Ah, the North Spokane Corridor. Originally proposed in 1946, this thing has had more delays than “Chinese Democracy.” Zing! (Last time, we promise.) And you’re kidding yourself if you think both are worth the wait. Richard Roesler of the S-R reports lawmakers are now proposing…
It was what some consider a rare gaffe during a campaign stop in Pendleton months ago but at least he was honest about the unfamiliarity: Barack Obama didn’t know what Hanford was. (Watch Q and A clip here.) The Tri-City Herald reports---in an unusually subjective…
Did you know? President Bush has pushed 53 “midnight regulations” through the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs in the last three weeks. True to last-minute wrangling form, many of the federal changes involve the environment, national parks and public lands in the West. Veronique…
And now for something completely different: Seattle news. For those familiar with the waterfront, and the controversial elevated highway known as “the viaduct,“ house Speaker Frank Chopp presented two replacement scenarios that would drastically alter downtown even though one proposal is another elevated highway (but…
Greenwash alert! NBC just got busted. Currently, they’re doing another “Green is Universal” week and in the middle of touting their greeness decided to cut the Weather Channel’s Environmental Unit. Wow. That’s how you send a convincing message, while promoting “Law & Order SUV” or…
Water has always been a commodity. We received an email from Ken Kingery at the University of Idaho regarding a new project to assist the state with water usage by gauging user input with hopes of devising a sound environmental and economic plan. "What’s Water…
It’s a question readers might not ponder: What happens to something after it’s recycled? In the case of electronics, the answer could be more damaging to the environment than helpful. Accurate figures are difficult to find but last year the AP reported 50 to 80…
"Interacting with nature (at least when compared to a hectic urban landscape) dramatically improves the cognitive function. In particular, being in natural settings restores our ability to exercise directed attention and working memory, which are crucial mental talents. The basic idea is that nature, unlike…
Between Spokane and the Canadian border occupies a beautiful space that needs defense. Home to the Colville National Forest, Conservation Northwest is calling the region to "participate in this historic opportunity to protect wilderness trails and wildlife habitat in Northeast Washington." DTE received the below…
Oops. No, he really is. And he’s playing in Spokane. You heard it here first. This must be the place.
Do you like coffee, tote bags and DTE? We are still accepting user submitted entries to add for the Green Tip Widget and tomorrow is the last day for our contest--- out of the 10 best tips received, contributors will win a Down to Earth…
Google is now hosting millions of photographs from LIFE magazine, stretching from the 1750s to today. Warning: If you geek out on pictures like we do, then this should keep you busy. The majority were never published before and are seeing the light of day…
Spokane County has decided to delay their decision on the proposed wastewater treatment plant. Last night, citizens raised questions about committing to a $142 million contract for construction before obtaining the necessary discharge permits. According to the S-R, Rachael Paschal Osborn, from the Sierra Club,…
Sen. Ted Stevens in his Incredible Hulk tie. AP Photo/Lauren Victoria Burke On his 85th birthday, the longest serving Republican in U.S. history, Sen. Ted Stevens, barely lost his re-election bid yesterday. This is a major shift in Alaska: Stevens began his political involvement before…
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has released a startling new report: 50 percent more children in this country went hungry last year, and almost one in eight Americans struggled to feed themselves adequately. And this was before the economy tanked, so those numbers are expected…
Every Tuesday, from noon to 12:30, tune in for KYRS’s radio show Earth Matters Now. You can turn your radios to 92.3 FM or 89.9 FM or stream the show online at kyrs.org. Hosted by Mike Petersen, Executive Director of the Lands Council, and Argyle…
Think the environment is boring? For sissies? Guess again. Check out Whale Wars, airing on Fridays, at 9pm e/p on Animal Planet. The show highlights Captain Paul Watson’s love for marine life and how far he and his crew go to protect the environment. What’s…
It sounds ominous. As we posted below, the cold weather and outdoor burning has caused air quality to deteriorate. In the S-R, Ron Edgar of the Spokane Regional Clean Air Agency said air quality in Spokane nearly climbed into the unhealthful level for sensitive persons…
Looking alright at Midnite. Last week the EPA issued a unilateral administrative order to mining company Newmont USA Limited and its subsidiary Dawn Mining Company, LLC, to continue treating contaminated water at the Midnite Mine Superfund Site just northwest of Spokane on the Spokane Indian…
A series of public workshops is upon us to update and provide input about the current state of the Spokane River ---Monday November 17th, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., Lakeside Middle School Auditorium, 6169 Highway 291, Nine Mile Falls. ---Monday November 24th, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.,…
The North Idaho Community Action Network filed an injunction to halt construction on the Sand Creek Byway in Sandpoint, Idaho, citing a violation of the federal Clean Water Act. The 2.1-mile, $98 million highway is hardly a stranger to delays: The Sandpoint News-Bulletin once reported…
There’s a lot brewing at the Down To Earth camp. The inaugural issue of “Down To Earth: A Guide To Green Living” is now available at local businesses throughout the Inland Northwest, further strengthening the Spokesman-Review’s commitment to environmental news and sustainability in our community.…
In case you missed it, read the story in the Spokesman-Review today about the new biodiesel plant called Inland Empire Seeds in Odessa, west of Spokane. While biodiesel remains a controversial alternative energy source, check this curious passage: Doug Bartlett is the CEO and president…
Remember our daily tip on stopping junk mail last week? It was annoying as the problem itself. Well, here we go again… The facts remain though: More than 100 million trees a year are logged to produce junk mail which creates carbon emissions equivalent to…
Photo courtesy of Seattle Get Up and Get On Out. As surreal as the above photo is, it’s actually a familiar landmark for local DTE readers: The Wild Horse Wind Farm near Vantage, easily visible on a clear day during the long drive from Spokane…
The DTE blog is committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.
