December 20, 2009 in City on Page A1 Although she grew up in Spokane, Crystal Ugolini had never heard of the Christmas Bureau before last week. Ugolini and her husband moved back to Spokane from Georgia this year, …

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A2 VATICAN CITY – Pope Benedict XVI moved two of his predecessors closer to possible sainthood Saturday, signing decrees on the virtues of the beloved Pope John Paul II and controversial …

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A3 COPENHAGEN, Denmark – A historic U.N. climate conference ended Saturday with only a nonbinding “Copenhagen Accord” to show for two weeks of debate and frustration. It was a deal short …

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A3 SAN JOSE, Calif. – San Jose police, under fire for interactions with the public that have turned violent, this weekend launched a pilot project equipping officers with head-mounted cameras to …

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A4 MEXICO CITY – The bound and burned bodies of eight men were found in the central Mexico state of Queretaro, prosecutors said Saturday. The still-unidentified bodies were discovered in the …

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A4 KABUL, Afghanistan – Afghan President Hamid Karzai took a step on Saturday toward reassuring wary Western allies by appointing a new Cabinet that sheds two prominent politicians accused of corruption …

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A6 WASHINGTON – In a rare early Saturday morning vote, the Senate cleared several last procedural hurdles – including the one out of its control, a raging snowstorm – to pass …

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A8 TEHRAN, Iran – After months of denials, Iran acknowledged Saturday that at least three people detained in the country’s post- election turmoil were beaten to death by their jailers. The …

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A8 BAGHDAD – Iraq deployed security forces Saturday near a remote oil well seized by Iran, officials said, and its government pressed Tehran to withdraw its forces from the area along … 1

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A9 DALLAS – The United States may soon see its prison population drop for the first time in almost four decades, a milestone in a nation that locks up more people …

December 20, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A9 LOS ANGELES – Dan O’Bannon, the acclaimed science fiction/horror film screenwriter who was best known for writing the blockbuster hit “Alien” and who also directed and wrote the zombie fest …

December 20, 2009 in City on Page B1 OLYMPIA – For many years, the last leg of my commute to work included a walk across the Monroe Street Bridge into downtown, reminding me of some things I like …

December 20, 2009 in Idaho on Page B1 Only a few rogue snowmobilers willfully ride into off-limits areas of protected Selkirk caribou habitat, organized snowmobile groups say. But the actions of a few are jeopardizing access for the … 1

December 20, 2009 in City on Page B2 Ballet Memphis’ “The Nutcracker” warmed the hearts of audience members young and old at the INB Performing Arts Center Friday. Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky’s luscious score is sumptuous under the baton …

  December 20, 2009 in City on Page B3 Saturday, Dec. 20, 2008: Only a trace of snow today, but 2 feet of it remains on the ground in Spokane, and 3 feet in outlying areas of North Idaho. …

December 20, 2009 in City on Page B3 Officials identified the 56-year-old man who was hit and killed as he and his dog were crossing a busy northwest Spokane street Friday. Stephen W. Shockley was walking his dog …