AP Idaho

CHENEY, Wash. — Steele Venters scored 25 points as Eastern Washington narrowly beat Idaho 96-93. Angelo Allegri added 21 points for the Eagles. Mikey Dixon led the Vandals with 25 points.

GRAND COUNTY, Utah (AP) — Utah officials say a 51-year-old man died in a BASE jumping accident in a remote part of Grand County. Grand County Chief Deputy Sheriff Darrel Mecham told KUTV 2News that the man crashed around noon Friday while attempting a 1,100-foot jump. BASE jumping stands for building, antenna, span and earth,

SEATTLE (AP) — Emergency workers have recovered the body of a man whose vehicle was swept into floodwaters west of Olympia after record precipitation and flooding deluged the Pacific Northwest. The Grays Harbor Sheriff’s Office said the 72-year-old man was found dead in his submerged vehicle not far from of his driveway in Cosmopolis. The

By RACHEL LA CORTE Associated Press OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — The 2022 legislative session in Washington state will look much like the one a year ago: a limited number of lawmakers on site at the Capitol, and committee hearings being fully remote due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. For those working on campus during the

ISLAND PARK, Idaho (AP) — Idaho State Police say roughly 40 vehicles were involved in a crash on an eastern Idaho highway after severe winter weather caused white-out conditions, but only minor injuries were reported. The Idaho State Police said in a prepared statement that the crash occurred about 3 p.m. Friday just north of

By JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER and TERRY TANG Associated Press The explosion in omicron-fueled coronavirus infections has caused a breakdown in basic functions and services across America. Ambulances in Kansas speed toward hospitals and then suddenly change direction because hospitals are full. Employee shortages in New York City cause delays in trash and subway services and

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Former New York Times columnist Nick Kristof filed a petition with the Oregon Supreme Court, asking justices to quickly overturn Secretary of State Shemia Fagan’s determination he does not meet the state Constitution’s three-year residency requirement to run for governor. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that while such a matter would typically

OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee says he will roll back a long-standing directive that restricts affirmative action in state hiring, contracting and education and announced a new executive order to boost diversity in government contracting. The Seattle Times reported that the Democratic governor’s announcement comes as he and state officials try to

MISSOULA, Mont. (AP) — Three small snowslides on Friday, and concerns that there might be more, led the Montana Department of Transportation to close the westbound lanes of Interstate 90 near Lookout pass overnight. The Department of Transportation will reevaluate snow conditions on Saturday morning. Avalanche warnings were in place Friday in western Montana and

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — With the state sitting on a pile of cash, Idaho Republican Gov. Brad Little is talking tax cuts but also financial prudence. Democratic and Republican leaders in the House and Senate also talked tax cuts but disagreed on how they would use the money. Property tax

By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon health authorities have published new interim guidelines for hospitals to follow if a surge of COVID-19 patients forces them to activate crisis standards of care. The policy will be used to help decide which patients get urgent, life-saving care if there aren’t enough hospital beds,

MOSCOW, Idaho — Xavier Bishop matched his season high with 20 points as Montana State easily beat Idaho 92-72. Jubrile Belo had 15 points and three blocks for Montana State (11-5, 3-2 Big Sky Conference). Amin Adamu added 14 points. Tyler Patterson had 10 points. Mikey Dixon had 24 points for the Vandals (3-9, 0-2).

By SARA CLINE Associated Press/Report for America PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — For the fourth consecutive day Oregon has shattered previous high marks of daily COVID-19 cases, with health officials reporting 7,615 new cases on Thursday. Health officials in some of Oregon’s largest counties — including where Portland is located — warned on Thursday that the

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lawmakers on an economic forecasting committee working on recommendations the entire Legislature can use to set the state’s budget struggled Thursday with factoring in how billions of dollars in federal coronavirus relief money will influence the state’s financial picture going forward. Lawmakers on the Economic Outlook

By MATTHEW BROWN Associated Press BILLINGS, Mont. (AP) — Twenty of Yellowstone National Park’s renowned gray wolves roamed from the park and were shot by hunters in neighboring states in recent months. Park officials say it’s the most Yellowstone wolves killed in a season since the predators were reintroduced more than 25 years ago. Details

By CHRIS GRYGIEL Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Flush with cash, Washington state lawmakers return to Olympia next week with Democrats and Republicans disagreeing over how to spend the unexpected windfall. A revenue forecast released in November showed $898 million above what had been predicted for the 2021-2023 budget cycle. And projections for the next

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — A former high school student accused of killing one classmate and wounding three others during a shooting at Freeman High School in Washington in 2017 has pleaded guilty to one count of premediated murder, three counts of attempted murder and numerous counts of second-degree assault. Twenty-year-old Caleb Sharpe will be sentenced

