July 29, 2008 in Idaho on Page A1 BOISE – Joseph Duncan won his bid Monday to act as his own attorney in his sentencing hearings, sidelining his expert legal team in what U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge …

July 29, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – The new projected record federal budget deficit of $482 billion will severely limit the next president’s ability to cut taxes and pay for pet programs, yet Barack Obama …

July 29, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A2 WASHINGTON – Oil shale in the American West might contain three times the oil of Saudi Arabia, but getting it out of the ground would require much more energy than …

July 29, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A2 NEW ORLEANS – The oxygen-starved “dead zone” that forms every summer in the Gulf of Mexico is a bit smaller than predicted this year because Hurricane Dolly stirred up the …

July 29, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A3 President Bush on Monday approved the execution of an Army private, the first time since 1957 that a president has affirmed a death sentence for a member of the U.S. …

July 29, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – Top aides to former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales violated federal laws and Justice Department policies by selecting employees based on their conservative and Republican leanings, a joint report …

July 29, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – A senior official in the Environmental Protection Agency’s enforcement office has warned managers they should direct inquiries from reporters, congressional investigators and the agency’s inspector general to designated …

July 29, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – An apparent U.S. missile strike on a compound in northwestern Pakistan killed six people early Monday, including a man believed to be a top al-Qaida operative and key …

July 29, 2008 in Business on Page A6 Columbia Lighting, one of Spokane’s oldest companies, will close its doors and eliminate more than 200 manufacturing jobs, the firm’s owner said Monday. Hubbell Inc., based in Connecticut, told 213 …

July 29, 2008 in Business on Page A6 A high-tech monitoring device makes it possible to reduce insurance premiums for drivers who avoid jackrabbit starts and slam-on-the-brakes stops, an insurance company says. The catch? Bad drivers who take …

July 29, 2008 in Business on Page A6 Community Health Systems, the large hospital system with a pending deal to buy Spokane-based Empire Health Services, posted lower second-quarter profits than a year ago. The Tennessee-based company earned $47.9 …

July 29, 2008 in Business on Page A6 NEW YORK – Congress’ plan to allow people to refinance into more affordable mortgages won’t just relieve thousands of homeowners – it’s also expected to save the banks who issued …

July 29, 2008 in Business on Page A6 Panhandle Avista customers would pay more on their monthly electricity bills – about $3.43 for the average household – starting later this year under a surcharge increase the utility requested …

July 29, 2008 in Nation/World on Page A10 KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – An out-of-work truck driver accused of opening fire at a Unitarian church, killing two people, left behind a note suggesting that he targeted the congregation out of …

July 29, 2008 in City on Page B1 Kootenai County officials say they can expand the county jail and overhaul other public safety buildings without raising property tax bills, despite the projects’ combined $147 million price tag. The …

July 29, 2008 in City on Page B1 For 07-29-2008

July 29, 2008 in City on Page B1 A man and woman were arrested and held on suspicion of robbing a downtown Spokane bank about 2:15 p.m. Monday. Cherie Taber, 56, and Glen Taber, 46, took an undisclosed …

July 29, 2008 in City on Page B2 SEATTLE – Seattle is taking a different approach to the “paper or plastic” debate. Instead of banning plastic shopping bags, the City Council on Monday approved a 20-cent charge for …