Bloglander

ON INLANDER.COM

'This isn't the immigration center'
A local bar owner's racial discrimination of one of his patrons has drawn the ire of many in Spokane. The owner's daughter now says she's taking over, and is considering changing the name of Rick's Ringside Pub, which has been in business for nearly 30 years.

Bare-bones rock
Spokane's Donna Donna, a basic guitar/drums duo, is playing an album release party at the Bartlett this Friday.

Rollin' into Idaho
Colson Whitehead, the Pulitzer-winning author of The Underground Railroad, is giving a talk at the University of Idaho next week (Feb. 12). The incredible success of his acclaimed work of fiction (the book also won a National Book Award, was a choice for Oprah's book club and earned a spot on President Barack Obama's reading list) still has Whitehead spinning.

IN OTHER NEWS

'There are some things that simply cannot be allowed'
A Portland woman says she was sexually assaulted by two prominent men — one a former candidate for Multnomah County Commission, Charles McGee, the other, Aubré Dickson, a banking executive and member of the Portland Housing Development Center. McGee cut short an interview before responding to questions about the alleged assault. Dickson ignored interview requests for weeks. (Willamette Week)

Play option
Spokane voters will decide by next week whether to approve two bond requests for more than $100 million each that would go toward building new athletic facilities in the Mead and Central Valley school districts. (Spokesman-Review)

Broken record
California Rep. Nancy Pelosi likely sent a record for longest speech delivered in the House chamber — speaking for eight hours and seven minutes. The House Democratic leader's monologue was a tactic to delay debate on legislation needed to keep the government open. A short-term funding bill will expire Thursday at midnight. (New York Times)