Sept. 8 was the day that Washington state certifies the election results from last month's primary. That's an important step because once the state certifies results, counties start working on the ballots for the November election. As many as 60,000 ballots will be going to overseas and military voters.The state Republican Party has condemned the process of handling those ballots. But the state's top elections official says the concern is misguided. Derek Wang reporting.
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If you're an air traveler, you may not realize the debt you owe to a path breaking plane launched in Britain in 1949. The jet age of passenger travel began with the de Havilland "Comet" airliner. Now, the only surviving de Havilland Comet in the Western Hemisphere is being restored in Everett. Tom Banse reporting.
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The new Alert Spokane system has already proved useful once in notifying landline telephone users of a pending emergency. Now cell phone and voice-over-Internet users will be able to register their numbers so they too will receive the emergency calls. John Vlahovich reporting.
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A colorless, odorless poison is seeping into the water and sickening families in eastern Washington's Yakima Valley. Many private wells there are contaminated with nitrates. The compound can reduce your blood's ability to carry oxygen. In high concentrations, nitrates are especially dangerous for babies. The federal government has launched an investigation to find the source of this contamination. But it's the poorest families who are most at risk. Anna King reporting.
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You might call it a "stay out of jail free" card for small-scale private timber owners in Oregon. A new agreement announced Friday means they can sign up to be exempt from future spotted owl regulations if they give the birds more consideration now. Chris Lehman reporting.
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A judge Friday gave Washington the go-ahead to release copies of signed petitions on most ballot measures. It's the latest twist in a year-long controversy over whether signing a petition is a public or private act. Tom Banse reporting.
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New test scores for Washington public school students show decidedly mixed results. The Washington state schools superintendent released statewide results. Tom Banse reporting.
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Six Oregon men who say they were molested by their scoutmaster in the 1980s have settled their lawsuit against the Boy Scouts of America. Amelia Templeton reporting.
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Western states - including Washington, Oregon and Idaho - now have the money to develop a national standardized test to replace the alphabet soup of state assessments such as the MSP in Washington, the ISAT in Idaho and Oregon's called OAKS. Tom Banse reporting.
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The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has denied a request to halt construction of a 670 mile natural gas pipeline being built between Malin, Oregon and Opal, Wyoming. Construction of the Ruby Pipeline will continue, but the project still faces other challenges. David Nogueras reporting.
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Biologists at Washington State University's Bear Center are trying to solve a mystery that has shaken the staff there. Why did two adult bears at the center attack and kill a younger bear this week? Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Nearly $2.5 million in federal funding for Oregon wave energy development is currently making its way though Congress. One coastal city is gearing up to launch its first wave energy buoy sometime this winter. Jes Burns reporting.
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Some Silver Valley residents in north Idaho are letting the head of the federal Environmental Protection Agency know their feelings about a waste dump. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Washington's U.S. Senate race is turning testy over the issue of federal earmarks. This is money for special projects that members of Congress get for their home states. Democrat Patty Murray ranks 9th in Congress for bringing federal money back home. Republican Dino Rossi mentions it in nearly every campaign stop. But now the Murray camp is dredging up Rossi's own spending record from the Washington state Senate. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A century ago, one of the largest wildfires in US history taught Americans to fear flames. The Big Burn of 1910, covering swaths of Idaho, Montana, Washington and British Columbia led to the creation of a disasterous Forest Service fire suppression policy. Amanda Loder reporting.
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For the first time, Idaho law school students can attend classes in the state capital. This week, the University of Idaho began teaching third-year law students in Boise. The U of I hopes it's the first step towad a full-time law school there. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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A group of stakeholders with an interest in the Spokane River were busy along the river shore on Wednesday, clipboards in hand. The group was rating the aesthetic quality of the river falls during this period of the dry summer. Steve Jackson reporting.
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A Spokane housing provider is creating affordable housing units faster and cheaper by developing already existing properties. Karen Taylor reporting.
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The lawyer for a Northwest soldier accused of a battlefield murder is speaking out in his client's defense. This week the Army announced additional charges against Private First Class Andrew Holmes of Boise, and four other Washington-based soldiers. They were first charged in June with murdering Afghan civilians. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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You smoke it like you would marijuana. It's billed as "elevating," "uplifting," and "mellow." It can also spike your heart rate, your blood pressure, and give you an LSD-like trip. It affects some of the same parts of your brain as pot. And it may surprise you to know it's perfectly legal in Idaho, and most other states. Samantha Wright reporting.
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The September issue of Fortune magazine will feature a 7-page advertising supplement touting Washington as a great place to do business. One of the key selling points: it's one of a handful states without an income tax. But an income tax measure is on the fall ballot. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Many Americans get their health care through work. And usually about this time, employers, especially big companies, shop for medical insurance for next year's benefits package. Many are finding that their premium rates will go up. But the reason for the rate hike depends on who you ask. Ruby deLuna reporting.
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Backers of a proposed non-tribal casino near Portland say they don't need a voter-approved constitutional amendment to proceed with their project. They say another measure that did make the ballot would be enough. Chris Lehman reporting.
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TV news departments and the National Weather Service aren't the only ones putting out detailed weather forecasts. Regional electricity wholesaler Bonneville Power also employs numerous forecasters. Now, those meterologists are paying more attention to wind. Tom Banse reporting.
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If you want to see an honest-to-goodness zeppelin, keep your eyes on the sky for the next couple of weeks. A California company is bringing its massive airship to the Northwest for sightseeing flights and research. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Air Force crews from the Northwest are helping with flood relief in Pakistan. Two flights took off Monday from Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma. The giant transport planes will deliver military helicopters to the flood zone. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The White Lightning Complex fire near Warm Springs, Oregon grew rapidly over the weekend, burning nearly nine square miles of grasses, sage and juniper. Jes Burns reporting.
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Forecasting salmon runs is trickier than even predicting the weather or the economy. But the federal ocean science agency NOAA says it's refined its ability to forecast Pacific salmon runs. Tom Banse reporting.
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Wood-fired boilers and heaters are being promoted as a way to reduce our carbon footprint and dependence on fossil fuels. But Northwest companies and lawmakers fret new air pollution limits could undermine that renewable energy initiative. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Oregon timber harvest dropped to near historic lows last year, and the state is blaming the economy. Rachael McDonald reporting.
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This week, which marks the 100th anniversary of the Great Fire of 1910, SPR has investigated the contradictions and short comings of national wildfire policy. In our final installment, we examine how climate change factors into this contentious issue. Amanda Loder reporting.
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Nearly 20,000 Washington-based soldiers will return home from Iraq and Afghanistan this year. But amid this surge of homecomings come fresh deployments to the war zones. In fact a pre-deployment "flag casing" ceremony is scheduled Joint Base Lewis McChord near Tacoma. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A new federal survey shows Washington's adult smoking rate is now the third lowest in the nation. Idaho is near the bottom of the pack when it comes to adult smoking rates. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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More Northwest farmers will feel the collateral damage from a festering trade dispute with Mexico. The Mexican government slapped new tariffs on imported apples, cheese and sweet corn. Mexico is using expanded tariffs to pressure the Obama administration to restore a program allowing Mexican trucks into the U.S. Tom Banse reporting.
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This week at SPR, we're focusing on wildfire management 100 years after the "Big Burn." Now, in the fourth part of our series, we examine how a key Forest Service method of preventing large-scale wildfires is rapidly declining in the Inland Northwest. Amanda Loder reporting.
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The US has only had a unified national fire policy for the past ten years. Meanwhile, the number of homes built on property next to public lands has exploded. And that private growth has rendered public fire policy actions--and funding--inadequate. Amanda Loder reporting.
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The stage is set for a hotly contested U.S. Senate race in Washington. Three-term incumbent Democrat Patty Murray will face-off against two-time gubernatorial candidate and Republican Dino Rossi. They were the top-two vote getters in Tuesday's primary. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The economic recession and voter anger have produced election upsets around the nation. But in Washington state, political experts say election primary results appear more subdued. Turnout was low, and many Congressional incumbents seem in line to keep their seats. Amy Radil reporting.
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One of the many freedoms you lose when you go to jail is access to the internet. But now, some Washington state prison inmates, including those incarcerated at the Airway Heights facility near Spokane, are getting email. Tom Banse reporting.
