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News >  Pacific NW

Police find body of missing Idaho man believed to have drowned in Coeur d’Alene River

UPDATED: Wed., July 14, 2021

A dive team found the body of Kevin L. Walker, a 45-year-old man from Kellogg who is believed to have drowned in the Coeur d’Alene River on Saturday, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office reported.

News >  Pacific NW

Inslee declares drought emergency for vast majority of Washington, says this is ‘summer of climate change’

UPDATED: Wed., July 14, 2021

Only Seattle, Tacoma and Everett are excluded from the drought emergency Gov. Jay Inslee declared Wednesday as he warned that water supply for the affected areas is likely to be down because of the ongoing drought.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Man sentenced to 9 months in jail after assault, burglary near Shadle Park High School

UPDATED: Wed., July 14, 2021

Bahaulddin J. Alnajati was sentenced to 9 months in jail on Wednesday after participating in a shooting incident and burglary near Shadle Park High School in February.

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News >  Pacific NW

Smoke rolls into Spokane; near-record heat on tap, but slight reprieve is forecast

UPDATED: Wed., July 14, 2021

Smoke and heat enveloped Spokane on Tuesday, and the region is once again expected to be hit by high temperatures and potentially wildfire friendly weather, according to the National Weather Service in Spokane.

News >  Pacific NW

Where there’s no smoke, there’s still fire: Spokane fortunate to avoid smoke, but luck could change at any time

UPDATED: Tue., July 13, 2021

Take in that blue sky and fresh air while you can because there’s no telling how long Spokane’s luck will last in avoiding hazy and unhealthy smoke from wildfires across the Northwest.

News >  Pacific NW

3 drownings in Idaho rivers over the weekend; officials still looking for Idaho man in Coeur d’Alene River

UPDATED: Mon., July 12, 2021

An Idaho man is believed to have drowned in the Coeur d’Alene River, adding another Saturday drowning in Idaho after a Kentucky couple drowned in the Moyie River.

News >  Agriculture

Farmers and experts anticipate worst wheat harvest in years after extreme heat and drought levels fields

UPDATED: Fri., July 9, 2021

At this time of year, Marci Green usually can expect her Fairfield farm to have rolling fields of green, thick and tall wheat just about ready to be dried up for harvest in late July.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Spokane Valley deputies searching for armed suspect they say hid out on apartment balcony

UPDATED: Wed., July 7, 2021

Spokane Valley deputies were searching for an armed and dangerous suspect Wednesday after he fled from law enforcement .

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Body-cam footage appears to show suspect throw lit gas can at police officer on Tuesday

UPDATED: Wed., July 7, 2021

Body-cam footage taken Tuesday morning appears to show a suspect throw a lit gas can from a stolen vehicle at a Spokane Police Department officer before fleeing on foot.

News >  Pacific NW

Wildfires burning all over North Idaho, Eastern Washington; red flag warning predicts dangerous conditions for new, existing fires

UPDATED: Wed., July 7, 2021

Idaho and Washington fire crews were working to control multiple wildfires threatening homes across the Inland Northwest Wednesday, as wind and heat created dangerous potential for quick wildfire growth.

News >  Pacific NW

Firefighters rein in Andrus fire near Cheney to 20% containment, but Wednesday weather conditions pose more danger

UPDATED: Wed., July 7, 2021

The Andrus fire near Cheney is 20% contained as of Wednesday morning, but dangerous weather conditions could make firefighters' work even more difficult.

News >  Pacific NW

Batterman Fire more than triples in size late Monday; still 10% contained

UPDATED: Tue., July 6, 2021

The Batterman Fire near Wenatchee grew to 7,900 acres late Monday and is 10% contained, according to Southeast Washington Incident Management Team 1.

News >  Pacific NW

Firefighters hold growth of Andrus Fire at 300 acres overnight; FEMA authorizes use of federal funds to help fight fire

UPDATED: Tue., July 6, 2021

Firefighters at the blaze near Cheney, now called the Andrus Fire, held growth at 300 acres overnight, but the fire is still 0% contained as of Tuesday morning.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Northeast Spokane man stabbed due to argument over lighting fireworks

Tue., July 6, 2021

A confrontation over the lighting of fireworks led to a man being stabbed in Northeast Spokane on Sunday night, according to the Spokane Police Department.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Evacuation area expands as blaze north of Cheney threatens homes, crops, infrastructure

UPDATED: Mon., July 5, 2021

Some 25 residents have been given advisory notices to stand by to evacuate as fire crews, including air support, battled a wildfire near Cheney on Monday.

News >  Pacific NW

Batterman Fire near Wenatchee grows to 2,500 acres

UPDATED: Mon., July 5, 2021

A wildfire near Wenatchee, now being referred to as the Batterman fire, grew to approximately 2,500 acres Monday and is only 10% contained, according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

News >  Business

Fairmount Memorial opens first eco-burial garden in Inland NW, but can it bring back burials in Washington?

Mon., July 5, 2021

Green burials generally aim to avoid greenhouse gas emissions, but it's not always just about sustainability. Many green burial advocates don't see the point of delaying the inevitable.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

At least 3 confirmed dead of heat exposure, could increase to 11 after days of record-breaking highs, Spokane medical examiner says

UPDATED: Sat., July 3, 2021

The Spokane County medical examiner confirmed three heat-related deaths Friday and updated the number of possible heat deaths to 11, outlining the tragic consequences of this week’s historic heat wave.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

‘An exciting tool’: Spokane County dispatch system will now livestream 911 calls to deputies

Fri., July 2, 2021

Spokane Valley and Spokane County deputies can now listen to 911 calls in real-time, becoming the first law enforcement agencies in the Northwest to use a potentially game-changing emergency response software.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

Driver who tested positive for three drugs after 2020 fatal crash charged with vehicular homicide

UPDATED: Fri., July 2, 2021

A former tow truck driver was charged with vehicular homicide on Tuesday after blood tests revealed he had methamphetamine, amphetamine and cannabis in his system hours after a crash that killed a bicyclist last summer.

News >  Idaho

Residents thankful Avista outages are dwindling after large blackouts, but infrastructure worries linger

UPDATED: Wed., June 30, 2021

Avista Utilities customers were relieved Wednesday that the utility had relatively few planned blackouts to conserve energy after off-and-on outages that came as record heat baked the area Tuesday. But for some, concerns about the utility’s capacity also lingered.

News >  Pacific NW

Spokane hospitals, fire department busy with calls for heat illness; (slightly) cooler weather in forecast for Fourth of July weekend

UPDATED: Thu., July 1, 2021

Hospitals and fire crews stayed busy Wednesday as the Inland Northwest baked at well over 100 degrees for a second day, but forecasters say the end of the historic heat that’s kept first responders busy with medical calls could be in sight.

News >  Pacific NW

Road buckle near Colfax as heat wave pounds highway infrastructure

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

Pavement on U.S. Highway 195 north of Colfax buckled on Tuesday, in what is likely to be just the beginning of infrastructure damage as a historic heat dome bears down on the Northwest.

News >  Pacific NW

Brush fire near Lind completely contained, progress made on fire near Priest River

UPDATED: Tue., June 29, 2021

The brush fire that started Sunday near Lind is 100% contained, while the Little Pine Fire near Priest River is 80% contained, signaling major progress by both Washington and Idaho firefighters.

News >  Pacific NW

Catholic Charities opens new cooling centers as temps soar in Spokane

UPDATED: Mon., June 28, 2021

Spokane experienced a high of 105 degrees Monday, tying the record set in 2015 for the hottest June 28 in the city’s history, according to the National Weather Service.