Jim Camden

Cyber citizens usually can save themselves a stamp or the cost of a long-distance phone call by sending their legislators e-mail. But if you're not in a particular legislator's district, don't expect your e-mail to carry much weight.

Although the Legislature is 300 miles away, it can be as close as the computer screen for cyber citizens. With the right equipment, following the Legislature in action, or sometimes inaction, is a snap. Make that a click of the mouse button.

Patrick Ormsby

Fairchild Air Force Base turned its hospital into a "super clinic," a move that its commander says makes better use of tax dollars and offers better care for patients. Fairchild's clinic expanded its day-surgery facilities during a recent upgrading of the hospital building, said Col. Craig Hinman, commander of the 92nd Medical Group. Operations requiring an overnight stay or longer are being done by military physicians at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Spokane city voters are about evenly split on whether they support or oppose a major downtown redevelopment project, according to a poll commissioned by a critic and competitor of the proposal. That suggests the council should allow the public to vote on the plan, said Laurent Poole, executive vice president of Sabey Corp., which owns NorthTown Mall and paid for the poll.

American elections are awash in money. It's undermining the political process and jading the public's view of politics, critics say. But it's almost all legal.

The damage most Spokane-area residents sustained from the November ice storm won't be covered by federal disaster aid. But state officials would like them to send in an estimate anyway. "It's essential that people report the damage so that the county can make the assessment," said Chuck Hagerhjelm, a coordinator for the state Emergency Management Division.

Rep. Smith

Spokane residents think crime is getting worse in their community, but shopping and entertainment opportunities are getting better. Most think their elected leaders are at least doing no worse than before, according to a new scientific survey. A significant number even say their local news media are doing better. The bottom line, says an analyst for the national firm that conducted the poll, is that city and county residents have a fairly upbeat view of their community.

Former Army sergeant Eric Johnson of Bonners Ferry isn't sure about all the possible implications of gulf war syndrome. But he remembers when the chemical sensors went off one night while his unit was near the "neutral zone" between Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Johnson, 36, has had a few of the symptoms - night sweats, aching joints and memory loss - and little help from the Veterans Administration. "I haven't had some of the severe symptoms," said Johnson after listening Tuesday to a presentation by former Air Force flight nurse Joyce Riley. Riley linked service in the Persian Gulf War to everything from multiple sclerosis and birth defects to death. But he has a buddy, another gulf war veteran, who is in really bad shape. "I was hoping he'd make it here tonight," Johnson said as he scanned the crowd at the Panida Theater. "I picked up these tapes for him." Riley may be a combination of Joan of Arc and Paul Revere for those who believe that gulf war syndrome is real and traceable to substances that gulf war veterans either breathed in, took as pills or had injected into their bodies. "Ladies and gentlemen, it is time we embarrass the government and the Department of Defense," Riley told the crowd of about 350 people. "This is a communicable disease. It is being transferred by blood transfusions, sexual contact and perspiration." The federal government has repeatedly denied that there is a single source for the wide variety of medical symptoms that have come to be known as gulf war syndrome. It has acknowledged in recent months that an increasing number of troops were exposed to chemical warfare agents when Iraqi stockpiles were destroyed. But Johnson and other veterans who attended Riley's speech said they recall other warning signs of chemical exposure. "Our chemical sensors went off, and they said it was a malfunction," said Tony, a former Marine from Coeur d'Alene who would give only his first name. He served in the Middle East for 13 months, and was later discharged with a spinal disease. Riley suggested a major conspiracy involving the highest levels of government. "What you're going to see tonight is documentation," the Texan said before flashing a series of slides on the theater's screen. She showed the crowd pages from government documents - in one case, a congressional report more than 25 years old - and suggested conclusions.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jim Stewart speaks on business ethics Thursday at the Spokane Club. His more recent book is called "Blood Sport." Photo by Dan McComb/The Spokesman-Review

Republicans and Democrats in Spokane County will have new leaders this month after they gather for reorganization meetings. They are the elections after the elections, the ones decided by the little-noticed and oft-ignored last position on the general election ballot, the precinct committee officers.

Nearly a third of all the state's voters who bothered to cast ballots last month did so by mail. That record high for absentee balloting - coupled with a historic low for overall turnout - spelled the difference in two close congressional races and revealed a winning strategy for Republicans in Washington state. It also forced political experts to throw out old theories about absentee voters.

Spokane County commissioners adopted a "hold the line" budget for 1997, agreeing to spend $88 million on services ranging from crime and punishment to parks and health programs. The general fund budget is 5.3 percent larger than this year, but only after commissioners set aside some $2 million for an emergency reserve and $2.8 million of projected revenue from the juvenile jail sales tax.

As the region's utilities battled massive storm damage Saturday, weary residents were warned to brace for another round of ice and snow. Some people without power were advised they may be cold and dark for another week. Those who have power were warned not to get too comfortable - the sleet that hit area trees like nature's chain saw could return today.

1. Essex 2. As the first KC-135 refueling tanker lifts off the runway at Fairchild, another taxis into position. Units of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing were deployed to Spain Thursday to assist in the U.N. mission to Zaire. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Schelly

1. Rifle squad members Doug Jones, Marvin Brown, Richard Combs and Roger Fleishour stand at attention during Veterans Day service at the VA Medical Center. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review 2. Molly Mahr, in red, and Bethany Toews of the Lake City Select Chior sing the national anthem Monday while veterans such as Jean Holt, left, stand at attention. Photo by Jesse Tinsley/The Spokesman-Review (Photo ran only in the Idaho Edition)

Flying off Brig. Gen. Arthur Lichte talks about his 15-month tenure as Wing Commander of the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base. Photo by Christopher Anderson/The Spokesman-Review

Democrat Brian Baird acknowledges supporters Tuesday night at the Clark County Democratic headquarters in Vancouver. Photo by Associated Press

1. Rep. George Nethercutt responds to chants of "George, George," at the downtown Red Lion on Tuesday. Photo by Colin Mulvany/The Spokesman-Review 2. Judy Olson mixes at the Ridpath. Photo by Shawn Jacobson/The Spokesman-Review

Months of campaigning come to an end today for candidates running for everything from president to precinct committee officer. Voters go to the polls starting at 7 a.m. in Washington, but state and local election officials are worried that before the polls close at 8 p.m., the winner of the presidential race will be announced on nationwide television.

Former Speaker of the House Tom Foley, right, stumps for Judy Olson, candidate for the 5th Congressional District at a Democratic rally at the Ridpath on Sunday. Photo by Associated Press

Northwest voters looking for some clues as to how the next administration will handle issues close to home may not find many answers until after Tuesday's election. In a campaign that has centered around personal character and national finances, such regional issues as national forests, endangered salmon and nuclear waste have been largely ignored by Bill Clinton and Bob Dole.