Becky Kramer

All Stories

News >  Spokane

Hecla celebrates 125th anniversary at famed Spokane mansion

Thu., May 19, 2016

Hecla Mining Co., the last of the pioneer mining companies in the Silver Valley, celebrates is 125th anniversary this year.

News >  Spokane

Sen. Patty Murray’s VA bill amendment would provide in-vitro fertilization for veterans

Tue., May 17, 2016

U.S. Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., has attached a provision to a VA appropriations bill that would provide $88 million over two years to help veterans with service-related injuries and their spouses conceive.

News >  Idaho

Idaho wolf control actions draw crowd in Coeur d’Alene

Tue., May 17, 2016

Paying government sharpshooters to kill wolves from helicopters in Idaho’s backcountry drew passionate testimony at the state Fish and Game Commission meeting in Coeur d’Alene this week.

News >  Spokane

Railroads say worst-case oil spill in Washington could cost $775 million

Fri., May 13, 2016

If an oil train derailed in Washington and dumped most of its cargo, cleanup costs could exceed $775 million, according to documents BNSF Railway Co. provided to the state.

News >  Idaho

Man accused of shooting pastor arrives at Kootenai County jail

Fri., May 6, 2016

A district court judge on Friday dismissed a petition from the Kootenai County Public Defender’s Office to produce Kyle Odom, the man accused of shooting a Coeur d’Alene pastor. Odom has been in transit for the past month as the U.S. Marshal Service shuttles him back to Kootenai County to face charges.

News >  Spokane

Spokane to replace remaining lead lines in water system

Wed., May 4, 2016

The city of Spokane is accelerating plans to switch out lead lines in its water delivery system, following national attention over Flint, Michigan’s contaminated drinking water.

News >  Spokane

Farragut State Park clears the way for revival of the western white pine

Tue., May 3, 2016

Idaho Fish and Game is embarking on a project to return western white pine to Farragut State Park. The trees once dominated North Idaho forests, but few remain.

News >  Spokane

Spokane health district bans vaping in public places beginning July 1

Fri., April 29, 2016

Vaping will be prohibited in public places and work sites in Spokane County beginning July 1, with the exception of retail vape shops.

News >  Spokane

Record temperatures in April accelerate snow melt

Wed., April 27, 2016

Summertime temperatures in April accelerated the snow melt in Washington’s mountains, revising the outlook for summer water supplies.

News >  Spokane

New program helps get emergency dental care to low-income adults

Mon., April 25, 2016

The DENT program helps low-income adults see dentists for emergency treatment. Meagan Daniels, a Spokane Falls Community College student, credits the program for saving a broken tooth that became infected.

News >  Idaho

In what could be a first for North Idaho, Jewish community seder held in Coeur d’Alene

Sat., April 23, 2016

A Jewish seder was held Friday in Coeur d’Alene. The ancient story of suffering and deliverance resonated with participants, some of whom recalled North Idaho’s past as a center for white supremacist activity.

News >  Spokane

Spokane Tribe will study salmon habitat above Grand Coulee Dam

Mon., April 18, 2016

The Spokane Tribe of Indians has received $200,000 to study whether salmon would thrive above Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams.

News >  Spokane

Scientists study how bat fungus reached Northwest so soon

Thu., April 14, 2016

In a federal research laboratory in Wisconsin, scientists are analyzing DNA from the fungus that killed a little brown bat in Washington last month.

News >  Spokane

Blood center appeals for donations to replenish supplies

Wed., April 13, 2016

As the Inland Northwest Blood Center prepares for a three-day shutdown to install a new computer system, it’s appealing for blood donations to replenish supplies that have been low since November.

News >  Spokane

Rising nighttime temperatures melting snowpack earlier in the year

Mon., April 11, 2016

About 14 percent of the Spokane River basin’s snowpack has melted away over the past couple of weeks. The rapid melt-off was caused by nighttime mountain temperatures that were 10 to 15 degrees warmer than normal.

News >  Spokane

Spokane River getting healthier, but controversy over discharge limits remains

Sun., April 10, 2016

The health of the Spokane River is improving, say Washington state officials, who are touting declines in cancer-causing PCBs as a promising trend in efforts to reduce toxic pollution in the river.

News >  Idaho

Jet boat races a go for the Coeur d’Alene River; health district to warn public of pollution

Wed., April 6, 2016

With jet boat races headed to the Coeur d’Alene River in May, the Panhandle Health District is working on a plan to keep spectators safe from heavy metals.

News >  Idaho

Coeur d’Alene boy will serve at least 20 years for killing father, brother

Mon., April 4, 2016

The mother of Eldon Gale Samuel III asked a judge to give her 16-year-old son a second chance during a sentencing hearing Monday morning, urging him to consider the abusive environment her son grew up in.

News >  Spokane

Workshop will cover tougher state fish consumption guidelines

Sun., April 3, 2016

State officials are holding a public meeting in Spokane Valley Wednesday to talk about how much fish and shellfish Washington residents eat. It’s a seemingly simple question, with far-reaching implications for how tough the state’s water quality laws must be to protect human health.

News >  Spokane

Patty Duke’s death from sepsis brings attention to little-known condition

Thu., March 31, 2016

The decision of Oscar-winning actress Patty Duke’s family to describe her cause of death as sepsis is helping bring national attention to the life-threatening, but little known condition, health advocates say.

News >  Spokane

Oscar-winning actress, Coeur d’Alene resident Patty Duke dies at 69

Tue., March 29, 2016

Friends, family and fellow actors mourned the loss of Patty Duke Tuesday after the Oscar-winner and Coeur d’Alene resident died at the age of 69.

News >  Idaho

Idaho to study Priest Lake water level in case of future low-water years

Mon., March 28, 2016

A $300,000 study will examine adding water storage capacity at Priest Lake, which could keep lake levels high during drought years, while still providing downstream flow to Priest River.

News >  Spokane

Decadeslong Silver Valley heavy metal cleanup program winding down

Mon., March 28, 2016

More than 7,000 Silver Valley properties have had contaminated soil replaced to protect children from lead exposure. Superfund managers are encouraging remaining property owners to get their parcels tested before the program starts winding down.

News >  Business

Avista to end $3.50 transaction charge in October

Fri., March 25, 2016

Avista Utilities will eliminate a $3.50 transaction fee on debit and credit card payments in October, following approval this week by state regulators.

News >  Idaho

Lake CdA’s declining oxygen levels worry scientists

Tue., March 22, 2016

Oxygen levels are declining in Lake Coeur d’Alene, raising concerns about the heavy metals buried in mud at the bottom of the lake.