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Inflation, public safety and COVID-19 recovery are top of mind for candidates running in the heavily Republican 4th Legislative District.

WASHINGTON – Since Mike Crapo was first elected to represent Idaho in the U.S. Senate in 1998, he has never faced a serious challenge. While he appears likely to coast to a fifth term in office in the Nov. 8 election, four challengers hope an unusual set of circumstances give them an opening for an upset.

WASHINGTON – In his nearly eight years representing central Washington in the House, Dan Newhouse has fended off challengers from across the political spectrum and carved out a niche as a pragmatic lawmaker more interested in policy than bluster.

Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton sought to reassure voters of the integrity of local elections.

Spokane County Commissioner Al French, a Republican who is running to maintain a seat on the commission in the newly drawn 5th Commissioner District, faced his opponent, Democrat Maggie Yates, in a Thursday night debate.

Former state Rep. Leonard Christian joined incumbent state House Rep. Rob Chase on stage at the Bing Crosby Theater on Thursday night in a debate for the 4th Legislative District seat representing Spokane Valley.

The City of Spokane Redistricting Board on Tuesday unanimously approved a map that will be sent to the city council for final adoption. The council will need to approve the new map, which focuses on minimal changes and a shared downtown, by Nov. 15. 

Only two votes separated the two candidates running for Stevens County coroner in the August primary election. The closeness of the contest may only be matched by the contentiousness between the two former co-workers now competing to run the office.

The Boundary County Library director who resigned last month amid demands for censorship will speak Thursday night at Central Library.

After passing a law last legislative session, Washington became the 44th state in the country to allow families to request birth certificates. The law went into effect Saturday.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Supreme Court on Monday kicked off what promises to be another contentious and high-stakes term with oral arguments in a North Idaho couple’s case that could see the court’s conservative supermajority roll back federal protections for the nation’s wetlands.

“I feel that people who tried to set up barriers for me actually inspired me to work harder and do better,” Custodio said. “That’s one of the big lessons learned for me.”

There’s no doubt that Republicans are underdogs when trying to capture statewide office in Washington. They haven’t won an election for governor since 1980. They haven’t won a race for U.S. Senate since 1994. They hold no statewide offices.

WASHINGTON – More than seven months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the top Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee said the Kremlin’s move to annex four provinces in eastern Ukraine on Friday doesn’t change the fact that Russian President Vladimir Putin has failed to meet his main objective of toppling the government in Kyiv.

Supporters of the proposal say it would be a step toward reducing carbon emissions across the state, which Washington legislators and Gov. Jay Inslee have made a priority in the next decade. The controversial proposal has also drawn criticism from people across the state, especially those in Eastern Washington who say relying solely on heat pumps would be difficult and expensive in the cold winters. 

MultiCare Health System is looking for older adults in Spokane to participate in a global vaccine trial for a respiratory virus that currently has no approved vaccine or treatment.

LIND, Wash. – Paula Bell, the mayor of Lind, slammed a metal claw hammer as a gavel on a folding table in the basement of Lind Community Church Tuesday night, trying to quiet the angry crowd as she shouted “Only one at a time! Only one at a time!” A council member banged his hand on the table in response and another council member moved to adjourn.

WASHINGTON – After the Department of Veterans Affairs admitted a new medical record system has upended the budget of Spokane’s VA hospital, the department’s top health official said Wednesday the issue would not result in cuts to service at Mann-Grandstaff VA Medical Center or other facilities using the system.

Michael Sebaaly, North Idaho College’s wrestling coach and the school’s former interim president, resigned last week.