David May inherited a job with challenges both brought on by the pandemic and predating its effects in higher education. Eastern Washington will have to pare down some of its offerings and become more competitive in the field of higher education to thrive in the future, May said. 

The race for Kootenai County sheriff features two candidates with long careers at the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department and a Rathdrum native who accuses local law enforcement officials of working with "the mob." Bob Norris, Mike Bauer and Justin Nagel are vying to replace Sheriff Ben Wolfinger, who is retiring after four two-year terms in office.

The suspect, Patrick Page, was booked into the Spokane County Jail on a charge of first-degree assault, Spokane police Cpl. Ron Van Tassel said in a news release.

Green Bluff's growers, who typically open their fields and orchards to the public during the spring, summer and fall, have taken different business approaches in response to the pandemic. While a few have closed, others are still open for this year's fall harvest festival, which runs each weekend through Oct. 25.

The fight occurred in a parking lot outside Ichabod’s East, 12116 E. Sprague Ave., shortly after the bar closed in the early hours of Dec. 29. The victim, Daniel Jarman, a 40-year-old Army veteran and father of two, died of head injuries five days later.

State legislators accused the Panhandle Health District of "treating adults like children." The overwhelming consensus among scientists is that masks made of fine cloth are effective at capturing droplets that might contain the virus as they are emitted from the mouth or nose. 

The Oct. 7 event will feature candidates for 11 county, state and federal offices in the Spokane area.

Another wave of smoke is expected to blanket the Pacific Northwest this week, but don't hold your breath: Forecasters say it's high in the atmosphere and should have a minimal effect on surface air quality.