News

The Squeeze: A Former Soldier Struggles in a Down Economy
For soldiers, the transition from war back to civilian life is often difficult. Now to complicate matters, veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts are coming home to a shaky economy. In the Southwest corner of Washington State, one former soldier is struggling to support herself and her new baby while she goes to school. Austin Jenkins reports in Part II of our series “The Squeeze: How a declining economy impacts low income people.” More >

Joseph Edward Duncan: Is There a Legacy?
Legacies are tricky things. Just ask Idaho Senator Larry Craig. He may be remembered more for a few minutes in an airport bathroom than for his long Congressional career. So what about the legacy of child killer Joseph Edward Duncan? Sentenced to the death penalty, he will certainly be remembered most for his crimes. But correspondent Doug Nadvornick reports Duncan leaves a secondary legacy as well: tougher laws to regulate sex offenders. More >

Coeur d’Alene Residents React to Duncan Sentencing
Confessed child killer Joseph Duncan will be put to death. A jury in Boise deliberated for three hours on Wednesday afternoon before returning its verdict. In Coeur d’Alene, many are happy and relieved. Doug Nadvornick reports. More >

Groene Thanks Duncan Jury
For Steven Groene, the father of Dylan Groene, it’s been a painful and emotional three years. Groene was in the federal courtroom in Boise Wednesday as the jury ruled that Joseph Edward Duncan should receive the death penalty for the kidnapping and murder of Dylan in 2005. Don Wimberly reports. More >

WA Gov’s Race: Gregoire and Rossi Within 2% Points in Primary Results
Almost all the votes have been tallied in Washington State’s primary election. And the governor’s race is closer than ever. Now less than two percentage points separate incumbent Democrat Chris Gregoire and Republican challenger Dino Rossi. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports More >

WSU Record Enrollment Thanks to Recruitment
Washington State University is welcoming its largest ever freshmen class to college this week. WSU officials say the recruitment process is the key to increasing enrollment. Glenn Mosley reports. More >

Frist Settler in Springfield OR Grave Moved
The family cemetery for the first settler in what is now Springfield was excavated from the site of the new RiverBend Hospital. Becca Bartleson reports on some of the discoveries. More >

Quinceañeras: Now a Big Deal for NW Latinas
We're all familiar with tradeshows and conventions for brides. Now, Latino girls have their own show to help them plan their coming-of-age event. It’s a Quinceañera convention. One was held in Pasco, Washington last weekend. Anna King explores the convergence of Latino traditions and American commercialism. More >

The Squeeze: Slow Economy Leaves Poor Vulnerable
The national economic slowdown is leaving its mark on our region in a spotty pattern. R-V and boat sales are down sharply. The farm sector is holding up well. Building permits are off. The mining industry is hiring. In part one of a three part series we’re calling “The Squeeze”, correspondent Tom Banse sifted through regional economic indicators to see who is being hit by the squeeze. More >

Wind Power Surge Challenges Grid Operator
Can there be too much of a good thing when it comes to wind power? The Bonneville Power Administration is confronting that question this summer. The regional grid operator has a pile of new connection requests from wind farm developers. There wouldn’t be much of a story if you could schedule the wind minute-by-minute, but a fickle energy source like this makes life in the control room more interesting. Tom Banse reports. More >

Children’s Health Care Proposal Could Resurface in 2009 Legislative Session
Children’s health insurance could once again be at the top of the agenda when the Oregon Legislature convenes next year. A plan to fund it with a cigarette tax hike died last year. This time, lawmakers might use a different strategy. Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman has more: More >

OR, WA Join in Lawsuit Against EPA
Oregon and Washington have joined ten other states, the District of Columbia and New York City in suing the Environmental Protection Agency again. Now, they claim the Bush Administration has failed to rein in emissions from oil refineries. Rachael McDonald reports. More >

Hanford’s B Reactor Gains Landmark Status
On Monday the B Reactor at Hanford Nuclear Reservation was designated a National Historic Landmark. That means the structure will not be ripped down and cocooned. Instead, tourists will be able to visit one of the most secretive projects in the nation’s history. Anna King visited the historic reactor and has this story. More >

WA Debates OR Style Medicinal Marijuana Rules
Medicinal marijuana users in wheelchairs and with canes packed a hearing room in Olympia today. They’re angry about a proposal to limit the number of pot plants they can grow at home. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports. More >

A Potent Debate: How Much Medicinal Marijuana is Too Much?
It’s a potent debate in Washington State these days. How much medicinal marijuana is too much for one person to have on hand? More >

WSU: Record Number of Students on Campus
Fall semester is underway at Washington State University and university officials say they expect a record number of students on campus this week. Glenn Mosley reports. More >

Boise Start-Up Unveils Motion-Powered Gadget Charger
A start-up company in Boise is giving an early peek at a handy new product Monday. It’s an external battery charger powered by motion. The technology allows you to charge your cell phone, M-P-3 player or other mobile device through everyday activities such as walking. Tom Banse has more. More >

What will NW Democrats Do in Denver?
More than 200 Northwest Democrats are in Denver for this week’s Democratic National Convention. They are delegates, super delegates and party luminaries. Austin Jenkins has this preview of the speeches, the social events and the goings on. More >

Duncan Sentencing Trial Moves into Second Phase
The penalty trial for confessed killer Joseph Edward Duncan moves into its second full week of testimony in Boise on Monday. Last week, the jury determined that Duncan IS eligible for the death penalty. Don Wimberly reports. More >

Joseph Edward Duncan Is Eligible for the Death Penalty
Joseph Edward Duncan IS eligible for the death penalty. It took a jury in Boise less than two hours to reach that conclusion as the first phase of the penalty trial came to an end. More >

Federal Board Considers Fate of Rail Line between Oregon Coast and Valleys
The surface transportation board Thursday held a hearing on the fate of the rail line between the coastal community of Coquille and Eugene, Oregon. Rachael McDonald reports. More >

New Political Party Forms to Put Ralph Nader on Oregon Ballot
Ralph Nader appears headed for the Oregon ballot. Leaders of a newly formed political party say they’ll get the activist’s name on the November ballot as a Presidential candidate. Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman reports: More >

Merkley to Speak at Democratic National Convention
Oregon Senate candidate Jeff Merkley is getting the chance to make his case to a national audience. The Oregon House Speaker has been given a timeslot to speak at next week’s Democratic National Convention in Denver. Chris Lehman reports. More >

No UI Law Program in Boise, For Now
The University of Idaho is not going to get a dual branch law program in Boise just yet. Glenn Mosley explains. More >

Pot Farm Busts on Record Pace
It’s only August. Yet federal and local drug agents have already surpassed last year’s total seizures of marijuana plants from outdoor pot farms in the Northwest. Just yesterday, another 24-thousand plants were uprooted from an illegal grow on a remote corner of the Spokane Indian Reservation. Washington and Oregon rank in the top five states for eradicating illegally grown marijuana. Correspondent Tom Banse has more. More >

Interesting Outcomes Emerge in WA Primary
Votes continue to be counted following Washington State’s primary on Tuesday. And political-watchers are noticing some interesting outcomes. Especially in races other than the high-profile governor’s election. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins reports. More >