Republican lawmakers sue Inslee over shutdown

OLYMPIA — In the latest in an escalating series of legal challenges by Republicans, four Washington state legislators sued Gov. Jay Inslee in federal court on Tuesday, seeking to strike down his stay-home order aimed at slowing the spread of the coronavirus.

UK broadens two key schemes to limit lockdown's economic hit

LONDON (AP) — The British government has broadened two of the biggest economic relief programs it has put in place to limit the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.

Virginia juvenile detention center new coronavirus hotspot

BON AIR, Va. (AP) — Coronavirus has erupted inside a juvenile detention center in Virginia with 25 kids testing positive, accounting for a quarter of all cases reported at youth facilities nationwide, officials said Friday.

Japan officials puzzled by outbreak on docked cruise ship

TOKYO (AP) — Japanese officials are investigating an outbreak of the coronavirus among crew members of a cruise ship in Nagasaki, which has puzzled authorities because the southern port city has a relatively low number of infections and the vessel has been docked for almost three months.

AP sources: MLB opening options include 3 regional divisions

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is exploring various options that could allow the season to start if the medical situation allows, including a plan in which the 30 teams might be split into three regional divisions.

AP PHOTOS: India photojournalist records life in quarantine

MUMBAI, India (AP) — Rafiq Maqbool remembers never flinching while covering high-risk news assignments such as the war in Afghanistan, the Sri Lankan tsunami or the conflict in Kashmir, where he grew up and decided to become a photojournalist.

AP sources: MLB opening options include 3 regional divisions

NEW YORK (AP) — Major League Baseball is exploring various options that could allow the season to start if the medical situation allows, including a plan in which the 30 teams might be split into three regional divisions.

Swiss court dismisses Al-Khelaifi bid to recuse prosecutors

GENEVA (AP) — Qatari soccer and television executive Nasser al-Khelaifi failed in a request to have three prosecutors recused from a case against him in Switzerland that is part of a wider bribery investigation of FIFA.

European economies on course for unprecedented recessions

LONDON (AP) — Europe's economies are heading for unprecedented recessions as a result of the lockdown measures put in place by governments to get a grip on the coronavirus pandemic, closely watched surveys indicated Thursday.

Justice Dept. watchdog to inspect prisons amid virus spread

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Justice Department’s inspector general will conduct remote inspections of Bureau of Prisons facilities to ensure they are following best practices to mitigate the spread of the coronavirus after hundreds of federal inmates tested positive for the virus.

Navy hospital ship in Los Angeles might scale back mission

WASHINGTON (AP) — The USNS Mercy hospital ship docked in Los Angeles may be able to scale back its medical operation a bit over the next week as the coronavirus workload at area hospitals stabilizes, according to the ship's captain and military documents.

Tons of sanitizer: Retailer charged with hoarding, gouging

NEW YORK (AP) — Federal prosecutors charged a New York retailer Friday with hoarding tons of disposable masks, surgical gowns and hand sanitizer in a Long Island warehouse and selling the items at huge markups.

Gonzaga becomes season’s 6th team to hit No. 1 in AP Top 25

Gonzaga is the latest No. 1 in The Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll that has had no stability at the top

Warriors win SCAC East

MATTAWA – The Wahluke boys soccer team clinched the South Central Athletic Conference (East) with Thursday’s 8-0 win over Kiona-Benton, ending the regular season with a record of 11-3-2.

Remembering WWII

Historic exhibit comes to Moses Lake museum

MOSES LAKE — It was perhaps the defining event of the 20th century. “It’s an area of interest to a lot of people,” said Moses Lake Museum and Art Center Director Dollie Boyd. “It (World War II) was such a complex war, and so many people, so many countries, were involved. It touched every corner of the globe.” ...

William ‘Willie’ Thomas Lowe

William Thomas Lowe, 94, of Moses Lake, Washington, died Feb. 21, 2023. Willie Lowe was the son of Thomas Lee Lowe and Lillian Lee Lowe (nee Taylor), and loving husband of Donna Patricia “Pat” Lowe (nee Terry). He is survived by his three daughters Cathy (Bruce) Clark, Linda D. Lowe and Terri (Ed) Morrison. He is also survived by four grandchildren Joshua Pittsenbarger, David (Whitney) Pittsenbarger, Jessica Sturgeon (nee Morrison), and James Morrison. Additionally, he is survived by nine great-grandchildren Natalie, Jacob, Shayden, Annaka, Theofilia, Westen, Robert, Michael and Alexander. Willie was predeceased by his parents, Thomas and Lillian Lowe, his infant son Robert Thomas Lowe, his wife Pat Lowe, and his sister Norma Lee Mathies (nee Lowe).

Kraken vs. Avalanche

NHL playoffs see Seattle facing off against defending champion Colorado

SEATTLE — After qualifying for the postseason in only the franchise’s second year, the Seattle Kraken will match up against the defending Stanley Cup champion Colorado Avalanche in the first round of the Western Conference playoffs...

Capped: Washington sets permanent price cap at $35 per month for insulin

OLYMPIA – Gov. Jay Inslee signed Senate Bill 5729 Thursday, which ensures that Washingtonians with diabetes will continue to pay no more than $35 a month for insulin. “This legislation isn’t a perfect solution — I had hoped that Congress would take action to ensure insulin is affordable for all Americans,” said Sen. Karen Keiser (D-Des Moines), sponsor of the bill. “But by keeping costs down for people with diabetes, this price cap is going to save lives in Washington.” ...

Ribbon cutting for new Almira school Thursday

ALMIRA — The new Almira Elementary School and Almira-Coulee/Hartline Middle School will be the center of attention at a ribbon-cutting and open house scheduled for 4 to 6 p.m. Thursday. The building is located at 310 S. Third St. People can tour the new building after the ribbon is cut, said building Principal Kelsey Hoppe. “You’ll be able to walk around and check things out,” she said.

Capital gains tax bill inches closer to governor’s desk

In a 52-46 vote, the Washington state House passed legislation during a virtual legislative debate Wednesday to impose a capital gains tax starting next year. The bill will return to the Senate to consider the House’s amendments.