February 9, 2013 in Nation/World on Page A5 BEIRUT – Intense fighting between Syrian government forces and opposition fighters continued around Damascus, the capital, on Friday. Activists reported heavy shelling by forces loyal to President Bashar Assad on …

February 9, 2013 in Business on Page A6 At Chandler Farms, just outside of Selma, Calif., in the San Joaquin Valley, about three dozen workers are needed each season to pick acres of delicate peaches, plums, nectarines and … 4

February 9, 2013 in Business on Page A6 Google Executive Chairman Eric Schmidt plans to sell more than 40 percent of his stock in the Internet search leader this year. The plan disclosed Friday calls for Schmidt to … 1

February 9, 2013 in Business on Page A6 WASHINGTON – A jump in energy-related exports and a steep decline in oil imports lowered the U.S. trade deficit in December to nearly a three-year low. The improvement suggests the … 1

February 9, 2013 in Business on Page A7 Soft white Cash bid Change Feb. 8.47-8.71 unchanged March 8.57-8.71 unchanged Hard red winter (ordinary percent protein) Cash bid Change Feb. 8.69-8.91 down 0.01 Hard red winter (11.5 percent protein) …

February 9, 2013 in City on Page B1 From our archives, 100 years ago Five crew members of a runaway Burke ore train went on a wild and terrifying ride, hitting speeds of up to 90 miles per …

February 9, 2013 in City on Page B1 A 14-year-old boy found a man and woman in his home Wednesday while he was staying home sick from school. The boy said his mother had taken his brother to … 8

February 9, 2013 in City on Page B1 A Moses Lake man known as the “Bench Monster,” for his world-record weightlifting exploits faces federal charges tied to anabolic steroids. Ryan Shawn Kennelly, 38, once bench pressed 1,075 pounds … 11

February 9, 2013 in City on Page B2 Spokane County Marriage licenses

February 9, 2013 in City on Page B2 OLYMPIA – A proposal to allow law enforcement officials to discuss details of autopsies from officer-involved shootings cleared its first hurdle Friday. Senate Bill 5256 is designed to address a …

February 9, 2013 in City on Page B2 For 02-09-2013

February 9, 2013 in City on Page B3 Allegiant Air announced introductory fares of $140 each way for its weekly flights between Spokane to Honolulu. Tickets must be purchased by Feb. 16 for travel by Aug. 15.

February 9, 2013 in Opinion on Page B4 For the first time since Election Day, President Barack Obama is on the defensive. That’s because on March 1, automatic spending cuts (“sequestration”) go into effect – $1.2 trillion over … 12

February 9, 2013 in Opinion on Page B4 Something about California sets conservative teeth on edge. In the Republican manual, liberal spending priorities married to an activist government cohabiting with a hedonistic culture can lead only to failure. … 8

February 9, 2013 in Opinion on Page B4 The quixotic battle against the Affordable Care Act continues in the Idaho Legislature, but at least more legislators have stopped tilting at windmills. That counts for progress in a state … 2

February 9, 2013 in Letters, Opinion on Page B5 Prop. 3 supporters describe the Spokane Public Library as vitally important to our city. Each time I go in, there are a number of people looking for books and DVDs, … 6

February 9, 2013 in Letters, Opinion on Page B5 I urge Spokane voters to vote yes on Proposition 2 in the election on Feb. 12. Prop. 2 is the local version of statewide Initiative 1185, one that Spokane County … 6

February 9, 2013 in Letters, Opinion on Page B5 The Spokesman-Review reported (Jan. 31) that Idaho Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, compared private insurance companies to “Jews boarding the trains to concentration camps.” She then defended this comment by saying, … 11

February 9, 2013 in Letters, Opinion on Page B5 Shawn Vestal (Jan. 26) posed the question of why we should require a supermajority for tax increases when only a simple major is required to approve the supermajority requirement in … 3

February 9, 2013 in Letters, Opinion on Page B5 “Little minds think and talk about people. Great minds think and talk about ideas,” so said Benjamin Franklin. His insight is valuable as Spokane voters consider Proposition 2 on Feb. … 14