Local/Regional News
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Idaho Unemployment Rate Inches Up In October
Idaho’s unemployment rate inched up just slightly in
October. It’s now at 8.9. It’s the fourth month in a row that the
rate has remained essentially flat. State officials say that puzzles
them.
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Additional Cuts Expected to Idaho's Medicaid Program
Governor Butch Otter is expected to call for additional cuts in the coming months. For Idaho’s Medicaid Program, that means cutting programs, programs that provide essential health care to thousands of Idahoans. Samantha Wright reports.
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WA Gay Rights Referendum Passes
Supporters of a Washington referendum to expand domestic partnership rights have secured a virtually insurmountable lead. Ballot counting continues today. Tom Banse reports.
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Cries of Foul Over Feds Columbia Water Plan
The government plans to build a massive pipeline near Moses Lake with federal stimulus money. Critics say an environmental analysis is needed. Anna King reports.
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Census to Provide Big Job Stimulus to the NW
Job creation is not part of the mission of the US Census, but US Commerce Secretary Gary Locke said next year’s headcount should put a temporary dent in high unemployment around the Northwest. Tom Banse reports.
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U of I Football Wins Boost Local and State Economy
The resurgence of the University of Idaho football team is giving a boost to the local and state economy. Glenn Mosley reports.
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OR Governor Kulongoski Extends State’s Flu Authority
The State government in Oregon has more power to respond to the H1N1 flu outbreak.
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Governor Sympathizes With Seattle Mayoral Candidates
The neck-in-neck Seattle mayor’s race could narrow more as
another batch of ballots is counted today. Environmental attorney
Mike McGinn went to bed on election night with a lead of 910
votes. That margin over T-Mobile executive Joe Mallahan has now
slipped to 462 votes.
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Consultant Recommends Washington Prison and Reform School Closures
A study commissioned by the Washington Legislature
recommends closing three prison wings and a juvenile lockup.
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire says she’ll give the
recommendations serious consideration.
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Mining Company Told No Digging Near WA Highway 410 Landslide
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources has issued an
emergency order blocking rock mining near a huge landslide. The
slide last month took out two homes and blocked Highway 410 west
of Yakima.
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Army Corps Reduces Green River Flood Risk
The Army Corps of Engineers says that recent repairs at the Howard
Hanson Dam have greatly reduced the flood risk in the Green River
valley.
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Oregon’s Umatilla Chemical Depot Gets Go-Ahead by Court
The Umatilla Chemical Depot got the go ahead today from an
Oregon’s Circuit Court judge to incinerate thousands of tons of
mustard agent.
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Idaho Looks at Opting Out of Federal Health Care Reform
A joint legislative Task Force in Boise is already reviewing the pros and cons of Idaho opting out of federal
health care reform.
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Northwest Republicans Predict 2010 Success
Republican leaders in the Northwest are hoping that GOP victories
in a pair of east coast governor’s races foreshadow similar results
here.
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Pacific Northwest Reaps Federal Economic Development Tax Credits
Five economic development institutions in Oregon and
Washington have received nearly 200 million dollars in tax credits.
The aim is to stimulate job creation and launch “green” businesses.
The tax credits come from the US Treasury.
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Washington State Loses Last Rural Democrat Lawmaker East of the Cascades
Voters in southeast Washington appear to have rejected the last
rural Democratic state lawmaker east of the Cascades.
Correspondent Anna King explains.
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Government Revenue Growth Cap Defeated in WA State
Washington voters have soundly defeated anti-tax initiative promoter Tim Eyman’s latest ballot measure. Tom Banse has more.
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R-71 Supporters in Spokane Look Ahead
If Referendum 71 passes in Washington, it will be because of support west of the Cascades. The gay rights measure lost in every county east of the mountains, some by large margins. Doug Nadvornick reports.
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Washington's R-71 Has Slight Lead
The Washington state ballot measure to confer additional rights to gay couples and other domestic partners has a slight lead after the first round of statewide vote counting.
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Revenue Cap Initiative Defeated in Washington State
Washington voters have soundly rejected a revenue cap on state and local government.
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WA Governor's Trade Mission to DC
Governor Chris Gregoire is leading a delegation of business leaders to Washington, D.C., today for meetings with members of the Obama administration.
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Northwest Silver Mines Enjoy Good Times
Mining is traditionally a boom-and-bust
industry. Right now, times are good.
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Does Money Predict Fate of WA Ballot Measures?
Washington voters today are deciding two controversial ballot
measures.
Is the money spent on these measures a good predictor of
their outcomes at the ballot box? Austin
Jenkins reports.