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Figuring out how and where the federal government deals with wildfire is a confusing proposition at best. Because while the US Forest Service says its wildfire policy is one thing, the reality is quite different. Amanda Loder reporting.
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It's hard to believe it's been more than 30 years since punk rock began to make inroads in the U.S. Now some Spokane folks are working on a documentary film about the early days of the genre right here in the Lilac City. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Banner runs of salmon and steelhead are migrating up some Northwest rivers this summer. Not since dams were constructed on the Columbia and Snake Rivers have this many sockeye salmon returned. Sockeye bound for Baker Lake in northwest Washington also smashed the pre-season forecast. Meanwhile, the 2010 summer steelhead run is on pace to be the second highest on record on the Columbia. The modern record for steelhead was set in 2001. Tom Banse reporting.
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One of the many freedoms you lose when you go to jail is access to the internet. But now, some Washington state prison inmates are getting email. Tom Banse reporting.
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The global weather phenomenon called El Niño is making a dramatic shift to the La Niña pattern. Tom Banse reporting.
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Nearly a billion dollars. That's how much money Washington state has spent over the past twenty years to build low-income housing across the state. These projects house homeless families, the elderly and disabled, migrant farm workers and other low-income Washingtonians. But now many of these subsidized rental properties are aging and in need of major overhauls. The problem is there's no money to preserve them. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Tuesday's primary day in Washington. Democratic Senator Patty Murray will get an assist from President Obama. He's set to headline a fundraiser for her in Seattle. Meanwhile, Sarah Palin is lending her voice to underdog GOP Senate candidate Clint Didier. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A century ago this week, one of the largest wildfires in American history ripped through vast swaths of the Inland Northwest. We begin our five-part series looking at the legacy of the Big Burn with a close look at 1910's "Summer of Fire." Amanda Loder reporting.
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Spokane's almost finished Lincoln Street rehabilitation project is more than just a repaving effort. It was also designed to keep polluted stormwater runoff out of the Spokane River. John Vlahovich reporting.
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More than 5,000 Washington families will lose their welfare benefits starting in February. That's just one of the cuts Governor Chris Gregoire ordered to keep the state budget from going into the red. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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One hundred homeowners are being recruited for an experiment on how to store surplus wind power. Starting next month, the Bonneville Power Administration and a local utility will link up home water heaters to wind farms east of the Cascades. Tom Banse reporting.
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Idaho state game officials say they may ask for federal permission to reduce the wolf population in at least one part of the state. That permission is necessary because a federal judge ordered last week that the gray wolf be returned to the Endangered Species list. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The fish and wildlife departments of Oregon and Washington are teaming up to do a study with new fish nets on the lower Columbia River. They think better-designed nets could help catch more hatchery fish and let more endangered and threatened wild fish go. Anna King reporting.
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Hospitals and clinics in rural parts of the Northwest worry there may be a day when they'll no longer have doctors. They say older physicians are leaving the profession faster than medical schools can train their replacements. They say it's also getting harder to lure physicians to small towns. Spokane medical leaders say if they can train more doctors in eastern Washington, they might be able to convince more of them to stay here. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The legal battle over the release of Referendum 71 petitions in Washington continues. This is the ballot measure voters defeated last November. In doing so, they upheld a gay rights law. But sponsors still want to keep the petitions secret. It now looks like a fall trial in federal court is likely. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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In the last couple of weeks, wheat farmers in the Northwest have seen higher prices for their crop. Some farmers have been able to sell their grain at that high price. The spike is largely attributed to Russia's wildfires and drought. Anna King reporting.
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A federal judge and the man who once stood in her courtroom as a defendant are working side by side growing vegetables for the hungry, part of the courthouse garden project in Eugene, Oregon. Rachel McDonald reporting.
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The Environmental Protection Agency has re-ignited a contentious debate in north Idaho. The agency proposes to expand its work to clean up heavy metals around a federal Superfund site. But residents are not happy. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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A former upper level manager working on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation's vitrification plant project claims he lost his position after raising safety concerns. His claims have launched several top-level federal investigations. Anna King reporting.
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Representative Cathy McMorris Rogers of eastern Washington wants consumers to be able to see how much of their monthly power bills go to help endangered salmon. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Redfish Lake in central Idaho will live up to its name this summer. An unusually large number of red-backed sockeye salmon will soon swim to their spawning grounds in the shadow of the Sawtooth Mountains. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Monday the group World Citizens for Peace planned a ceremony in Richland to commemorate the 65th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki, Japan. The Hanford Nuclear Reservation is where the plutonium for that bomb was processed. Anna King reporting.
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Last spring, 27 hundred Oregon National Guard troops returned from Iraq. Some joined the ranks of the unemployed, along with more than 200 thousand other Oregonians. These veterans are finding it takes a community effort to help them find work. Angela Kellner reporting.
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Washington is turning to the private sector for money to keep several state-run fish hatcheries operating. The Department of Fish and Wildlife recently announced two partnerships and says it's negotiating a third agreement. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The tiny Methow Valley community of Twisp has created a 10-year master plan detailing what it wants to do with what used to be a Forest Service district ranger station complex right downtown. They've given it a new name and are recruiting potential users. John Vlahovich reporting.
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With the August 17 primary fast approaching, the effects of Washington's new Top Two popular vote measure and other changes begin to impact Spokane County elections. Karen Taylor reporting.
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Many Washington state offices closed Friday. It's the second of ten state employee furloughs. The state employee's union is fighting the furloughs, and says overtime costs will likely swamp any savings. State officials insist that they'll keep a tight lid on overtime use. Amy Radil reporting.
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It looks like Northwest states will get an infusion of cash from the feds thanks to a key vote in the U.S. Senate. That vote means Washington Governor Chris Gregoire won't have to resort to across-the-board budget cuts. Tom Banse reporting.
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The Forest Service says it may reduce the scope of an unusually large and complicated land exchange in Idaho. The agency says backlash from the proposal and a lack of money may force it to slow down. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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When you drive through the Clearwater National Forest in northern Idaho, you're surrounded by deep, green forests and wild and scenic rivers. But if you drove through there 67 years ago, signs would have warned you not to stop. The woods hid a World War Two Japanese internment camp. Archaeologists are wrapping up a dig at that now virtually forgotten site. A new book about this hidden history is titled "Imprisoned in Paradise." Tom Banse reporting.
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In north Idaho this week, two women with one thing in common met for the first time. Their link is a close one: a donation made by the daughter of one woman to the other. kDoug Nadvornick reporting.
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As the Washington Department of Corrections prepares for the September execution of convicted murderer Cal Coburn Brown there will be one notable absence. Prisons Director Dick Morgan retired July 30. Both Morgan and his father worked at the penitentiary when it was known as one of the most violent prisons in the country. Patricia Murphy reporting.
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On August 1st, The Monastery of St. Gertrude, in central Idaho, held its 18th annual raspberry festival. This year's festival was dedicated to Sister Wilma Schlangen, the festival's original inspiration and most devoted raspberry picker. Sister Wilma died in February at age 94. Edible Idaho correspondent Guy Hand met Sister Wilma at 91, still faithfully working in the Monastery's raspberry patch. Guy Hand reporting.
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In the 19th century, once-numerous rocky mountain goats were wiped out from Oregon's Cascade Mountains. Now, for the first time in more than a century, the goats have returned to tribal lands. Will Robbins reporting.
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Sarah Palin and the Tea Party movement are helping decide primary contests across the country. But not in Washington. The Palin-backed candidate for US Senate is running a distant third in the polls. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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It's no surprise Oregon's Democratic candidate for governor won the endorsement of the state's largest abortion rights groups Monday. But the Republican candidate isn't getting the same backing from groups at the other end of the political spectrum. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Rarely do ads for legislative races get this personal. But Washington Republicans are pulling no punches. They've launched an ad campaign against a state lawmaker accused of domestic violence. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Basque culture is enjoying a resurgence in the Northwest. It's happening several generations after the last wave of Basque immigrants came to this country. Nowhere is the cultural revival more on display than at a festival underway in Boise. Tom Banse reporting.
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With just three months before the November election, the two leading candidates for Oregon governor still haven't met. Democrat John Kitzhaber and Republican Chris Dudley missed their latest chance to meet at a gathering of Oregon mayors. Chris Lehman reporting.
