In 2010 borrowers who use payday loan companies will be limited to eight transactions a year. Under the new law the total amount borrowed at one time cannot exceed more than $700, or one-third of one's gross monthly income, whichever is less. Patricia Murphy reporting.
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An outbreak of pneumonia is killing bighorn sheep in central Washington's Yakima River Canyon. State officials are mulling over their options for containing the disease. One possibility: Slaughter infected animals so they don't mingle with healthy herds. Anna King reporting.
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Airports are dealing with a double whammy of a hectic holiday season and new security measures. But even though the terminals are busy these days, 2009 has been a rough year for Northwest airports. Want proof: Just look at revenue from airport parking lots. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Oregon's Dungeness fishermen are on track to meet or beat their record catch of nearly 16 million pounds of crab for December. The all time record for a December was set in 2004. Rachael McDonald reporting.
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In September Phillip Paul, a criminally insane patient at Eastern State Hospital, escaped from a field trip to the Spokane County Fair. He was caught three days later. Now, a panel has recommended changes to make it harder for patients like Paul to escape. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The start of the New Year means some new laws take effect in Washington. Starting January 1st, the state will crack down on payday loans, puppy mills and construction crane safety. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Economists like to keep tabs on various sectors of the economy: Retail sales. Housing starts. Interest rates. But one of the truly invisible indicators of just how bad the economy has been lies at the county morgue. The number of unclaimed bodies left at the morgue has risen in the last year. Carol Smith reporting.
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COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Food banks in the Northwest are preparing for their slowest time of the year for donations. An Idaho heavy-equipment company and 11 Northwest food banks are looking to fill in the holes. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Idaho drivers will shell out a few more dollars for drivers' licenses next year. The state is increasing 18 motor vehicle-related fees, beginning New Years' Day. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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SALEM, Ore. - Starting January 1st, drivers in Oregon will be required to use a hands-free device if they want to talk on their cell phones on the road. Unlike in Washington state, the new Oregon law allows police to pull offending drivers over even if they've committed no other traffic violations. Chris Lehman reporting.
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One of the biggest news stories of 2009 was the tragic killings of four Lakewood, Washington police officers in November. Authorities say the gunman was Maurice Clemmons, a parolee from Arkansas. A dispute over the case between Washington and Arkansas has revealed a surprising connection between the two states. It turns out the Evergreen state and the Natural state have a historical link that's not well known. Amy Radilkansas reporting.
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Spokane city officials have formally called for proposals for the former YMCA building in Riverfront Park downtown. John Vlahovich reporting.
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The Northwest has long had a reputation for being the least religious region in the U.S. A new survey from the Pew Research Center has found that has changed, at least a little bit. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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A recall of some shelled Hazelnuts couldn't come at a worse time for the industry. The holidays are a prime time for baking and cooking with the Oregon-grown ingredient. Rachel McDonald reporting.
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The Spokane city council ended its 2009 business by completing an overall increase in sewer rates. John Vlahovich reporting.
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POST FALLS, Idaho -- The Tea Party movement appears to have some staying power. It's a political movement fueled by people who are turned off by politics. Tea parties were sparked by voters angry about the Democrats' health care overhaul. Now, as the Congressional debate over health care hits its crescendo, the Tea Party appears to be picking up steam in parts of the Northwest. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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While there's been plenty of criticism of fuel created from plants--like ethanol--the federal government still hasn't given up on the idea of biofuels as a way to reduce carbon emissions and dependence on foreign oil. Recently, two corporations and Washington State University got a federal grant to work together on the next big thing in biofuel - algae. Amanda Loder reporting.
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RICHLAND, Wash. - The Hanford Nuclear Reservation no longer has weapons-grade plutonium. Earlier this year workers cleared out the last of the material made for nuclear bombs. Now, veterans of the plutonium plant can finally talk a bit about their work. Anna King reporting.
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COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Idaho is considered one of the reddest states in America. But Democrats are excited about their new gubernatorial candidate's chances. Keith Allred recently visited Coeur d'Alene. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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PUYALLUP, Wash. -- Word is getting out about a remarkable guarantee Washington State is making to foster children, welfare kids, and other low income 7th and 8th graders. The promise is this: If you stay in school and stay out of trouble, the state will provide a four year scholarship to college. More than 43,000 students have signed up for that deal... and counting. However, there's possible trouble on the horizon. The Washington Legislature hasn't set aside much money to cover its mounting obligation. Tom Banse reporting.
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In Copenhagen last week, world leaders came up with a last-minute climate change agreement. Northwest scientists are part of a global movement to track verify whether countries are cutting as much carbon dioxide as they promise. Christy George reporting.
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A catch-all budget bill signed by President Obama this week includes money to build a long-discussed Doppler weather radar on the Washington coast. The additional radar could result in better weather forecasts and storm warnings for Northwest residents. Tom Banse reporting.
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Travelers from the Northwest won't have to have their passports for the flight home after January 1st. The federal government has backed off from a deadline that would have kept people from using driver's licenses to pass through airport security. Chris Lehman reporting.
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There are new rules for dealing with patients who enter Washington's mental hospitals through the criminal justice system. A safety review was ordered after an Eastern State Hospital patient walked away from the Spokane Interstate Fair in September. Patricia Murphy reporting.
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OLYMPIA -- The debate continues over Washington's $300-million data center project now under construction in Olympia. A state lawmaker says he's exploring legal avenues for changing the scope of the project. Meanwhile, a major real estate company claims it could have saved taxpayers tens of millions of dollars. The state disagrees. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Long-time foes shook hands on Capitol Hill as Oregon's Democratic Senator Ron Wyden introduced a bill to increase logging in eastern Oregon. The coalition exists among Oregon Wild, the American Forest Resources Council, and other environmental and timber industry groups. Ethan Lindsey reporting.
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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington Governor Chris Gregoire is asking police, prosecutors and judges to review the Maurice Clemmons case. She wants them to report back by the end of the year on what lessons have been learned. Clemmons is the man police say gunned down four Lakewood police officers having coffee last month. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The Jolly Green Giant outlined on a hillside in Dayton is slowly fading away. The landmark figure made of white-washed building blocks just isn't a priority now that Green Giant company has packed up and left town. Plans for upkeep are now up in the air. Anna King reporting.
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While some of America's female soldiers and marines are serving on the front lines, others are dealing with the stress of combat on two levels - being in a war zone themselves, while at the same time helping units cope with waretime trauma. Amanda Loder reporting.
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This year's flu season hasn't turned out to be the pandemic that many feared. But some Northwest scientists are already preparing for the next big hit. A federal lab in Richland is developing a computer tool to predict what the next pandemic would look like. Anna King reporting.
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Garbage and water bills in Spokane will increase next month. But when it comes to increasing the city's sewer bills, the city council is still making up its mind. John Vlahovich reporting.
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For the first time in American history, women are taking on combat duties. In part two of the series on women and war, a profile of a soldier and single mom who's renewing her commitment to the military. Amanda Loder reporting.
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The Spokane City Council took testimony Monday on a controversial downtown parking proposal. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Washington takes in more out-of-state parolees than it sends to other states. That fact came to light after police say an Arkansas parolee gunned down four police officers last month. Meanwhile, Washington is downsizing its system of monitoring ex-cons. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Democratic Congressman Brian Baird has shocked the political world by announcing he will not run for re-election next year. His decision has set off a torrent of interest in southwest Washington, where any candidate might have a chance next November. April Baer reporting.
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The Department of Defense prohibits women from serving in combat. But the battlefield reality doesn't match policy. The first part of our series Women and War examines challenges facing both women coming home from combat and the agency trying to treat them. Amanda Loder reporting.
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On Wednesday morning, an urban forest seminar in Spokane's city hall is being held primarily for builders. But sponsors say property owners will receive valuable information about preserving existing trees as well. John Vlahovich reporting.
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The Washington Department of Corrections is reviewing its handling of Arkansas parolee Maurice Clemmons, who killed four police officers. Washington State blames Arkansas for him being on the streets, but public records reveal a more complicated story. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Washington Governor Chris Gregoire left for Copenhagen Friday to attend the United Nations climate summit. The six day trip to the Danish capital is drawing fire from some skeptical Republicans. Tom Banse reporting.
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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Tens of thousands of Northwest families will head into the woods this month to cut their own Christmas tree. It's a popular way to save money when times are tough, but you have to make sure you know whose land you're on before whipping out the saw. Tom Banse reporting.
