Washington unemployment rate hits lowest point in 11 years

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 11:10 a.m.

Washington’s jobless rate in July was 4.6 percent – its lowest point since June 2007 – as strong employer demand continued to outpace growth in the working population.

Free press gets a boost with Senate resolution declaring it is not the enemy

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 11:07 a.m.

The Senate on Thursday went on record declaring “that the press is not the enemy of the people” – a rebuke to President Donald Trump, who declares the opposite on a regular basis.

July housing starts up a slight 0.9 percent as tariffs bite

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 10:15 a.m.

U.S. housing starts ticked up just 0.9 percent in July, a sign that higher construction costs might be weighing on homebuilders.

---

Mali’s president wins runoff vote with more than 67 percent

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 10 a.m.

Mali’s President Ibrahim Boubacar Keita won a second five-year term in the turbulent West African nation with more than 67 percent of the vote in a runoff election, the Ministry of Territorial Administration said Thursday.

Moscow child struggling with deadly illness can now enjoy new playground courtesy of Make-A-Wish

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 9:47 a.m.

Moscow child Casen Hawkins, who is struggling with deadly genetic disorder, can now enjoy new playground in his yard courtesy of Make-A-Wish.

Lawsuit claims Yakima City Council broke transparency rules

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 9:40 a.m.

An Olympia man who describes himself as an open-government activist is suing the city of Yakima for an alleged violation of the state’s Open Public Meetings Act.

Walmart sees sales rise at stores and online, raises outlook

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 9:15 a.m.

Walmart raised its financial outlook for the year after beating Wall Street’s expectations for the quarter and seeing the strongest growth in more than a decade in sales at established stores. Its shares rose nearly 10 percent.

U.S. newspapers to Trump: We’re not enemies of the people

UPDATED: Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 10:46 a.m.

Newspapers across the country, including The Spokesman-Review, pushed back against President Donald Trump’s attacks on “fake news” Thursday with a coordinated series of editorials speaking up for a free and vigorous press – and, not surprisingly, Trump didn’t take it silently.

Gov. Otter appoints Grow to fill vacant Idaho Senate seat

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 8:45 a.m.

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter announced that Eagle resident and small business owner C. Scott Grow has been appointed to fill the term of former District 14 State Sen. Marv Hagedorn.

Logging in Upper Skagit River watershed put on hold as Seattle has ‘grave concern’

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 8:30 a.m.

Conservationists fear recent logging at the Canadian headwaters of the Skagit River, the premier salmon producer of Puget Sound, will open the door to mining down the road.

Penney posts bigger-than-expected loss, cuts outlook

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 8:15 a.m.

J.C. Penney reported a bigger-than-expected loss in its fiscal second quarter as a key sales metric fell well short of Wall Street’s view. The department store operator also cut its full-year forecast again, and its shares plunged 24 percent.

Judge orders women to begin defense in Kim Jong Nam’s murder

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 8 a.m.

Two women on trial for the brazen assassination of the North Korean leader’s half brother were told Thursday to make their defense after the judge found evidence of a “well-planned conspiracy,” extending their murder trial until next year.

Alcohol a factor in crash that killed 3 in Pend Oreille County

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 6:54 a.m.

The Washington State Patrol says that alcohol or drugs played a role in a crash in Pend Oreille County on Wednesday that killed three people.

Bringing on the brass

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 6 a.m.

Tuba time: Central Valley High School marching band freshman Zane Bresko plays the contra tuba on the first day of practice Monday. The band was inside the school’s field house because of poor air quality outside.

Catholic Charities Spokane teams up with local chefs, breweries for fundraiser ‘Dig In’

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 6 a.m.

Catholic Charities Spokane is known for its work helping the homeless, but is less known for its work on food programs. The organization is planning a new fundraiser to serve up local food, wine and beer to bring attention to their work with several different food programs.

Coming together: Spokane’s Unity in the Community celebrates diverse cultures

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 6 a.m.

Spokane’s Unity in the Community hosts Cultural Celebration and Unity Parade at Riverfront Park this Saturday.

Feature creature: Rowdy’s journey leads him to SCRAPS

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 6 a.m.

Rowdy was picked up by the Spokane County Regional Animal Protection Service.

Front Porch: Work is more than husband’s livelihood, it’s his life

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 6 a.m.

As I write these words, it’s 9 a.m. on one of those about-to-be broiling hot days of summer. My husband has been out of the house since 8 a.m., and I probably won’t see him until dinner. He’s doing exactly what he wants to be doing – he’s working.

Gardening: Yellow jackets, hornets, wasps hunting for sugar now

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 6 a.m.

It’s yellow jacket and wasp season and they seem to be particularly annoying this year. Even the firefighters out on the wildfire lines are being painfully plagued by them.

Love story: Sailor’s snapshot marks beginning of enduring romance

Thu., Aug. 16, 2018, 6 a.m.

It was 1967. He was a sailor stationed in Lemoore, California.