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States around the country are rushing to solve vexing budget issues during recession. At a conference this week in Portland, state budget officials from around the country swapped ideas for how to tackle the red ink. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The Idaho Department of Lands has set back efforts for some north Idaho residents who are trying to preserve the tranquility of one corner of Lake Coeur d'Alene. SteveJackson reporting.
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The state Attorney General's office has set a September execution date for convicted murder Cal Coburn Brown. Brown was found guilty of killing Holly Washa in March 1994. The execution date comes on the heels of a State Supreme Court ruling. The challenge brought by death row inmates. Attorneys argued among other things that the states three drug method of execution constituted cruel and unusual punishment. Patricia Murphy reporting.
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A federal judge in Montana has ordered the US Forest Service and two other federal agencies to reexamine their use of fire retardant in fighting wildfires. The judge ruled the current policies fail to adequately protect endangered plants and wildlife. David Nogueras reporting.
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Dozens of attorneys from around the country representing clients affected by the BP gulf oil spill are in Boise. Here's why the legal journey for BP litigants begins more than 4,000 miles away in Idaho. Samantha Wright reporting.
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A coalition that includes conservation advocates, as well as business leaders and members of the the timber industry is calling for a bold move to designate new wilderness areas in northeast Washington. Steve Jackson reporting.
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A special session of the Washington legislature appears more and more unlikely. That means Governor Chris Gregoire would have to resort to across-the-board cuts to rebalance the state budget. That hasn't happened in Washington in nearly twenty years Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The comeback of the bald eagle is one of the most celebrated success stories of modern conservation. But along the Pacific Northwest coast, the majestic eagles are marauders. Their increasing numbers are putting other bird populations at risk. For now, biologists are not inclined to intervene. The eagles' prey must adapt or die. Tom Banse reporting.
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This summer, NASA is bringing lessons about space and science to Idaho towns with large Hispanic and Native American populations. The Summer of Innovation program aims to encourage kids who don't normally get hands-on science projects to shoot for the moon. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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People in Hailey, Idaho are closely following the story of two U.S. sailors in Afghanistan. One has been killed, the other has not yet been found. He's been identified as Petty Officer Jarod Newlove of Renton, Washington. Hailey is the hometown of Bowe Bergdahl, the only American known to be held captive by the Taliban. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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It's the deadliest attack on Washington-based soldiers in nine months. Four members of the 17th Fires Brigade have been killed in southern Afghanistan. And Facebook offers a haunting window into the danger the soldiers faced. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Sales of big tractors are way up this year, according to a manufacturing industry group. It's a sign the Northwest rural economy is improving. But dealers say some farmers are just trying to upgrade before new federal emissions rules kick in next year. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The company behind a major natural gas pipeline to be built in Oregon says it will contribute a total of $22 million to two environmental conservation funds. In return, the two groups that set up the funds say they'll drop their opposition to the project. David Nogueras reporting.
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Washington's citizen initiative process is controlled by well-funded special interests. That's the conclusion of the state's Public Disclosure Commission in a new report out Friday. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Northwest apple farmers say early indications are it could be a bumper crop this year. They are just about done thinning their fruit trees. And that's giving them a good forecast of what their final crop will be. Anna King reporting.
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It was 100 years ago this summer that a massive fire destroyed millions of acres of forestland in north Idaho and Montana. At least 85 people were killed, and it's believed 3 million acres of forest burned to the ground. If such an event occurred today, how would the Forest Service react? Steve Jackson reporting.
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hey were injured at war and sent home. But [today] Thursday dozens of wounded warriors reunited with their fellow soldiers just back from Afghanistan. It happened at a formal welcome home ceremony for Washington's 5th Stryker Brigade. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Providence Health Care, which owns Spokane's Sacred Heart Medical Center and other area care facilities, is buying two regional heart care practices. The doctors and staffs of Spokane Cardiology and Heart Clinics Northwest will become employees of Providence's new Spokane Heart Institute. John Vlahovich reporting.
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When it comes to alternative energy, many see the Northwest as the Saudi Arabia of woody biomass. The potential is huge. Trees are everywhere here. But experience has shown that wood-fired power plants tend to pencil out only on a small scale. That's a lesson many rural communities are learning as they explore whether to build their own plants. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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What if a soldier went off to war, nearly got killed and three years later still couldn't think straight? In 2007, Army Staff Sgt. Richard Kellar was diagnosed with a mild Traumatic Brain Injury after his Stryker vehicle rolled over a thousand pound bomb. Today, Kellar is medically retired from the Army. But he's still crippled by his brain injury. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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When enlistees join the military they know they've got firm plans for the next several years. Whether deployed to Iraq of Afghanistan, danger and order are routine. But what happens to vets just returning from war, when daily duties change from trying to stay alive to trying to readjust to life at home? Amanda Loder reporting.
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Playing varsity sports or joining a fraternity or sorority doesn't hurt your chances to graduate from college on time. Just the opposite, actually. Those extracurricular activities may help according to a new study from Washington State University. Tom Banse reporting.
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Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick is winning praise from Democrats in north Idaho for declining an endorsement from one faction of the Tea Party. The Idaho Democrat has attracted national attention as one of the most conservative members of his caucus. But at home, liberals have had their doubts about him. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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It looks unlikely that Oregon's gas tax will go up before January. An earlier increase was possible as part of a road construction package lawmakers approved last year. But that only would have happened with a quick economic turnaround. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The US Fish and Wildlife Service Monday announced it will consider federal protection for a pine tree that's struggling to survive in the high country. The whitebark pine would become the first endangered tree species in the Northwest if it is listed. Tom Banse reporting.
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Environmentalists in Idaho and county commissioners in Montana are the latest groups to voice concern over the proposed shipment of oil cargo equipment through both states. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Supporters of women priests in the Catholic Church say they are undeterred by a newly-toughened stance from the Vatican. Thursday, the church in Rome announced revisions to canon rules and disciplinary procedures. Tom Banse reporting.
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A new federal program is offering financial grants to Spokane County farmers near Hangman Creek willing to help clean up that watershed. Karen Taylor reporting.
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The Washington State Patrol has been asked to investigate allegations of signature fraud on a citizen initiative. A unionized homecare worker is accused of falsifying signatures on at least twenty petition sheets for I-1098. That's a high-earners income tax measure on the November ballot. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A federal commission concluded two days of hearings that included testimony from Washington Governor Chris Gregoire, Native Americans and environmental watchdogs. The blue ribbon panel has a daunting task: To decide the future of the nation's nuclear waste. Many who spoke urged the federal government to decide soon where that waste will go so that there's a plan to remove it from the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Anna King reporting.
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Federal environmental officials say the generation-long cleanup of mining waste in north Idaho is taking a new turn. The Environmental Protection Agency has released a plan it says will focus on polluted areas that it hasn't had the time or the money to get to. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Researchers in a federal lab in Richland, Washington are developing a fuel cell that could help power a semi-trucks. The new technology could be in use in the next few years. And that's not the only possible use. Anna King reporting.
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Nearly a dozen members of President Obama's Blue Ribbon Commission toured the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. They toured buildings and sites where Hanford's high-level and most dangerous waste resides. They're also taking two days of testimony. Anna King reporting.
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Six dollars a signature. That's how much the soda pop industry spent to get a tax repeal initiative on Washington's fall ballot. It's just one sign of what's become a high-stakes year for ballot measures. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Budget woes have states looking at privatization to save money. But a new report says it would actually cost Washington taxpayers more if the state outsourced its email. The lawmaker who commissioned the study says he doesn't buy it. Austin Jenkins㝌 reporting.
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Scientists from Western Washington University have found fossil evidence that "Big Bird" roamed the Northwest 50 million years ago. We're not talking about the friendly yellow bird from Sesame Street, though. Tom Banse reporting.
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A new study of nuclear waste is shifting some basic assumptions about how long it will take to clean up the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The research of sites across the country shows there is three times more plutonium in southeast Washington than the federal government last estimated. Anna King reporting.
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A bird is helping blur the boundary between urban and rural America. A few years ago, a chicken would have been a reliable sign that you'd crossed into farm country. No more. Chickens are invading many American cities -- and helping urbanites connect not only to their food, but to a new kind of community. GuyHand reporting.
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Oregon land use laws require communities have enough space and infrastructure for 20 years of growth. But small towns are challenged to show they can meet these needs with limited budgets and access to resources. Veneta, west of Eugene, is no exception. Jes Burns reporting.
