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OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The latest plan to save the imperiled Northern spotted owl allows shooting an invasive rival bird, the barred owl. An important part of the recovery plan is getting accurate owl counts. Researchers have been experimenting with specially trained dogs that can identify spotted owl and barred owl roosts. But as Correspondent Tom Banse reports, it's not clear yet whether the technique will catch on.

BOISE, Idaho -- Some Idaho legislators are concerned about a bill that reduces county control over the oil and gas industry.

The Senate Resources and Environment Committee grilled industry leaders and stakeholders Wednesday over legislation that gives the state control to regulate the natural gas industry.

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon lawmakers and Governor John Kitzhaber say they've reached a last-minute deal on two of the Governor's legislative priorities. The agreement paves the way for a possible adjournment Thursday or Friday. Salem Correspondent Chris Lehman reports.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Some Washington citizens are voicing opposition about plans to build three new coal export terminals in their communities. Opponents of those proposals delivered more than 40,000 signatures to the state capitol in Olympia Wednesday.

RICHLAND, Wash. – The Northwest’s only commercial nuclear reactor has received its final safety evaluation report from the federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission. That’s an important milestone in the effort to re-license the reactor for an additional 20 years near Richland, Washington.

SALEM, Ore. – Oregon ranchers who lose livestock to a wolf attack would be eligible for a tax credit under a measure approved Wednesday by the Oregon House. The bill would authorize a total of $37,000 in tax credits statewide each year.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – An insider’s game. That’s how open government advocates describe the Washington legislature as it heads into its final days. They complain of last minute public hearings, so-called “ghost bills” with only a title and no details, and quick votes on deals negotiated behind-the-scenes. These shortcuts save time. But critics say they effectively shut the public out of the process.

Washington State University officials are cautiously optimistic that the steep budget cuts in state funding so common in recent years may be over.

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington’s economy is looking up. New numbers out Wednesday show the state’s unemployment rate is down to 8.3 percent. The January number is 0.3 percent lower than the unemployment rate for December.

There's more evidence that a big oil refinery in Northwest Washington will be out of service for a long time. Refinery owner BP says it's arranging for replacement fuel to be shipped to the region from as far away as Singapore.