March 17, 2011 in Sports No. 11-seeded Gonzaga took command early with a 12-0 run, built an 11-point halftime lead and cruised to an 86-71 victory over No. 6 St. John’s on Thursday in the … 4

March 17, 2011 in City, News A Spokane jury rejected arguments Thursday that the state’s medical marijuana law should be interpreted broadly to allow for commercial dispensaries, convicting a supplier of multiple drug trafficking charges. 31

March 17, 2011 in Idaho A plan to slice $108 million out of Idaho’s Medicaid program, including trimming some health-care services for the disabled and poor, cleared the Idaho House today on a 56-14 vote. 25

March 17, 2011 in City, News OLYMPIA — The gap between Washington state’s projected revenues and the cost of current programs grew by $778 million in the latest economic forecast, resulting in a possible deficit of … 28

March 17, 2011 in Idaho Idaho Gov. Butch Otter quietly signed two controversial school reform bills into law today, removing most collective bargaining rights from Idaho teachers and imposing a teacher merit pay program. 8

March 17, 2011 in Nation/World President Barack Obama found out years ago he had an Irish ancestor who fled the potato famine in 1850. He can now claim 28 living relatives who also descended from … 20

March 17, 2011 in City, Idaho Cloudy, cool weather with a chance of isolated showers is forecast for today. Spokane should see a high in the middle 40s with a 20 percent chance of showers while …

March 17, 2011 in City on Page A1 OLYMPIA – Washington legislators are spending some of their time on pot this week, discussing it both as a potential revenue source through outright legalization, and as an administrative problem … 11

March 17, 2011 in City on Page A1 Marijuana advocates say Spokane has quickly earned a new nickname: Spokansterdam, a nod to the Dutch city where the sale and use of marijuana is legal. 38

March 17, 2011 in City on Page A1 A “joint intelligence bulletin” issued the day federal agents raided the Colville home of Kevin W. Harpham confirms that the bomb planted along the planned route of Spokane’s annual Martin …

March 17, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A2 ATLANTA – U.S. life expectancy has hit another all-time high, rising above 78 years. The estimate of 78 years and 2 months is for a baby born in 2009, and …

March 17, 2011 in City on Page A2 For 03-17-2011

March 17, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A3 Latest developments in the unrest sweeping the Arab world from North Africa to the Persian Gulf: Bahrain

March 17, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A3 Almaty, Kazakhstan – NASA astronaut Scott Kelly and two Russian cosmonauts landed safely Wednesday in the snowy expanses of central Kazakhstan after spending five months on the International Space Station. …

March 17, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A3 PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – An American missionary who was abruptly jailed in southern Haiti and held without charges for five months was just as suddenly released, he said Wednesday. Danny Pye, …

March 17, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A3 LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Boxing champ Muhammad Ali is seeking the release of two American hikers from Iran by lobbying the country’s supreme leader in a way that few American dignitaries … 1

March 17, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A4 FUKUSHIMA, Japan – They risk explosions, fire and an invisible enemy – radiation that could kill quickly or decades later – as they race to avert disaster inside a dark, …

March 17, 2011 in Nation/World on Page A4 WASHINGTON – Toxic air pollutants such as mercury, which can lower the IQ of children who get high doses early in life, would be reduced from coal-fired power plants under …