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In Seattle Monday, scientists announced that the ocean waters off the West Coast and in Puget Sound are becoming more acidic. The newly published findings coincide with the deployment of new monitoring instruments offshore. Tom Banse reporting.
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Several top managers at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation are changing positions. The new leadership will steer clean-up of the largest gathering of nuclear waste in the nation, with $2 billion of federal stimulus money to spend. Anna King reporting.
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Researchers at Washington State University are developing a contraption that could put cherry pickers out of work. The "cherry thumper" is the size of a sedan. It thumps tree limbs to drop the fruit onto a conveyor belt. Anna King reporting.
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Some bad news for folks who have been smuggling phosphate laden dishwashing soap into Washington from Idaho. Those days may be ending because manufacturers aren't making it any more. Steve Jackson reporting.
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The central Washington city of Moses Lake will soon make carbon fibers that will go into BMW's new electric car. Washington Governor Chris Gregoire joined leaders of a German contractor in breaking ground for a new manufacturing plant. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The U.S. Navy's Northwest Command this week is sending five more oil skimmer boats based in Puget Sound to the Gulf of Mexico. Separately, two privately-operated skimmers are being transferred to the Gulf as well. The latest deployments means the region has fewer boats to respond in the unlikely event of a spill here. Tom Banse reporting.
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The cities of Coeur d'Alene and Spokane are blessed with a massive aquifer that has provided ample water for a rapidly increasing population for years. But some communities adjacent to Spokane are not served by that aquifer and now wonder if they will see water shortages in the future. Steve Jackson reporting.
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For thousands of Northwest military families, this past Fourth of July weekend ushered in a summer of homecomings. Over the next couple of months, nearly 20,000 soldiers will return from Iraq and Afghanistan to Joint Base Lewis McChord near Tacoma. Some are already back. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Despite the bad economy, the show will go on for many Fourth of July fireworks displays across the Northwest. But organizers of Independence Day celebrations have scaled back this year out of funding concerns. Colin Fogarty reporting.
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You might say Northwest voters are declaring a bit of independence from their elected leaders this Fourth of July weekend. In Washington and Oregon, several hundred thousand voters signed petitions to place half a dozen measures on each state's ballot. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The Oregon Board of Pharmacy has officially recognized that marijuana has an accepted medical use. Amelia Templetone reporting.
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If you're hitting the road for this Fourth of July weekend you may unwittingly be part of a trend. Per capita gasoline use is up in the Northwest. That reverses a long decline according to a conservation-oriented think tank. Tom Banse reporting.
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East of the Cascades, wind farms stretch for miles. Now, the first wind turbines west of the mountains have gone online. Four towering wind mills are spinning just a couple miles from the ocean surf near Grayland, Washington. Energy developers are looking to the more heavily-populated west side for additional wind farm locations. Blades would spin above tree tops instead of wheat stalks, but only if threatened birds won't face harm. Tom Banse reporting.
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Just as fire season gets underway, the U.S. Forest Service has cleared its rappeller firefighting crews to return to action. Rappellers slide down ropes from a helicopter to snuff out remote wildfires. These daredevils were grounded for five months. Tom Banse reporting.
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The head of the Roman Catholic diocese of Rapid City in southwestern South Dakota has been appointed Bishop of Spokane's Catholic diocese. John Vlahovich reporting.
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The BP oil spill command center says it's fielding "thousands upon thousands" of inventions and ideas for how to clean up the mess in the Gulf of Mexico. The vetting of those ideas is a job in and of itself. Some of the creative thinking is coming from the Northwest. Tom Banse攀 reporting.
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The Washington Department of Corrections (DOC) will pay more than $6 million to settle a lawsuit over the state supervision of Michael Braae. Braae has been linked to the rape, murder or disappearance of seven different women in Washington and Oregon. Patricia Murphy reporting.
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Spokane's city council has given its police ombudsman greater authority to investigate police conduct. The council also took another step along the path toward sustainability. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Regional power managers are looking for ways to increase the amount of water available for hydropower generation. One proposal would result in altering lake levels on a north Idaho waterway. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Wildlife managers in eastern Washington suspect Canada geese may be moving away from their country homes into cities. This month, biologists are capturing geese, putting identification markers on them, then letting them go. They hope to track the animals' migratory patterns. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The US Supreme Court Monday allowed a lawsuit against the Vatican to move forward in US District Court in Oregon. Sex abuse victims have never successfully sued the Vatican over how the Catholic church dealt with abusive priests. Amelia Templeton reporting.
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The race for the Automotive X-Prize is nearing the final round and a team from Western Washington University is still in the running. This is a $10 million competition to build a car that can get one hundred miles to the gallon. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Portland General Electric has called the latest proposal from Oregon regulators to close the Boardman plant "disapppointing." Kristian Foden-Vencil reporting.
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Federal Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack says wood from Northwest forest floors could help wean the U.S. from foreign oil. Vilsack says he's enlisting the region's help to double the amount of biofuel produced in the U.S. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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People who sign initiative and referendum petitions should not expect their names to stay secret. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that signing a petition is a public act. The case came from Washington State. Tom Banse reporting.
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This November, Washington voters will be asked to approve a half-billion-dollar "green-schools" bond measure. But is making schools more energy efficient a good investment coming out of the recession? Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A new public radio poll finds broad support in the Northwest for Arizona's immigration law. The Arizona law makes it a state crime to be in this country illegally and directs police to question suspected violators. On a related question, roughly half of the people in our regional poll said the Northwest states should copy Arizona's "get tough" approach. Tom Banse reporting.
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A new public radio survey shows a majority of Northwest residents believes illegal immigrants take away jobs from native-born Americans. Is that perception based on fact? Some experts say, right or wrong, people's beliefs are sometimes driven by their fears about their own economic well-being. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Housing and Urban Devleopment officials from Washington, D.C. are coming to Spokane this Saturday afternoon to hear what kinds of problems Inland Northwest gas and lesbians face when they seek a place to live. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Northwesterners are bullish on alternative sources of energy like wind and solar power. But they're not necessarily willing to pay the higher costs of using those forms of energy. Those are some of the findings in a new public radio survey. Chris Lehman reporting.
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A longtime leader of Spokane's Peace and Justice Action League says his group never wins anything, but it has had significant victories in the 35 years of its existence. John Vlahovich reporting.
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New maps are available for people who enjoy visiting national forests in eastern Washington and north Idaho. Forest managers hope to strike a balance between offering space for ATV enthusiasts and undisturbed trails for hikers and habitat for animals. Steve Jackson reporting.
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The US Supreme Court Monday struck down a national injunction barring farmers from planting a genetically modified strain of alfalfa. The seeds, which are manufactured by the Monsanto corporation, are resistant to the company's herbicide Roundup. David Nogueras reporting.
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The economy may be on the mend, but Northwest residents continue to feel angst. That's one of the findings in a new poll. People in the region are particularly worried about their home states' economies. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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As many as 500 people from the Yakama Indian Nation might have been duped into giving out their personal information. They were promised high-paying jobs, free meals and lodging in exchange for cleaning up the oil spill on the Gulf Coast. Anna King reporting.
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A long-running legal battle involving the estate of property rights advocate Dorothy English appears to be over. The Oregon Supreme Court Thursday ordered Multnomah County to pay her estate more than $1.1 million to settle a Measure 37 land-use claim. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Idaho students are off the hook for two assessment tests this fall. The state Board of Education says schools should focus on tests that don't take as long to grade. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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A 19-year old from Idaho is among five Washington-based soldiers now charged with murdering civilians in Afghanistan. The Army announced premeditated murder charges against four of the soldiers and released some details of the alleged crimes. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Idaho Republican Congressman Mike Simpson is trying again to advance a project he's worked on for 10 years. He's nursing through Congress a fragile compromise over a new wilderness area. Simpson's bill received a hearing in a Senate subcommittee Wednesday. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Four more Washington-based soldiers - including one originally from Idaho - have been charged with premeditated murder. They're accused of killing civilians while deployed to Afghanistan. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Spokane city council members are attempting to reach an agreement on how to streghtn the position ot the Spokane Police Ombudsman. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Last month's Washington employment statistics are lackluster at best. Or as the Employment Security Department's Dave Wallace put it, "Adding 200 jobs, you're pretty much treading water." John Vlahovich reporting.
