Charles Apple

Tariffs are essentially a tax on imports. Last year, the U.S. expected to take in about $40.4 billion in customs duties and fees on imported goods. You’re hearing a lot of partisan talk these days about increases in tariffs — especially goods from China. But the truth is, this kind of talk is nothing new. Tariffs in the U.S. have always been politicized. They’re often protectionist or retaliatory. And while it’s easy to argue that higher tariffs often backfire — like during the Great Depression — one can also argue that they’ve been effective at times in protecting U.S. business interests.

The movie and TV actor, author, singer, documentary maker and one of the most visible icons from 1960s pop culture — as Capt. James T. Kirk on “Star Trek” — appeared Friday, May 17, at the FICA. Here's a look at his career.

The world has made progress in the fight against polio, but it still has a ways to go before the disease is eradicated completely. Here’s a look at polio and its status in the world today.

Coming soon, to your pocket: Quarters with a tiny “W” on them. This denotes they were created at the U.S. Mint facility in West Point, N.Y. The Mint says these new “W” coins are a limited edition — only 10 million will be made. This is about 1% of the quarters made this year.

The 43rd running of the annual Lilac Bloomsday Run, a 12-kilometer race through the streets of Spokane and the surrounding area.

Seventy-five years ago today, the movie “Going My Way” was released in theaters. The musical featured Spokane’s own Bing Crosby in a role that would win him an Academy Award and that featured him singing a song that would win an Oscar.

Edmund O. Schweitzer III, founder and chief technology officer of Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories of Pullman, will be inducted Thursday into the Inventors Hall of Fame in Washington, D.C., for his invention of the SEL-21 multifunction digital relay. Here’s a look at his life and work.