News

On Monday the U.S. Senate is expected to vote on the Export-Import Bank bill, which passed overwhelmingly in the House last week. In a trip to Spokane on Friday, Senator Maria Cantwell said the bank helps fund international trade out of states like Washington. She says the bank’s authorization expires at the end of the month.

Since the 1970s, U.S. policy toward American Indian tribes has been to encourage economic independence. Tribal casinos are probably the most visible symbol of that policy. These days, tribes are diversifying into other businesses. In 2005, the Chehalis Indian tribe in southwest Washington partnered with a Wisconsin-based water park chain to build a destination resort. The state of Washington, in turn, granted the project tax exempt status. But now, correspondent Austin Jenkins has obtained internal state documents that question whether Great Wolf Lodge really is a tribal entity and eligible for favorable tax treatment.

The U.S. women's basketball team dominated China in an exhibition game played in Seattle Saturday. Final score: 100 to 62. The prelude to an upcoming Summer Olympics showdown coincided with the U.S. squad's first team training camp. Correspondent Tom Banse reports on why that's in Seattle.

In the early part of the 20th century, when many Northwestern rivers were dammed, fish hatcheries provided a way to keep salmon in rivers. But now an estimated 5 billion hatchery fish are released into the Pacific every year. A collection of research released Monday highlights possible concerns about how all those hatchery fish might be impacting wild stocks. Ashley Ahearn reports.

Washington Governor Chris Gregoire is emerging as an unlikely gay rights activist both at home and on the national stage. Her role in helping pass a same-sex marriage law this year has made Gregoire a sought after spokesperson for the movement. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins explains.

The two Democrats running for Oregon Attorney General are making a final push as Tuesday's election nears. Both of the candidates have raised about $600,000 each, according to the latest figures.

Current Oregon Attorney General John Kroger says he'll step down this summer to take a job at Reed College in Portland. That means whoever wins the Democratic primary could have an inside shot at taking over the job in a matter of months, if they're appointed by Democratic governor John Kitzhaber.

Senator Maria Cantwell and Spokane’s Mayor Condon implore the U.S. Department of Transportation to offer a grant for the North Spokane Corridor.

US Senator Cantwell says the corridor is the missing link in the Eastern Washington transportation system.

“In fact the North Spokane Corridor is my top project priority and so that’s why we are here today, to say that we want to see this funding.”

President Obama made a quick fundraising trip through Seattle Thursday. The trip included his first appearances since announcing his support for gay marriage. Democrats at the fundraiser were quick to show their appreciation. But they also predicted that his stance will energize his opponents as well as his supporters. KUOW’s Amy Radil reports.

Gov. John Kitzhaber said Thursday that power customers could play a bigger role in the state's clean energy future. He spoke at the Northwest Smart Grid Summit in Portland.

The governor says a smarter power grid can help Oregon reach his 10 year goals for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

For example, Kitzhaber says, projects are underway to install two way electric meters in people’s homes. The meters will allow utilities to tell their customers when and where they're using the most energy. That information could prompt customers to reduce their energy use to save money.