By MIKE STOBBE AP Medical Writer NEW YORK (AP) — Health officials say five Americans died of rabies last year — the largest number in a decade. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Thursday released a report focusing on three of the deaths, all stemming from contact with rabid bats. CDC officials said

SEATTLE (AP) — An investigation by Seattle’s police watchdog group shows Seattle police exchanged detailed fake radio transmissions about a nonexistent group of menacing right-wing extremists at a crucial moment during 2020 racial justice protests. The Seattle Times reports the radio chatter on June 8, 2020, about members of the Proud Boys marching around downtown

By RACHEL LA CORTE Associated Press OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — Washington state has ordered 5.5 million at-home tests to distribute to the public and will improve booster vaccine access and supply about 10 million free protective masks amid a steep increase in COVID-19 cases due to the more contagious omicron variant. Gov. Jay Inslee’s office

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A man in northwest Washington was stuck and killed by a snowplow and authorities urged people not to travel in some areas of Washington and Oregon as winter storms continue throughout the region. Parts of several major highways in Oregon finally reopened Wednesday after snow from a blizzard earlier this week

By GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Portland Public Schools officials are tightening mask and vaccine requirements for after-school sports and music and dance performances amid a surge of COVID-19 cases driven by the omicron variant. With little appetite for a return to a complete shutdown, some other districts were taking similar measures

SEATTLE (AP) — Officials say around 4% of more than 14,000 Seattle Public Schools students and staff who participated in the district’s rapid testing clinics this week tested positive for COVID-19. Volunteers and district staff administered the tests in pop-up clinics on Sunday and Monday after the state’s largest district received a shipment of 60,000

AUBURN, Wash. (AP) — Authorities are investigating a shooting in Auburn, Washington, that left three people dead. One of those killed was a child. The Seattle Times reports officers received reports of gunshots from a home around 6:53 p.m. Tuesday. Kolby Crossley, public information officer with the Auburn Police Department, said  responding officers found a

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Power has submitted a 20-year plan to state regulators that phases out coal-fired power plants by 2028 as part of its effort to provide only clean energy by 2045. The public utility in a news release Tuesday said it submitted its 2021 Integrated Resource Plan

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell celebrated his inauguration Tuesday, promising to create “one Seattle” through a series of policy goals that prioritize public safety and housing. The Seattle Times reports Harrell held a small, private ceremony at City Hall because of increasing COVID-19 cases. Harrell is a former Seattle City Council president who

By REBECCA BOONE Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Doctor’s offices and urgent care centers are bracing for impact as they again face high patient demand and more staffers out sick from the the super-contagious omicron variant. The number of new COVID-19 cases across the U.S. reached a new record this week, and some primary

NORTH BEND, Wash. (AP) — Authorities say Snoqualmie Pass in Washington state has received the highest snowfall in 20 years as of Jan. 3. The Washington State Department of Transportation says by Monday afternoon, 236 inches of snowfall was recorded, more than the 229 inches by Jan. 3 that was recorded in 2007 and 212

STEVENS PASS, Wash. (AP) — The winter skiing and snowboarding season at Stevens Pass ski resort east of Everett, Washington, has gotten off to a rough start with the area opening only about half its terrain amid a staffing shortage. The Herald reports customers have reported parking problems and long chairlift lines at the Vail

By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Former New York Times journalist Nicholas Kristof has told Oregon’s top election official that his having voted in New York state in 2020 doesn’t disqualify him from being a candidate for governor in Oregon. According to Oregon law, a candidate must have been a resident of

By REBECCA BOONE Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Attorneys for a death row inmate say Idaho Gov. Brad Little doesn’t have the legal authority to overrule the state parole board’s commutation recommendation, and they are taking the matter to court. Gerald Ross Pizzuto Jr. has been on death row for 35 years after being

By ANDREW SELSKY and GILLIAN FLACCUS Associated Press SALEM, Ore. (AP) — With masks stretched across their faces, students and faculty returned to schools across Oregon after the holidays. But there are worries a new wave of COVID-19 will force a return to online learning. The Oregon Department of Education and the Oregon Health Authority

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Oregon reported more than 9,700 new cases of COVID-19 from the holiday weekend on Monday and smashed a previous record for weekly coronavirus cases with an average of about 2,400 new daily cases as the omicron variant took hold. The state also hit a single-day high for new cases on Thursday,

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — U.S. officials say they have almost completed a lengthy project to dig up and remove radioactive and hazardous waste buried for decades in unlined pits at an eastern Idaho nuclear facility that sits atop a giant aquifer. The U.S. Department of Energy announced last week that

By RACHEL LA CORTE Associated Press OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) — In response to an increase of COVID-19 cases across the state, the Washington House is scaling back the number of people allowed in the chamber for the upcoming legislative session, with an updated plan requiring a majority of lawmakers to vote remotely, as they did

HILLSBORO, Ore. (AP) — Authorities say a fire early Sunday in Hillsboro, Oregon, impacted about 20 to 25 businesses. Shortly after 3 a.m., Hillsboro firefighters responded to a commercial blaze inside the Weil Arcade building on East Main Street. Within half an hour, Hillsboro Fire and Rescue said the blaze had fully involved the structure.