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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Majority Democrats in Olympia appear likely to raise taxes to help fill a budget hole. Governor Chris Gregoire [Wednesday rolled out a plan to rebalance the current two-year budget WITHOUT tax hikes. But said she can't live with it. Critics immediately pounced from the left and the right. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Northwest tribal leaders are happy that a 13-year lawsuit over federal management of Indian trust land has finally been settled. Federal officials announced the government has agreed to pay more than $3 billion to millions of Native Americans. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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TACOMA, Wash -- Heartfelt eulogies and time-honored traditions marked a memorial service for the four slain Lakewood police officers. An estimated 20,000 mourners filled the Tacoma Dome - most of them police officers from throughout North America. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Cold weather requires a lot of adjustments. Close the windows. Get out the sweaters. Nestle into the warm socks. Many of these are aimed at keeping the electricity bill from going through the ceiling. Northwest utilities are paying out a lot of money to get their customers to use less power as winter weather sets in. So far, electricity companies say their conservation efforts are paying off. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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A dimly lit corner of state government that gets very little public scrutiny is Information Technology - or I-T services. We're talking about the storage of vast quantities of government data. We're also talking about big bucks. For the past couple of months, our Washington Capitol Correspondent has been digging into decisions to build a costly new state-of-the art data center in Olympia. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Washington State University officials have spent time out on the road the last several weeks, pushing for funding help for the next phases of the Martin Stadium renovation project. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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PORTLAND - The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has gingerly announced the outlines of an experiment its scientists want to try. They would kill some barred owls to see if that improves survival of threatened spotted owls. Tom Banse reporting.
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Sticker shock hits many people filling a doctor's prescription for name brand drugs. But a state-sponsored pilot program in Spokane offers some assistance for lower-income people who need the name brands. Steve Jackson reporting.
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The University of Idaho and the J.R. Simplot Company are proposing a $1.5 million multi-year agreement to keep the university's research station in Parma open. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Oregon gubernatorial candidate Bill Sizemore says he'll represent himself in what he hopes is a quick trial on tax evasion charges. The initiative activist was arraigned on three felony counts Monday. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The bondsman who bailed Maurice Clemmons out of jail is now defending himself in connection with the horriffic police shooting near Tacoma. The owner of Jail Sucks Bail Bonds is not giving interviews. But he posted a statement on the company's website. Tom Banse reporting.
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OLYMPIA, Wash -- The acrimony and finger pointing between Washington and Arkansas may be headed for a détente. Thursday the governors of both states connected by phone. They discussed the murder of four Washington police officers last Sunday at the hands of an Arkansas parolee. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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TACOMA, Wash. - Court documents and interviews are giving us a better idea of how accused cop killer Maurice Clemmons avoided capture for two days. We've also learned that Clemmons told friends about his murder plans in advance. Tom Banse reporting.
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A group that keeps tabs on the health of the Spokane River has notified the city of its intent to sue. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Spokane city council members have agreed to accept Spokane County Conservation Futures money to repay the mortgage on the former downtown YMCA. At the same time they want to keep open the possibility of rehabbing the building. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Olympia, WASH --Washington state could soon streamline how it protects and manages natural resources - with an eye toward improving customer service. Governor Chris Gregoire Wednesday announced an overhaul plan six months in the making. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho -- Idaho state agriculture officials are trying to solve a bovine mystery. They want to know whether a cow in eastern Idaho is the only animal to contract an infectious disease called brucellosis . The answer could have economic implications for the region's livestock industry. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Washington State department of corrections officials' dispute claims that a warrant issued from the state of Arkansas would have kept Maurice Clemmons in jail. Clemmons allegedly shot and killed four Lakewood Police officers while they sat in a coffee shop on Sunday morning. He was killed by police early Tuesday after evading capture for two days. Patricia Murphy reporting.
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The Umatilla Chemical Depot is free to incinerate mustard agent under a recent court order. But the incineration plant in northeast Oregon has been quiet for the last month. That's because the U.S. Army is struggling to comply with state and federal air-quality regulations. Anna King reporting.
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At a time when the national debate over health care reform is going into high gear, a legislative task force in Idaho trying to figure out a way to improve the states childhood immunization rate. Don Wimberly reporting.
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The University of Washington and Washington State University will be participating in a project aimed at improving the electric power grid in the Pacific Northwest. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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The week of Thanksgiving is historically the busiest week at American airports, including Boise's. But this year may be different. Passenger counts at Boise's airport are down and airlines are cutting seats. The recession is affecting airlines and airports. Adam Cotterell reporting.
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Last April Spokane officials tapped the city's investments for the more than $4 million to purchase the former YMCA located in Riverfront Park. Months later, City Council members still haven't decided where they'll find money to repay that fund. John Vlahovich reporting.
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The president of the police officers union in Lakewood, Washington says the suspect in the slayings of four of his comrades should never have been on the street. Tom Banse reporting.
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The manhunt continues in the Seattle and Tacoma area for a suspected cop killer. Detectives believe 37-year old Maurice Clemmons is getting help to elude the police dragnet. Meanwhile, a curbside memorial at the Lakewood police station is growing fast. Tom Banse reporting.
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At a time when the national debate over health care reform is going into high gear, a legislative task force in Idaho is trying to figure out a way to improve the state's childhood immunization rate. But the discussion returns to one thing: money. Don Wimberly reporting.
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Maurice Clemmons is suspected in the shooting deaths of four Lakewood police officers Sunday. Many people wonder how a person with such a violent criminal history was released into the community. Patricia Murphy reporting.
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Hopefully some of the foods you ate for Thanksgiving contained Vitamin D. Researchers at Oregon State University say the nutrient could hlep combat the flu and other illnesses. Angela Kellner reporting.
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As people head out to take advantage of holiday deals, an Oregon consumer watchdog group is cautioning parents to consider safety when buying toys. Jes Burns reporting.
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Oregon is seeing a steep rise in wheat production. And the source for the new bounty is a part of the state not known for its amber waves of grain. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The flu season is nearing the halfway point. Health officials in the three Northwest states say more than a hundred people have died from the flu this fall. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Just like Christmas, next year's Washington legislative session is coming. Spokane city officials have prepared their wish list they hope will catch the attention of legislative Santas. John Vlahovich reporting.
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This Thanksgiving turkey farmers are thankful for a better year than 2008. But the Northwest has far fewer turkey farmers than it used to. Anna King reporting.
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Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick has made quite a name for himself this year as a conservative "Blue Dog" Democrat. But he's not conservative enough for Republicans. Two GOP challengers are already on the campaign trail and the party has made that seat a top priority for 2010. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Someone once defined non-believers as being people with no invisible means of support. They recently gathered in Seattle to offer their own support to one another. Phyllis Silver reporting.
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A recent advisory vote in Ferry County on a "rails to trails" project appears to indicate strong support for banning ATV's and motorcycles. Steve Jackson reporting.
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A federal lab in Washington State is asking for bids on an unmanned, silent boat that could gather data on the ocean. The project is classified. Anna King reporting.
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New homes built in Washington will have to be more energy efficient starting next year. But the more stringent code may touch off a legislative battle before it takes effect. Home builders and Republican lawmakers are upset over added construction costs. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Albertsons Foundation is pledging $20 million to try to get more high school graduates in Idaho to go to college. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Eighty Oregon spotted frogs were released Tuesday at Fort Lewis in Pierce County. It's part of an effort to restore endangered frog populations in the Northwest. And some of those frogs were raised by felons at a prison in Olympia. Sarah Waller reporting.
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Residents of southwest Idaho appear sharply divided over a proposed new nuclear power plant near the Oregon-Idaho border. Thursday night, around 250 people filled a high school auditorium for an initial public hearing on the project. Tom Banse reporting.
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Two University of Oregon students posted a fan video on YouTube featuring the school's Duck mascot. It was a popular video but, the university says, it was also copyright infringement. Rachael McDonald reporting.
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By the end of 2011, more than one million Washingtonians will not have health insurance. A report released Thursday from the state's Office of the Insurance Commissioner describes a healthcare system in rapid decline. Amanda Loder reporting.
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In Olympia, the sea of red ink is reaching drowning depth. On Thursday, Washington's chief economist subtracted another $760 million from the state checkbook. The updated revenue forecast widens Washington's budget deficit to more than $2.5 billion. Tom Banse reporting.
