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Another government shutdown? Here’s a look at what’s ahead as Congress deals with unfinished business

Updated 9:27 a.m.

WASHINGTON – The Capitol is quiet this week, with Congress out of town for its end-of-year recess, but lawmakers are gearing up for what promises to be a hectic few weeks of work when the Senate returns on Monday and the House a day later.

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Public Safety

Lincoln statue in downtown Spokane again vandalized with red paint

Updated 10:35 a.m.

Two die in collision north of Liberty Lake
'It's a shock': Wallace residents, employees recall downtown shooting that led to 'shaking' windows, 'cops everywhere' and general confusion
Three shot, including officer, before gunman killed by law enforcement in Shoshone County

Local Government

Getting There: Preconstruction work redoubles next year for Division Street rapid bus route, slated for 2030 launch

Local Business

‘We love our community’: Cheney refillery brings sustainable options to locals

National Business

Texas awarded more rural health funds than any other state, federal government announces

Nation

Texas awarded more rural health funds than any other state, federal government announces

World

U.S. hit drug boat loading facility in Venezuela, Trump says

Washington

Then and Now: Santa Claus comes to town

Idaho

‘Truly an amazing act’: Idaho doctor donates year’s salary to cure blindness

WA Government

Gov. Ferguson requests $11 million for design of new Spokane Veterans home

ID Government

Ballot questions on abortion in Missouri, Idaho likely to spur more legal fights

Education: K-12

Coeur d’Alene area Catholic teens flock to youth group in record numbers

Higher Education

A couple in northeast Washington spent 30 years restoring a neglected tree farm. Last month, they donated it for research

Health

Bad flu season getting worse; skyrocketing cases set N.Y. state record

Transportation

Winter weather in northeastern U.S. leads to thousands of flight delays, cancellations

Science & Tech

Dinosaurs discovered in 2025 that surprised paleontologists

Military

Gov. Ferguson requests $11 million for design of new Spokane Veterans home

Weather

Blizzard warnings active as snowstorm barrels across northern U.S.

Columnists

This day in history: Septic tanks polluting aquifer in Spokane Valley, Army Corps warned. More were dying in car crashes

History

This day in history: Septic tanks polluting aquifer in Spokane Valley, Army Corps warned. More were dying in car crashes

Religion

Braver Angels trains Washington residents to bridge political divide

Latest Stories

News > National business

Less than 48 hours left in 2025. Use that time to save on taxes.

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

Don't ring in the new year until you have milked 2025 for every tax savings you can. Yes, there are still savings to be had but you have less than 48 hours to grab them.

News > Nation

How a landlord responded when tenants formed a union, stopped paying rent

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

In the two years she has lived at Bowen Tower, Cynthia Barlow’s apartment has flooded, been plagued by mold and been infested with cockroaches. The building’s heat stopped working. When the elevators broke over the summer, emergency workers carried a sick neighbor down 10 flights of stairs.

News > National business

Tariffs to set US materials up for best earnings in five years

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

While tariffs and shaky consumer confidence continue to create headwinds for corporate America, they’re set to lift earnings growth for US materials stocks to the highest in five years.

News > World

Iran’s government offers dialogue as protests spread to universities

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

Protests over Iran's soaring cost of living spread to several universities on Tuesday, with students joining shopkeepers and bazaar merchants, semi-official media reported, as the government offered dialogue with demonstrators.

News > National business

Tesla quarterly deliveries seen falling as lack of tax credits, competition sap demand

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

Tesla deliveries were expected to fall in the fourth quarter, as the loss of U.S. tax credits and rising global competition sapped demand even as the company rolled out cheaper versions of its best-selling electric vehicles.

News > Nation

Trump’s funding cuts put America’s consumer watchdog on the brink of collapse

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

When Bianca Jones, a 33-year-old special education teacher in Memphis, Tennessee, decided a couple of years ago that she wanted to buy a house, she started digging into her Experian credit report. She was shocked by what she found.

News > Federal Government

Another government shutdown? Here’s a look at what’s ahead as Congress deals with unfinished business

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

News > Spokane

Bloomsday Perennial: Terry Hemingway already has his sights on a new goal after reaching 50 next May

Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

It was good old-fashioned peer pressure that got Terry Hemingway to sign up for the first Bloomsday in 1977. He was persuaded by a coworker at Kaiser Aluminum.

News > Spokane

This day in history: Septic tanks polluting aquifer in Spokane Valley, Army Corps warned. More were dying in car crashes

Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

From 1975: The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers strongly recommended the construction of a sewage system and treatment plant in the Spokane Valley.

News > Nation/World

Trump warns Iran of possible strike, urges Hamas to disarm after meeting Netanyahu

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

PALM BEACH, Fla. – U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday the United States could support another major strike on Iran were it to resume rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs and warned Hamas of severe consequences if it does not disarm.

News > Spokane

Nonprofit to bring Haitian Independence Day for the first time to Spokane amid TPS uncertainty: ‘Get to know us’

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

For the first time, a nonprofit that serves Spokane’s Haitian community, is combining its New Year’s celebration with Haitian Independence Day.

News > Nation

Texas awarded more rural health funds than any other state, federal government announces

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

Federal officials on Monday announced funding amounts for its new rural health program, which will dole out $50 billion across the country over the next five years. For the 2026 fiscal year, Texas will receive more than $281 million, according to the announcement, which is more than any other state. The federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, which is administering the Rural Health ...

News > National business

Meta to buy Chinese founded startup Manus to boost advanced AI

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

Meta said on Monday it would acquire Chinese-founded artificial intelligence startup Manus, as the technology giant accelerates efforts to integrate advanced AI across its platforms.

News > Nation

FBI hopes to claw back $400k worth of poached lobster meat

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

Law enforcement remains shellshocked as the FBI investigates a heist involving a truck in Massachusetts carrying $400,000 worth of lobster meat destined for Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota.

News > Spokane

SpokAnimal closes as nonprofit shelter contends with unidentified respiratory illness affecting more than a dozen dogs

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

Half of the roughly 30 dogs at the nonprofit shelter SpokAnimal have contracted a yet-to-be-identified respiratory illness that’s led to some cases of pneumonia and the temporary closure of the shelter.

News > Nation/World

Four dead after storm system sweeps across southern U.S.

Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

Four people were dead in three Southern states over the weekend after a severe weather system marched across the region, unleashing tornadoes in Texas and Mississippi and heavy rains in the Carolinas.

News > Weather

Brief snow blast allows Mt. Spokane to open amid historically ‘mellow winter’

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

A brief blast of cold and some scrappy new snow-moving techniques allowed Mt. Spokane Ski and Snowboard Park to open this past weekend.

News > Nation/World

Azerbaijan blames Russia for plane crash, rebukes Kremlin

Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

The leader of Azerbaijan directly blamed Russia on Sunday for the crash of an Azerbaijan Airlines passenger jet last week, calling on Moscow to accept responsibility and offer compensation to victims.

News > Crime/Public Safety

Lincoln statue in downtown Spokane again vandalized with red paint

UPDATED: Tue., Dec. 30, 2025

Downtown Spokane’s Abraham Lincoln statue has been vandalized again.

News > World

U.S. hit drug boat loading facility in Venezuela, Trump says

UPDATED: Mon., Dec. 29, 2025

President Donald Trump said on Monday that the U.S. had "hit" an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs, marking the first known time Washington has carried out land operations in Venezuela since a pressure campaign began against President Nicolas Maduro's government.

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