December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A1 With contributions dwindling far below the amounts needed, trustees of the 3-year-old legal defense fund established for President Clinton and the first lady said Tuesday they are closing the operation. …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A1 In the biggest assault yet on cigarette smoking in the United States, bars, casinos and nightclubs across California will be forced to ban smoking at the stroke of midnight today …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A1 Americans haven’t felt this good about their financial well-being since 1969. Consumer confidence surged to a 28-year high in December, the latest milestone for an economy soon to begin its …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A1 1. Rose Bowl baby. “It took me 67 years to get here,” says Stew Brown, born in 1930, the last time WSU made it to the Rose Bowl. Photo by …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A2 Ten years ago: Robert Mugabe was sworn in as Zimbabwe’s first executive president. Five years ago: President Bush visited Somalia, where he saw firsthand the famine racking the east African …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A2 A Buddhist monk releases a fish into the sea Tuesday to pacify the spirits of chickens slaughtered by the Hong Kong government in a bid to stamp out a bird …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A2 Tuesday’s Washington Triple Choice: 4-6-2. Tuesday’s Washington Keno: 16-17-21-26-37-38-39-42-44-45-46-47-50-53-59-63-70-78-79-80.

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A2 The virulent flu that has killed chickens and humans in Hong Kong could be disastrous to Washington’s multi-billion-dollar poultry industry should birds here become infected, agriculture officials say. “It could …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A2 1775: The British repulsed an attack by Continental Army generals Richard Montgomery and Benedict Arnold at Quebec; Montgomery was killed. 1879: Thomas Edison first publicly demonstrated his electric incandescent light …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A2 (photo of Elton John)

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A3 As the year draws to a close, Jerry Langley and millions of other Americans are remembering it’s better to give than to receive - especially when the gift is tax-deductible. …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A3 Just a half block from the center of Wednesday night’s New year’s Eve celebration, a narrow, six-story building collapsed shortly before the morning rush on Tuesday, raising questions about whether …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A3 At the funeral of Gianni Versace, Princess Diana sits next to Elton John while he is comforted. Photo by Associated Press

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A3 Glaring across the courtroom at Terry Nichols, the sister of a U.S. Customs agent killed in the Oklahoma City bombing emphasized each word with rage Tuesday as she testified: “My …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A6 Despite an overall slowing of world population growth, the burgeoning millions in poor countries threaten much of the globe with starvation, environmental catastrophe and political chaos, according to a report …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A6 A Jewish extremist faces up to 26 years in prison after her conviction Tuesday for putting up posters depicting the Prophet Mohammed as a pig. The posters in the predominantly …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A6 Family members hug during a news conference Tuesday in South Korea. Photo by Associated Press

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A7 The beginning of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan brought more bloodshed to Algeria, where raiders wielding knives and guns and attackers disguised as police killed 72 people. The death …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A8 Viacom Inc. stock rose to a 19-month high Tuesday after a report said the media and entertainment conglomerate is considering the sale of all or part of its Simon & …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A8 General Electric Corp. won Justice Department approval Tuesday for its proposed $600 million purchase of Stewart & Stevenson Services gas turbine division. The approval followed GE’s agreement to license a …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A8 The historic Davenport Hotel will close to the public New Year’s Day. For years, while restoration of the shuttered grand hotel proceeded piecemeal, all manner of functions from tea dances …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A8 Two new multistory buildings combining retail and office spaces, public parking, residential lakeview condominiums and possibly the city library could be built in downtown Coeur d’Alene in the next year. …

December 31, 1997 in Nation/World on Page A8 Natural gas rates for Washington residential customers of Washington Water Power Co. will increase almost 10 percent as of Thursday. Washington regulators approved the hike last week. The action will …