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In 2006 the City of Boise concluded that the way to move families from homelessness is to first find them a permanent place to live, then help them to get a job. The man who runs Boise's homeless program says that three years later more than 70 of the first 85 families enrolled are now working and able to pay their own rent. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Hunters in Idaho will be allowed to shoot wolves in most parts of the state for an extra three months. Idaho's Fish and Game Commission extended the state's wolf season through next March. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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A Washington State winery has earned an honor that could translate into big sales for the Northwest wine industry. Out of 17,000 wines, it landed the number-one spot on Wine Spectator magazine's top 100 list. Anna King reporting.
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This week school teachers in Spokane are meeting with parents to talk about students' fall grades. What's different this year, for grades 4 through 6 anyway, is that the traditional letter grades are gone. They've been replaced by a more comprehensive system of measuring student progress. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Northwest colleges and universities have been tightening their belts in this tough economy. Some are dropping degree programs and refocusing their basic fields of study. But the University of Idaho is proposing cuts even in places that go to the core of its agricultural mission as a land-grant institution. Within the next few weeks, the university expects to announce whether it's closing three ag research facilities. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Three more trees were planted Tuesday in Susie's Forest - an ongoing project in memory of former Spokane resident Susie Stephens, a forest that started growing in Spokane's Manito Park and now spans the globe. John Vlahovich reporting.
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More Inland Northwest farmers are moving to a more environmentally friendly way of managing their fields, in an approach that discourages erosion. Steve Jackson reporting.
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A sizeable portion of the economic stimulus package Congress passed earlier this year was used to plug holes in state budgets. On Thursday, Washington state's chief economist is expected to forecast even more budget shortfalls ahead. Washington's governor has already asked federal politicians to consider a second stimulus. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Washington State Supreme Court unanimously upheld the state's funding formula for school salaries. The high court reversed a lower court judge who found unacceptable inequities in the way the state doles out the money. Tom Banse reporting.
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Many of Oregon's major transportation corridors would be impassable if a major earthquake hit. That's the upshot of a study released Monday by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The federal Agriculture Department reports more Americans are going hungry because of the recession. Monday, the agency released its annual "food security" survey. The state of Washington is following the national trend. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Saturday the University of Idaho Vandals and the Boise State Broncos slug it out on the Blue Turf of Bronco Stadium. But Friday, both university presidents pledged to continue and expand their joint research capabilities. Don Wimberly reporting.
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Here's some interesting new evidence of climate change in the West. A study finds that over the past decade, new records for daily high temperatures are being set far more often than new record lows. Tom Banse reporting.
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Idaho state lawmakers are carrying a grim message to local school board members. They say schools may have to make more budget cuts next year. And they warn not to count on new federal "Race to the Top" grant money either. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The Washington State Supreme Court Thursday unanimously upheld the state's funding formula for school salaries. The high court reversed a lower court judge who found unacceptable inequities in the way the state doles out money. Tom Banse reporting.
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Washington is now offering mental health care for patients in its General Assistance Unemployable, or GAU, program. That's for adults who are physically or mentally unable to hold jobs. The state hopes that by adding that care, it can hold down costs. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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If you're a supporter of the University of Idaho Vandals, but you live in the middle of Bronco country, what do you do for clothing for Saturday's big game? You're in luck. The University of Idaho Bookstore has opened a temporary outlet in downtown Boise. Don Wimberly reporting.
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Construction on the stalled Kendall Yards project near downtown Spokane is set to start-up once again. Greenstone Corporation bought the 78 acre property along the river from the original developer. Amanda Loder reporting.
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The Obama Administration says it plans to appoint a blue ribbon panel soon to determine the fate of the nation's radioactive waste. For years now the waste at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation has been destined for a deep hole in Nevada's Yucca Mountain. But as he promised in his campaign, President Obama stripped funding for Yucca. Now, Hanford officials are wondering where all the high-level waste in Washington State will go. Anna King reporting.
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It's being called the signature injury of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. It affects thousands of veterans including almost 800 in Idaho. It's known as TBI. This Veteran's Day story tells of one Idaho family who struggle with a debilitating brain injury and with a system that has been reluctant to help. Adam Cotterell reporting.
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A field in the mountains of north Idaho has become a crossroad for two historic forces mining and the legacy of Catholic missionaries. Federal stimulus money is accelerating projects to remove the toxic remnants of north Idaho's mining history. That contaminated dirt is going to a new dump that's near a building important to both Native Americans and Jesuits. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Two people are dead and two wounded after a man opened fire in a drug-testing clinic in Tualatin south of Portland Tuesday morning. Kristian Foden-Vencil reporting.
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On the same day President Obama led a memorial service at Fort Hood in Texas, Washington's Fort Lewis honored seven fallen soldiers of its own. They were killed in Afghanistan two weeks ago. Vice President Joe Biden delivered a eulogy at the service. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Northwest job market will stay sluggish for the next year. That prediction comes from at least one economist. Idaho's October jobless rate has remained flat, while Washington and Oregon's employment reports will be released next week. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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With little fanfare, construction crews over the past couple months have torn down a 44-year old dam on a tributary of the upper Yakima River in central Washington. The fisheries restoration project will celebrate its completion later this week. Tom Banse reporting.
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In northeastern Washington, state attorneys are trying a man accused of buying gall bladders that were taken from bears. Authorities say the organs are popular items on the black market. The practice of buying and selling bear parts is illegal in Washington. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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When you think of astronomer Carl Sagan, a modern music video is probably not the first thing that pops into your mind. But a young man from Spokane has put together a Sagan-themed video. And it's been a hit on the popular website YouTube. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Idaho's unemployment rate inched up just slightly in October. It's now at 8.9 percent. It's the fourth month in a row that the rate has remained essentially flat. State officials say that puzzles them. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Supporters of a Washington referendum to expand domestic partnership rights have secured a virtually insurmountable lead. Ballot counting continued Friday. But the margin has grown wide enough for supporters to declare victory. But opponents of Referendum 71 refuse to concede defeat. Tom Banse reporting.
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A watchdog group is crying foul on the federal government's plan to pump more water out of the Columbia River in Eastern Washington. The government plans to build a massive pipeline near Moses Lake with federal stimulus money. Anna King reporting.
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A study commissioned by the Washington Legislature recommends closing three prison wings and a juvenile lockup. Washington Governor Chris Gregoire says she'll give the recommendations serious consideration. Tom Banse reporting.
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Job creation is not part of the mission of the U.S. Census. But U.S. Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said Thursday that next year's headcount should put a temporary dent in high unemployment around the Northwest. Tom Banse reporting.
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Neither the House nor the U.S. Senate in Washington, D.C. has taken a vote on the variety of bills designed to overhaul the nation's health care system. But a joint legislative task force in Boise is already reviewing the pros and cons of Idaho opting-out. Don Wimberly reporting.
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The Army Corps of Engineers says that recent repairs at the Howard Hanson Dam have greatly reduced the flood risk in the Green River valley. Liz Jones reporting.
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The Umatilla Chemical Depot got the go-ahead Thursday from Oregon's Circuit Court judge to incinerate thousands of tons of mustard agent. But the chemical weapons incinerators won't fire up immediately. Anna King reporting.
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The resurgence of the University of Idaho football team is giving a boost to the local and state economy. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Spokane Eye Clinic's new southside facility has been open for several months, replacing two older clinic buildings. The state-of-the-art clinic is set up for everything from a standard eye exam to cataract surgery to vision-related research. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Republican leaders in the Northwest are hoping that GOP victories in a pair of east coast governor's races foreshadow similar results here. That was the message in a pair of conference calls organized by the Republican National Committee. Democrats call the predictions "wishful thinking." Chris Lehman reporting.
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Lead: Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski joined officials from electronics giant Sanyo in Salem to help open a solar cell plant. It's the same place the governor visited a year ago to celebrate the plant's ground-breaking. A lot has changed since then. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Washington voters have soundly defeated anti-tax initiative promoter Tim Eyman's latest ballot measure. Initiative 1033 would have limited state and local government revenue growth to inflation plus population growth. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Washington ballot measure to confer additional rights to gay couples and other domestic partners has a slight lead after the first round of statewide vote counting. John Ryan reporting.
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Mayor Mary Verner devoted much of her 2010 city budget presentation Monday night to explaining why the city has to increase utility rates - especially the 15 percent boost in sewer charges. If adopted, the higher rates would add about $6 to a monthly household utility bill. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Mining is traditionally a boom-and-bust industry. Right now, times are good. The Coeur d'Alene, Idaho-based Hecla Mining Company has announced that high silver prices have translated into record profits. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Spokane County farmers are watching to see how County Commissioners vote on proposed chages to rural cluster developments. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Offering a proposed city spending plan totaling $603 million for 2010, a somber Spokane Mayor Mary Verner called it a difficult budget to deliver under trying circumstances. And the mayor says 2011 isn't looking any better. John Vlahovich reporting.
