Latest News

Ballots in Spokane and many other counties in Washington will be mailed one week early

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 2, 2020

Counties across the state will mail their ballots Oct. 8 and 9 early — one week earlier than the required 18-day voting period — amid national concerns changes at the U.S. Postal Service would cause delays in election mail.

Trump’s diagnosis rocks final stage of presidential campaign

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 2, 2020

An election year already defined by a cascade of national crises descended further into chaos Friday, with President Donald Trump declaring that he’s tested positive for the coronavirus after consistently playing down the threat.

Voting nearly impossible for eligible voters behind bars

UPDATED: Fri., Oct. 2, 2020

Most of the three-quarters of a million people held in U.S. jails have the right to vote. But many of them are unable to, stymied by misinformation, limited access to registration and ballots and confusion from the officials in charge.

Commissioner of public lands candidates clash on climate change, managing lands and wildfires in Thursday debate

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 12, 2020

In a debate for the commissioner of public lands position, candidates clashed over climate change, how best to balance land conservation and management, and wildfire prevention and fighting.

Spokane County Commissioner candidates Josh Kerns, Ted Cummings debate extremism, union negotiations

Fri., Oct. 2, 2020

Spokane County Commissioner Candidates Josh Kerns, Ted Cummings clashed over union negotiations and whether Kerns should have called on Rep. Matt Shea to resign.

Idaho constitutional amendment would lock number of legislators at 35

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 8, 2020

Some Idaho leaders say it’s time to make sure the state doesn’t end up with fewer legislators to represent the growing population.

Observing the elections process already is common here in Washington

Fri., Oct. 2, 2020

In Washington, poll watching looks a little different because the entire state votes by mail, but county auditors do allow observers into ballot processing centers. It's a process that local parties call an important check to the system but not because of widespread fraud.

Trump opposes changing debate rules but will still attend

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 1, 2020

President Donald Trump opposes changing the rules for the remaining two presidential debates against Democrat Joe Biden, but his campaign says he will attend regardless.

McMorris Rodgers, Wilson square off Thursday afternoon in first congressional debate

UPDATED: Mon., Oct. 12, 2020

The congresswoman said she believed the country and the economy were on their way to a rebound from the challenges imposed by the coronavirus pandemic, while her Democratic challenger tied the lawmaker to President Donald Trump and what he said was the wrong direction for the country on multiple fronts. 

After pandemic delay, Biden launching in-person canvassing

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 1, 2020

After months of avoiding direct contact with voters because of the pandemic, Joe Biden's campaign is about to launch door-to-door canvassing across several battleground states.

After success taking on Trump, Bob Ferguson faces Matt Larkin in bid for third term as AG

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 8, 2020

Washington Attorney General Bob Ferguson, who has taken on the Trump administration 80 times in four years, faces GOP challenger Matt Larkin.

Debate commission says it will make changes to format

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 30, 2020

The presidential debate commission says it will soon adopt changes to its format to avoid a repeat of the disjointed first meeting between President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden.

Biden, Trump press contrasts in Midwest after debate chaos

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 1, 2020

Fresh off their chaotic debate-stage clash, President Donald Trump and Democrat Joe Biden targeted voters across the Midwest on Wednesday, hitting hard at their contrasting messages as millions of voters cast early ballots.

World reacts with surprise, worry to 1st Biden-Trump debate

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 30, 2020

Many across the world looked on largely aghast as the first debate between President Donald Trump and Democratic challenger Joe Biden devolved into a verbal slugfest short on substance but heavy with implications for America’s international image.

Trump to far-right extremists: ‘Stand back and stand by’

UPDATED: Wed., Sept. 30, 2020

President Donald Trump on Tuesday didn’t condemn white supremacist groups and their role in violence in some American cities this summer, branding it solely a “left-wing” problem and telling one far-right extremist group to “stand back and stand by.”

Mike Volz eyes third term, Zack Zappone offers change in race for 6th District House seat

UPDATED: Thu., Oct. 22, 2020

Democrat Zack Zappone believes the Republican-leaning 6th Legislative District is ready for a progressive newcomer, but incumbent Republican Mike Volz believes he’s earned a third term in the House of Representatives.

Trump, Biden clash in raucous first presidential debate

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 29, 2020

President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden clashed Tuesday night in Cleveland in a raucous debate marred by interruptions, name calling and near-constant cross-talk.

Live Blog: 2020 Presidential Debate at Case Western Reserve University

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 29, 2020

On Tuesday, September 29, President Trump and Democratic nominee Joe Biden are meeting onstage at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland for the first of the three presidential debates. Here's our live blog with minute-to-minute coverage of the debate.

Trump chose Barrett days after Ginsburg’s death, papers show

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 29, 2020

President Donald Trump's nominee for the Supreme Court, Amy Coney Barrett, is on Capitol Hill on Tuesday for a day of meetings with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other pivotal Republican senators in preparation for her fast-track confirmation before the Nov. 3 election.

Wisconsin justices weigh removal of 130K from voter rolls

UPDATED: Tue., Sept. 29, 2020

The Wisconsin Supreme Court weighed Tuesday whether to go along with conservatives who argue that 130,000 voters should be removed from the rolls in the hotly contested presidential battleground state, while the Democratic attorney general defended not purging them.