Washington

News > Spokane

Bloomsday Perennial: Despite health setbacks, long-time high school coach still runs 6 days a week

Fri., Jan. 2, 2026

Mike Fleming, as a physical education teacher, coach and runner, is all about staying in motion. At 79, he credits his active lifestyle as the reason he’s been able to do all 49 Bloomsdays, making him a Perennial.

News > Spokane

This day in history: LaGuardia Airport bombing kills 11, puts nation on alert. SPD investigate ‘baffling’ murder, assault cases

Fri., Jan. 2, 2026

From 1976: Security was tightened at Spokane International Airport in the wake of a bombing at LaGuardia Airport in New York that killed 11.

News > Washington

Thousands in Birch Bay attempt to make history in world’s largest polar bear dip

Thu., Jan. 1, 2026

In February 2025, the Birch Bay Chamber of Commerce announced it would hold a Guinness World Record attempt for the largest polar bear dip.

News > Washington

2026 WA minimum wage and laws take effect

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 1, 2026

OLYMPIA — The new year is here, and with it come changes to wages and laws in Washington. Starting Thursday, the state minimum wage is $17.13 an hour, up from $16.66 an hour in 2025, maintaining Washington's position as the state with the highest minimum wage in the nation. Employers may pay 14-and 15-year-old workers 85% of the minimum wage rate. The federal minimum wage rate, which hasn't ...

News > Washington

Washington historic floods uncover critical gap in renter protection

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 1, 2026

Historic floods that tore through Western Washington last month have exposed a gap in state law that left many of the region’s most vulnerable people unprepared for disaster and financially devastated.

News > Spokane

The Collector: Rob Rowe’s collection features classic beer, ‘land of sky-blue waters’

Thu., Jan. 1, 2026

A blind taste test of cheap beers spawned a collection that numbers in the hundreds.

News > Spokane

This day in history: Tribal leader who lobbied successfully to protect Indian reservations dies in Spokane. New Episcopal cathedral named

Thu., Jan. 1, 2026

From 1976: “Thousands of mourners” were expected to attend the wake and funeral ceremonies for local tribal leader Joseph R. Garry in DeSmet, Idaho.

News > Spokane

A new year in Spokane: From officials to readers, here are our community’s wishes for the region in 2026

Thu., Jan. 1, 2026

With every new year comes the tradition of resolutions, setting an intention to somehow make the coming calendar year better than the one we are leaving behind.

News > Home and garden

Gardening: Journaling is nice solution for recording gardens past

Thu., Jan. 1, 2026

Editor’s note: This column previously ran in January 2013.

News > Washington

Washington AG Nick Brown: Feds agree to resume review for NIH grants

UPDATED: Thu., Jan. 1, 2026

The federal government has agreed to resume the review process for National Institutes of Health-funded medical and scientific research grants — including those to Washington state universities and institutes — which the Trump administration attempted to freeze earlier this year.

News > Spokane

‘Just incredibly generous’: Christmas Bureau meets goal for the first time since raising it to $600,000

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

The generosity of Spokane-area residents was never in doubt.

News > Washington

Researchers find more long COVID than expected in WA Hispanic population

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

A significant percentage of 1,500 Latino patients in Washington state who had been diagnosed with COVID reported in a survey that they had experienced long COVID symptoms, according to a UW Medicine study.

News > Washington

Former National Guardsman facing prison for Richland molestation, rape

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

A former Oregon National Guardsman is facing prison for molesting a Richland boy following a fight-viewing party about five years ago.

News > Pacific NW

Gen Zers, just because you can buy a home, should you?

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

Just because you can buy a home, should you?

News > Pacific NW

These are the Seattle area’s Gen Z homeowners. How did they do it?

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

If you picture a first-time homebuyer in the Seattle area, you probably would not think of 24-year-old Edwin Nino Delgado with his hip-hop posters taped to the wall of his $770,000 Lake City, Washington, triplex.

News > Spokane

Difference Maker: ‘Saint Bette’ is the guiding force for the Mead Food Bank and an inspiration to students

Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

Bette Monahan’s left wrist is heavy.

News > Spokane

This day in history: Marijuana should be legalized, said North Idaho Medical Association in 1975. Spokane economy booming as 1925 came to close

Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

From 1975: The North Idaho Medical Association went on record as advocating the legalization of marijuana.

News > Washington

WA AG says Somali child care providers are reporting harassment

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

Washington Attorney General Nick Brown said members of the Somali community have reached out to his office following reports of Somali child care providers in Washington being harassed and accused of fraud. These reports occur as the federal government is investigating alleged billions in fraud in the provision of social services in Minnesota; most of the people who have been charged in that ...

News > Washington

One employee fired, others suspended after ‘sick-out’ at Tacoma school

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

Tacoma Public Schools disciplined 19 staff members at Jennie Reed Elementary after 38 employees called in sick on Sept. 12. According to an unsigned letter circulating online around the time of the “sick-out,” staff missed work to “send the message” to district leaders that the community “will not accept fewer supports for our students.” The district launched investigations that found the ...

News > Washington

Outgoing Othello mayor says time in office taught some lessons

UPDATED: Wed., Dec. 31, 2025

Dec. 30—OTHELLO — Outgoing Othello Mayor Shawn Logan said his time in office has reinforced some things he already knew and taught him some new lessons, too. "Othello has nice people in it. Really good people. And we really are a family-friendly, youth sports, agriculture, largely Hispanic community," he said. "I got to know my community better. And the other thing that I was learning is that ...

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Washington AG Nick Brown: Feds agree to resume review for NIH grants

Latest Stories

Bloomsday Perennial: Despite health setbacks, long-time high school coach still runs 6 days a week

This day in history: LaGuardia Airport bombing kills 11, puts nation on alert. SPD investigate ‘baffling’ murder, assault cases

Thousands in Birch Bay attempt to make history in world’s largest polar bear dip

2026 WA minimum wage and laws take effect

Washington historic floods uncover critical gap in renter protection

The Collector: Rob Rowe’s collection features classic beer, ‘land of sky-blue waters’

This day in history: Tribal leader who lobbied successfully to protect Indian reservations dies in Spokane. New Episcopal cathedral named

A new year in Spokane: From officials to readers, here are our community’s wishes for the region in 2026

Gardening: Journaling is nice solution for recording gardens past

Washington AG Nick Brown: Feds agree to resume review for NIH grants

‘Just incredibly generous’: Christmas Bureau meets goal for the first time since raising it to $600,000

Researchers find more long COVID than expected in WA Hispanic population

Former National Guardsman facing prison for Richland molestation, rape

Gen Zers, just because you can buy a home, should you?

These are the Seattle area’s Gen Z homeowners. How did they do it?

Difference Maker: ‘Saint Bette’ is the guiding force for the Mead Food Bank and an inspiration to students

This day in history: Marijuana should be legalized, said North Idaho Medical Association in 1975. Spokane economy booming as 1925 came to close

WA AG says Somali child care providers are reporting harassment

One employee fired, others suspended after ‘sick-out’ at Tacoma school

Outgoing Othello mayor says time in office taught some lessons