Good morning, Spokane Valley.

Riverfront Park in Spokane will host the Numerica Tree Lighting Celebration on November 29 starting at 4 p.m. at the plaza by the Numerica Skate Ribbon—local food trucks and live shows from groups like Natanam Dance Studio, Spokane Children's Theatre and Spokane Area Youth Choir will round out the event with a tree lighting at 6 p.m.

The HEART program is collecting gift cards to help students facing homelessness by providing food, clothing, and school supplies—families sometimes must choose between food and rent.

The program raised over $50,000 last holiday season and asks for donations by December 8 so help is ready when emergencies occur—like a house fire or other crisis.

Downriver Grill, a popular restaurant in the Audubon-Downriver area, will close after December 20 as owners Jonathan and Aaron list it for sale after 20 years of service—final weeks will feature throw-back menu items for guests.

Verizon announced plans to lay off about 165 employees at several Washington locations—including 11 from Spokane facilities—with the job cuts set to begin January 23rd.

The separations will be permanent without bumping rights, though affected workers may apply for other positions within the company.

With Thanksgiving approaching and high prices threatening staple dishes, Non Stop Local found that shoppers in Spokane can put together a family dinner for under $20.

Price checks at Dollar Tree (cart cost $19.75) and Grocery Outlet (total cost $19.50) show that careful shopping may help families keep to their holiday budgets.

Several schools near Empire — including Shaw Middle School, Newtech Skill Center, Bemiss Elementary School, and Regal School — entered secure and teach after police activity occurred near Empire Ave. and Cook St. as Spokane Public Schools confirmed the situation is active.

Officials warn travelers to plan ahead for Thanksgiving travel as increased road and air traffic is expected to cause delays near Spokane Valley and other key routes; AAA and state transportation officials advise checking vehicle safety, arriving early, and having a backup route—especially with unpredictable weather in the mix.

On Tuesday, dozens of residents gathered at Spokane Valley City Council to demand that councilwoman Jessica Yaeger resign and apologize after she posted Islamophobic comments on her personal Facebook page, calling herself a 'proud Islamophobe.' Protesters rallied outside city hall with signs while the mayor and council reaffirmed an inclusive resolution passed in 2017 — local leaders and Muslim groups demanded accountability for the divisive remarks.

After a $750,000 donation from the Genova Foundation, Cancer Can’t said its new lodging facility will be named Genova House and will have 20 suites, with half free for cancer patients.

The group will ask local builders for bids and expects to start construction in March 2026 — a project that will give patients a place to stay during long treatments.

Python for Scientists Training Class

N/A — Mon to Fri — Newcastle Training Centers Spokane — $2250 — Learn essential Python programming skills tailored for scientific applications.