1518.
The Observatory has a show that is sure to be a killer, featuring the soulful Nat Park & the Tunnels of Love and Fat Lady. It would be hard to find a local double bill more joyously rocking and funky than these two relatively new acts.
The Knitting Factory offers a night of flashback fun with Zoso-The Ultimate Led Zeppelin Experience. You know, besides watching The Song Remains the Same turned to 11.
SATURDAY
Locals Bullets or Balloons introduces a new album of torrid, topical punk with a show at The Big Dipper. Read our interview with the band, one of the best in Spokane IMHO.
Catch The Bartlett Awards Violet Catastrophe and Runaway Octopus.
The Spokane Symphony's Superpops series swings in a, um, swing direction with a collaboration with Big Bad Voodoo Daddy. You probably remember this tune:
If you like the country stuff, Sawyer Brown is delivering it at Northern Quest.
SUNDAY
Get out to the Roadhouse to support a cancer benefit with tunes from Michael Dixon, Ray Vasquez, Gilbert Rivas, The Hankers and Tin Pan Alley.
The Knitting Factory gets a wee bit irie with Iration, a favorite visitor to the Lilac City, almost on a Tech N9ne level.
The Evolution of the Japanese Sword @ Northwest Museum of Arts & Culture
Tuesdays-Sundays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Continues through May 4
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