Northwest News

An Oregon state representative is suddenly stepping down from a leadership post. It follows allegations of an inappropriate sexual relationship between Republican Matt Wingard and a subordinate.

Wingard is quitting as Deputy Republican Leader of the Oregon House. He's fending off allegations that he used his position of power to pressure a young woman who worked in his office at the capitol into a sexual relationship. The woman also says Wingard gave her alcohol when she was still 20 years old.

The campaigns for Washington governor are heading into the dog days of summer now that the candidates survived their first, formal debate. That means a return to fundraising and retail level campaigning.

Polls show Washington’s race for governor is close. According to Real Clear Politics, Republican Rob McKenna averages just a 3.5 point advantage over Democrat Jay Inslee. This week’s debate in Spokane between the two candidates could help Inslee with statewide name recognition. The former Congressman is up against a well known two-term Attorney General. David Nice teaches politics at Washington State University. He says an early debate can also plant a seed with voters.

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta revealed the Departments mental health care review during a Senate Defense Appropriations Subcommittee hearing Wednesday.

Washington Senator Patty Murray chairs the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee. Murray grilled Panetta about the Department’s efforts to improve mental health care for both active duty service members and veterans.

One active duty service member a day commits suicide according to the Pentagon.

The latest jobs report for Washington state contains a paradox. It shows strong job growth in the private sector. But at the same time, the state unemployment rate also rose.

Washington's Employment Department Wednesday reported a May jobless rate of 8.3 percent, up slightly from the revised 8.2 percent rate of April.

State labor economist Anneliese Vance-Sherman said in a conference call that the higher unemployment rate was caused primarily by once-discouraged workers resuming their job hunts.

The two leading candidates for Washington governor tried to make it clear at their first debate that Washington voters will choose between two contrasts this November. Republican Rob McKenna and Democrat Jay Inslee debated each other before a Spokane audience Tuesday. Correspondent Jessica Robinson has this recap.

Dozens of state Fish and Wildlife officers fanned out to seafood retailers, wholesalers and exporters late last week. It was a coordinated West Coast sweep. The cops were looking for mislabeled fish, poached product and banned seafood. Correspondent Tom Banse reports if you're a fish consumer, the results are mostly encouraging.

The two leading candidates for Attorney General for the state of Washington held their first live debate Tuesday in Spokane. Democrat Bob Ferguson and Republican Reagan Dunn are seeking the seat being vacated by Rob McKenna, who is running for Governor. Deborah Wang reports it was a spirited and sometimes sharp-edged debate.

The two leading candidates for Washington governor weighed in on jobs and the economy at their first debate Tuesday in Spokane. Republican Rob McKenna and Democrat Jay Inlsee clashed over an issue voters may face again this fall: taxes, and what it takes to raise them. Correspondent Jessica Robinson has more.

Four Idaho reporters watched as an execution team inserted I-V's into convicted murderer Richard Leavitt today . This was the first time witnesses were allowed to watch what happens as soon as the condemned is wheeled into the death chamber on a gurney. the Idaho Department of Correction would not have changed its ways without a lawsuit.

The Associated Press and other Idaho news organizations sued the state to view Richard Leavitt’s entire execution. They won last Friday in the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals.