Good morning, Spokane Valley.

Local officials in Spokane Valley are considering a proposal for a new ice rink—officials will review the plan in upcoming meetings to decide its feasibility.

The Great Pumpkinfest kicked off yesterday and is offering a festive fall experience in Spokane with over 10,000 pumpkins, a petting zoo, line dancing and face painting for families.

Proceeds from pumpkin and raffle sales support local charities and nonprofits ProjectID and Peak 7 Adventures—organizers also donate pumpkins to schools and community groups.

Spokane Police have launched a free digital tool—Seek Then Speak—that lets sexual assault survivors complete self-guided reports online at their own pace and save their progress for later review.

Washington’s beer and cannabis sales have declined since 2019, affecting local business revenue; Gonzaga economics professor Ryan Herzog explained that lower consumption by younger generations—Gen Z and millennials—has reduced county revenue transfers, which is pushing local owners like Dan Dvorak and Mitchell Lowe to adapt with nonalcoholic options and support for small cannabis stores. Changes in tourism from neighboring states have also contributed to the trend that challenges the local economy.

Yesterday, the federal government allocated $35 million to five projects in eastern Washington and north Idaho to thin overgrown forests and teach homeowners fire safety — the Spokane Valley Fire Department got $5.5 million while the Spokane Conservation District received about $9 million for its lead effort. Agencies are coordinating efforts to treat dangerous wildland areas — experts warn that routine treatments will be needed as wildfire risks grow.

Washington election officials warned that ballots mailed for the November election may be thrown out because USPS delays might mean ballots are not postmarked on time—voters should instead drop ballots in designated drop boxes or have them manually postmarked at a post office.

Officials added that these delays could affect close races and may impact some voters who struggle to get their ballots out early.

The U.S. Department of Defense changed its cleanup plan for toxic PFAS at Fairchild Air Force Base and Portland’s Air National Guard Base, delaying work by six years with new targets of June 2032 at Fairchild and September 2031 at Portland—this change was made without public notice.

Spokane Transit Authority completed the 6th Avenue project from Craig Road to Russel Street and held a ribbon‐cutting ceremony on Lundstrom Street at 1:30 p.m. on September 26.

The upgrades—new sidewalks, roundabouts and bus stops—improved accessibility and connectivity in the area.

A new study shows that many people who had COVID still have a weak sense of smell two years later—80% of those who noticed changes and 66% of those who did not perform poorly on smell tests.

Health experts say doctors should test for smell loss during post-COVID care to help spot issues early.

On Friday, Sept. 26, a routine screening of 650 children during well-child visits in urban areas with high asthma rates found that more than two-thirds of children without a previous asthma diagnosis had risk factors and nearly one in four of those were diagnosed with asthma.

The study also noted that many of these children lived in poor housing conditions—issues like mold and pests—that may increase their risk.

Folk Bird Quilting Workshop with Heather Black

5:30 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. — Spokane Fairgrounds — Quilt Kit required — Create a delightful family of modern birds in this hands-on quilt workshop.

Cozy Village Quilting Workshop with Fran Gulick

5:30 p.m. — The Quilting Bee — Registration required — Learn to create a modern quilt with three dynamic house block patterns under expert guidance.

Wild Moose Chase Trail Run

8 AM — Riverside State Park — Entry fee applies — Experience one of the best trail runs in the Pacific Northwest with options for 5k, 10k, and 25k races.

Manufacturing Suppliers Expo

8:00 AM - 5:30 PM — Mirabeau Park Hotel & Convention Center — Cost info not provided — Connect with key players in the regional manufacturing industry at this annual expo.