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They are among the top-paid state employees in Washington: psychiatrists who work in the prison system and in the state's mental hospitals. In fact, if you look at a list of the top-100 paid state workers - not including higher education employees - more than half are psychiatrists. Correspondent Austin Jenkins Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Every five years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service counts how many Americans hunt. That number has fallen steadily since the 1970's, even in the rural West. Some of the decline is due to demographics; more people live in cities and they're less likely to hunt. But while the number is going down, the hunting tradition remains strong in rural states like Idaho. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Washington State's top elections official is standing by his earlier prediction of 51 percent voter turnout statewide Tuesday. Vote-by-mail ballots are trickling into county offices rather slowly. Tom Banse reporting.
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In the mid-1970's, State Line Speedway was the site of a major rock festival. It ended in a riot and hundreds of thousands of dollars in property damage. But today Norwester '76 is largely forgotten. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Oregon and Washington are revising their estimates for how many jobs are being created by the Obama administration's stimulus plan. In a report Thursday, The Associated Press questioned the job creation tallies by federal agencies. State governments used the same methodology earlier this month. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Longtime Washington Congressman Norm Dicks denies any ethical lapses over campaign contributions and earmarks. The Democrat from Bremerton responded Friday to a Washington Post report. It says Dicks and six other members of a key defense panel are part of an ethics probe. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A seabird die-off on the Washington and northern Oregon Coast has abated. Now marine scientists are trying to understand the cause of the underlying algal bloom. Tom Banse reporting.
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A 106 day Olympic torch relay is now underway in Canada. The Olympic flame arrived in British Columbia Friday from Greece. It will wind throughout our northern neighbor until the Opening Ceremonies of the 2010 Winter Games February in Vancouver. Tom Banse reporting.
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A small condo development in North Idaho is facing a federal lawsuit for violating the Fair Housing Act. But the developer of Riverwalk condos in Post Falls is crying foul. Amanda Loder reporting.
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In the next few years, you can look forward to a greater variety of prepared foods that don't need refrigeration at the grocery store. The Food and Drug Administration has approved an alternative to the traditional canning process. It was developed at Washington State University. Tom Banse reporting.
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Concern is mounting in Washington state over the health of the public employee pension system. The state actuary has warned of a scenario where the two oldest retirement plans could run out of money by 2017. Even so, majority Democrats Thursday rejected a key recommendation from the actuary. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Proposition 4, if approved by Spokane voters, adds nine provisions to the city charter calling on the city to provide everything from low-income housing to affordable wages and energy to free-flowing, pure waters. Prop. 4 backers fully expect their citizen bill of rights will be challenged in court. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Many Idaho school districts worry their swine flu-related absentee rates this fall will mean cuts in their funding. Idaho allocates money based on average daily attendance. Many districts are asking the state to take the flu into account when it writes the next batch of school funding checks. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The fault line off the Oregon Coast is far more active than previously thought. An Oregon State University researcher finds an 80-percent chance that a quake close to 8.0 magnitude will shake the Oregon Coast in the next 50 years. Ethan Lindsey reporting.
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Washington's campaign contribution limits will remain in place through Election Day. A federal judge in Tacoma Tuesday rejected a bid by opponents of Referendum 71 to temporarily block campaign finance laws. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Proponents of Proposition 4 appearing on Spokane city ballots this fall - what's called a Bill of Rights added to the existing city charter - say that historically special interests like corporations have run roughshod over individual rights. Prop. 4, they say, would finally correct that imbalance. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Wildlife rescue centers in Western Oregon and Washington are being overwhelmed with dying seabirds. The U.S. Coast Guard used a military cargo plane to airlift more than 300 birds to a rehab center in California. Tom Banse reporting.
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Some airlines are starting to do it. Some Northwest ski resorts, too. Not to mention event organizers. They're inviting people like you to pay a little bit extra to offset the global warming pollution resulting from an activity such as a trip. A carbon offset is a bit like an indulgence... a polluter pays someone else to remove an equivalent amount of global warming gases from the atmosphere. In our region, private timberland owners, farmers, and some tribal governments are dreaming dollar signs. But what are you really buying with an offset? Tom Banse reporting.
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Federal officials say they won't ship new waste to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation until 2019. That's according to the preferred alternative in the Department of Energy's new 6,000 page cleanup plan released Monday. Anna King reporting.
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So far, some $7-billion in federal recovery money has been flowing to Washington state. But it hasn't resulted in a jobs bonanza. That's the upshot from a report being filed with the feds. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Coeur d'Alene tribal members are finishing the harvest of traditional foods that their ancestors relied on to stay alive. In the fall, they dig up small tubers known as water potatoes. The tribe uses the harvest as a way to pass along its traditions to its children. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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When you think of earthquakes, California or even Japan may come to mind. But we've actually had a major earthquake in Idaho. It happened 26 years ago in Challis. So, just how common are earthquakes in the Gem State and are you prepared? Samantha Wright reporting.
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Halloween is a chance to forget all your troubles and get spooked out. But some people have chill-inducing jobs year-round. We begin with hard rock miners in North Idaho. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Election Day is November 3rd, and the campaign over Washington's Referendum 71 is passionate. Lawsuits are flying and ads are hitting the airwaves. Opponents of the gay domestic partnership law warn that if R-71 is approved, it will lead to gay studies in public schools. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The recession has hit a regional non-profit environmental law firm. The Western Environmental Law Center in Eugene, Oregon is laying off four people, including two high profile attorneys. Rachael McDonald reporting.
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It's late October. 'Tis the season for ghosts, goblins...and robo-calls. With the November election two weeks away, political campaigns have kicked into high gear. They're trying to reach voters any way they can. John Ryan reporting.
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Many Northwest hospitals are improvising to keep up with a steady stream of patients with the flu. That includes a rural North Idaho hospital. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The owners of the coal-powered electricity plant in Centralia, Washington are negotiating with the state to reduce their global warming emissions. That includes the possibility of converting the huge plant to natural gas. The closed-door talks are said to be going well. Tom Banse reporting.
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This summer, the country was riveted by images of wildfires burning the southern California hills. Though modern wildfires are strong, none compare to the 1910 blaze known as the Big Burn. It charred three million acres of forest in Idaho and Montana and killed 86 people. It also sparked the legend of Ed Pulaski. He's one of the main characters in author Tim Egan's new book about the fire. The book and the fire's 100th anniversary are bringing new attention to the Pulaski story. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The federal government is giving low income parents an incentive to pick up more fruits and vegetables for their children. It is revising the menu for its low-income nutrition program to cut fat and add fiber. And some parents and dietitians in the Northwest are excited about the change. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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At the United Nations Canada asked for a worldwide truce during the upcoming Winter Olympics. Vancouver and Whistler, British Columbia host the 2010 Games next February. Tom Banse reporting.
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In Eastern Washington residents of the Nile Valley have less than a month before they are cut off from civilization. A massive landslide earlier this month obliterated part of Highway 410 and rerouted the Naches River. The federal government is spending $1-million to help build a new route. But the enormous slide remains unstable, and even a new road might not hold. Anna King reporting.
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Next month, Washington voters will decide whether to approve or reject the state's latest domestic partnership law. The law gives registered domestic partners all of the same rights and responsibilities as married couples. Proponents say it's an important step on the road to full equality. But opponents argue it paves the way for gay marriage in Washington. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Ballots are arriving and Washington voters must decide Tim Eyman's latest initiative. It would cap government revenues and also cut property taxes - by an estimated $9-billion over the next five years. But critics say wealthy property owners and businesses stand to gain the most - not your average homeowner. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Ballots are arriving and Washington voters must decide Tim Eyman's latest initiative. It would cap government revenues and also cut property taxes--by an estimated $9 billion over the next five years. But critics say wealthy property owners and businesses stand to gain the most--not your average homeowner. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Foreclosure filings soared in Idaho in the third quarter of this year. A new report from the firm RealtyTrac also showed an uptick in foreclosures in Oregon but an unexpected dip in Washington State. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Hanford Nuclear Reservation in southcentral Washington still has 53 million gallons of radioactive sludge sitting in leak-prone underground tanks. Now, the federal government is testing a new robotic arm that officials say will clean out those tanks more quickly. Anna King reporting.
