Good morning: Today is letter “I” for independence and here are some interesting facts about the Declaration of Independence Is Independence Day really July 4th? Nope….but it became a hallowed national tradition. Officially, the Continental Congress declared its freedom from Britian on July 2, 1776, when they unanimously approved the resolution. After voting for independence, the Continental Congress needed to finalize a document explaining the move to the public. It had been proposed in draft form by the Committee of Five (John Adams, Roger Sherman, Robert Livingston, Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson) and it took two days for Congress to approve the edits (Good grief, I know just how they feel). Once the Congress approved the actual Declaration of Independence document on July 4, it ordered that it be sent to a printer named John Dunlap. About 200 copies were printed (today, only 26 copies remain). Believe it or not, most members of the Continental Congress signed a version of the Declaration in early August 1776 in Philadelphia. The names of the signers were released publicly in early 1777. So the famous painting showing the signing of the Declaration on July 4, 1776, is a bit of clever marketing…if not downright myth-making. So why do we celebrate on July 4th. According to historian Pauline Maier in her 1997 book about the Declaration, that in early July 1777 none of the members of Congress could clearly recall that it had been almost a year since they declared their freedom from the British. After some discussion they determined that it was July 2nd or 3rd-ish that they committed treason against the Crown (you’d think they’d remember something like that)…and July 4th became the day they chose to celebrate independence. By the way, in 1989 a lost copy of the Dunlap Broadside was purchased at a flea market in Pennsylvania. It was tucked behind an old picture in a frame and it cost the buyer $4. That copy of the Declaration of Independence was eventually acquired by TV producer Norman Lear for $8.1 million! Martha Lou Wheatley-Billeter, MPA Communications Manager Office: 509.477.7195 Cell: 509.263.9385 Daily News Clips for Wednesday, June 10, 2026 Spokane County - County Commissioners weigh sales tax process: Spokane County weighs sales tax process to avoid sheriff cuts | Spokane News | khq.com - County joins City in considering public safety sales tax: - Spokane County eyes sales tax hike: Spokane County eyes sales tax hike as 2027 projected deficit rises to $30 million | Washington | thecentersquare.com - Avista confirms large load customer is a data center: Avista confirms 'large load' customer is a data center | krem.com - Conroy continues quest for Congress: Carmela Conroy will need more than math to get to Congress - Home burglary turns into SWAT standoff near Liberty Lake: Two people arrested for home burglary turned SWAT standoff near Liberty Lake | News | kxly.com - Former county Sheriff’s Sgt stands trial in federal court: Former Spokane County sergeant goes on trial Wednesday, accused of assaulting a man he was trying to arrest | News | kxly.com - EWU faculty recommend cuts to four majors: Faculty recommends four EWU majors for cuts, as new education degree proposed City of Spokane - Police Sgt saves elderly woman from house fire: Spokane police sergeant saves elderly woman from house fire | krem.com - Suspicious north side fire under investigation: Authorities investigating suspicious north Spokane house fire that displaced 4 - Demand grows for more SANE nurses: Demand grows for more SANE Nurses in Spokane | News | kxly.com - Egypt’s national team hosts open practice at GU: Egyptian National Team hosting open practice at Gonzaga University ahead of World Cup matches | krem.com - Ferris seniors place second in world environmental competition: Washington State - Governor backs statewide ban on cell phone use during school day: Gov. Ferguson backs statewide ban on cell phone use during school day - Deepfake law goes into effect: Washington deepfake law goes into effect | Spokane News | khq.com - Okanogan County Sheriff’s Office arrests Riverside woman for animal abuse-32 dogs seized: Riverside woman arrested, charged with animal cruelty after seizure of 32 dogs | krem.com - State residents can claim GS Labs COVID testing refunds: Washington residents can claim GS Labs COVID testing refunds | Spokane News | khq.com Idaho State - Idaho Governor announces record tax refunds: Idaho Governor announces record tax refunds issued this year | krem.com - Post Falls community mourns teen who died in car crash: 'She was all heart and soul': Post Falls mother, community mourn teen who died in car crash | krem.com - Mullan/I-90 interchange closed through summer for bridge maintenance: Mullan interchange on I-90 closed through summer for bridge maintenance | krem.com Misc. - Cool, cloudy and breezy today: ⛅Drying out for a cool, breezy and, at times, cloudy Wednesday - Kris | News | kxly.com