Becky Kramer

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News >  Spokane

Wildlife underpasses in North Idaho see heavy animal traffic

Mon., Dec. 12, 2016

A dozen years ago, the Idaho Department of Transportation spent more than $1 million to build three wildlife underpasses north of Bonners Ferry. They’re heavily used by wildlife, according to images from trail cameras.

News >  Idaho

Risch introduces legislation to protect Scotchman Peaks as wilderness area

Thu., Dec. 8, 2016

U.S. Sen. Jim Risch introduced legislation Thursday to protect the Idaho portion of the craggy, but scenic Scotchman Peaks as a federal wilderness area.

News >  Spokane

Keeping people insured top concern of Spokane health care execs if Trump repeals Obamacare

Tue., Dec. 6, 2016

The Affordable Care Act has helped more than 750,000 Washington residents get health insurance coverage, and that’s a gain health care providers hope to see continued in the Trump Administration.

News >  Idaho

Neighbors question state agency’s decision to log cedar grove near Lake Pend Oreille

Mon., Dec. 5, 2016

A 40-acre grove of cedar trees near Lake Pend Oreille could be logged next summer to generate cash for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.

News >  Spokane

Dakota pipeline protest inspires local Native Americans to make the 16-hour drive to Standing Rock

Fri., Dec. 2, 2016

Protests against the Dakota Access pipeline have inspired dozens of Inland Northwest residents to make the 16-hour drive to North Dakota. The Standing Rock Sioux’s struggle to protect land and water resonates throughout Indian Country and has parallels to issues faced by local tribes, some say.

News >  Spokane

Migrating eagles pump cash into North Idaho’s tourism economy

Tue., Nov. 29, 2016

Migrating eagles have become a significant tourism draw since the 1990s, attracting thousands of people each year to Lake Coeur d’Alene and Lake Pend Oreille.

News >  Spokane

Gratitude, ‘the greatest of virtues,’ improves your life

Thu., Nov. 24, 2016

Four Inland Northwest residents discuss the role of gratitude in their lives. It helps them recognize the kindness of others, promotes forgiveness, makes them aware of others’ needs and brings joy.

News >  Spokane

Avista looks to cover windstorm costs with higher rates in 2017

Wed., Nov. 23, 2016

Avista customers could start absorbing the cost of last year’s windstorm in their rates this winter. The utility is requesting $2 million annually for repairs from the 2015 storm.

News >  Idaho

New plan emerges for Idaho Fish and Game to acquire Black Lake Ranch east of Harrison

Mon., Nov. 21, 2016

State officials have a new plan for purchasing a 1,000-acre former horse ranch along the Coeur d'Alene River.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Tribe receives HUD grant to rebuild homes damaged in last summer’s fire

Mon., Nov. 21, 2016

The Spokane Tribe has received a $450,000 federal grant to help the tribe rebuild houses destroyed or damaged in last summer’s Cayuse Mountain Fire.

News >  Spokane

Deaconess, Valley hospitals buyer: ‘We’re committed to it being a good thing for Spokane’

Sun., Nov. 20, 2016

The future owners of Rockwood Clinic, Deaconess and Valley hospitals were in town Friday and Saturday to talk about what the sale will mean for the Spokane area.

News >  Spokane

Deaconess, Valley hospitals and Rockwood Health System sold for $425 million to Tacoma-based MultiCare

Thu., Nov. 17, 2016

A Tacoma-based nonprofit announced late Thursday that it plans to purchase Rockwood Health System, which includes Rockwood Clinic as well as Deaconess and Valley Hospitals.

News >  Spokane

BNSF Railway agrees to study covers for rail cars transporting coal to reduce dust

Tue., Nov. 15, 2016

BNSF Railway has reached a tentative settlement with Washington environmental groups over coal dust from uncovered train cars.

News >  Spokane

Spokane County child being investigated for rare disease with polio-like symptoms

Tue., Nov. 15, 2016

Health officials are investigating whether a Spokane County child has acute flaccid myelitis, a mysterious disease that leads to polio-like symptoms.

News >  Spokane

Big crowd turns out in Spokane to talk about Lower Snake River dams

Mon., Nov. 14, 2016

About 200 people turned out in Spokane for an open house to discuss dam operations on the Lower Snake River. A federal judge ordered a review of the dams’ impacts on salmon and steelhead runs, and suggested that breaching the dams needs to be discussed.

News >  Spokane

Blue Cross funneling thousands of Kootenai County customers into new restricted health care network

Sun., Nov. 13, 2016

Blue Cross of Idaho is moving some of its health insurance customers in Kootenai County to a network care model next year in an effort to lower costs. About 7,000 members will be affected by the change, which requires them to see in-network providers and have surgeries done at Kootenai Health’s Coeur d’Alene hospital.

News >  Idaho

Avalanche center teaches preparedness, rescue techniques for growing crowd of back-country enthusiasts

Thu., Nov. 10, 2016

Jeff Thompson is the new director of the Idaho Panhandle Avalanche Center in Sandpoint, which provides avalanche forecasts and awareness training. He recently moved to Sandpoint from Colorado with an avalanche awareness dog, Annie.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Tribe breaks ground on West Plains casino, plans for 2017 opening

Wed., Nov. 9, 2016

The Spokane Tribe broke ground Wednesday on a $40 million casino in Airway Heights, with plans of opening for business next September.

News >  Spokane

Colville National Forest logging project can move forward, appeals court says

Mon., Nov. 7, 2016

An environmental group trying to stop a logging project on the Colville National Forest was dealt another setback last week, when the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals denied its request for an emergency injunction.

News >  Spokane

Spokane region tops in the nation for percentage of homes that heat with wood

Fri., Nov. 4, 2016

Among the nation’s 100 largest metro areas, the Spokane/Spokane Valley metro area ranks No. 1 for the percentage of residents who rely on wood for their primary heating source. About 7 percent of the households use wood heat.

News >  Spokane

New health insurance enrollment center helps Spokane residents select plans

Tue., Nov. 1, 2016

People can get help signing up for health insurance at the Washington Health Benefit Exchange’s new storefront on Division Street. The storefront will be open through the Jan. 31.

News >  Idaho

Capitol Christmas tree will make Veterans Day stop in Coeur d’Alene

Tue., Nov. 1, 2016

The Capitol Christmas tree will make a stop in Coeur d’Alene during its 2,000-mile trip to Washington, D.C.

News >  Idaho

Trucker who molested boys from his church will spend at least 35 years in prison

Fri., Oct. 28, 2016

A long-haul trucker from Coeur d’Alene will spend at least 35 years in prison for molesting boys.

News >  Spokane

Feds release recovery plan for Snake River chinook and steelhead

Thu., Oct. 27, 2016

Restoring healthy populations of wild salmon and steelhead to the Snake River basin could take 50 to 100 years, and will require improvements in survival rates for young fish migrating to the ocean, according to a proposed recovery plan released Thursday by the federal government.

News >  Spokane

About a third of people drawn to adrenalin rush of scary movies, researcher says

Thu., Oct. 27, 2016

Some people are drawn to scary movies and haunted houses. They often sensation-seekers, who may be predisposed to enjoy high-adrenaline events, a researcher says. Others get a sense of satisfaction from making it through a film hyped as particularly suspenseful or gory.