In the news, Thursday, December 18, 2025

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DEC 17      INDEX      DEC 19

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Western:

O RADIX JESSE

St. Gatian

St. Rufus

St. Adjutor

St. Auxentius

St. Bodagisil

St. Desideratus

St. Flannan

St. Moses

St. Paul My

St. Peter Truat

St. Quintus

St. Rufus and Zosimus

St. Samthan

St. Theotimus & Basilian

St. Victurus

St. Winebald

Orthodox – OCA:

Martyr Sebastian at Rome, and his companions

Venerable Sebastian, Abbot of Pshekhonye Monastery, Vologda

Righteous Simeon, Wonderworker of Verkhoturye

Saint Modestos, Archbishop of Jerusalem

Saint Florus, Bishop of Amisus

Saint Michael the Confessor at Constantinople

New Hieromartyr Archbishop Thaddeus of Tver

Venerable Daniel the Hesychast

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from Inlander

Spokane leaders hope for progress in Olympia during short session, despite a tricky financial landscape

As lawmakers gear up to return to Olympia for the short legislative session that’s scheduled to run from Jan. 12 to March 12, Spokane business groups, government boards and elected officials have been preparing their wishlists. However, just as the city of Spokane and Spokane County had to figure out how to address budget deficits this fall, Washington’s budget writers will need to figure out how to fill gaps midway through the state’s 2025-27 biennial budget after tax revenue came up hundreds of millions of dollars short this year.

Reappointment keeps Serrano leading Eastern WA U.S. Attorney’s Office after his interim term expires and judges decline to replace him

Bondi previously appointed Serrano “interim” U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Washington on Aug. 6, under a law allowing him to serve in the role for 120 days until a permanent U.S. attorney is nominated by the president and confirmed by the Senate. Under federal law, in the absence of a Senate-confirmed official, the next highest ranking deputy in that office becomes the acting officer. As the U.S. attorney seat remains technically vacant in Eastern Washington, Serrano’s appointment as first assistant leaves him still in charge despite his interim appointment to lead the office expiring on Dec. 9.

Spokane’s Riblet Tramway first connected minerals and crops with markets, then pivoted to become the innovative engine behind the ski industry we enjoy today

Byron Riblet designed large railway projects, platted new additions, laid courses for the city’s first steam-driven and electric railways, and designed the waterworks that still provide clean drinking water to the city today. After his early successes in Spokane, Riblet’s career took a turn that profoundly changed mining and skiing operations.

Ari Nordhagen’s second book celebrates the people making the city’s beverage culture just as exciting as its culinary scene

Nordhagen smiles easily as she speaks of The Spokane Drinks Book, the follow-up to her debut tome, The Spokane Cookbook, which sold out the week it debuted in 2022, prompting additional printings that have elevated sales to more than 4,000 copies. She admits that the smile comes partially from pride but mostly from relief. “I thought I’d sell 200 books and have 800 in my basement,” she says.

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from Psephizo  (blog)

Was Jesus born in December?

by Ian Paul

Was Jesus actually born in December? If not, why was this date chosen—and can we know when Jesus was actually born?

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from The Spokesman-Review

Newspaper in Spokane, Washington

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