Northwest Regional News
Judge Orders Forest Service To Reexamine Fire Retardant
 A federal judge in Montana has ordered the US Forest Service and two other federal agencies to take a new look at their fire retardant policy, when it comes to fighting wildfires. More >
Stay of Execution Lifted For Cal Coburn Brown
 Washington State Attorney General sets a September execution for convicted murderer Cal Coburn Brown after the state Supreme Court ruled the three-drug method of lethal injection constitutional. More >
Spokane Judge Halts Hawaiian Garbage Shipments To Washington
 A federal judge in Spokane has put a restraining order on Hawaiian garbage being shipped to a Washington landfill, citing environmental concerns from pests. More >
Hanford Manager Raising Concerns With New Design
 A manager at Washington's Hanford Nuclear Facility raises concerns about the design of the facility's new Vitrification Plant. More >
Washington Special Session More And More Unlikely
 The Washington legislature seems increasingly unlikely to meet in a special session to discuss state budget cuts, due apparently to concerns about achieving consensus. More >
Kulongoski Says Reset Report Can Be Model For Other States
 Oregon Governor Ted Kulongoski says efforts to overhaul state government in Oregon can serve as a model for other states. More >
Study Says Northwest Immigrants Have Big Economic Impact
 A new study shows that undocumented immigrants pump about $18 billion into the Northwest economy, and are responsible for the creation of about 90,000 jobs. More >
Boise Festival Celebrates Basque Heritage
 A traditional Basque festival called Jaialdi begins in Boise this week, celebrating Basque culture generations after the last wave of Basque immigrants came to Idaho. More >
Washington Loses Race To The Top Funding
 Washington State has been shut out of a competition for billions of dollars in federal aid for schools. More >
Huge Basque Gathering Underway In Boise
 The worldwide Basque diaspora converges on Boise, Idaho this week. The occasion is a cultural festival and party so big, it’s held only once every five years. More >
Buddhist Monks March To Hanford Gates In Annual Peace Protest
 Two Buddhist monks are organizing peace walks throughout the Northwest over the next two weeks. They're commemorating the 65th anniversary next month of the United States dropping nuclear bombs on Japan. More >
Bowe Bergdahl’s Hometown Follows Captured Sailor’s Story
 People in Hailey are closely following the story of two U-S sailors in Afghanistan. Hailey is the hometown of Bowe Bergdahl, the only American known to be held captive by the Taliban.
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Native, Hispanic Children In Idaho Shoot For The Moon
 This summer, NASA is bringing lessons about space and science to Idaho towns with large Hispanic and Native American populations. More >
Oregon Redistricting Petition Lawsuit Fails
 A last-ditch effort to get a redistricting initiative on the Oregon ballot has come up short. More >
Casino Amendment Fails To Qualify For Oregon Ballot
 An effort to build a non-tribal casino near Portland has hit a major roadblock. More >
Bald Eagle Comeback Pressures Coastal Seabirds
 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. More >
Four Washington-Based Soldiers Killed In Afghanistan
 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. More >
Oregon Conservation Group to Receive Funds from Gas Co.
 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. More >
Initiative Petition Lawsuit Heads To Court
 Former Republican lawmaker Kevin Mannix sues for petition signatures to be reinstated after some signature sheets are invalidated by the state. More >
New Anti-Speeding Campaign Begins in Washington State
 The Washington State Traffic Safety Commission has started a new campaign aimed to curb speeding: "Slow Down or Pay Up." More >
Farmers Rush To Buy Tractors Before Emissions Rules Kick In
 Tractor sales are up this year, in part due to Northwest farmers rushing to purchase large diesel tractors before new federal emissions standards are phased in next year. More >
Pension Rate Hike Hits Local Governments
 Pension rates for Oregon public employees are expected to double on average next year. More >
Report Says Special Interests Control Washington Ballot Measures
 A new report by the Washington State Public Disclosure Commission finds that special interests control the citizen initiative process. More >
Unemployment Extension To Help Estimated 109,000 Oregonians
 About 109,000 Oregonians will benefit from the unemployment extension signed into law Thursday. More >
WA Apple Growers Predict Bumper Crop This Harvest
 Northwest apple farmers say early indications are it could be a bumper crop this year. More >
Mother of Soldier Killed In Afghanistan Attends Homecoming
 Thirty-seven soldiers from Washington’s 5th Stryker Brigade died in Afghanistan over the past year. Those soldiers were honored yesterday at a homecoming ceremony at Joint Base Lewis-McChord near Tacoma. More >
Barefoot Bandit Faces Federal Judge
 Colton Harris-Moore, nicknamed the Barefoot Bandit, made his appearance before a federal judge in Seattle Thursday. More >
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