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Washington Approves New Name for Puget Sound, Strait of Juan de Fuca
A state board in Washington has approved a measure to give Puget Sound, Georgia Strait and the Strait of Juan de Fuca a new name. They’ve officially designated them the “Salish Sea.”
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51 Percent Voter Turnout Predicted in WA State
Washington’s top elections official is predicting voter turnout today will be “about average” for an off-year election. Secretary of State Sam Reed says the popularity of vote-by-mail should keep turnout on pace.
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Solar Plant Opens in Salem, OR
Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski joined officials from electronics
giant Sanyo in Salem today to help open a solar cell plant.
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B.R.O. Begins Oregon Campaign
Basic Rights Oregon is laying groundwork for a
ballot initiative aimed at overturning Oregon's same sex marriage
ban. April Baer reports.
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Ballot Procrastinators May Delay WA Election Results
Washington State’s top elections official is standing by his earlier
prediction of 51 percent voter turnout statewide tomorrow.
Vote-by-mail ballots are trickling in to county offices rather slowly.
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Hunting Tradition Stays Strong in Idaho
Every five years, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
counts how many Americans hunt. That number has fallen steadily
since the 1970s, even in the rural West.
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Olympic Torch Relay Starts From Victoria
A 106 day Olympic torch relay is now underway in Canada. The
Olympic flame arrived in British Columbia today from Greece.
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Ethics Probe Includes WA Congressman Norm Dicks
Longtime Washington Congressman Norm Dicks
denies any ethical lapses over campaign contributions and earmarks.
The Democrat from Bremerton responded today to a Washington
Post report.
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Seabird Die-Off Abates on NW Coast
A seabird die-off on the Washington and northern
Oregon Coast has abated. Now marine scientists are trying to
understand the cause of the underlying algal bloom.
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Oregon Lottery Commission Approves Status Quo
The Oregon Lottery Commission decided today to make no changes
to the way the state compensates video lottery retailers.
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Shots Fired Near OR Rep. DeFazio's Office
The FBI is investigating shots fired at the US Federal Courthouse in Eugene sometime Wednesday night or early Thursday morning. Several public officials have offices in the Courthouse – including US Representative Peter Defazio. Correspondent Jes Burns reports.
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Number of Stimulus Jobs Created in NW States Questioned
Oregon and Washington are revising their estimates for how
many jobs are being created by the Obama administration’s stimulus
plan.
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New Oregon State Hospital Panel Gets To Work
Yet another effort is underway to improve conditions at the Oregon
State Hospital. A 16-member citizen panel held its first meeting
today.
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WA Democrats Reject Actuary’s Pension Advice
Concern is mounting in Washington state over the health of the
public employee pension system. The state actuary has warned of a
scenario where the two oldest retirement plans could run out of
money by 2017.
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Democrats Fight To Hold One Of Few House Seats In Eastern Washington
Across the Northwest, democrats who represent
rural districts have become almost an endangered species. In
Washington State, just one democratic lawmaker hails from a rural
area east of the Cascades.
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Groups Call for Halt to Individual Fishing Quotas
Fishermen and environmental groups are asking Congressman Peter
DeFazio to put the brakes on federal plans for individual fishing
quotas.
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Spokane Voters Consider City’s own Bill of Rights
In Spokane, a local city charter initiative is overshadowing local
races for city council and school board. Supporters of what they
call a Citizen Bill of Rights say passage would end domination of city
politics by special interests.
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Psychiatrists Among Top Paid State Employees in Washington
On a list of the top-100 paid state workers – not including higher education employees - more than half are psychiatrists. Correspondent Austin Jenkins went to find out who these doctors are and what they do. He profiles one at Western State Hospital near Tacoma.
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FDA Approves Microwave Preservation Process for Prepared Foods
The Food and Drug Administration has approved an alternative to the traditional canning process. It was developed at Washington State University. Correspondent Tom Banse explains.
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Bill to Protect OR Devil's Staircase Making Way to Congress
Bills that would further protect Oregon’s Devil’s Staircase waterfall and the Molalla River are making their way through Congress. Wednesday morning, the House Natural Resource Committee finished their mark-up. Correspondent Jes Burns reports.
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Republican Reaction to Boeing Announcement
Minority Republicans in Washington state are reacting with
dismay to news that Boeing will build its second 787 line in
Charleston, South Carolina.
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Gregoire “Angry” and “Disappointed” Over Boeing Announcement
Washington Governor Chris Gregoire says she’s “angry” and
“disappointed” that Boeing will builds its second 787 assembly line
in South Carolina - not Everett, Washington.
