PNW
What's happening in the Pacific Northwest? For information and details regarding Northwest news, see our articles below.
Thompson leads 13th District race, plans focus on costs, access
EPHRATA — Joshua Thompson led Deanna Martinez by 3,278 votes for the 13th Legislative District’s state representat…
Affirmative action ban heads to Idaho governor's desk
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation banning affirmative action for state agencies, state contracting and public education headed to the Idaho governor's desk on Wednesday.
Winning numbers drawn in 'Pick 3 Night' game
BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ The winning numbers in Wednesday evening's drawing of the Idaho Lottery's "Pick 3 Night" game were:
Petition drive for Idaho ballot initiative called off
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A petition drive for a ballot initiative to bring in $170 million for K-12 education by raising Idaho's corporate tax rate and increasing taxes on those making $250,000 per year or more was call…
Idaho Senate approves amended crop-dusting bill
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Senate on Wednesday approved a bill that lessens the regulations governing pesticide-spraying crop dusters.
Getting coronavirus updates in Spanish is mixed bag in US
PHOENIX (AP) — As government officials across the country warn about the dangers of the coronavirus, they’re doing so predominantly in English. They’re potentially not reaching the millions of Spanish speakers in t…
US struggles to fill requests for protective gear
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — The U.S. government is rushing protective equipment to states, packing dozens of flights and hundreds of trucks with supplies for medical workers who will be on the front lines of the coronavirus…
Idaho transgender women sports ban bill heads to governor
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho bill banning transgender women from competing in women’s sports despite warnings that such a law is unconstitutional headed to the governor's desk on Wednesday.
Sick staff fueled outbreak in Seattle-area care centers
SEATTLE (AP) — Staff members who worked while sick at multiple long-term care facilities contributed to the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable elderly in the Seattle area, federal health officials said Wednesday.
Layoffs, shut downs; leaders face scope of virus fallout
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Tens of thousands of workers laid off, losing income as rent or mortgage payments are due. Small businesses shut down because of the coronavirus outbreak, and at risk of never reopening their doo…
Idaho adopts stricter guidelines to limit coronavirus spread
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Wednesday announced stricter guidelines for social interactions to slow the spread of the new coronavirus.
Food banks face virus dilemma: More demand, fewer volunteers
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — With the new coronavirus leaving many people at least temporarily out of work, food banks and pantries across the U.S. are scrambling to meet an expected surge in demand, even as older volun…
Little OKs bill targeting predatory medical debt collectors
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Gov. Brad Little on Tuesday signed into law a bill creating transparency in medical bills sent to former patients and to rein in predatory medical debt collectors.
Affirmative action ban heads to Idaho governor's desk
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislation banning affirmative action for state agencies, state contracting and public education headed to the Idaho governor's desk on Wednesday.
Judge: Oregon water regulators exceeded authority
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Oregon’s water regulators exceeded their authority when they shut off wells within 500 feet of waterways in the Upper Klamath Basin last year, a judge has ruled.
Millennium loses appeal over coal dock shorelines permit
LONGVIEW, Wash. (AP) — Millennium Bulk Terminal's long-running proposal to build a $680 million coal export dock in Longview was dealt another legal blow Tuesday when the Washington State Court of Appeals upheld th…