July 4, 2011 in Sports When Miles Ryan woke up at 6 a.m. Monday, all he could think about was playing more baseball. Little did he know it would be his effort on both sides …

July 4, 2011 in Sports OAKLAND, Calif. - Josh Bard got his first chance to catch Michael Pineda since spring training and saw what the rest of baseball has been seeing from Seattle’s overpowering rookie …

July 4, 2011 in City The Independence Day Festival in Riverfront Park is like a big Spokane family reunion. It’s a little loud and sweaty featuring people of all ages and ethnicities. It’s full of … 5

July 4, 2011 in City on Page A1 Drivers in southwest Spokane are getting something that will improve safety on U.S. Highway 195, the main route to Pullman. The state Legislature approved $12.5 million for a freeway interchange … 9

July 4, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A1 Congress is moving to eliminate the only national program that regularly screens U.S. fruits and vegetables for the type of E. coli that recently caused a deadly outbreak in Germany. … 44

July 4, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A3 CHICAGO – Vice President Joe Biden says the “new Republican party” doesn’t believe in public education the way Democrats do. The Democrat spoke Sunday before thousands of educators at the … 12

July 4, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A3 ONONDAGA, N.Y. – A man riding bareheaded on one of about 550 motorcycles in an anti-helmet law rally lost control of his cycle, went over his handlebars, hit his head … 22

July 4, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A3 SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A Washington state man charged with the 1957 slaying of an Illinois girl has a history of sexual and emotional abuse claims against him – one of …

July 4, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – Two key Republican senators visiting Afghanistan said Sunday that many Afghans may see President Barack Obama’s plans to pull 33,000 American troops out of the country as a … 11

July 4, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A4 TOLUCA, Mexico – Mexico’s Institutional Revolutionary Party won the election for governor of the country’s most populous state in a landslide Sunday, strengthening the party’s bid to retake the presidency …

July 4, 2011 in City on Page A6 Spokane Singing Nuns – Here’s a chance to sing with the Singing Nuns. Enjoy dessert and watch the fireworks over the city. Bring chairs and flashlights. Great music, goodies and …

July 4, 2011 in Region on Page A6 MISSOULA – A spring survey of bighorn sheep showed that efforts to prevent a pneumonia outbreak by killing the sick animals appeared to help more lambs survive, according to Montana … 1

July 4, 2011 in City on Page A6 A retired Spokane police detective was injured Sunday in a motorcycle crash on Trent Avenue. Donald M. Giese, 58, was westbound on Trent, aka State Route 290, when he crossed … 1

July 4, 2011 in Region on Page A6 SEATTLE – Thousands of Alaska-bound tourists will depart from Seattle this week, heading north to relax, watch whales and hike glaciers as the cruise season picks up steam. Despite the …

July 4, 2011 in Opinion on Page A7 One thinks of that scene from “The Wizard of Oz” where Toto pulls back the curtain and the “great and powerful Oz” is revealed to be only an old man … 3

July 4, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A8 WASHINGTON – Federal agencies are still taking too long to open records to the public, a new study finds. A report by the National Security Archive found continued backlogs and …