VIDEO: The Spokane City Council signed off on several major items Monday, impacting emergency response and housing. It was a busy night at the Spokane City Council. City leaders approved a series of decisions aimed at long-term growth and public safety. Their biggest investment? A new, unified computer-aided dispatch, or CAD System.

The city is moving forward with a contract with Hexagon to overhaul how 911 calls are handled. For the first time, police, fire and EMS will operate on the same system. It’ll cost $3.3 million for the first year and a little more than a million dollars in future years. The city plans to handle all of its emergency dispatch services by January 2028. Council also unanimously passed a joint resolution with Spokane County to expand land holdings near Spokane International Airport. The airport will buy one property now and lock in the option to purchase a neighboring home in the future.

KREM-TV CBS 2 Spokane

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Fire crews worked to extinguish a house fire in Cheney. Spokane County Fire District 3 dispatched crews to the 15800 block of South Whitehouse Lane at 3:47 p.m., according to public information officer Teri Bunce. A caller reported the fire started on the second floor before spreading to the first floor of the home. All occupants evacuated safely and there is currently no threat to other buildings or vegetation in the area, Bunce said. The cause of the fire remains under investigation.

KHQ-TV NBC 6 Spokane

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A Parkland area woman was arrested on felony charges after she allegedly pointed a laser at a Washington State Patrol (WSP) airplane. Around 10:30 p.m. on March 27, deputies were notified by the WSP, from their aircraft, that they were being actively targeted by a green laser from the ground. The subject could be seen by the aircraft in a backyard in the Parkland area.

“From the aircraft, the Washington State Patrol was able to lead our deputies to the suspect’s location, providing a very detailed description of the suspect’s clothing and where they were located,” Pierce County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Carly Cappetto said. While deputies were en route, the suspect continued to shine the laser at the aircraft. When the deputies arrived, the suspect reportedly fled into a home.

She eventually came out and was taken into custody without incident. But not before spending more than 30 minutes allegedly trying to evade arrest by making reportedly false statements about having medical issues and other reasons why she couldn’t go to jail. The Tacoma Fire Department arrived and determined the suspect didn’t have any of the issues that she reported. The suspect then made one last effort to evade arrest by collapsing.

My Northwest

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The Richland Fire Department and American Red Cross made history Tuesday, collecting over 100 units of blood in what has become Washington state’s largest single-day blood drive while supporting a groundbreaking emergency medical program.

The drive at Fire Station 74 exceeded expectations, surpassing the typical 60 to 80 donations gathered at large regional drives. According to the Red Cross, totals exceeding 110 donations are considered potential state records, making Tuesday’s collection a significant achievement.

The blood drive serves as the primary supporting event for Richland Fire and Emergency Services’ upcoming “Blood on Board” pre-hospital blood transfusion program, which is expected to reach full operational status by summer 2026.

Apple Valley News Now

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U.S. Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto introduced the Safer Roads for Those Who Serve Act to enhance protections for roadside workers and first responders, requiring states to improve data collection on injuries and fatalities.

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