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — Two 19-year-old men who went winter camping were rescued near Eugene, Oregon, by the U.S. Coast Guard after signaling for help by writing an “SOS” sign in the snow. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the two men went camping near Swastika Mountain southeast of Eugene around Christmas Day and failed to return as

BOZEMAN, Mont. — Amin Adamu scored 13 points and grabbed eight rebounds and Montana State stifled Idaho State in a 60-40. The Bobcats held Idaho State to 25.5% shooting and limited the Bengals to a season-low 19 points before intermission. Emmit Taylor III scored 12 points for the Bengals.

SEATTLE (AP) — A man is accused of storming the court during his son’s middle school basketball game and slamming into a referee from behind, breaking the man’s nose and cheekbone, according to King County prosecutors. The Seattle Times reports Mark McLaughlin, 31, turned himself in to King County sheriff’s deputies on Dec. 17, the

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Gonzaga University is joining the ranks of schools requiring vaccinated students and employees to get a coronavirus booster shot. The Spokesman-Review reports Gonzaga will require that people get boosters within 14 days of becoming eligible for one. Dozens of colleges have issued booster shot requirements. The list includes large universities like

MISSOULA, Mont. — Josh Bannan had 19 points and 10 rebounds to lead five Montana players in double figures as the Grizzlies stretched their home win streak to eight games, routing Idaho State 78-54. Mack Anderson added 12 points for the Grizzlies. Brandon Whitney chipped in 11, Robby Beasley III scored 11 and Kyle Owens

SEATTLE (AP) — Seattle Public Schools will delay its return to classes by one day to allow for voluntarily COVID-19 testing Monday for all students and staff. The district said in a social media post that in-person classroom instruction would resume Tuesday. The state’s largest public school system said it has acquired 60,000 rapid antigen

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho’s governor has rejected an official recommendation to commute the death sentence of an inmate who is dying of terminal cancer. Gerald Ross Pizzuto Jr. 65, has been on death row for 35 years after being convicted for the July 1985 slayings of two gold prospectors at a cabin north of

By AMY BETH HANSON Associated Press HELENA, Mont. (AP) — Former billionaire Tim Blixseth has filed a lawsuit against Montana’s Department of Revenue seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in damages along with attorneys fees after a federal judge ruled the state wrongfully tried to force him into bankruptcy to collect back taxes. A Department

RENO, Nev. (AP) — A winter storm warning has been issued for southeast Nevada and the mountains west of Las Vegas through Friday afternoon. A winter weather advisory runs through 10 p.m.Friday in parts of east-central and northeast Nevada, where overnight lows could drop into the negative teens by the weekend.  Five to 10 inches

SEATTLE (AP) — A Seattle-area medical system says it will soon limit COVID-19 testing appointments at its community testing sites because of an “astronomically high” positivity rate. The Seattle Times reports UW Medicine said Thursday appointments will be limited to only those with symptoms or known exposures. Of UW Medicine’s 12 community testing sites, nine

SEATTLE (AP) — The lead lawyer in the lawsuit that forced Washington state to revamp public school funding has filed a lawsuit on behalf of a small district, saying the state is failing students due to the poor condition of school buildings. The Seattle Times reports attorney Tom Ahearne is representing the Wahkiakum School District.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho State Police say they have finished testing a backlog of 1,100 rape kits identified in a 2016 audit. The agency in a news release Wednesday says reports on the test results have been provided to investigators and prosecutors. The agency also says any hits in the National DNA Index System

BLACKFOOT, Idaho (AP) — An eastern Idaho sheriff accused of threatening a church youth group with a gun can stay on the job but must surrender all of his firearms to the State Police. A judge’s ruling Wednesday also requires Bingham County Sheriff Craig Rowland to have no contact with the alleged victims. The Idaho

SEATTLE (AP) — Another blast of snow halted travel on a large portion of the main east-west highway across Washington state and also snarled traffic in the Seattle and Portland, Oregon, metro areas. Authorities closed about 80 miles (129 kilometers) of Interstate 90 over the Cascade Mountains “due to near zero visibility and adverse road

SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — Northern Idaho authorities say a snowboarder at Schweitzer Mountain Resort has died. The Bonner County Sheriff’s Office says 27-year-old Riley Hadeen of Sandpoint went missing Sunday afternoon and was found Monday at about 10 a.m. He was transported by helicopter from the mountain, but declared dead by medical crews. A cause

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Biden administration has affirmed a Trump administration interpretation of high-level radioactive waste that is based on the waste’s radioactivity rather than how it was produced. The U.S. Department of Energy announcement last week means some radioactive waste from nuclear weapons production stored for decades in

OLYMPIA (AP) — Former Washington Supreme Court Chief Justice Mary Fairhurst, who had been fighting cancer, has died. She was 64. In a statement Washington Courts said Fairhurst died Tuesday surrounded by her family in Olympia. In January 2020 she retired due to health reasons. She was first elected to the court in 2002, and

SEATTLE (AP) — A thaw-out is coming for the frozen Seattle and Portland, Oregon, but not before another round of snow that could compound problems for a region more accustomed to winter rain than arctic blasts. And in Nevada the governor plans to declare a state of emergency due to snow and storm conditions affecting

SEATTLE (AP) — King County plans to distribute 300,000 COVID-19 at-home test kits to community groups, health centers, libraries and other congregate locations amid an omicron-driven surge in cases. The Seattle Times reports King County Executive Dow Constantine announced Tuesday that the first 100,000 kits are expected to arrive the second week of January. Constantine

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) — An audit by the Department of Energy’s Office of Inspector General has found that the Hanford site’s occupational medicine contractor submitted inappropriate bills to the Department of Energy. The Tri-City Herald reported Tuesday the audit found that DOE reimbursed contractor HPM Corp. for work without reasonable assurance that the costs met

BOISE, Idaho — Marcus Shaver Jr. scored 18 points as Boise State won its seventh straight game, beating Fresno State 65-55. The game marked the first Mountain West Conference matchup of the season for both teams. Emmanuel Akot had 12 points for the Broncos. Orlando Robinson had 22 points for the Bulldogs.

KETCHUM, Idaho (AP) — Idaho wildlife officials have started feeding elk west of Ketchum and Sun Valley in central Idaho to keep them out of populated areas. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game said Monday that it started the feeding Thursday at its Bullwhacker feed site. Officials say that more than 125 elk frequent

By SARA CLINE Associated Press/Report for America PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — As the omicron variant causes a rise in coronavirus cases, officials from Oregon State University have announced the school will be joining the growing list of universities and colleges where students, staff and faculty will be required to get a COVID-19 booster shot.As of

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — More Oregonians have signed up for private health insurance through the state-run exchange this year than had at this point a year ago. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that heading into 2022, officials say 142,783 people in the state have enrolled so far on the Oregon health insurance marketplace. That’s more than

By MANUEL VALDES Associated Press SEATTLE (AP) — Snow, ice and unseasonable cold in the Pacific Northwest and the Sierra Nevada are continuing to disrupt traffic, cause closures and force people to find refuge in emergency warming shelters. Across western Washington and Oregon, officials and private groups opened emergency spaces for people as forecasters said

By The Associated Press The Arizona Bowl has been canceled after Boise State pulled out and shut down all team activities due to COVID-19 issues. Central Michigan was supposed to be in the Arizona Bowl but will instead replace Miami in Friday’s Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas, against Washington State. Numerous college programs have

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Each of Idaho’s 44 counties and all 24 eligible cities will participate in national opioid settlements, potentially bringing $119 million to the state. Republican Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said Monday that the counties and cities agreed to sign onto the $26 billion settlements involving the

COLFAX, Calif. (AP) — A major Christmas weekend storm caused whiteout conditions and closed key highways amid blowing snow in mountains of Northern California and Nevada, with forecasters warning that travel in the Sierra Nevada could be difficult for several days. Authorities near Reno reported a 20-car pileup on a snow-blow highway where drivers described

SEATTLE (AP) — Snow fueled by unusually cold weather has blanketed parts of the Pacific Northwest, slowing travel but also providing a rare chance to sled and ski in the Seattle area. Between 3 and 5 inches of snow fell in Seattle by Sunday morning. More than a foot of snow was reported near Port

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho’s population keeps growing at a faster clip than other states. The state has led the country in population growth for the fifth year in a row. U.S. Census Bureau population estimates show Idaho’s population grew 2.9% from 2020 to 2021. The Spokesman-Review reported that Idaho welcomed 53,000 residents, bringing its

SEATTLE (AP) — The Pacific Northwest is bracing for a major winter storm with snow expected along the coast, the mountains under a winter weather advisory and frigid temperatures expected by early next week. The National Weather Service says the Seattle-Tacoma area is likely to see up to 3 inches of snow over the weekend.

