Eli Francovich

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News >  Nation/World

Spokane doctor arrives at Ukraine military hospital ready to help – but what will that entail?

UPDATED: Wed., March 16, 2022

LVIV, Ukraine – Lying in a military hospital bed in this western Ukrainian city of 720,000 people, Dr. Kyle Varner wondered aloud: “What do you do if there is an air raid siren?”

Sports >  Outdoors

Colville Tribe releases 9 lynx into Washington’s Kettle Range

UPDATED: Fri., March 11, 2022

In mid-October 1963, a young woman hunting grouse north of Newport shot what she thought was a bobcat.

Sports >  Outdoors

Spokane Valley native just misses Top 10 in Bassmaster Classic

UPDATED: Tue., March 8, 2022

Joey Nania, a Spokane native, got 13th place in the 2022 Bassmaster Classic on Lake Hartwell in South Carolina. 

Sports >  Outdoors

Spring black bear hunt to be reconsidered by Washington wildlife commission Friday

UPDATED: Wed., March 9, 2022

A controversial hunt is being reconsidered by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission, months after the commission voted to suspend spring bear hunting in 2022. 

Sports >  Outdoors

After a pandemic-forced break, Canadian rockies are back open for American skiers

UPDATED: Sun., March 6, 2022

A famed winter playground is open for business after a pandemic forced break.

Sports >  Outdoors

North Idaho National Forest begins snowmobiling rule making process

Sun., March 6, 2022

The Panhandle National Forest is beginning a process to manage snowmobile travel in the northern zone of the Idaho Panhandle National Forests.

Sports >  Outdoors

Rathdrum man also competing in Bassmaster Classic on Thursday

UPDATED: Wed., March 2, 2022

Another area angler is competing in the Bassmaster Classic starting today.

Sports >  Outdoors

Responding to pressure from Inslee, Washington wildlife managers consider implementing new wolf-livestock rules

UPDATED: Sun., Feb. 27, 2022

Responding to pressure from Gov. Jay Inslee, Washington wildlife managers are considering implementing new wolf-livestock rules.

Sports >  Outdoors

Spokane Valley native competing in the ‘Super Bowl’ of competitive bass fishing Thursday

UPDATED: Tue., March 1, 2022

In 2003, Joey Nania got hooked by competitive bass fishing

Sports >  Outdoors

IDFG takes steps to manage CWD outbreak

Thu., Feb. 24, 2022

LEWISTON – The Idaho Department of Fish and Game is proposing hunts in Game Management Unit 14 next fall that would be geared toward lowering deer densities and removing a higher number of mature animals in an effort to stem the spread of chronic wasting disease.

Sports >  Outdoors

New book ‘Written in the Snows’ offers detailed history of Washington’s backcountry skiing scene

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 24, 2022

A new book outlining the history of Washington’s backcountry skiing scene came to be, in part, because of a slight.

Sports >  Outdoors

Reader photo: Otter pop

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 23, 2022

A playful otter enjoys a springlike February morning on Hauser Lake. “You never know who will pop up this time of year,” photographer Angela Marie writes.

Sports >  Outdoors

Washington wildlife agency proposes 10-year recreation plan in response to boom in outdoor use

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 23, 2022

The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife has drafted a recreation plan for the million or so acres the department manages in response to a decadeslong increase in use.

Sports >  Outdoors

Poachers sentenced after lengthy investigation in northeast Montana

Fri., Feb. 18, 2022

A poaching investigation in northeast Montana that lasted more than 2½ years ended with several men being sentenced last month in the Montana 16th Judicial District Court in Garfield County.

Sports >  Outdoors

Winter ecology outdoor educational program upcoming

Fri., Feb. 18, 2022

It’s time to get outside and enjoy the beauty of late winter in northwest Montana.

Sports >  Outdoors

New cross-country skiing website is ‘one-stop shopping’ for grooming reports, State Parks offers similar service

Thu., Feb. 17, 2022

In 2011, as Julien Locke neared his high school graduation, the avid Canadian cross-country skier realized he needed a paying job to "be a ski racer."

Sports >  Outdoors

Emergency medical helicopters respond to two serious injuries at North Idaho’s Silver Mountain

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 15, 2022

Emergency medical helicopters responded to two serious injuries at North Idaho's Silver Mountain Resort, Sunday. 

Sports >  Outdoors

As winter backcountry recreation grows in popularity, Idaho avalanche center hopes to expand

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 15, 2022

Backcountry winter recreation, that is, going off-road and trail into the mountains, was once an offbeat activity, one practiced by a few dedicated adventurers. That was particularly true in a place like North Idaho, a region not nationally known for its snow or mountains.

News >  Washington

Gray wolves ordered back onto federal endangered species list, majority of Washington wolves unaffected

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 11, 2022

Gray wolves throughout much of the United States, including the western two-thirds of Washington, were ordered back on the federal endangered species list Thursday. However, the majority of Washington's 180 or so wolves won't be impacted by the change in status.

Sports >  Outdoors

Reader Photo: A duck foraging by the water

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 9, 2022

Photographer Melaine Williams took this shot of a mallard duck foraging for food near the beach at Q’emiln Park in Post Falls in early February.

Sports >  Outdoors

Spokane’s cross-country ski race, Langlauf, returns after COVID-19-forced hiatus

UPDATED: Sun., Feb. 6, 2022

Late entries brought the region's premier cross-country skiing race up to participation levels similar to before the pandemic, with competitors taking in sunny skies on Sunday. 

Sports >  Outdoors

Ignorant good Samaritans kill two North Idaho moose

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 8, 2022

For days before the two moose died, Mary Franzel did everything she could to scare them away.She yelled. She stomped. She hurled kindling. But the mother and baby moose were unconcerned, mostly ignoring her aggression, continuing instead to munch on cedar bows near her Clark Fork Idaho area home.

Sports >  Outdoors

Washington loses 250,000 steelhead smolts after equipment failure at hatchery on Snake River

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 3, 2022

State wildlife managers have lost nearly 250,000 steelhead smolts from a rearing pond at the Lyons Ferry Hatchery on the Snake River, south of Palouse Falls.

Sports >  Outdoors

State Parks permanently closes access to parts of Palouse Falls

UPDATED: Sat., Feb. 5, 2022

Access to parts of Palouse Falls was permanently closed last week.

Sports >  Outdoors

Mt. Spokane adds new uphill skiing routes

Mon., Jan. 31, 2022

Mt. Spokane Ski & Snowboard Park has added new uphill skiing routes.