December 14, 2009 in City Testing of a new “reverse 911” emergency notification system is taking place this week in Spokane County, as officials get ready to put the alert technology online next month. 3

December 14, 2009 in City A popular Colton, Wash., high school science teacher may have slipped on ice covered by snow and then slid down a cliff to his death, officials said on Monday. 9

  December 14, 2009 in Business Customers of the nation’s largest satellite television service are being lured into long contracts they don’t understand with fees they don’t know they must pay, Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna … 4

December 14, 2009 in Region As a winter storm barreled toward Mount Hood, rescuers raced to find two experienced climbers missing for four days on Oregon’s highest peak. 5

December 14, 2009 in City, Idaho A winter storm warning has been posted this afternoon for what’s shaping up to be the biggest snowfall of the season in the Inland Northwest starting this evening and continuing …

December 14, 2009 in City Burglars used a vehicle to smash into three storage centers in Spokane Valley over the weekend, and Crime Stoppers is offering a reward for tips that help catch the culprits. 1

December 14, 2009 in City An electrical short-circuit was fingered as the possible cause of a house fire this morning that forced two men from their home on the North Side of Spokane.

December 14, 2009 in Idaho Idaho State Police are investigating the cause of a three-vehicle accident this morning that resulted in injuries along U.S. HIghway 95 at Sagle.

December 14, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court is expected to decide as soon as today whether to hear an appeal of a case in which employees won a constitutional right to privacy … 6

December 14, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – The Senate cleared for President Barack Obama’s signature on Sunday a $447 billion omnibus spending bill that contains thousands of earmarks and double-digit increases for several Cabinet agencies, … 4

December 14, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – In strikingly personal comments about his order to escalate the war in Afghanistan, President Barack Obama said Sunday his decision to send 30,000 new combat troops was the …

December 14, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A3 WASHINGTON – Risking the wrath of Democrats, Sen. Joseph Lieberman, I-Conn., threatened Sunday to join Republicans in opposing health care legislation if it permits uninsured individuals as young as 55 …

December 14, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A3 NEW YORK – Two civilian members of the joint United Nations-African Union peacekeeping mission in Darfur who were held hostage for more than 100 days have been released, the U.N. …

December 14, 2009 in City on Page A5 Readers offered strong reactions to the differing ways state and local leaders want to balance their budgets. Gov. Chris Gregoire is calling for tax increases to help offset the projected … 2

December 14, 2009 in City on Page A5 1. The last feature James Cameron directed was a little film called “Titanic.” Needless to say, expectations for his latest film, “Avatar,” are high. The film, opening Friday, marks Cameron’s …

December 14, 2009 in City on Page A6 TACOMA – Nationwide, $3 billion in federal grants, contracts and loans has been set aside for 564 federally recognized tribes in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. As a whole, …