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Tribal leaders from the Northwest are gearing up for a national conference on Native American issues at the White House next month. Representatives of tribes from across the nation will meet with President Obama. Northwest tribes have their own list of issues to discuss. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Nearly a year before the 2010 elections, three northwest U.S. Senators are gearing up to run again. And while Congress has taken on hot button issues like climate change and health care this year, none of the Northwest incumbents appears especially vulnerable. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The Federal Aviation Administration has awarded more than $44 million in stimulus grants to airports in Washington State. But nearly 30 percent of the money has gone to projects with low priority ratings. Liz Jones reporting.
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Idaho legislators are getting a mid-year progress report on the state budget this week and the news isn't good. State agencies are already in the process of cutting $100-million and taking money from school reserves. That has school districts concerned, including one in north Idaho. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The economic slump that ended Spokane's high-flying economy also brings the opportunity for city leaders to pursue new ideas and new ways of doing business. So says Mayor Mary Verner in her annual presentation to the city council summing up the current condition of the Lilac City. John Vlahovich reporting.
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As Washington and the nation begin to emerge from the severe economic downturn, and businesses start hiring again, employers worry that there won't be enough so-called middle skill workers to fill expected vacancies. John Vlahovich reporting.
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You've heard of micro-breweries. How about "micro-canneries?" They specialize in locally-caught, hand-packed albacore and salmon. A growing number of commercial fishing families are choosing to can their catch themselves. They can't begin to compete with supermarket prices. But some of the custom-canned fish is reaching farmers markets, mail order catalogs, food co-ops, and the internet. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Northwest's vast acreage of public land is proving attractive to marijuana growers. We're not talking a dozen plants here and there seeded by a stoner. This is about thousands of plants per grow site, tended by armed drug gangs. Federal and local drug agents are on pace to match or break the region's previous record for seizures from outdoor pot gardens. That was set just last year. But it's unclear if the vigorous eradication campaign is having an effect on the weed's price or availability on the street. Tom Banse reporting.
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Washington has released a new wolf management plan for comment, just five days after Idaho opened its entire state to wolf hunting. Washington wildlife officials say the state has only two confirmed wolf packs. But they expect the population to increase and they want to be ready to manage it. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The Washington and Oregon state agriculture departments are asking the federal government to buy massive amounts of milk and cheese. Washington has lost 39 dairy farms this year and Oregon 16 as milk prices have fallen sharply across the nation. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Federal stimulus money has created the equivalent of eight thousand full time jobs in Oregon so far. That's according to a state report released Monday. But the new numbers are small consolation to the unemployed. Oregon continued to lose jobs overall last month. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Tuesday is the deadline for Washington state campaigns to report their latest financial figures. So far, 2009 is turning out to be a low-key political year on the statweide level--despite two relatively controversial measures on Washington's November ballot. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Higher education officials in Idaho met with Governor Butch Otter this week to express concerns about the state budget situation. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Idaho's signature tree, the white pine, is making a comeback in the Panhandle, thanks to innovative foresters, a hefty grant and backbreaking work. Tom Bacon reporting.
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The fervor over "death panels" has receded in the national debate over health care. But end-of-life experts are still smarting over accusations that one plan in Congress would lead to "government-encouraged euthanasia." The provision would reimburse doctors for discussing advanced medical planning with their patients. It was dropped because of the political distraction it created. These conversations are already common in the Northwest, and end-of-life experts from the region are convinced the provision should be resuscitated. Colin Fogarty reporting.
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It's official. Oregonians will vote on a pair of tax measures next January. The Secretary of State's office on Thursday announced that opponents of those taxes have gathered enough valid signatures in their effort to force votes on the tax hikes. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The winners of the Nobel Prize in Medicine included two women. It's a sign of growing success for female scientists. But the National Science Foundation reports that women still make up only 33 percent of all people in science. And women scientists are particularly rare in the hard disciplines, such as the study of radioactive elements. Anna King reporting.
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This November, Washington voters will decide yet another Tim Eyman initiative. Eyman is the state's anti-tax crusading initiative king. His latest offering is Initiative 1033. It would cap government revenues and cut property taxes. He calls it a sensible check on government. Critics warn it would devastate public services and impede the state's recovery from the recession. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Northwest states are starting to receive the first shipments of H-1-N-1 vaccine. At a press conference in Yakima Tuesday officials said the vaccine is only available in flu mist for now and in limited quantities. But over the coming weeks more vaccine will be available. Anna King reporting.
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Washington state coffers may soon take another several hundred million dollar hit. But it has nothing to do with the weak economy. It's the result of a state Supreme Court ruling last month. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Washington has released a new wolf management plan for comment, just five days after Idaho opened its entire state to wolf hunting. Washington wildlife officials say the state has only two confirmed wolf packs. But they expect the population to increase and they want to be ready to manage it. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Farm to Fork dinners are usually served on the very farms where the food was grown. They're a national phenomenon. But ultra fresh fare isn't all these events offer. Guy Hand reporting.
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Washington state officials say a culture change is needed at Eastern State Hospital. That's their assessment after investigating how a potentially dangerous patient walked away from a Spokane fair last month. A review makes it clear hospital officials made mistakes. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Nearly 70% of Washington foster kids are now getting an almost monthly face-to-face visit from a caseworker. That's a key result from a survey of foster parents released Monday. The survey charts the state's progress in complying with a 2004 court settlement. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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It's another sign of the down economy. The waitlist for Washington's Basic Health insurance program has ballooned to nearly 70,000 people. That means there are more than two people vying for every one slot in the state subsidized plan. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The U-S Census Bureau says Idaho's poverty rate stayed about the same between 2006 and 2008. The numbers surprised Idaho state officials, who say the figures don't reflect what's going on now. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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People who eat specialized diets sometimes have to work hard to find the foods they can eat that actually taste good. In Coeur d'Alene, University of Idaho nutrition students are helping consumers decipher the choices that are available. This fall, the students are offering free workshops in the most obvious of classrooms: the supermarket. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Northwest cities take pride in their comparatively high percentage of cycle commuters. Correspondent Tom Banse detoured through Copenhagen, Denmark to see how the region really stacks up. Tom Banse reporting.
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City leaders and the head of Spokane's NAACP chapter Wednesday denounced a recent incident in which a noose was left on the front porch of a local African-American resident. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Over the last few decades, land exchanges have become a popular tool. It's a way for government agencies and private landowners to acquire property they want, but can't afford. The U.S. Forest Service and a Portland-based timber company are considering a large trade in Idaho. It would put nearly 40,000 acres of highly-valued forest in public hands. In exchange, the company would get dozens of smaller parcels around Idaho. Some say it's a good deal. But opponents lament what the public would lose. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Hanford Nuclear Reservation officials are showing off the new projects that are on the fast track because of federal stimulus dollars. These demolition jobs have long been on the cleanup wish list, but were pushed off in favor of other, more pressing radioactive waste cleanup. Anna King reporting.
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Stress in the region's banking industry continues. The FDIC and state regulators have put four more Washington banks and another Oregon bank on a tighter leash. Tom Banse reporting.
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Washington Governor Chris Gregoire appears to be softening her stance on raising taxes. Gregoire said Tuesday that her "door is open" to lawmakers and advocates who want to make the case for a tax package this January. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has officially opened its East Mission Flats waste repository. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Mining waste is already on its way to a north Idaho flood plain after the EPA announced Monday that it has opened a new dumping ground. The head of the agency's Superfund office says the East Mission Flats Repository will be environmentally safe, despite its location. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Walla Walla is known as Washington‚s wine capital. But as the economy has faltered, a trend is emerging. Eastern Washington winemakers are heading West over the Cascades. They‚re opening tasting rooms in Woodinville wine country near Seattle - to be closer to their customers. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A group of homeowners is trying to reopen the foreclosed Tamarack Resort in Idaho]in time for this winter's ski season. Tom Banse reporting.
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A pair of tax hikes are likely headed for the ballot in Oregon. Opponents of the increases beat Friday's deadline to submit signatures in an effort to overturn the tax measures. Chris Lehman reporting.
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western reporting.
