March 4, 2011 in City on Page A6 For 03-04-2011

March 4, 2011 in Business on Page A10 Standard & Poor’s upgrades Avista rating Standard & Poor’s has raised Avista Corp.’s credit rating to BBB from BBB-.

March 4, 2011 in Business on Page A10 DALLAS – Airfares at major U.S. airlines are climbing again, continuing a dizzying pace of nearly weekly increases on both penny-pinching vacationers and expense-account corporate fliers. The airlines are raising …

March 4, 2011 in Business on Page A10 RICHMOND, Va. – The nation’s largest cigarette manufacturers say the Justice Department’s proposed corrective statements about the dangers of smoking are inflammatory and inaccurate. Tobacco companies on Thursday also asked …

March 4, 2011 in Business on Page A10 WASHINGTON — The number of people requesting unemployment benefits last week plunged to a nearly three-year low, bolstering the likelihood that companies will increase the pace of hiring this year. …

March 4, 2011 in Letters, Opinion on Page A13 For all the blather coming from state and local elected officials, we have yet to hear the truth. In Eastern Washington, most of the noise concerns smaller government. Those making … 1

March 4, 2011 in Letters, Opinion on Page A13 Modern era presidential wives have taken on some very important social issues. Though not elected officials, their influence can add credibility to, and support for, causes like ending illiteracy, understanding … 4

March 4, 2011 in Opinion on Page A13 Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio, Idaho … these are the latest fronts in the battle of budgets, with the larger fight over a potential shutdown of the U.S. government looming. These fights, … 7

March 4, 2011 in Letters, Opinion on Page A13 A few statements by Abbie Magee (Letters, Feb. 27) about medical marijuana must be addressed. 5

March 4, 2011 in Opinion on Page A13 After 15 years of sharply escalating workers’ compensation costs, Washington state urgently needs to adopt corrective measures. Unfortunately, voters turned down the most direct reform in November when they defeated … 1

March 4, 2011 in Sports on Page B1 LAS VEGAS – Depending on what bracket genius you want to believe, Gonzaga at the moment is an 11-seed (but classified as on the NCAA tournament bubble), an 11-seed and …

March 4, 2011 in Sports on Page B1 Plummeting math test scores? Bah. Shrug. Standardized tests are irrelevant, biased and maybe evil. But don’t you be messing with the state basketball tournament, Mr. Educrat Man.

March 4, 2011 in Sports on Page B1 NFL: The Seattle Seahawks released veteran tight end Chris Baker and quarterback Nate Davis, who was signed to a futures contract less than two months ago. Seattle announced the moves …

March 4, 2011 in Sports on Page B2 Chris Sarbaugh G-Prep senior scored 22 points as the Bullpups beat Kentridge 72-60 in the State 4A quarterfinals.

March 4, 2011 in Sports on Page B2 Arrested Washington running back Johri Fogerson was arrested for resisting arrest and possession of 40 grams or less of marijuana after running from police following a traffic stop. According to …

March 4, 2011 in Sports on Page B2 LAS VEGAS – Gonzaga women’s basketball coach Kelly Graves has the best team in the West Coast Conference, but that doesn’t stop the nerves from visiting before every game. It’s …

March 4, 2011 in Sports on Page B2 Basketball Area men