April 17, 2006 in City on Page A1 Cars aren’t the most environmentally friendly devices. They use energy, spew pollution and encourage us to pack on the pounds by reducing exercise. So in the spirit of Earth Day …

April 17, 2006 in Nation/World on Page A1 BAGHDAD, Iraq – Efforts to form a unity government suffered a new setback Sunday when Iraqi leaders postponed a parliament session after failing to agree on a prime minister. Meanwhile, …

April 17, 2006 in Nation/World on Page A2 WASHINGTON – When it comes to their own tax returns, many members of Congress who specialize in writing tax laws turn to professional preparers rather than completing the paperwork themselves. …

April 17, 2006 in City on Page A2 Sunday’s Washington Daily Game: 5-8-4. Sunday’s Washington Keno: 6-8-9- 14-15-16-21-24-27-28-30-32-42- 48-52-54-61-64-77-80.

April 17, 2006 in Nation/World on Page A3 The Nepalese capital ran low on fresh food and fuel Sunday because of a general strike that shut down the city, and thousands of angry pro-democracy demonstrators clashed with police …

April 17, 2006 in Nation/World on Page A3 BEIJING – Two days before departing for a visit to the United States, President Hu Jintao declared Sunday that China and Taiwan should resume long-severed official discussions as soon as …

April 17, 2006 in Nation/World on Page A3 LOS ANGELES – The Iranian government has intensified efforts to illegally obtain weapons technology from the United States, contracting with dealers across the country for spare parts to maintain its …

April 17, 2006 in Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – A dispute over testing is stalling the Army’s plans to move ahead with buying a new high-tech body armor now off-limits to soldiers. The stalemate is the latest …

April 17, 2006 in Idaho on Page A5 Boise police say a 14-year-old girl has died after a shooting during a party at a Boise apartment complex. The girl, whose name was not released, was shot twice in …

April 17, 2006 in City on Page A5 Washington students in every school will begin tackling the state’s high-stakes test starting today. The Washington Assessment of Student Learning will be administered to students in grades three through eight …

April 17, 2006 in City on Page A5 Several streets in downtown Spokane will be closed this afternoon and drivers might see brief delays in the midafternoon and early evening as Vice President Dick Cheney travels to and …

April 17, 2006 in City on Page A5 Darrin Coldiron and Nuwan Waidyanatha spilled blood together on the rugby fields of the University of Montana, where they were members of the mighty Jesters. The two were friends in …

April 17, 2006 in City on Page A6 A state trooper injured in a high-speed crash on Interstate 5 was responding to commands and showing signs of improvement Sunday but remained in critical condition, officials said. “He’s moving …

April 17, 2006 in Idaho on Page A6 For 04-17-2006

April 17, 2006 in City on Page A6 TORONTO – Canada confirmed a case of mad cow disease Sunday at a farm in British Columbia – the country’s fifth case since May 2003, when the United States closed …

April 17, 2006 in Nation/World on Page A7 The government is dangerously behind on plans to build mobile field hospitals that could be needed to treat thousands of sick and dying victims of a terrorist attack or natural …

April 17, 2006 in Business on Page A8 With all the recent talk about improving math and basic science education to keep the United States competitive, Chris Stephenson worries that a third piece of the educational picture is …

April 17, 2006 in Business on Page A8 When discussions turn to favorite blogs these days, the operative question seems to be: Which online gang do you roll with? In the time it takes to read this sentence, …