December 18, 2010 in Sports MOSCOW, Idaho – Idaho coach Don Verlin left Montana three weeks ago after a 42-point drubbing from the Grizzlies and made a simple, candid declaration. The Vandals didn’t compete, he …

December 18, 2010 in News, City Roads became slick, leaving local law enforcement to deal with numerous slide-offs and collisions. The Spokane Police Department said they responded to 85 collisions between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. … 8

December 18, 2010 in News, City Snowfall and slick roads didn’t slow down many Spokane shoppers who flocked to stores Saturday – the last Saturday before Christmas – to do some last-minute holiday shopping.

December 18, 2010 in Sports Jorge Brian Diaz scored 14 points, 12 of them in the first half, as Nebraska cruised by Eastern Washington 72-42 Saturday for its seventh consecutive win.

December 18, 2010 in Sports Eastern (12-2) is looking at nearly a three-week layoff before traveling to Frisco, Texas, to face second-seeded Delaware (12-2) – a 27-10 semifinal winner over Georgia Southern on Saturday – …

December 18, 2010 in Sports G-Prep’s guard-heavy lineup lapped the taller Lewis and Clark Tigers as the Bullpups administered a 77-57 drubbing at G-Prep in girls basketball.

December 18, 2010 in Sports The Gonzaga Prep and Ferris boys basketball teams kept the pressure on idle University (4-0 league) in Greater Spokane League action Saturday.

December 18, 2010 WASHINGTON (AP) — In a landmark for gay rights, the Senate on Saturday voted to let gays serve openly in the military, giving President Barack Obama the chance to fulfill … 74

December 18, 2010 Light snow will begin to fall late this morning, becoming heavier by midday, according the National Weather Service.

December 18, 2010 in Nation/World on Page A1 NEW YORK – The estate of a man who pocketed $7.2 billion from Bernard L. Madoff’s Ponzi scheme has agreed to repay that amount, raising the surprising possibility that victims … 1

December 18, 2010 in City on Page A1 Are we there yet? No, but we’re halfway there. Considering the ambitious goal – to raise $500,000 to help struggling families at Christmas – that’s impressive progress. Donations to the …

December 18, 2010 in Nation/World on Page A1 WASHINGTON – The Senate plans crucial votes today on two of the year’s most incendiary political issues: repealing the military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy on gays and lesbians and … 20

December 18, 2010 in Nation/World on Page A2 CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan lawmakers granted President Hugo Chavez broad powers Friday to enact laws by decree, undermining the clout of a new congress that takes office next month with … 1

December 18, 2010 in Nation/World on Page A3 MEXICO CITY – Outraged when judges freed the main suspect in her daughter’s killing, Marisela Escobedo Ortiz launched a one-woman protest across from government offices in northern Mexico. Now she’s …

December 18, 2010 in Nation/World on Page A3 ISLAMABAD, Pakistan – The CIA yanked its top spy out of Pakistan after his cover was blown and his life threatened, and 54 suspected militants were killed in a U.S. …

December 18, 2010 in Business on Page A6 Micron CEO foresees winnowing of industry BOISE – The head of Micron Technology Inc. predicts that only two or three memory chip manufacturing companies will survive the consolidation happening now …

December 18, 2010 in City on Page A6 NEW YORK – A proposed cap on the fees that banks charge for debit card transactions would substantially reduce the cost for businesses. But it’s started a death watch for … 6

December 18, 2010 in City on Page A6 Kentucky bluegrass growers across the Inland Northwest are considering a settlement offer that would pay them about half of what they are owed from this year’s grass-seed crop. The farmers …