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Public colleges and universities in Idaho are facing a budget holdback totaling six percent for this fiscal year. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Walla Walla is known as Washington's wine capital. But as the economy has faltered, a trend is emerging. Eastern Washington winemakers are heading West over the Cascades. They're opening tasting rooms in Woodinville wine country--near Seattle--to be closer to their customers. As winemakers process their latest grape harvest, we look at how the wine indistry is adjusting to the new economy. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Washington Governor Chris Gregoire is making the case for why Boeing should build its second 787 line in Washington and not South Carolina. But the 32 page report released Monday isn't winning any commitments from Boeing. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Mining waste is already on its way to a north Idaho flood plain after the EPA announced Monday that a new dumping ground was open. The head of the agency's Superfund office says the East Mission Flats Repository will be environmentally safe, despite its location. But there are people living in the area who are not happy. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency has officially opened its East Mission Flats waste repository in Northern Idaho. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Scientists monitoring Mount St. Helens are looking to put a new instrument array on the volcano. They want to get to the bottom, literally, of whether or not the mountain is recharging for another blow. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Portland judge overseeing a major case involving threatened salmon is fishing for objections to the Obama Administration's latest plan. Rob Manning reporting.
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More than one in three Americans tell pollsters that they're giving less to charity in this recession. The consequences are showing up on the bottom lines of large Northwest charities...including the one that commissioned this survey. Tom Banse reporting.
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Oregon is telling its delinquent taxpayers to let bygones be bygones. The state is rolling out its first ever tax amnesty program starting October 1st. Lawmakers approved the program earlier this year, hoping to bring in more money to state coffers. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The head of Eastern State Hospital in Spokane has resigned. Hal Wilson will leave his post October 1st after ten years in the position. Wilson's departure comes as Washington state officials re-evaluate a policy that allows mentally ill criminals to take field trips. That review is underway after Eastern State Hospital patient Phillip Paul walked off from a group of mentally ill patients visiting a Spokane fair this month. Authorities tracked him down in south central Washington three days later. No one was hurt, but the policy is in serious doubt. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The head of Washington's Eastern State Hospital has resigned. Hal Wilson's departure comes in the middle of an investigation. State officials are looking into how a hospital patient who murdered a woman in 1987 walked away during a supervised outing in Spokane last week. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Local business and education representatives agree that Spokane may have weathered the worst of the nationwide recession. Also that past efforts have positioned the Lilac City for growth in decades to come. John Vlahovich reporting.
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New numbers from the U.S. Census Bureau show how gas prices and the recession are changing behavior even for people who have kept their jobs. Washington and Idaho show some of the highest increases in the commuters switching to carpools or public transit. Tom Banse reporting.
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Spokane County Commissioners are mulling possible changes to be made to what are called rural cluster developments, this after a series of meeting that took public input on the measure. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Washington's prison system is downsizing. Already nearly 300 positions inside the prisons have been eliminated. Another 200 community corrections jobs are about to be cut. But the budget savings don't come easily. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The Northwest wilfire season is entering its final few weeks. Fire experts say it's been a slower than usual summer, with a relatively small number of acres burned. northwest reporting.
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University of Idaho President Duane Nellis says Idaho needs to expand the number of seats it offers in the Northwest's regional medical education program. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Spokane County's sheriff says he'll bill the State of Washington for the cost of searching for a mentally ill killer who escaped. Phillip Paul was arrested Sunday afternoon in Goldendale, Washington, three days after he walked away from a supervised outing to a fair in Spokane. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Washington's business lobby is demanding reforms to the state's workers' compensation system. This after the Department of Labor and Industries proposed a significant rate hike for 2010 on Monday. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Washington social services officials have ordered a review of security at the state's mental health facilities. This comes in response to an escape by a mentally ill murderer from a supervised visit to the Spokane Interstate Fair Thursday. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Abortion rights advocates still hope to salvage a proposal for a Planned Parenthood clinic in Pasco, Washington. This week Pasco's planning commission voted down the idea. The city officials agreed with critics who say there would be too much disturbance to the neighborhood from protestors. Anna King reporting.
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On Friday, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden's office released a draft report from Amtrak with some good news for Oregon, Idaho, and Washington. Wyden and Idaho Senator Mike Crapo both asked Amtrak to study reopening a shuttered Amtrak line between the Rocky Mountains and the Pacific Northwest. Ethan Lindsey reporting.
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Washington state authorities are still looking for a criminally insane killer who escaped Thursday from handlers on a field trip to the Spokane Interstate Fair. Phillip Arnold Paul was committed to Eastern State Hospital for the murder of an elderly woman in the 1980's. Law enforcement does, however, have one idea of where Paul could be headed. Amanda Loder reporting.
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Michelle Obama isn't the only one turning her family's front yard into a garden. Throughout the Northwest, people are looking at ways to farm inside city limits. These small-scale operations aren't likely to put grocery stores out of business. But they are bringing neighbors together, and changing the way we think about urban agriculture. Deena Prichep reporting.
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Washington lawmakers won't have to reconvene next month for a special session. But they will have to tackle a possible $1 billion budget hole when they meet again in January. That's the upshot of Thursday's state revenue forecast. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Seven residents of Washington's first-in-the-nation Commitment Center for violent sex predators have been indicted for possessing large caches of child pornography. The investigation continues into how the illegal contraband got onto a heavily guarded prison island. Tom Banse reporting.
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The death toll continues to rise among Washington-based soldiers in Afghanistan. Wednesday the Department of Defense announced the deaths of two more soldiers from the 5th Stryker Brigade. This on the same day Fort Lewis Army Base held a memorial for three others. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The Obama Administration has finally laid its cards on the table for Northwest dams and endangered salmon. The new administration wants to largely maintain the course set under the Bush Administration. But it opened the door just a crack for dam removal on the lower Snake River. Tom Banse reporting.
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Labor officials in Oregon announced Wednesday that the down economy will keep Oregon's minimum wage flat for the next year. Rob Manning reporting.
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It's something Arizona has done for years. Now Washington and Oregon are gearing up to deport illegal immigrant inmates to save on prison costs. The plan is to release non-violent offenders early and hand them over to federal immigration officials for a one-way ticket home. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The Washington Department of Ecology has released new standards for phosphorus discharges into the Spokane River. The new plan also means more stringent standards for dischargers on the Idaho side of the border. Steve Jackson reporting.
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It will cost Spokane County taxpayers up to $80 thousand to figure out where and how to build a new jail. That's following Tuesday morning's unanimous vote by the County Commissioners. Another key player in the push for a new jail--Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich--commented following the vote. Amanda Loder reporting.
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The cost of health insurance premiums has greatly outpaced the average income in the Pacific Northwest over the past decade. That's according to a report released Tuesday by a health care advocacy group. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The Obama Administration will not make radical changes to a 2008 Bush-era plan for endangered Northwest salmon. That news comes out of a legal brief submitted Tuesday to a federal judge in Portland. And the plan's getting mixed reviews. Tom Banse reporting.
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An update now to a story we brought you earlier this month on government reform efforts in Washington state. Monday, the Governor's office unveiled 22 ideas for overhauling the way the state manages and protects natural resources. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The Obama Administration is expected to roll out its long-awaited approach to threatened Columbia and Snake River salmon Tuesday. Rob Manning reporting.
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Teachers in Washington's Kent School District went back to their classrooms Monday. They voted Monday morning to end a strike that delayed school by ten days. Phyllis Fletcher reporting.
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Oregon's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate has risen again--this time to 12.2 percent. Kristian Foden-Vencil reporting.
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Just as the economy is bottoming out, Washington businesses are bracing for a major increase in workers' compensation premiums. These are the taxes companies pay to cover their employees in the event of an on-the-job injury. On Tuesday, officials will meet in Olympia to discuss the rate hike. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The names and addresses of Washington voters who signed Referendum 71 petitions will not be made public--at least for now. That was the ruling Thursday afternoon by a federal judge in Tacoma. It's a victory for opponents of Washington's latest gay domestic partnership law--and a defeat for Washington's Secretary of State. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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As of Thursday, school was nine days late in Kent, Washington. Teachers there have been on strike for two weeks--over pay, class size, and the amount of time teachers spend meeting with administrators. Now, teachers in Kent who stay on strike will have to pay a fine for every day they stay out. That was the decision Thursday by Judge Andrea Darvas of King County Superior Court. Phyllis Fletcher reporting.
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Researchers say they're one step closer to defeating the culprit behind the Irish Potato Famine and countless other crop disasters. Several scientists, including some at Oregon State University, announced Wednesday that they've mapped out the genome behind a notorious pathogen. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Not surprisingly, the poverty rate and the number of people without health insurance rose as the nation slipped into recession. New figures released by the U.S. Census Bureau Thursday show the increase was sharpest in the West. Tom Banse reporting.