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Washington, Oregon and Idaho are considering whether to adopt the same school standards as 45 other states. The so-called "Common Core" standards would apply to English and math for kindergarten through 12th grade. Idaho education officials are touring the state, explaining the standards to teachers and administrators. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Here is a long, long range weather forecast according to research presented in Portland: The wet areas get wetter. Dry places get drier. Tom Banse reporting.
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Education and healthcare advocates in Washington want to keep a tax repeal measure off the fall ballot. That's why they're now launching a "decline to sign" campaign. So far it's word-of-mouth, but an ad campaign could be next. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Chances are your first job didn't start when you were eight years old, and involve getting up before dawn to spend the day picking vegetables. But that's how some kids of migrant farm workers in the Northwest spend their childhoods. Liz Jones reporting.
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Stories about people exercising poor judgment in the real world and posting the evidence online are common. Now, self-incriminating internet postings are helping cops fight crime on public land. Tom Banse reporting.
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Oregon's public universities are asking to dip into tuition-backed reserves. They say that would help offset a pending cutback in state support. Higher ed administrators plan to make their case to a legislative budget panel Tuesday. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick expects a hearing within two weeks for his bill to give the president line-item veto authority. The US Supreme Court struck down a similar law in 1998. But Minnick thinks his bill would pass the constitutional test. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The number of homeless families in Oregon has increased in the last year. That's according to data from a one night count of the homeless organized by Oregon Housing and Community Services. Amelia Templeton reporting.
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Area kids are looking forward to the summer tradition of cooling down in Spokane city pools. But for some kids, the cost of admission might be too high. Now, a local group is working to make sure as many kids as possible get to use the pools. Steve Jackson reporting.
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The gulf oil spill has shut down the oldest oyster shucking operation in the country. You might think that would translate into more business for Northwest oyster growers. But it's not that simple. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A new garden where families of sick children can relax is to become a reality outside Spokane's Ronald McDonald House courtesy of the staff of a Northwest real estate business. John Vlahovich reporting.
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With the cool and cloudy spring this year, Washingtonians might find it hard to believe they face a water shortage. But a new federal study says a region known for its rain is using water at an unsustainable pace. The findings make policy changes more likely. Anna King reporting.
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Eastern Washington University will install a new playing surface at its on-campus football field. That's not really newsworthy, until you consider the color of the new turf. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Repairs to Washington's only state-run inland ferry will mean hour-long detours for some central Washington residents. The Department of Transportation is having the 62-year-old boat inspected and repaired. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Spokane County Commissioners split - Bonnie Mager opposing - when they decided to put a proposed new jail on the West Plains rather than in downtown Spokane. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Earlier this year, Washington lawmakers considered doing away with sales-tax-free-shopping for some out-of-state visitors. Now, Washington is going in the other direction. It's adding two Canadian provinces to its sales tax exemption. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Oregonians are getting a better sense of what nine percent across-the-board budget cuts might mean for state services. Governor Ted Kulongoski ordered the cuts in response to an unexpected $570 million budget shortfall. The actual cuts will be finalized over the next few weeks. But some Oregon school districts aren't waiting for the final numbers. They've already trimmed days off the end of their calendars for this school year. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Grocery stores in the Northwest are stocking their shelves with new low-phosphate dishwasher detergents. That's in anticipation of new laws that will take effect in Washington and Oregon. The aim is to reduce water pollution. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Spokane's city council has agreed to a pact with Washington State University Spokane to extend Riverside Avenue east of Division - over the objections of one council member. John Vlahovich reporting.
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The medicinal properties of water from central Washington's Soap Lake have long been known locally. Now, a $1 million grant may help spread the word worldwide. Phyllis Silver reporting.
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This month census workers are documenting the nation's latest demographics. That includes a statistical portrait of America's Hispanic population. But some recent studies about Latinos in the Northwest already provide some clues. Jacob Lewin reporting.
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A new "911 Good Samaritan" law in Washington aims to encourage people to report drug overdoses without fear they'll be snared by police. The law, which takes effect Thursday, grants some immunity to callers who ask for help. Patricia Murphy reporting.
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Critics of Senator Patty Murray call her the "Queen of Pork." The three-term Democrat is currently ranked ninth in the Senate for earmarks. Republican Dino Rossi hopes to make this an issue in this year's campaign. But Murray is unapologetic. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The ACLU agreed Thursday to remove Idaho from a federal lawsuit against the company that operates a state prison near Boise. The group alleges the company condones and even encourages violence against inmates. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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A Washington-based soldier has been charged with the pre-meditated murder of three Afghan civilians. The charges against Specialist Jeremy Morlock were announced late Friday. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A plan to furlough Washington state employees is turning into an ugly fight between the governor's office and state employee unions. State workers are resisting orders to take one unpaid day off a month for the next year. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Thirty years ago, the federal government decided McNeil Island prison in southern Puget Sound was too expensive to maintain. So the state took it over. Now, Washington lawmakers are concerned they can't justify the cost either. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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It's not often that individuals have a chance to give direct input to a government agency and get a lot of response. But that's exactly what some National Forest managers are offering. Steve Jackson reporting.
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The uncertainty is over. The Oregon coastal city of Newport is moving ahead with a new found confidence in preparing to host a fleet of federal research ships. Community members and politicians celebrated the victory. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Washington Governor Chris Gregoire may have to call a special session of the legislature. That's if Congress doesn't come through with federal Medicaid dollars. Washington's budget was balanced on the assumption the state would get that money. But that's now in serious doubt. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Hanford Nuclear Reservation managers were so focused on radioactive threats to their workforce, they missed the gravity of the risk posed by the metal beryllium. That's how the U.S. Department of Energy is interpreting an independent report on beryllium that was released in Richland, Washington. Anna King reporting.
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Washington Governor Chris Gregoire may have to call a special session of the legislature. That's if Congress doesn't come through with federal Medicaid dollars. Washington's budget was balanced on the assumption the state would get that money. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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In the high desert rangeland of southeast Oregon, there's a ground squirrel that's so common locals call them "sage rats." The little critters swarm alfalfa fields like a ready-made buffet. Farm kids have long used the Belding ground squirrels for target practice. Now, shooting squirrels has become an economic bright spot in a depressed rural economy. Anna King reporting.
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There's a great real estate debate raging in America's federal forests. The question is: how much rent should the government charge to people who own cabins on national forest land? The Forest Service is raising the rates to reflect the fair market value of the property. Thousands of Northwest families are complaining they may lose the rustic vacation homes they've used for generations. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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If you use electric heat, your utility may be willing to pay you to upgrade to a more efficient system. They're targeting the roughly one million Northwest households that use electric baseboard heaters to stay cozy and warm. The hot new thing in home heating is called the "ductless heat pump." Never heard of that before? Neither had we. Tom Banse reporting.
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Researchers are downgrading their predictions of a severe grasshopper invasion this summer. They credit the recent cool, wet weather. That may be frustrating for Northwest residents who are anxious for summer. But it's good news for farmers. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Whatever happened to Soap Lake, Washington's plans for that big lava lamp that once graced Times Square in New York City? Phyllis Silver reporting.
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The start of June means Washington residents must start paying sales tax on candy, gum and bottled water. The tax on non-micro beers also goes up Tuesday. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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This year's Sasquatch Music Festival sold out faster than ever before. Each day this Memorial Day weekend, 25 thousand music fans filled the Gorge Amphitheater in central Washington. The festival is quickly becoming famous around the country. Chantal Anderson reporting.
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Census workers are going door-to-door across the Northwest to make sure everyone gets counted. In Oregon, state lawmakers will use the results of the tally to re-draw political boundaries next year--unless an effort underway to change that system succeeds. Chris Lehman reporting.
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A 29 member committee is working with the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality to draft a rule for a low carbon fuel standard. The goal is to have cleaner fuel and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Angela Kellner reporting.
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Attorneys for Idaho prison inmates are deliberating whether to keep going with a three decade old lawsuit over living conditions at one state prison. But the inmate advocates say they still have questions that may be enough to justify a case. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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If you had to retake the test for your driver's license, do you think you would pass? An insurance company re-tested five thousand drivers nationwide. So how did Northwest motorists perform? Tom Banse reporting.
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Thousands of Washington residents who are waiting to get on the state's subsidized health plan may have another option. The state is offering alternative coverage for uninsured people. Ruby de Luna reporting.
