Pacific NW

In an effort to help Idahoans follow major bills, resolutions and memorials through the legislative process, the Idaho Capital Sun will begin to produce a “legislative notebook” at the end of each week to gather information in one place that concerns major happenings in the Legislature and state government.

WASHINGTON – Immigration policy will take center stage when Congress returns to the Capitol this week after most Senate Democrats voted Thursday to begin debate on a bill that would require the deportation of immigrants who are charged with minor crimes while in the country illegally.

There is little doubt what the top concern is of lawmakers on both sides of the aisle as they prepare to start Washington’s 2025 legislative session this week: solving the budget deficit.

The city of Richland is a candidate for an advanced nuclear fuel cycle facility that could employ 1,000 and cost $3 billion to build. It’s an eye-watering figure, but substantially less than the $4.5 billion impact first presented to the city’s economic development committee when it recommended the project last month. Neither the city nor the Tri-City Development Council could account for the ...

Idahoans are a unique breed. And some of us are more “special” than others. Each new year, I force myself to take one last masochistic gaze back at the past 12 months. To savor one last Idaho wince. By relishing all the headlines that made us groan — about the wonderful state we all adore. So many. Narrowing the contenders is daunting. Often, it boils down to semantics. Was it actually ...

Eastern Washington's new congressman addressed the nation's debt, the war in Ukraine and other topics in the town hall he held at the North Spokane Library on Saturday.

From 1975: Jobless workers in Spokane filed 10,000 unemployment claims in one week – more claims than in any week for decades.

In our Reality Check stories, Idaho Statesman journalists seek to hold the powerful accountable and find answers to critical questions in our community. Read more. Story idea? Tips@idahostatesman.com. Their votes were standard procedure, for the sake of decorum and longer-term strategy. But they jarred some reliable constituents, and prompted reflections about Democratic tactics in deep-red ...

Residents and irrigators in Newman Lake will pay a $309 assessment fee on top of their regular water rates this year in lieu of a 45% rate increase.

The largest health care strike in Oregon history began early Friday at Providence across the state, as roughly 5,000 frontline health professionals walked off the job.

The Biden administration on Friday extended temporary protections for nearly 1 million immigrants from several countries in high conflict who are living in the United States.