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NW Police Eyeing California Marijuana Discussion
California legislators are considering loosening
marijuana laws, to cope with a yawning budget hole. From Oregon
Public Broadcasting, April Baer reports that Oregon police officers
are keeping a wary eye on the discussion.
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Eight Fort Lewis Soldiers Killed in Afghanistan
The military has confirmed that eight soldiers killed in Afghanistan
yesterday were based at Fort Lewis. KUOW’s Liz Jones reports.
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Idaho Schools Ask For Flu Forgiveness
Many Idaho school districts worry their swine
flu-related absentee rates this fall will mean cuts in their funding.
Idaho allocates money based on average daily attendance.
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StoryCorps Wenatchee: Abby and Gale Fitzsimmons
The death of a family member is tragic especially when it occurs around the Holidays, as in the case of the Fitzsimmons family of Yakima. On New Year’s Eve seven and a half years ago they lost their 29 year-old-son, Kevin, who stopped to help a motorist and was killed. In the last Storycorps Wenatchee on Northwest Public Radio daughter Abby interviews her mother, Gale about Kevin’s death.
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Task Forces Aim to Solve Issues of Geese, Bottles and Taxes
When lawmakers can't agree on a thorny issue, they often simply create a task force. The theory goes that if you bring in fresh voices and give them time, they'll come up with a better plan that all sides can agree on. Chris Lehman reports on if recommendations are heard.
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Earthquakes Bigger Threat to Oregon Coast Then Previously Thought
The fault line off the Oregon Coast is far more active than previously thought. And Oregon State University researcher finds an 80 percent chance that a quake close to 8.0 magnitude will shake the Oregon Coast in the next 50 years. Correspondent Ethen Lindsey reports.
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WSU To Reopen Yakima Learning Center
Washington State University says it’s going to find the money to keep a learning center in Yakima open. Glenn Mosley reports.
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AP: Ft. Lewis Soldiers Likely Among 8 Killed Tuesday in Afghanistan
Fort Lewis, Washington soldiers are likely among the eight US
troops killed today in Afghanistan. That’s according to the
Associated Press.
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Lower Natural Gas Bills On Tap for Oregon Users
Oregon natural gas customers will pay less to heat their homes this
winter. The Public Utility Commission todayannounced a
double-digit rate drop for each of the state’s three natural gas
utilities.
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Federal Judge Keeps WA Contribution Caps
Washington’s campaign contribution limits will
remain in place through Election Day.
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Energy Department Releases Massive Document Outlining Cleanup Options for Hanford
Federal officials say they won’t ship new waste to the Hanford Nuclear Reservation until 2019. That’s according to the preferred alternative in the Department of Energy’s new 6,000 page cleanup plan released yesterday.
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Red Tide Along NW Coast Threatens Wildlife
It’s like an oil spill, but without the oil. That’s how wildlife rescue people are describing an unusual red tide along the Northwest coast. Correspondent Tom Banse is on scene.
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Northwest Spooky Jobs Part Two
Some jobs are spooky year round, not just at Halloween. This week, we're sending out correspondents to find the spookiest jobs in the Northwest.
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No Love Lost Between Business Lobby and Oregon Lawmakers
The rift is growing between Oregon’s largest business group and majority Democrats in the state Legislature. Associated Oregon Industries is already backing a campaign to repeal two budget-balancing tax hikes. Now the influential group has a scathing scorecard of Democratic leaders. Chris Lehman reports.
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Seabird Rescue Widens on Coast
Wildlife rescue centers in Western Oregon and Washington are
being overwhelmed with dying seabirds.
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$7B in Recovery Dollars Flowing to WA State
So far, some $7 billion in federal recovery money has been
flowing to Washington state. But it hasn’t resulted in a jobs
bonanza.
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Hanford’s New Cleanup Schedule for Tank Waste Up for Public Comment
The U.S. Department of Energy is collecting
comments over the next few weeks on its new timeline for cleanup
at the Hanford Nuclear Reservation.
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Northwest Spooky Jobs Part One
Halloween is a chance to forget all your troubles and get spooked out. But some people have chill-inducing jobs year-round. We sent our correspondents out to find some of the spookiest jobs in the Northwest.
Today we learn about two jobs that might send you howling, but not to the workers. We begin with hard rock miners in North Idaho.
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Coeur d’Alene Indians Celebrate Water Potato Harvest
Coeur d’Alene tribal members are finishing the harvest of traditional foods that their ancestors relied on to stay alive. In the fall, they dig up small tubers known as water potatoes. Doug Nadvornick reports the tribe uses the harvest as a way to pass along its traditions to its children.
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