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A Liberty Lake man may have surpassed Tim Eyman's record as the new Initiative king for the number of new Washington State Initiatives he's introduced. Steve Jackson reporting.
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As BP tries to stem the flow of millions of gallons of oil that have spilled into the Gulf of Mexico, we take a look at an oil cleanup effort closer to home. In Skykomish Washington, the BNSF railway company is trying to remove two million gallons of oil from right under the town's main street. Amelia Templeton reporting.
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There was no raucous campaign rally. No feisty kick-off speech. No press conference. Instead, former Washington State Senator Dino Rossi posted an on line video. He announced his candidacy for the U.S. Senate. The Republican is vying to take on veteran Democratic incumbent Patty Murray. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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With the Idaho primary now history, the race for north Idaho's congressional seat is a contest between two candidates endorsed by the Tea Party movement. That political dynamic may well decide whether Blue Dog Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick wins a second term. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The race to watch in Idaho's primary season has been the contest for the Republican nomination in the first congressional district between state representative Raul Labrador and Iraq war vet Vaughn Ward. It looked like Ward was a shoe-in early on but as the primary drew closer his campaign was plagued by a string of unforced errors. Those errors combined to give the race to Raul Labrador. Adam Cotterell reporting.
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The Columbia Generating Station in Richland, Washington, has been coming increased federal scrutiny lately. Washington's only commercial nuclear power plant has had six unplanned shutdowns in the last two years. The National Regulatory Commission held a hearing about the plant's performance. Anna King reporting.
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If you use electric heat, your utility may be willing to pay you to upgrade to a more efficient system. They're targeting the roughly one million Northwest households that use electric baseboard heaters to stay cozy and warm. The hot new thing in home heating is called the "ductless heat pump." Tom Banse reporting.
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State agencies in Oregon have two weeks...two weeks to come up with a plan to slice nine percent from their budgets. Democratic Governor Ted Kulongoski ordered the action in response to a new economic forecast. It shows a dramatic and unexpected plunge in the state's revenues. Chris Lehman reporting.
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City council members were all set to give Spokane's police ombudsman greater investigative powers Monday night. But last-minute concerns over state bargaining and open records laws gave them pause. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Washington state auditors say the agency charged with cleaning up Puget Sound should clean up its own act too. A report out Wednesday says the Puget Sound Partnership has misspent public funds and circumvented various state laws. John Ryan reporting.
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This week, jobless people in Idaho will start to see a major transition in its unemployment system. Idaho is phasing out paper unemployment checks and phasing in a system that puts benefits on debit cards. It becomes the second Northwest state to do so. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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People with Parkinson's Disease are known for their shaking, especially in their hands. But for many patients, the shuffling of their feet is just as troubling. Now, many patients are turning to a form of exercise they thought they'd have to leave behind. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Oregon faces a decade of budget deficits. That's even if the economy improves and the federal government adds more stimulus funding. That's the prediction of a report issued Thursday by Governor Ted Kulongoski's so-called "Reset Cabinet." Chris Lehman reporting.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency has approved Washington's long debated plan to reduce the amount of phosphorus in the Spokane River. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Oregon has at least four. And there are many more throughout the country. But Washington is about to have its first Roman Catholic woman priest. The unsanctioned ordination will take place Saturday in Olympia. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A new report that predicts ongoing Oregon budget deficits is shaping the debate between the two major candidates for governor. John Kitzhaber and Chris Dudley say the effort to press the reset button on state government will play a role in their campaigns. Chris Lehman reporting.
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An Oregon man is touting a return to concepts used by hunter-gatherers as a way to deal with the eventual breakdown of society. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Elections across the country this week reflect an anti-establishment mood among voters. But that trend didn't hold true in Idaho this week. Voters in at least 20 districts approved levies for their local schools. Nonetheless, many superintendents say they'll still have to cut their budgets next year. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Top Army brass flew to Washington state this week to meet with injured members of the Oregon National Guard just back from Iraq. Some of those citizen-soldiers have complained about inadequate care at the hands of Army medical teams at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. The allegations have reached the Secretary of the Army and members of Congress. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Some people sickened by beryllium say the toxic metal is finally getting adequate attention at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. The Department of Energy has completed a long awaited report on workers' exposure to beryllium. Anna King reporting.
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The City of Spokane is offering incentives to encourage homeowners to upgrade their automatic sprinkler systems. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Where were you on May 18, 1980? The massive eruption of Mount St. Helens that day is one of those seminal events on par with 9/11 or the JFK assassination. Hard to believe it's been thirty years. The blast zone is once again teeming with life. Even scientists are amazed. Tom Banse reporting.
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About 140 National Guard soldiers from Washington and Oregon will deploy to Afghanistan later this summer - some for a second tour of duty. There was a farewell ceremony for the Washington soldiers. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Idaho and Oregon are out. Washington is likely in. That's in the competition for the next round of federal Race to the Top education grants. Monday is the deadline for school districts in Washington to say if they're onboard. More than two-thirds have. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A north Idaho man is waging a one-man campaign to honor each US soldier killed in Iraq. Every morning he pulls on his running shoes and heads to his next stop with a handful of American flags. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Spokane city officials are looking into reports of some dead animals found in the pond at Cannon Hill Park. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Olympic gold medalist Kristen Armstrong says life lessons she learned in college helped prepare her for success as an Olympic athlete. She's the commencement speaker this weekend at her alma mater, the University of Idaho. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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To get a jump on what's looking to be a very austere 2011; Spokane city administrators are already imposing pay freezes, seeking employee benefit cost reductions and looking at across-the-board departmental cuts. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Spokane's brand new Witter Aquatics Center has been completely rebuilt, but it continues to carry the name of Stan Witter, Sr., the man who devoted much of his life to ensuring that Spokane children could swim every summer. John Vlahovich reporting.
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The former head of Oregon's police training academy faces formal charges of sexual harassment and discrimination. Oregon Labor Commissioner Brad Avakian announced that he's filed civil charges against John Minnis, who resigned under pressure last November. Chris Lehman reporting.
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The Spokane riverkeepers group is bringing a big name to Spokane next week, in an effort to spur interest in the group and to promote the clean-up of area rivers and lakes. Steve Jackson reporting.
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A powerful union and Bill Gates' father are the top early contributors to an income tax campaign in Washington. New financial disclosure reports show where Initiative 1077 is getting its initial seed money. Austin Jenkines reporting.
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Spokane County isn't out of the woods-financially speaker-by any means. But at least the news isn't getting worse. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Across the Northwest farmers markets are starting up for the season. But produce pickings have been Spartan. Farmers say a cool spring has delayed growth and even killed some crops. Anna King reporting.
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Teachers are getting ready to close out another school year and they face a summer of uncertainty. The next few months will be especially stressful for teachers in Idaho. Most, if not all, will make less money next school year. In March, Idaho lawmakers reduced pay for teachers and administrators as part of a 7.5% funding cut for public schools. That leaves districts with some tough decisions as they write new budgets this summer. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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It's not just another mountain lake. The catastrophic 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens completely remade nearby Spirit Lake. Before it was home to rustic camps and several resorts. Now the lake is twice as big, half as deep, and virtually off limits to the public. The 30th anniversary of the volcano's big blast is coming up May 18. That provided an opportunity for people with memories of the place to gather in Portland. Tom Banse reporting.
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Three years from now, one of Washington's five juvenile lock-ups will be empty - shuttered to save money. That decision has sparked allegations that lawmakers are putting politics ahead of the needs of mentally ill kids. What we're talking about is the Maple Lane School near Centralia. Initially, its closure will actually cost taxpayers millions of dollars. But more than that, one expert fears it could have deadly consequences. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Oregon ranchers are keeping a close eye on their herds. They learned this week that a wolf killed a cow calf in the northeastern corner of the state. It's the first wolf attack on livestock in that area. And ranchers fear it won't be the last. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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2009 will go down in history as one of the deadliest years for law enforcement in Washington. Six officers were gunned down. Those officers were among those memorialized at a Medal of Honor Ceremony in Olympia. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Three Northwest bookstores are now home to new machines that print books on demand. Using the machines, readers can get copies of long out-of-print books, or publish their own novels or memoirs. The stores are also becoming publishers in their own right, bringing out local histories and other lost treasures. Amy Radil reporting.
