RANGE

Some may say that Seattle is not a four-hour car-ride from Spokane, but rather a whole world away. What even happens there? Is their mayor actually a communist? Does all authentic grunge music still emerge fully formed from its music scene? Does a Kraken actually live in the sound, or is that just the hockey team? While Seattle is WAY out of our coverage area, we're stepping out of our comfort zone to meet a few of our favorite west siders in Wenatchee!In just a few weeks, we're going to confer with CHUM News to swap stories from both sides of the state, fact check myths about our cities and talk about the news that impacts everyone across Washington. In anticipation of this Midstate Meet-up, we had CHUM on the pod to chat about what they're building. We talked arts and culture, data centers and got Seattle recs from the locals.As Spokane journalists, we want to ask CHUM all the most important questions when we meet them in person next week, so drop us a line: What do you want us to fact check about Seattle? What do you want to know about the west side?Check out this week's Free RANGE episode on YouTube!

Reporter Daisy Zavala Magaña and freelance reporter Daniel Walters were welcomed by Aaron for this week’s episode!They talk about their hopes, goals, and values in journalism, plus previous stories they’ve covered.Meet Daisy Zavala Magaña:Daisy previously covered immigrant labor for RANGE as a freelancer, and now she’s our newest full-time reporter! You can read her introduction in both English and Spanish.Meet Daniel Walters:As a longtime reporter, Daniel isn’t new to the journalism field… or RANGE. He’s currently working for us in a freelance capacity, but you may have read his InvestigateWest stories that we’ve republished or heard him on an early podcast episode.Check out this week's Free RANGE episode on YouTube!

This week, Val interviewed Erin and Aaron about their recent stories.Erin talks about their story on a new eviction prevention program that was passed by Spokane City Council. The ordinance passed by a vote of 5-2 and will create this new program by June 1, 2026. Find the story here.Aaron talks about a story he and Luke co-wrote about two masked SPD officers who stood in on a healthcare workers’ vigil for Alex Pretti, who was killed by ICE agents. The vigil attendees thought they were ICE agents at first, up until it was confirmed that they were SPD officers. Find the story here.

Aaron, Erin, Val, and Luke went on the air this week! The four of them talked about two stories they’re working on:The first story stemmed from a conversation Hedge had with a local police accountability advocate who put in a public records request for photos generated from Automated License Plate Readers — AKA FLOCK cameras — using the license plate number of a van used by ICE. The van is owned by Geo Group, who not only is contracted to take immigrants to the Tacoma Detention Center, but also runs the center. Along with the single – and only – photo he got back, he also got a call from an attorney representing Geo Group: Joan Mell. She wanted to make sure he didn’t want to hurt – and she actually used this phrase – “her peeps.”The second story is a rundown of rumors swirling around the United States Post Office thanks to a vague “Essential Services” letter given to postal workers all over the country, including in Spokane. Val explains how she’s been trying to track down the reasoning behind issuing the letter and how it’s been contributing to online fears of martial law.

This week, reporter Aaron Hedge and producer Pascal Bostic are joined by guest Joan Braune (Gonzaga University) to talk about a new book she co-edited with David M. Gides, On Christian Nationalism: Critical and Theological Perspectives.Joan Braune discusses Christian nationalism, fascism, and some ways people can recognize and intervene against it.Charlie Kirk’s Pacific Northwest ground game (Aaron Hedge, RANGE Media)SpoVal pastor helps push initiatives to erode student privacy (Aaron Hedge, RANGE Media and Cassy Benefield, Fāvs News)The battle for a North Idaho city’s identity (Aaron Hedge, RANGE Media and Jenny Davis, Gonzaga University)Conservative think tank: Immigration ‘undermined Christianity’ (Aaron Hedge, RANGE Media and Cassy Benefield, Fāvs News)Uncivil Disobedience: Theological Perspectives (David M. Gides, Nick Braune, Joan Braune, Joshua W. Carpenter)Understanding and Countering Fascist Movements: From Void to Hope (Joan Braune)

It’s the last Free RANGE episode of 2025!On this week’s episode, the team talked about our favorite stories and projects from this year. Take a look at them below!Immigration officials are arresting people in Washington and warehousing them in Idaho (Aaron Hedge and Luke Baumgarten, RANGE Media)Deputies killed Donald Hegel a year ago. His sister is still looking for answers. (Aaron Hedge, RANGE Media)The people want safer streets — and the electeds are listening (Lauren Pangborn, RANGE Media)I laid myself off this week (Luke Baumgarten, RANGE Media)How to take action against injustice today (Erin Sellers, RANGE Media)Q&A with SPD Chief Kevin Hall on ICE and the protests (Luke Baumgarten and Val Osier, RANGE Media)Jordin v. Brayman: Spokane’s first right-to-counsel eviction trial by jury (Erin Sellers, RANGE Media)The POD: Community Organizing in Spokane (Free RANGE episode)Food Resource MapRANGE’s Flock Reporting