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Tensions are building on the Columbia River between tribal fishermen and state wildlife police. At the heart of these tensions is a tangle of jurisdictional disputes, cultural differences and long-standing mistrust. On top of all of that is the collapse of an agreement among Columbia River tribes to police the river themselves. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Long-time Washington Congressman Norm Dicks is named in a new report on defense-spending earmarks and campaign contributions. The Center for Public Integrity says Dicks, a Democrat, is among a dozen members of Congress engaged in questionable relationships with the defense industry and its lobbyists. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A big question has been answered about Idaho's wolf hunting season. A Montana judge Wednesday dismissed a call from conservation groups to stop the hunt that started last week. So the season will continue as planned, but the future of wolf hunting in Idaho beyond this year is still murky. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Washington voters will decide this fall whether to keep or reject the state's latest gay domestic partnership law. A judge in Thurston County Tuesday refused to block Referendum 71 from the ballot. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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In the deep waters of the Columbia River lurks a pre-historic looking creature. It's the White Sturgeon - the largest freshwater fish in North America. Sturgeon are prized for their meat and eggs - which can fetch hundreds of dollars on the black market. That's why they're being hunted by poachers. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Health officials in Washington say they have a tricky question to answer. Who should be the first to get their H-1-N-1 vaccine next month? That was one of the main questions raised Tuesday at a pandemic flu summit in Seattle. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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On Tuesday, classes will start in many school districts. The schools are planning how they'll react when large numbers of students come down with the H1N1 virus. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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In the Northwest, nights are getting cooler and days are getting shorter as we head into fall. It also means wasps are swirling around the dead bugs on your car bumper. But there's a reason behind their cranky behavior. Anna King reporting.
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Washington Governor Chris Gregoire wants the Obama administration to rethink some of its requirements for "Race to the Top." This is the federal stimulus program to fund education reform at the state level. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Nine thousand-year old Kennewick Man sparked a decade-long battle between scientists and Northwest tribes. Now the recent discovery of a jawbone including two teeth in the Columbia River is bringing back all those same players. The jawbone, found in the Tri-Cities, is old and of Native American origin. That's according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. The Army plans to repatriate the bone to Native American tribes soon. And that surprises Kennewick Man scientists. Anna King reporting.
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Idaho Army National Guard members learned Friday they may be headed overseas again. The same brigade spent a year in Iraq in 2004 and 2005. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Gay rights supporters in Washington have won a key legal step in their bid to keep Referendum 71 off the fall ballot. This is the measure to overturn Washington's latest gay domestic partnership law. A federal judge Thursday gave the gay rights campaign exclusive access to the petitions voters signed. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The federal government is now involved in the on-going contract dispute between Community Health Systems and a Spokane medical workers' union. Last fall, CHS, a for-profit hospital chain, bought Deaconess and Valley hospitals from the non-profit Empire Health Services. And almost immediately, unionized staffers say, their working environment changed dramatically. Amanda Loder reporting.
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Spokane County Commissioners are looking over their options regarding Spokane Raceway Park, after the operator hired by the County failed to pay for improvements at the track in a timely fashion. Steve Jackson reporting.
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In a case with more meaning for the past than the future, Washington's Supreme Court has overruled a Court of Appeals decision that Spokane County District Court judges elected at large lacked jurisdiction to hear city misdemeanor cases. John Vlahovich reporting.
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After weeks of gridlock over a new 20-year power plan, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council agreed Thursday to release the plan to the public. Rob Manning reporting.
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The Spokane Tribe is hoping it may receive compensation for lands lost when Grand Coulee Dam was built. A bill to compensate the ribe is now working its way through Congress. The tribe also hopes to reassure the public that no major changes are planned that could affect recreation at Lake Roosevelt. Steve Jackson reporting.
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It cost Washington taxpayers millions of dollars to build, but never worked properly. Now the state is abandoning its troubled E-Recruiting program. Instead the plan is to contract out the service. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Police at Washington State University say all of the assaults reported at WSU in Pullman near the start of the fall semester were falsely reported. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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If you think the healthcare debate has been contentious, just wait until this fall in Washington state. A major battle is shaping up over gay rights. It appears Referendum 71 has qualified for the November ballot - by the narrowest of margins. It gives Washington voters the chance to repeal the state's latest gay domestic partnership law. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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It's said that desperate times call for desperate measures. Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski wants to cut or consolidate dozens of state boards and commissions. Whether that amounts to desperate measures is in the eye of the beholder. One thing is clear: it would save relatively little money. But the Governor says it's part of a larger effort to, as he says, "reset" Oregon government. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Here‚s a joke. How many bureaucrats does it take to screw in a light bulb? The answer is two. One to screw it in, the other to screw it up. While that may be unfair, government is seldom a model of efficiency. But now, in the face of a recession and budget crises, states like Washington and Oregon are embracing the idea of government reform. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The recession has created a different kind of shopper and that's having a profound impact on retailers including ones in the Northwest. We've heard about the transformation going on in real-estate and the home construction business. We look at retail sales. The latest numbers say retail spending is still down, despite President Obama's stimulus money and the popular Cash for Clunkers program. Anna King reporting.
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Not so long ago, single family home construction was fueling much of the Northwest's economic boom. Builders couldn't put houses up fast enough. Then the recession hit and homebuilders shut off their backhoes and set down their hammers. Projects stalled out, builders went belly up. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The Northwest economy is on the verge of recovery and with it transformation. Economists expect the recession to end in the next year, but not without some long-term changes. This week we're looking at lasting alterations to the region's economic landscape. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the real estate market. That used to be the one investment middle income families in the Northwest could rely on. So what does the future hold for real estate? Austin Jenkins reporting.
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150 acres of farmland were recently flooded in Skagit County. This wasn't a disaster--it was intentional. For decades, public land around Wiley Slough was diked off and planted with corn and barley. Those crops attracted ducks and made a good spot for releasing and hunting Asian pheasants. But since chinook salmon and killer whales were listed under the federal Endangered Species Act, the state wildlife agency has changed its priorities in the Skagit Delta. John Ryan reporting.
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The ebb-and-flow of the long political battle to breach four Snake River dams in eastern Washington is back in flow mode. Salmon advocates are pressuring the Obama administration to come out in favor of removing the dams. That's an idea that leaders in Lewiston, Idaho have long fought. The city bills itself as the only seaport in Idaho. But now, even there, a few business leaders are softening their stance just a little bit. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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In a modern-day barn fire, 70 thousand tons of hay was ablaze in a commercial hay compressing factory in Moses Lake. The fire started Sunday. The factory is important because it readies hay from the Northwest that gets munched on by Korean dairy cows and Middle Eastern camels and race horses. Anna King reporting.
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A judge in Missoula, Montana is considering whether to grant an injunction that would stop wolf hunts in Idaho and Montana this fall. Federal Judge Donald Molloy heard arguments from conservation groups, the two states and the federal government Monday morning. Still, Idaho's wolf hunt will start on time Tuesday. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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It looks like Washington voters will decide this November the contentious issue of whether to keep or overturn the state's latest gay domestic partnership law. Opponents of the law appear to have made it onto the fall ballot--barely. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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With Idaho's wolf hunting season due to start Tuesday, opponents and hunters are each trying to sway public opinion. In Coeur d'Alene Friday, both sides held respectful, but competing demonstrations. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Oregon officials are scoffing at the latest attempt to block NOAA from moving its Marine Operations Center to Newport. One of Newport's rivals, the Port of Bellingham, has filed a protest aimed at halting the change. Chris Lehman reporting.
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In Northwest farm country, apple harvest is in full swing. Huge trucks loaded down with fruit can be seen on the highways headed for market. Farmers say they expect to haul in about the same amount of fruit this year as usual, but the apples will be larger than last year. Anna King reporting.
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Thirteen utilities and government agencies from Washington to Wyoming are hoping to get federal funds to do nearly $180 million worth of experimental energy projects. Rob Manning reporting.
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Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick is holding a series of town hall meetings in the state's First Congressional District. And the focus is health care. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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The state of Oregon is paying too much for cell phone service. That's the upshot of a new state audit released Wednesday. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Average scores on the SAT college entrance exam dipped nationwide last year--and dropped a little more in Oregon. Rob Manning reporting.
