Jeanette White

1. John Phelps of Caldwell, Idaho, works on paper-covered phone lines in a U S West manhole at the corner of Division and Carlisle. Water from the ice and snow storms may have damaged many of the 1,200 lines. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 2. Gary Clemonson talks with the office while working in the field at a repair site at the corner of Ruby and Indiana. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

1. Ali Johns braves freezing rain and falling branches to direct traffic away from fallen wires and limbs on Riverside Avenue in Browne's Addition on Tuesday. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review 2. Clayton Reynolds and Pete Lazzarini, a Washington Water Power line crew from Pullman, recoil as snow and debris fly after they cut a broken limb down near Excell and Foxpoint in northwest Spokane. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review 3. Paramedics and firefighters hustle an injured man from under frozen trees on West Riverside. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 4. A little cold humor from the folks at the Office Depot on North Division. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

1. Visiting Nurses Association nurse Dave Cook listens to Tom Griner's heart. Griner is recovering from pneumonia and keeping warm with extra layers of clothing. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review 2. Louise Lundberg and her daughter Barbara Buckley pack Lundberg's bag so that she can catch a flight to Seattle to stay with her son.

Josh Gales, left, and his mother use everything but the kitchen sink to clear their windshield. Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

People wishing to take high school equivalency tests in Spokane County face a long delay because officials suspect someone stole part of the test. For the first time in 20 years, all 10 GED testing centers shut down Monday. They probably won't open until January while officials investigate the possible theft.

1. Margo Dreis works with the varsity eighth-grade volleyball team at Salk. More than 50 kids practiced last week. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Salk Middle School junior varsity coach Ken White is surrounded by more than 30 eighth-grade volleyball players while putting them through drills at 7 a.m. Friday. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

About 400 educators attend "the improper touching workshop" by Jerry Painter, a WEA attorney, who taught them how to avoid charges of sexual misconduct. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Spokane public schools took a big step toward weeding out bad teachers Wednesday when board members approved a tougher evaluation form. The unanimous vote marked the first time in a decade both the teachers union and District 81 administrators could agree on evaluation revisions.

Spokane juveniles are arrested at more than twice the statewide rate, a new study on child well-being shows. Child abuse and neglect also is reported in Spokane far more often than elsewhere in the state.

A look into the future. Apparently overwhelmed by career options offered at the Inland Northwest National College Fair, several Post Falls High School students takes a break Monday at the Convention Center. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

One side promises parents more control over their children's education. The other side predicts erosion of the state's public education system. Voters will decide who's right in the emotional debate over initiatives to create charter schools and school vouchers.

Safer streets Students walking east on 37th near Myrtle have a narrow path to navigate. There are no sidewalks between Freya and Havana. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Voters won't have to worry about mistaking the two people who want to run the state's public education system. Terry Bergeson and Ron Taber are as different as private and public schools.

No one blinked when Terry Bergeson decided to run for state superintendent of public instruction. She'd fashioned a life on education, even ran for the job once before. But her rival appeared like a pop quiz - out of the blue and unnerving for many.

Taxpayers would pay for private school tuition under a controversial plan to create the nation's first statewide voucher system.

Jim Spady's public school would be small, maybe 30 students. The Seattle businessman would hire at least two teachers to keep class sizes down, and then enroll his own two children.

Lori Mork and her daughter, Lacey. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Washington voters are veering away from the state schools superintendent candidate who wants a complete overhaul of public education. They're also set to reject two ballot initiatives aimed at making major changes in the state's school system.

Nearly 150 Washington teachers filed a lawsuit Thursday against the state's largest teachers union, claiming it spends too much of their dues on politics. The teachers also accuse the Washington Education Association of keeping inadequate records on how it spends money and time.

Ricardo Lobato Zamora finishes a job he started Tuesday at the AM-PM Mini Market in Union Gap, Wash. Zamora had to stop cleaning light fixtures at the convenience store when FBI agents swept in and arrested three bombing suspects. Photo by Sandra Bancroft-Billings/The Spokesman-Review

Marva Collins meets fans from Mount St. Michael at the Red Lion on Friday. Photo by Dan Pelle/The Spokesman-Review

Ten Eastern Washington and Idaho universities and colleges are trying to figure out how to spend a $1 million gift from Washington Water Power. The private utilities company announced the donation Friday, along with a new scholarship program for high school seniors.

Heritage. Ashley Bercier, 7, used to attend the Native American Center after-school program at Bancroft School. Photo by Liz Kishimoto/The Spokesman-Review

Education debate. Sarah Beyersdorf listens to her opponent, Ron Taber, sum up during a debate on school vouchers Tuesday night at Spokane Community College. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review <