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The Washington Supreme Court has affirmed that public libraries in Washington now have permission to use Internet filters to keep patrons from looking at pornography and other objectionable sites. The justices ruled that a rural district that uses filters in its libraries is not violating the state constitution. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Washington workplace regulators have fined the BP oil refinery near Bellingham for 13 serious safety violations. The move comes a month after an explosion at the Tesoro refinery in Anacortes. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A liquefied natural gas terminal proposed for the Columbia River is on hold indefinitely, according to a company statement released Tuesday. Rob Manning reporting.
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A federal appeals court has ruled the Obama Administration can dismantle the Yucca Mountain nuclear waste operation in Nevada. It would have stored treated waste from the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. But Washington can challenge the administration in court. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Spokane County health officials warn that despite the chilly weather, tick season has arrived. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Adult children who are at risk of losing health insurance under their parents' plan may get a reprieve sooner. Some of Washington State's larger insurance providers are extending coverage for adult children up to age 26, well before the new federal law requires them to do so. (From KUOW.) Ruby de Luna reporting.
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Religions frequently struggle to find a balance between the spiritual and material world. To some people Heaven and Earth often seem at odds. Today, though, many faith-based organizations are finding that balance...in the garden. (From Boise State Radio.) Guy Hand reporting.
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GOP fundraisers say they don't expect a squabble inside the Oregon Republican Party to affect their chances this November. The internal dispute about money among party leaders has spilled out into the public. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Washington Governor Chris Gregoire has signed a two-year spending plan into law. The new budget closes a nearly $3 billion shortfall with a combination of spending cuts, new taxes and one-time federal assistance. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The US Environmental Protection Agency has given pesticide manufacturers two weeks to make changes to help protect threatened and endangered Northwest salmon and steelhead. Rachael McDonald reporting.
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There's a move afoot to stop the City of Spokane's efforts to promote sustainability. A city initiative campaign says that Spokane's efforts are directed by the United Nations. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Washington's Auditor has dinged the state Supreme Court for how it handles cash transactions. In a report the Auditor says the high court lacks safeguards to prevent the "misappropriation of public funds." Austin Jenkins reporting.
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If you buy soda pop in Washington, soon you'll be making a contribution to help rebalance the state budget. In the final hours of the legislature's special session, majority Democrats imposed a two-cents-per-can excise tax on soda. But now the carbonated beverage industry is considering an effort to repeal the pop tax this November. One of its arguments: the tax law contains a technical goof. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Many of us can only experience World War II through the movies. The classic "Twelve O'Clock High", for example, told the story of airmen who flew the B-17 bomber, also known as the "Flying Fortress." Very few of the old relics remain. But one caters to aviation aficionados looking for a new adventure. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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During timber's heyday, it was common to see tugboats pulling huge rafts of logs to area mills. In the process, many valuable old-growth trees sank to the bottom of Northwest rivers and lakes. That's given rise to different breed of logger. A few enterprising souls have sought to take advantage of the underwater hidden forest. But Washington State has moved decisively to shut down underwater timber salvage operations. That's effectively sunk the business in Oregon too. Tom Banse reporting.
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This month, students in about a quarter of Washington's middle schools are changing the way they take the state's new assessment test. They'll no longer be filling in little ovals. Students are trading their number two pencils for computer keyboards. It seems a natural move for a generation that grew up online. But it requires some adjustment on the part of school districts and the students themselves. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The annual sea lion feeding frenzy at Bonneville Dam on the Columbia River has peaked. They feast on the spring salmon migration, including some fish on the endangered list. Biologists have noticed two trends this year they call "disturbing." Tom Banse reporting.
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A variety of events this year are set to celebrate the centennial of women's suffrage in Washington. But despite this milestone, women have yet to serve in several statewide offices. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Saturday marks a decade of May Day marches in Seattle, with crowds of people rallying around issues of immigration and workers' rights. To organizers this year is a crucial crossroads as federal legislation takes shape and a new law in Arizona sparks debate. Liz Jones reporting.
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Washington residents who can't get health insurance because of pre-existing conditions could soon have an option. The state will run a temporary high risk health insurance program using federal dollars. Ruby de Luna reporting.
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Mount Rainier National Park is exploring whether to impose stricter limits on commercial air tours over the park. Flightseeing has proven to be a hot button issue in other places where it's come up, such as Crater Lake National Park. Tom Banse reporting.
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Saturday marks a decade of May Day marches in Seattle. Every year, crowds of people rally around the issues of immigration and workers' rights. Organizers see this year as a crucial crossroads, as legislation takes shape in Washington D.C .and a new law in Arizona sparks a national debate. Liz Jones reporting.
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Public health officials are expressing concern over a spill by a small town sewage plant into the Yakima River. The incident occurred in the town of Mabton, Washington and lasted more than two days. Public health districts say they weren't informed right away. Anna King reporting.
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The U.S. Supreme Court will decide in late June whether voter petitions are a public or private document. The case stems from a battle in Washington over petitions for Referendum 71. That sought to roll back a gay domestic partnership law. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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If you returned your Census form, you get a thank you from the director of the U.S. Census. If you didn't, you can expect a knock at the door from a census taker soon. Tom Banse reporting.
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Public universities around the region are looking for ways to shore up their budgets and say grass roots advocacy from their supporters would help their cause. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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The Department of Energy has reached an important deadline for cleaning up an area just two miles north of Richland, Washington. The so-called 300 Area was home to barrels full of metal chips that could have caught fire and containers full of radioactive waste. Anna King reporting.
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Washington Senator Patty Murray's bid for re-election this year has been relatively low-key. But now one of her Republican challengers is hoping to attract attention. He's produced a provocative new video. It says Murray voted to give Viagra to sex offenders. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A rarely seen worm, which some consider the Sasquatch of Eastern Washington has shown up once again. The Palouse earthworm was thought to be "giant" and to have the scent of lilies. But scientists now say the worm's size and smell appear to be pretty average. Anna King reporting.
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A new power plant proposed near the Idaho-Oregon border cleared its first hurdle Monday. But groundbreaking is still years away, because more local and federal approvals are needed. Tom Banse reporting.
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Telephone company CenturyLink is buying its larger rival Qwest in a stock swap worth $10.6 billion. The new company likely will use the CenturyLink name. Jeff Brady reporting.
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Washington's lottery is about to get a major makeover. Governor Chris Gregoire signed legislation that redirects lottery proceeds to higher education. How the lottery markets its games will also change. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Logging will increase on state-owned timberland after a vote by the Oregon Board of Forestry. The panel decided to move ahead with a plan that conservationists oppose. But loggers hope it will increase jobs. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Washington tax reformers - including the father of Microsoft founder Bill Gates - are borrowing a page from Oregon. They announced a campaign to put a high-earners income tax on the fall ballot. Oregon voters approved a similar measure earlier this year. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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$10 million s is on the line. And a team from Western Washington University is in the competition. It's called the Automotive X-Prize. The challenge: design a car that averages 100 miles to the gallon. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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That spectacular ash cloud, from a volcano in Iceland, continues to spread around the globe. The volcanic eruption has been disrupting air travel in Britain and across Europe. It's reached a height of 20,000 feet. But it's not the first time an ash cloud has wrecked havoc on air travel. Samantha Wright reporting.
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University of Idaho officials say they plan to stop operating a farm research station in north Idaho this summer. They say mothballing the Sandpoint Research Center will reduce the university's $2 million budget deficit for next year. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Police officers have long used computer simulators to practice when to shoot and when to hold their fire. Now, cops in Washington may have the chance to get behind the wheel of a high-tech driving simulator. It's a parting gift to law enforcement from a retiring state senator who was once a county sheriff. He fought for the funding in the memory of a young deputy. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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A most unusual series of time capsules opened at the University of Idaho in Moscow are serving as reminders that budget shortages hit all aspects of university life. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Famed landscape architect Maya Lin checked the progress of her Northwest art installations over the weekend. The Confluence Project includes seven sites from Lewiston, Idaho to the Pacific Ocean. But the difficult economy has curbed Lin's artistic vision. Anna King reporting.
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The fallout from school funding cuts in Idaho is now trickling down to districts. Many are formally declaring financial emergencies for the second year in a row. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Federal environmental officials are waiting to see how a dispute resolution process plays out between the State of Washington and Idaho entities that discharge phosphorus into the Spokane River. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Cattle rustling is still very much alive and well in Oregon. But while some technologies are helping ranchers keep tabs on their livestock, newer innovations are receiving a chilly reception. Ed Jahn reporting.