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Leaders of an effort to overturn Washington's latest gay domestic partnership law say they're prepared to go to court. This after Washington's Public Disclosure Commission Thursday refused to seal the names of campaign donors. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The Pacific Northwest is home to many well-known high tech companies. But the region doesn't rank high in Internet connection speed. That's according to a new study by the Communication Workers of America. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Catholic sisters in the United States are the focus of an in-depth, two year church investigation. Recently released Vatican documents list a number of issues being looked at. In the first of a two part series on the Catholic Church and the American sisterhood, we examine what the investigation could mean, and how the church got to this point. Amanda Loder reporting.
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Northwest senators Wednesday remembered Ted Kennedy's important influence in their political lives. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The two year Vatican investigation into the American sisterhood, or Apostolic Visitation, has been well-publicized in recent weeks. What's less well known is that another division of the church hierarchy is looking into an umbrella organization that represents the bulk of American nuns living outside cloisters. In the second of our two-part series on the Catholic Church and the American sisterhood, we profile a Spokane sister whose story embodies the changes--and tensions--within the church. Amanda Loder reporting.
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Washington State University President Elson Floyd says he won't speculate on what the future might bring for the university's budget. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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For the first time in five years, Spokane County is surveying residents to find out what their needs are. Maybe there's not enough low-income housing in Spangle - or maybe Airway Heights needs more economic development money. The county's goal: figure out how to spend millions of dollars in federal money over several years. Amanda Loder reporting.
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The recession has created a different kind of shopper and that's having a profound impact on retailers including ones in the Northwest. In the third, and final, part of our series The New Normal, we look at retail sales. The latest numbers say retail spending is still down, despite President Obama's stimulus money and the popular Cash for Clunkers program. Anna King reporting.
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The College Board made its annual announcement of SAT scores nation-wide Tuesday. Washington State is number one, for states where most of the eligible students take the SAT. That's the kind of boast the College Board discourages. Phyllis Fletcher reporting.
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Eastern Washington's remote Black Rock Valley has lost one of its most famous institutions to wildfire. The Silver Dollar Café east of Yakima was destroyed in the Dry Creek Complex fire that burned nearly 49,000 acres. Anna King reporting.
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Not so long ago, single family home construction was fueling much of the Northwest's economic boom. Builders couldn't put houses up fast enough. Then the recession hit and homebuilders shut off their backhoes and set down their hammers. Projects stalled out, builders went belly up. In the second part of our series "The New Normal," we look at the future of the Northwest homebuilding industry. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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It's an old problem that's getting new attention: high crime rates coupled with a lack of crime-fighting-resources on Indian reservations across the U-S. The Obama administration has announced a new initiative to address domestic violence, gangs and other criminal activity on tribal land. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Starting Monday, there's only one hospital in the Inland Northwest treating moderate to severe trauma. Spokane's Deaconess Hospital withdrew its application for Level II trauma re-certification last spring. That leaves the facility next door--Sacred Heart Medical Center. It's not much of a change for Sacred Heart, since the hospital has already been taking care of most Level II trauma cases for several years. But, while the transition's been relatively smooth for hospital staff, there are still issues with the state's Department of Health. Amanda Loder reporting.
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Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna says prescription drug abuse is an epidemic in the state. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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The newly released movie "Julie and Julia" has whipped up a frenzy of cookbook buying throughout the Northwest. Fans are especially hunting for Julia Child's first book, "Mastering the Art of French Cooking" published in 1961. Local bookstores can't seem to keep it in stock. By the end of this month the publisher expects the book to hit the New York Times Bestsellers list for the first time. Anna King reporting.
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Large Humboldt squid have re-invaded the waters off Oregon and Washington. The squid are four to six feet long. They used to be rare this far north, but are becoming more common. Tom Banse reporting.
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It could be do or die week for opponents of Washington's latest gay domestic partnership law. By the end of the month, the Secretary of State's office hopes to finish verifying signatures for Referendum 71. But the attorney for backers of the referendum says if the measure fails to qualify for the ballot legal action is likely. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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All City of Spokane departments are facing a lean year in 2010. But next year's city revenue shortfall won't hit the Parks and Recreation Department until 2012. That's giving the department time to create what it's calling a 'master plan'--a blueprint to guide the department in future years. John Vlahovich reporting.
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The head of Air Mobility Command was at Fairchild Air Force Base Friday. While General Arthur Lichte was there mostly for ceremonial purposes, he did comment on the drive to replace the aging aerial tanker fleet. Amanda Loder reporting.
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Five hundred more Boeing workers got layoff notices Friday. More than half of them work in the Puget Sound region. Tom Banse reporting.
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It's the legal battle that won't end. Washington's political parties have won the right to continue waging war over the state's top-two primary system. A federal judge Thursday denied the Secretary of State's motion to end the ongoing litigation once and for all. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Central Washington State could be home to the world's largest solar power plant... at least for a little while until someone else builds bigger. This week, a startup company submitted a development application to plant 400,000 solar electricity panels near Cle Elum. The huge project is getting a sunny welcome from the neighborhood. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Northwest economy is on the verge of recovery and with it ... transformation. Economists expect the recession to end in the next year, but not without some long-term changes. This week we're looking at lasting alterations to the region's economic landscape. Nowhere is that more apparent than in the real estate market. That used to be the one investment middle income families in the Northwest could rely on. So what does the future hold for real estate? Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Another economic wave is about to crash ashore in the Northwest. Thousands of job-seekers will soon exhaust their unemployment benefits. That means the pressure is on to find work in what is still a tough job market. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Insurance companies have increased the number of home inspections in Eastern Washington and Oregon in response to wildfire damage. The agencies are demanding more fire breaks, fire-proof roofs and brush-clearing. Anna King reporting.
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The U.S. Army can continue to incinerate chemical weapons after a judge's ruling Wednesday. The lawsuit could have brought operations to a halt at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in northeastern Oregon. Anna King reporting.
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Supporters of a public health insurance option are mobilizing to convince the president and Congressional Democrats not to give up on the idea. More than 200 people rallied Wednesday in Spokane to deliver that message. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Washington's largest metropolis has a close link to a remote part of the state. Seattle's city utility and a northeastern Washington county are at odds. The conflict is over a hydroelectric dam that provides the Emerald City with more than 40-percent of its power. For more than four decades, Seattle City Light has paid Pend Oreille County for the right to operate the Boundary Dam. Now the county is asking for a lot more money and the utility is balking. Inland Northwest Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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It's named Spokane's University District Revitalization Area that includes the WSU-EWU Riverpoint Campus and more - nearly 800 acres roughly bounded by Sharp Avenue south to Interstate 90 and Division east to Hamilton. Its boosters see what's now a somewhat blighted area turning into a major education, commercial and residential hub. John Vlahovich reporting.
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The White House hasn't called, but lots of reporters from around the country have. That's the word this week from Seattle's Group Health. It's suddenly in the national health care reform spotlight because of the buzz in Washington, D.C. over co-operatives. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The most endangered run of Pacific salmon is beating the odds this summer. You can't get any closer to extinction than Snake River sockeye salmon did last decade. This is the run that gave us "Lonesome Larry," so named because he was the one and only sockeye to complete the migration in 1992. Larry's descendents are coming back this year... by the hundreds. Tom Banse reporting.
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In Snohomish, Washington there's an old tuberculosis hospital that's now a private nursing home for brain injured patients. It's one of the oldest facilities of its kind in the nation - and the only such place in Washington. But the future of Delta Rehab - and other Washington nursing homes - could be imperiled. That's because of recent budget cuts ordered by Washington's legislature and governor - cuts that are now the subject of a lawsuit. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Wolf hunting will begin in some parts of Idaho on September 1. It's the state's first wolf hunting season since the animal was removed from the Endangered Species list in May. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission decided today (Monday) to allow a quarter of the state's 850 wolves to be killed. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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For the first time in more than ten years, a grizzly bear will be killed by Park Service workers at Glacier National Park in Montana. And unlike the previous bears, this grizzly won't be put down because she's mauled a hiker. In this case, it's because she's too friendly with humans. Amanda Loder reporting.
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Wolf hunting will begin in some parts of Idaho on September 1st. It's the state's first wolf hunting season since the animal was removed from the Endangered Species list in May. The Idaho Fish and Game Commission decided Monday to allow a quarter of the state's 850 wolves to be killed. But a court challenge is likely. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The recent Northwest heat wave was more than just uncomfortable for people; it was deadly for fish. Washington state wildlife officials say hundreds of thousands of them died in hatcheries. The cooler weather has alleviated the problem. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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