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News >  Federal Government

Northwest senators vote along party lines as Senate rejects Democrats’ resolution to stop Iran war

UPDATED: Wed., March 4, 2026

WASHINGTON – The Republican-controlled Senate voted largely along party lines on Wednesday to reject a Democratic measure to halt President Donald Trump’s war with Iran, effectively endorsing the U.S. strikes that continued for a fifth day as the conflict expanded across the Middle East.

News >  Washington

Newport reports $330,000 of city funds lost after scammers impersonate the town’s insurance

UPDATED: Tue., March 3, 2026

The town of Newport has been scammed out of $330,000, officials announced last week in a news release.

News >  Washington

Whitman County Commissioners narrowly passes ban on commercial wind farms

UPDATED: Mon., March 2, 2026

County officials in Whitman County narrowly approved a strict wind farm ordinance Monday morning.

News >  Federal Government

As national debt nears $39 trillion and Trump promises to balance budget, Americans spend more on interest payments than on defense

Mon., March 2, 2026

WASHINGTON – In his address to a joint session of Congress in March 2025, President Donald Trump set a bold goal for the U.S. government.

News >  Federal Government

Trump wants Republicans to ‘take over’ elections. Maria Cantwell fears their ‘SAVE America Act’ could do that.

Fri., Feb. 27, 2026

WASHINGTON – After finishing a close second in a state considered key to winning the presidency, Donald Trump claimed on social media that his opponent had “illegally cheated” and said the results should be nullified because the winner had committed “fraud.”

News >  K-12 education

Stunting on ‘em: In their first year competing, Ferris High School JV cheer squad earns national championship

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 26, 2026

Cheerleaders from Ferris High School’s junior varsity cheer squad stunted, tumbled and flipped their way to the national championships on Saturday.

News >  Washington

Couple asks Washington Department of Licensing for Spanish speaker – and gets a recording in a Spanish accent instead

UPDATED: Wed., Feb. 25, 2026

Last summer, Maya Edwards and her husband called the Washington State Department of Licensing hoping to speak with someone in Spanish.

News >  Health

NEW Health purchases land to expand services in rural northeastern Washington town

Wed., Feb. 25, 2026

Health care services for rural residents in northeast Washington will expand under a new project.

News >  K-12 education

East Valley School District bond will reappear on April ballots

UPDATED: Tue., Feb. 24, 2026

East Valley School District’s failed $220 million bond is returning to ballots in April.

News >  Washington

WSU students lead initiative to address shortage of certified medical interpreters

Tue., Feb. 24, 2026

It can be hard to find someone to translate for health care appointments in the Inland Northwest.

News >  Higher education

Washington State University to close Yakima-based College of Nursing

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 23, 2026

Washington State University is closing its Yakima-based College of Nursing, the school announced earlier this month, transitioning students to Spokane and Tri-Cities campuses at the end of the spring semester.

News >  Federal Government

Baumgartner reflects on being sole House Republican at Munich Security Conference amid crises in Iran, Ukraine and beyond

Sun., Feb. 22, 2026

WASHINGTON – Since its inception in the Cold War-era Germany of 1963, the Munich Security Conference has become the premier gathering of U.S. and European elected leaders and military officials, so Rep. Michael Baumgartner wasn’t going to let a little lapse in federal funding stop him from attending for the first time.

News >  Federal Government

Murray, other Democrats to skip Trump’s State of the Union while Baumgartner invites Walla Walla teacher

UPDATED: Fri., Feb. 20, 2026

WASHINGTON – When President Donald Trump speaks to House and Senate lawmakers on Tuesday for his first official State of the Union address since returning to office, some Northwest Democrats plan to skip the spectacle and counter it with their own messaging efforts.

News >  Washington

‘God gave us five senses’: Venezuelan wood sculptor carves out his legacy in the Pacific Northwest

Thu., Feb. 19, 2026

Every day after working as a financial analyst, Luis Pérez goes to his garage to look for his next project.

News >  Washington

Voters approve of fire districts merging in Pend Oreille County

Tue., Feb. 17, 2026

Voters in Pend Oreille County approved the merger of two fire districts.

News >  K-12 education

Demolition begins on Adams Elementary, once the second-oldest operating schoolhouse in Spokane Public Schools

UPDATED: Mon., Feb. 16, 2026

Under an overcast sky and near-constant drizzle Monday, the demolition of the 116-year-old Adams Elementary schoolhouse began.

News >  Crime/Public Safety

None injured in Spokane Valley structure fire

UPDATED: Sun., Feb. 15, 2026

Spokane Valley Fire Department crews responded Sunday afternoon to a structure fire in Spokane Valley in which no one was injured.

News >  Federal Government

Northwest lawmakers weigh in on ICE conduct as impasse leads to Homeland Security shutdown

Sun., Feb. 15, 2026

WASHINGTON – Before senators and House members left the Capitol on Thursday with funding for the Department of Homeland Security guaranteed to lapse at week’s end, Northwest lawmakers illustrated just how tough it could be to bridge the gap between the parties over the Trump administration’s immigration enforcement tactics.

Sports >  WSU football

‘He’s like our guy’: New WSU head football coach leaves warm first impression with Spokane Cougs

UPDATED: Sun., Feb. 15, 2026

Kirby Moore is the kind of guy you could get a beer with.

News >  Federal Government

Newhouse helps House rebuke Trump’s tariffs on Canada, while Baumgartner opposes move despite concerns over import taxes

UPDATED: Thu., Feb. 12, 2026

WASHINGTON – The House of Representatives voted Wednesday to overturn President Donald Trump’s tariffs on goods from Canada, as a Washington state Republican broke with GOP leaders to help pass the largely symbolic resolution.