March 31, 2009 in City They thought they were in for big money. Instead, one landed in a hospital with gunshot wounds to the stomach and another was arrested after more than a day on … 1

March 31, 2009 in City OLYMPIA – A day after the Senate, House lawmakers proposed a budget plan that slices much deeper into higher education but spares K-12 education from some major cuts.

March 31, 2009 in Idaho A fight over a girl led to charges against two teenagers after the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department say the pair held two men at gunpoint, then forced them to drive …

March 31, 2009 in Region RICHLAND — The Department of Energy plans to spend about $2 billion in stimulus money to speed up cleanup at south-central Washington’s highly contaminated Hanford Nuclear Reservation.

March 31, 2009 in Idaho The Idaho Senate has voted 34-1 in favor of legislation to require all boats launched in Idaho, motorized or not, to carry a $5, $10 or $20 sticker to help … 1

March 31, 2009 Looking for browsing materials? Check out these recent hand-picked links from Spokesman.com blogs.

March 31, 2009 in City, Region Washington’s Department of Social and Health Services has a new leader: Susan N. Dreyfus, executive vice president for strategy with Rogers Behavioral Health System Inc. in the Milwaukee area. She …

March 31, 2009 in City, Nation/World The Washington National Guard’s 81st Brigade Combat Team is already making plans to return home this summer. It mobilized last August for a yearlong deployment in Iraq.

March 31, 2009 in Food, Nation/World Federal food officials are warning people not to eat any food containing pistachios because of possible contamination by salmonella, in another food scare sure to rattle consumers already upset by …

March 31, 2009 in Business, City Gottschalks Inc. said Tuesday that it won’t be able to avoid liquidation and will sell merchandise and other items at its distribution center and retail stores, which includes a Spokane …

March 31, 2009 in City, Idaho A wind advisory and hazardous weather outlook for snow are in effect for the Spokane and Coeur d’Alene areas today, and a winter weather advisory for snow has been posted …

March 31, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – The U.S. recession is wreaking havoc on yet another front: the Social Security trust fund. With unemployment rising, the payroll tax revenue that finances Social Security benefits for … 1

March 31, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A2 WASHINGTON – The number of Americans who believe that the nation is headed in the right direction has roughly tripled since Barack Obama’s election, and the public overwhelmingly blames the …

March 31, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A2 Take a little aspirin, add one part low-dose cholesterol medicine and three parts low-dose blood pressure medicine. Put it in a single pill and give to everybody over the age …

March 31, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A3 A former religious cult member pleaded guilty Monday to starving her 1-year-old son to death after making an unusual deal with prosecutors: If the child is resurrected, her plea will …

March 31, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A3 FARGO, N.D. – Fueled by a wicked snowstorm that blew into the region on Monday, the swollen but receding Red River is expected to crest for a second time in …

March 31, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A3 FRESNO, Calif. – Federal food safety officials warned Monday that consumers should stop eating all foods containing pistachios while they figure out the source of a possible salmonella contamination. Still …

March 31, 2009 in Nation/World on Page A3 NEW YORK – Now you can trade your two Ponzis for a Madoff. The Topps Co. Inc. says jailed Wall Street financier Bernard Madoff will be featured this summer in … 1