Good morning, Spokane Valley.

Barry Manilow (award-winning singer with Grammy, Tony, and Emmy awards) will perform his final Spokane concert on Friday, July 11 at Spokane Arena.

Tickets go on sale (April 11 at 10:00 a.m.).

Hamilton is playing today at First Interstate Center for the Arts until April 20—featuring 16 shows over two weeks with tickets starting near $60 and involving 80 traveling cast and crew plus 50–80 local staff.

Organizers expect about 20,000 attendees each week to help generate over $10 million in direct economic impact.

Federal cuts have threatened to remove $6 million from Humanities Washington, which may force the agency to cut key programs that serve Spokane Valley and eastern Washington — while Sen. Cantwell’s bipartisan bill for congressional oversight on tariffs has gained support ahead of a Senate Finance Committee inquiry. A Spokane legislator’s affordable housing measure cleared the Senate and Avista Utilities asked to raise rates to cover past costs, with decisions pending.

A Washington Department of Veterans Affairs program placed 133 veterans in permanent housing since October 2023, exceeding its goal of 80 veterans & showing strong progress.

The program reported that only 7% of veterans had bad outcomes & 63 more veterans were housed since October 2024.

The Spokane Fire Department expanded its CARES team yesterday by adding three new social workers, bringing the staff to 4 who help people needing more than emergency care.

The program, funded by a $500,000 opioid settlement, now offers same-day follow-up services that reduce repeated 911 calls—helping connect people with needed treatment.

A study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that invasive group A strep infections doubled from 4 to 8 cases per 100,000 people between 2013 and 2022—experts warned that the bacteria can quickly lead to deadly conditions and stressed the urgent need for a vaccine. Researchers noted that rising health issues and changing bacterial strains may be fueling the increase.

The Gonzaga men's basketball team secured the 23rd spot in the AP Top 25 poll after a close loss to Houston in the second round—making them the only ranked team from the region.

After winning their first-round series on Saturday with a 9-4 win over Vancouver in five games, the Spokane Chiefs will face second-seeded Victoria in the WHL Western Conference semifinals.

The series will open at the Spokane Arena with Game 1 at 6:05 p.m. on Sunday and Game 2 at 7:05 p.m. on Monday, and head coach Brad Lauer and GM Matt Bardsley were named finalists for league awards.

Spokane Indians vs Vancouver Canadians

1-4 p.m. — Avista Stadium — Ticket prices vary — Catch the exciting matchup between the Spokane Indians and the Vancouver Canadians.

Vancouver Canadians vs. Spokane Indians

1:05-5:05 p.m. — Avista Stadium — Cost info varies — Experience baseball excitement as the Vancouver Canadians take on the Spokane Indians live.

Facilities Maintenance Expo in Spokane

9-11 a.m. — Spokane County Fair and Expo Center — Free entry — Explore essential products for facility maintenance with hands-on demonstrations.

Spokane Bike Swap & Expo

9 AM – 4 PM — Spokane County Fair and Expo Center — $7 (13 & Older), Free for Kids 12 & younger — Explore hundreds of new and used bikes from over 50 exhibitors while enjoying community and wellness activities.

Eugene Emeralds vs. Spokane Indians

11:05 AM — Avista Stadium — Ticketed event — Experience the excitement of minor league baseball as the Eugene Emeralds take on the Spokane Indians live!

Spokane County Career Expo

11 AM — Spokane County Fair and Expo Center — Free admission — Discover career resources, coaching sessions, and workshops at the region's largest career expo.

Breakthrough Basketball Shooting Skills Camp

9 a.m. – 3 p.m. — Hub Sports Center — Registration fee required — Enhance your shooting and offensive skills with expert coaching and specialized drills.

Vancouver Canadians vs Spokane Indians

6:35-10:35 p.m. — Avista Stadium — Ticket prices vary — Enjoy a night of baseball with themed promotions like Bark in the Park and more.

Spokane's ANHPI Heritage Festival

1-6 p.m. — Riverfront Park — Free entry — Celebrate the Spirit of Aloha with Asian food trucks, live performances, and fun family activities.