Rachel Alexander

All Stories

News >  Spokane

78 percent of gun deaths in Washington are by suicide. A new program to change that targets gun owners.

Sun., March 25, 2018

As student activists from Parkland, Florida have put a national spotlight on school shootings and gun violence, an unlikely coalition of public health workers and members of the gun industry have been working together to stop a far more common, far less talked about cause of deaths involving firearms: suicide.

News >  Spokane

Campaign to stop smoking includes focus on blacks targeted by menthols marketing

Thu., March 22, 2018

Gene Aikens is at the forefront of an anti-smoking campaign that has a focus highlighting how blacks were targeted with the marketing of menthol cigarrettes by big tobacco.

News >  Spokane

Justice Department refuses to release report on its examination of Spokane Police Department

UPDATED: Tue., March 20, 2018

The U.S. Department of Justice has refused to release its report on the Spokane Police Department’s reforms after a public records request and appeal by The Spokesman-Review.

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News >  Spokane

Cutbacks to opioid prescriptions leave chronic pain patients without help

Tue., March 20, 2018

Opioid addiction is getting more attention nationally, but a Washington State University researcher says not enough is being done to help patients transition to non-opioid pain management.

News >  Education

Host families give a boost to WSU med students

Mon., March 19, 2018

As part of its effort to be a community medical school, each of the 60 students in WSU’s inaugural class is assigned to a city for clinical rotations: Everett, Vancouver, the Tri-Cities and Spokane. Students spend a week at their site three times during the first year and another three during their second to get to know the community and get early hands-on experience with patients.

News >  Agriculture

Saving spinach: A WSU plant researcher’s work helps lucrative spinach seed industry

Sun., March 18, 2018

Because of the long days and climate required to grow spinach seeds, a small slice of western Washington and Oregon is the only part of the United States well-suited to producing the crop. Washington produces about one-quarter, mostly in Skagit and Snohomish counties.

News >  Spokane

Salmonella outbreak linked to plant stimulant kratom hits Spokane

UPDATED: Fri., March 16, 2018

A nationwide salmonella outbreak linked to the plant stimulant kratom has sickened a Spokane County man, the Washington Department of Health said Friday.

News >  Spokane

Doctors reluctant to talk with patients about binge drinking

Fri., March 16, 2018

Most Washingtonians who engage in binge drinking report their doctors haven’t talked to them about cutting back, according to a new study from the Washington Health Alliance.

News >  Spokane

With $1 million Premera grant, Hope House plans new women’s shelter

UPDATED: Mon., March 12, 2018

Thanks to a $1 million grant from Washington-based health insurer Premera, Volunteers of America will build a new Hope House women’s shelter with 120 beds, tripling its capacity.

News >  Spokane

Surge in DUI blood tests for drugs causes case backlog for state toxicology lab

Wed., March 7, 2018

Washington’s toxicology lab is struggling with a backlog of cases, thanks in part to growing number of blood tests for suspected DUI cases.

News >  Spokane

The waiting game: From Jamaican childhood to U.S. residency challenges Spokane student

Tue., March 6, 2018

“Nothing’s simple when you’re dealing with U.S. immigration,” said John Meske, an attorney talking about client and student Tressana Martin, who is awaiting permanent residency.

News >  Spokane

Brain surgery helps Cheney High graduate put seizures in the rear view

Mon., March 5, 2018

Less than a year after he was diagnosed with epilepsy, Casey Schorr learned he might have an option beyond medication: brain surgery.

News >  Spokane

New for Bloomsday this year: Snapchat filters

Tue., Feb. 27, 2018

Some 8,000 people already have signed up for Spokane’s annual Bloomsday race, which will take place Sunday, May 6.

News >  Spokane

Overdose deaths decline in Washington

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 28, 2018

Drug overdose deaths fell last year in 14 states including Washington, according to preliminary data released this month by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

News >  Health

Live long, live well: Do’s and don’ts to boost your health

Sun., Feb. 25, 2018

We talked to primary care and public health doctors in Spokane and looked at recommendations from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, Choosing Wisely and other consumer-focused health care sites to come up with a list of common places money can be wasted in health care – and some changes you can make if you’re interested in being healthy while getting the most bang for your buck.

News >  Spokane

Marchers brave icy conditions, rally by candlelight for ‘Dreamers’

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 23, 2018

About 200 Spokanites attended a vigil and march for Dreamers and immigrant families that began at First Presbyterian Church Thursday night.

News >  Spokane

WSU study finds people with disabilities benefitted from health reform

Thu., Feb. 22, 2018

People with disabilities benefited significantly from the Affordable Care Act through both expanded access to Medicaid and being able to purchase private insurance, a Washington State University study found.

News >  Spokane

Sen. Maria Cantwell calls for heavier penalties on drugmakers who fail to keep opioids off the street

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 21, 2018

Sen. Maria Cantwell

News >  Spokane

Dog food recall worries residents, but so far no harm to pets in Spokane

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 21, 2018

A recall of dog food contaminated with a barbiturate has prompted some caution, but no apparent harm, among animal lovers in the Inland Northwest.

News >  Spokane

Young weightlifters compete in Spokane during championship weekend

Sat., Feb. 17, 2018

USA Weightlifting will host its national junior championships for lifters under 20, and USA Powerlifting also will hold Washington state championships this weekend.

News >  Spokane

Flu vaccine about 36 percent effective

Fri., Feb. 16, 2018

This season’s flu vaccine is about 36 percent effective, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in preliminary data published Thursday.

News

Research sheds new light on EWU professor’s Antarctic dino-discovery

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 15, 2018

You can tell a lot about a dinosaur by its ankles. For instance, ankles told Eastern Washington University paleontologist Judd Case that the dinosaur he discovered in Antarctica in 2004 is more primitive than its relatives, such as the velociraptors made famous by “Jurassic Park.”

News >  Spokane

After waiting five years, Spokane man receives first pancreas-kidney transplant performed at Sacred Heart

Wed., Feb. 14, 2018

When he was 32 Don White Jr. had lived with type 1 diabetes for 18 years, and his kidneys were failing from the strain of poorly-managed blood sugar over the years. He needed a new kidney to filter his blood, and a new pancreas to cure his diabetes.

News >  Business

Deaconess, Valley hospitals’ ratings improve in federal evaluation

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 13, 2018

Multicare’s Deaconess and Valley hospitals received a four-star rating from the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in a December 2017 evaluation, signifying improvement in the quality of care provided.

News >  Spokane

Othello rancher leaves millions to benefit Eastern Washington causes, including health care, wildlife

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 12, 2018

During the past four decades, on the outskirts of Othello, a quiet bachelor built a small fortune raising cattle. Today the millions of dollars William Crosetto earned from ranching and careful stock market investing will be used in myriad ways to support everything from rural health care, to Spokane homeless services to protecting sage grouse habitat.