December 29, 2007 in City on Page A1 Eastern Washington’s Catholic community has raised most of the money needed to settle the clergy childhood sex abuse cases, surpassing expectations and ensuring that the diocese will emerge from bankruptcy. …

December 29, 2007 in Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – President Bush held an emergency meeting of his top foreign policy aides Friday to discuss the deepening crisis in Pakistan, as administration officials and others explored whether Thursday’s …

December 29, 2007 in City on Page A2 Friday’s Washington Daily Game: 7-2-8. Friday’s Keno: 1-2-10-11-15-18- 22-27-34-35-36-38-45-46-48-56- 59-68-75-80.

December 29, 2007 in Nation/World on Page A3 A car bomb exploded in the city’s busiest intersection Friday, killing at least eight people and injuring 64. Like a similar explosion last month at a popular pet market, the …

December 29, 2007 in Nation/World on Page A3 SANTO DOMINGO, Venezuela – American filmmaker Oliver Stone praised President Hugo Chavez on Friday as the Venezuelan leader launched a mission to airlift three hostages held by leftist rebels out …

December 29, 2007 in Nation/World on Page A3 WACO, Texas – President Bush said Friday that he will veto the defense authorization bill because of Iraq’s concerns the legislation could hinder redevelopment efforts by entangling the country’s assets …

December 29, 2007 in Nation/World on Page A4 LOS ANGELES – The chance of a football field-sized asteroid plowing into Mars next month has been increased to 4 percent, scientists said Friday after analyzing archival data. Though still …

December 29, 2007 in Nation/World on Page A4 For nearly seven years Melina Salazar did her best to put on a smile and tend to the every need of her most loyal and cantankerous customer. She made sure …

December 29, 2007 in Nation/World on Page A5 NAUDERO, Pakistan – During her years in self-exile, Benazir Bhutto had a soaring white marble mausoleum built in the fields outside her ancestral village to honor her slain father. On …

December 29, 2007 in Business on Page A8 WASHINGTON – The housing market plunged deeper into despair last month, with sales of new homes plummeting to their lowest level in more than 12 years. The slump worsened even …

December 29, 2007 in Business on Page A8 LOS ANGELES – Hollywood studios said Friday that writers have now lost more in salary and benefits than they had hoped to gain by going on strike. In the message …

December 29, 2007 in Business on Page A8 OLYMPIA – Jessica Barragan recently took a minimum wage job at Wendy’s to help make ends meet. The single mother already works one job at the Burger Ranch in Yakima, …

December 29, 2007 in Business on Page A8 Macy’s Inc. will close nine stores that employ a total of about 900 people, the retailer said Friday. “While the decision to close stores is difficult, it is necessary that …

December 29, 2007 in Business on Page A9 NEW YORK – Stocks finished an erratic week narrowly mixed Friday after a government report of a steep decline in new home sales stirred concerns that weakness in housing will …

December 29, 2007 in Business on Page A9 Former shareholders of First Republic Bank sued Merrill Lynch & Co. on Friday, alleging the company hid billions of dollars in subprime mortgage-related losses while the two companies’ combination was …

December 29, 2007 in City on Page B1 A group of physicians at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Spokane fears that new staffing decisions may mean too few doctors in the hospital and lower patient care standards. …