Monday on the Inland Journal podcast, Maurice Smith from the Spokane Homeless Coalition tells us about his new documentary series about the city’s homeless population, “My Road Leads Home”. Smith says his film takes a different approach than the “Seattle is Dying” program that has gained a lot of attention in the Emerald City. He says he’s trying to create a new narrative about homelessness here.

Today on the Inland Journal podcast, we look at a new report about the challenges that women and children face in Spokane County. The study was put together by the group Women Helping Women, using data collected by the Spokane Regional Health District. It touches on issues of generational poverty and trauma, the lack of child care availability and other issues. Steve Jackson talked with Tamara McGregor from the Women Helping Women board of directors and Stacey Wenzl, who manages the data center

Today on the Inland Journal podcast, we follow up on last week’s Washington state HIV conference in Spokane. The treatment of HIV has come a long way in more than 30 years and the results of contracting the virus have changed considerably. Whereas at one time, HIV led to certain death, now it’s more of a chronic disease that can be managed.

Today on the Inland Journal podcast, we talk with retiring Avista CEO Scott Morris. In October, Morris will hand over the top job in the company to Avista President Dennis Vermillion and become the non-executive chairman of Avista’s board until next March. Then he’ll leave the company.

Wednesday on the Inland Journal podcast, stories from refugees and immigrants who have made the Inland Northwest their home. Four people, each from a different country told their stories at an event called Refugee and Immigrant Voices: Stories of Hope” hosted by Refugee Connections Spokane.

Monday on the Inland Journal podcast, we go to Spokane City Hall and talk with Mayor David Condon. On Monday, candidate filing week begins in Washington. The mayor isn't eligible to run again because of term limits. So we ask him his thoughts about the qualifications and characteristics he will be looking for in the candidates who will file? Which issues should the candidates be talking about?

Today on the Inland Journal podcast, an early present for Washington high school graduates, class of 2020. Governor Jay Inslee signed into law this week a bill — known as 1599 — that takes away the requirement that students pass state assessment tests before they can graduate. It used to be, if you didn’t pass those tests, even if you were a four-point student, even if you aced the advanced placement classes, you couldn’t get your sheepskin.

Today on the Inland Journal podcast, hard decisions made in Spokane’s Mead School District. On Tuesday night, the Mead school board cut $11.3 million from the district’s budget. It’s a big hit for a district that serves a fairly affluent part of town. But it wasn’t quite as severe as the $12 million district officials thought they’d have to cut.

Tuesday on the Inland Journal podcast, non-native invasive species are causing headaches for wildlife and fisheries managers in the Northwest. Idaho is trying to keep out the quagga mussel, a little creature which is becoming a nuisance in many parts of the country. We’ll hear about efforts to stop the spread of Washington’s most immediate threat, the northern pike, a big fish that’s gobbling its way toward the Columbia River.

Today on the Inland Journal podcast, it’s not an easy time for independent, locally-owned bookstores. Amazon and the chain bookstores have gobbled up much of the business and smaller outlets are folding. Christian bookstores are in the same situation. Tracy Simmons from Spokane FAVS has written about this. Today on the podcast, she talks to Mark Logan, who runs one of those few independent bookstores, the Seventh Day Adventist Book Center on the West Plains. It sells not only books, but other