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Northwestern Tea Party members hope Thursday's Tax Day rallies will give their movement a boost. In Spokane, they're still buzzing about Idaho Governor Butch Otter, who crossed state lines to speak at one of these events. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Idaho's five Native American tribes have a huge effect on the state's economy. And a new University of Idaho study released Friday shows that effect is growing. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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A former official with the federal Bureau of Land Management has admitted to defrauding the agency out of hearly half-a-million dollars. Luis Ramirez pled guilty Friday in US District Court in Medford, Oregon. Chris Lehman reporting.
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A mysterious group called Modernize Washington has filed two initiatives to privatize liquor sales in the state. This comes days after the Washington Legislature adjourned without acting on proposals to end the state's decades old liquor monopoly. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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One of the hottest tickets in the Northwest this year is to the world's first full-scale nuclear reactor. Hanford's B Reactor was secretly built during WWII and operated through the Cold War. Now it's like a museum. Anna King reporting.
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The nationwide Tea Party movement may be garnering the headlines, but percolating quietly in the background is another movement - the Coffee Party. It too has views on how to reform Wall Street and campaign finances. The big difference is that Coffee Party members pledge to keep their discussions civil. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Salmon anglers can look forward to a pretty decent ocean fishing season this summer off the coasts of Oregon and Washington. A federal fisheries panel approved more generous catch limits than in the recent past. Tom Banse reporting.
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Officials still don't know what caused a huge manure lagoon at a dairy farm near the town of Snohomish to fail earlier this week. Carolyn Beeler reporting.
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Many Northwest communities have made sustainability a key part of their plans for the future. They want to provide for their own needs and shrink their carbon footprint. "Locavores", as they're called, can be found in large cities and small towns across the region. The north Idaho city of Moscow has long had a coop that sells produce from nearby farmers. But its local food movement is having growing pains, now that a large, local institution is getting more involved. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The Department of Energy headquarters in Washington, D.C. will keep a closer eye on Hanford's Vitrification Plant from now on. The vit plant -- as it's known -- is a massive nuclear waste treatment facility being built in southeast Washington. Anna King reporting.
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The list of states where medical use of marijuana is allowed seems to increase with every election. Now there's a new push to allow use of the herb in Idaho. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Retailers along the Washington-Idaho border are preparing for the effects of Washington's new budget-balancing tax package. This week, lawmakers voted to increase taxes on cigarettes, beer, bottled water and candy. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Roadside bombs in Afghanistan continue to maim and kill soldiers from Washington's 5th Stryker Brigade. In the past nine months, the Brigade has lost 35 of its 3,500 members. The latest to die - Specialist James Lee Miller of Yakima - was remembered at a military memorial service. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Washington anti-tax crusader Tim Eyman is wasting no time. The legislature adjourned its special session early Tuesday morning. Hours later, Eyman filed eight initiatives to overturn the bulk of the Democrats' $800-million tax package. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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Ancient lava flows in the inland Northwest were so big and intense, they may have altered the earth's climate. That's the implication of new study co-authored by a Washington State University researcher. Tom Banse reporting.
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Federal land management agencies have signed a formal agreemen to conserve sage grouse habitat. The small bird lives in the desert in 11 Western states, including Idaho, Washington and Oregon. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The Washington legislature has adjourned, ending a 30-day special session. Democrats and Republicans locked horns over an $800 million tax package and a budget that closes a $2.8 billion dollar shortfall. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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You've heard of eco-tourism. How about nuclear tourism? One of the hottest tickets in the Northwest this year is to a hulking nuclear reactor in southeast Washington. Interest in the world's first full-scale nuclear reactor is high. And it started long before President Obama signed the recent nuclear reduction treaty. Hanford's B Reactor was built in secret during WWII and operated through the Cold War. Now it's like a museum. Anna King reporting.
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In recent years, the US Forest Service has retired much of its aging fleet of aircraft. But the head of the agency says it's in good shape to meet the needs of firefighting efforts this year. Steve Jackson reporting.
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Sometimes a history lesson goes better with music. At least that's George Nethercutt's theory. The former Washington Congressman is releasing a book that tells the story of the United States through its music. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Washington lawmakers are spending day 29 of a 30 day special session working through the details of a budget agreement. They're hoping to wrap-up business Monday night and adjourn. Austin Jenkins reporting.
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The final countdown is underway for Oregonians to file their income taxes. But a new audit shows the state is leaving tens of millions of dollars on the table from people who fail to pay their taxes. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Monday has been declared "Our Plastic Footprint Day" in Moscow, Idaho as part of a regional campaign this week to raise awareness about the dangers of plastics pollution. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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Idaho is the seventh state to pass a Firearms Freedom Act into law. It's meant to challenge the federal government on the issue of states' rights. Glenn Mosley reporting.
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KC-135 aerial refueling operations in Afghanistan have been interrupted along with other military operations in Central Asia. Staff at Fairchild Air Force Base wouldn't comment, but a spokesman at Central Command headquarters in Tampa, Florida did. Amanda Loder reporting.
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Washington legislators could vote on taxes this weekend. On Friday soft drink bottlers and grocers gathered on the capitol steps to denounce proposed new taxes on soda, bottled water, candy and gum. A ballot referendum could follow. Tom Banse reporting.
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The release of a new video featuring captured soldier Bowe Bergdahl has brought the war in Afghanistan back home again to the people of Hailey, Idaho. That's Bergdahl's hometown. While they pray for his release, people plan to hang new yellow ribbons to honor their native son. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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Tell me this doesn't sound familiar. You round a bend and see a police car idling on the shoulder. Your immediate reaction is to tap the brakes, glance at the speedometer and pray you weren't speeding excessively. Speeding tickets are at an all time high in some jurisdictions around the Northwest. Tom Banse reporting.
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Washington is one of several states that allow medical use of marijuana. Now there is a move afoot to legalize pot for recreational use. Steve Jackson reporting.
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For all the rhetoric Monday night, one might assume that the Spokane city council was considering some major new ordinance. But the debate was actually over a sense of the council resolution encouraging Spokane to support the idea that city streets ought to be friendly to walkers, bikers and transit as well as cars. John Vlahovich reporting.
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Idaho public school students will have to take fewer state tests next year. State Superintendent Tom Luna says he's cancelling two assessments, perhaps permanently. Doug Nadvornick reporting.
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The clock is winding down on the overtime session of the Washington Legislature. Lawmakers are still searching for an acceptable mix of temporary or targeted tax hikes to patch the hole in the state budget. One of the sticking points is the possible repeal of a tax break for the Northwest's biggest coal-fired power plant. Tom Banse reporting.
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Advocates of a concept called "Complete Streets" are hoping for support at this week's Spokane City Council meeting. Among the supporters of more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly streets is freshman Councilman Jon Snyder. Steve Jackson reporting.
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On Wednesday a Tri-Cities couple will be arraigned on charges of embezzling nearly half-a-million dollars from Hanford Nuclear Reservation contractors. Anna King reporting.
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Washington's top educator reports to jail Monday night to serve a one day sentence for drunk driving. Then Randy Dorn says he hopes to put his arrest behind him and work on regaining the public's trust. Tom Banse reporting.
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An Oregon non-profit has won a sizable federal stimulus grant in the state of California. The award however, has created quite a stir in the California Legislature. Colin Lovett reporting.
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The Washington Legislature is inching closer--ever so slowly--to a deal on balancing the state budget. Monday marks the start of week four of what was originally billed as a one week overtime session. Tom Banse reporting.
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The National Park Service, community leaders, and a Northwest Washington Indian tribe marked a major milestone Friday toward removing two dams on the Elwha River. They're on the north Olympic Peninsula. Tom Banse reporting.
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Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski delivered his eighth and final State of the State address in Portland Friday. He outlined what he considers his accomplishments, but also warned that the state faces enormous fiscal challenges in the next few years. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski signed a bill Thursday that allows public school teachers to wear religious clothing in the classroom. He did so despite his own concerns about how the measure will be applied. Chris Lehman reporting.
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Small farmers in eastern Washington are going to court against an industrial feedlot with 30 thousand cows. They will argue the case Friday in Franklin County Superior Court. It could change ho