December 11, 2008 in Business WASHINGTON – New claims for jobless benefits surged last week and came in worse than expectations that were already gloomy – and economists say the figures would get even worse …

December 11, 2008 in Features Sure, I had doubts about “The Color Purple” as a musical. Does a sweeping saga about domestic abuse in rural Georgia really lend itself to show tunes?

December 11, 2008 in News, Region SEATTLE — The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation is giving three regional food relief agencies, including Second Harvest in Eastern Washington, more than $1 million to help Washington and Oregon …

December 11, 2008 in News, Business, Nation/World NEW YORK — Bank of America Corp. says it expects to eliminate 30,000 to 35,000 jobs over the next three years.

  December 11, 2008 in News, City The Washington state Supreme Court today threw out the unusually long sentence of a notorious Spokane child killer, sending Robert Doney Jr. back to court for resentencing.

  December 11, 2008 in News, City Dr. Bruce Jessen, a senior military psychologist with offices in Spokane, had a key role in expanding the controversial use of torture against enemy combatants, according to a report released … 1

December 11, 2008 in News, Nation/World WASHINGTON — Prospects for passage of a $14 billion auto industry rescue package dimmed today amid strong Republican opposition, despite urgent appeals by both President-elect Barack Obama and the Bush …

December 11, 2008 WASHINGTON — U.S. households, hit by declining home values and stock market losses, have cut back on their debt levels for the first time on record as loans remain scarce …

December 11, 2008 in News, Business, Nation/World WASHINGTON — New claims for jobless benefits rose more than expected last week, exceeding even gloomy expectations for an economy stuck in a recession that seems to be deepening.

December 11, 2008 in News Freezing fog is creating slick roadways this morning, and the haze is expected to stick around through 1 p.m.

December 11, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A2 When Baby Jesus disappeared last year from a Nativity scene on the lawn of the Wellington, Fla., community center, village officials didn’t follow a star to locate him. A GPS …

December 11, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A3 A daylong work stoppage during which employees were encouraged to “call in gay” to express support for same-sex marriage drew spotty participation nationwide Wednesday, with some gay rights activists praising …

December 11, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – The House on Wednesday night approved an emergency plan to prevent the collapse of the nation’s domestic automobile industry, but the measure faces serious opposition in the Senate, …

December 11, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – In one of its final foreign policy initiatives, the Bush administration plans to push for a broader international accord on how to suppress piracy in waters off Somalia’s …

December 11, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A4 Britain announced Wednesday it will withdraw all but a handful of its 4,000 soldiers from Iraq next year, ending a mission that was unpopular at home and failed to curb …

December 11, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A4 HARARE, Zimbabwe – The death toll from Zimbabwe’s cholera outbreak has risen sharply, the United Nations said Wednesday, reporting 775 deaths and 16,141 cases of the waterborne disease in the …

December 11, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A5 TRENTON, N.J. – Finally, a little good health care news for consumers: U.S. prices for generic prescription drugs, which already cost as little as one-third what their brand-name cousins do, …