By SARA CLINE Associated Press/Report for America PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — In preparation for freezing temperatures, snow and ice in the Pacific Northwest this holiday weekend and next week, state officials in Oregon have declared an emergency and shelters are being opened throughout the region to help the homeless. At least five severe weathers shelters

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Traffic fatalities in Idaho were at a 15-year high in 2021 after declining for four years, according to data from the Idaho Transportation Department. The Idaho Statesman reports preliminary data indicate that through Thursday there had been at least 258 people killed in crashes this year, the most in any year

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A human rights group has filed a lawsuit against Canyon County contending mail it sends to prisoners in the county’s jail is being illegally censored. Human Rights Defense Center in the lawsuit filed Tuesday says the censorship is a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Democratic Bellevue Mayor Ned Burns has been appointed to a House seat representing central Idaho in the state Legislature. Republican Gov. Brad Little on Thursday appointed Burns to fill out the remainder of the term for legislative district House seat 26. The seat was vacated by Democrat Muffy Davis, who was

By GILLIAN FLACCUS, FELICIA FONSECA and BECKY BOHRER Associated Press WARM SPRINGS, Ore. (AP) — The massive infrastructure bill signed earlier this year promises to bring change to Native American tribes that lack clean water or indoor plumbing through the largest single infusion of money into Indian Country. It includes $3.5 billion for the federal

SEATTLE (AP) — Initiative promoter Tim Eyman, who earlier this year was found liable for years of violations of Washington’s campaign finance laws and owes the state more than $5 million, is facing the court-ordered sale of his assets. Eyman is required to make monthly $10,000 payments to pay down his fine and other fees.

By LYNDA V. MAPES The Seattle Times SEATTLE (AP) — A family-owned company with timber operations in the U.S. and New Zealand called Port Blakely Companies has returned waterfront property and tidelands on Little Skookum Inlet in Washington’s Mason County to the Squaxin Island Tribe, at no cost. The Seattle Times reports the return of

SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Abu Kigab scored 19 points and Boise State pulled away in the final two minutes to beat Washington State 58-52 for its sixth straight win. The game was tied at 42 before Tyson Degenhart made two free throws and a 3-pointer to help give Boise State a 49-45 lead with 2:03

SANTA BARBARA, Calif. — Amadou Sow had 18 points as UC Santa Barbara defeated Idaho State 56-43. Tarik Cool led the Bengals on Wednesday with 11 points and six rebounds.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — A new legal challenge seeks to curtail the use of solitary confinement as discipline in Oregon prisons. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports the Oregon Justice Resource Center argues the practice is cruel and unusual punishment in violation of the U.S. Constitution. The center asked the state appeals court Wednesday for a temporary restraining

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The City Council in Portland, Oregon, has unanimously approved of paying $100,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed against police by a man who said he was pepper sprayed, thrown to the ground and unlawfully arrested during a September 2020 protest. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that 40-year-old Dmitri Stoyanoff sued the police,

SEATTLE (AP) — The outgoing mayor of Seattle says she will veto City Council legislation that would have repealed the $4 an hour hazard pay boost for grocery workers that has been in place for nearly a year. The Seattle Times reports the City Council voted 8-0 last January to approve the mandatory hazard pay

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A conservation group has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service to stop a large logging and restoration project in west-central Idaho. The Idaho Conservation League in the lawsuit filed Monday says the Forest Service violated environmental laws in approving the 20-year Sage Hen Project

CORVALLIS, Ore. (AP) — Oregon State University says it will “likely” require students and employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccine booster shot. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports the school has already mandated the initial doses of the vaccine. OSU says the booster requirement isn’t official, but urged students, faculty and staff to seek out the additional

SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Elections officials in Oregon are seeking more information to determine whether former New York Times columnist Nicholas Kristof is eligible to run for governor. Kristof announced his candidacy last October and officially filed paperwork on Monday to run as a Democrat. Oregon Public Broadcasting reports that the Oregon Secretary of State’s

By JASON CHATRAW Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Levi Williams ran for 200 yards and four touchdowns and passed for 127 yards and another touchdown to lead Wyoming to a 52-38 win over Kent State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl. Williams, who set a career-best single-game rushing performance, tied the Potato Bowl record

By SARA CLINE Associated Press/Report for America PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Gov. Kate Brown has extended Oregon’s declaration of a state of emergency, as health officials prepare for an expected surge in COVID-19 cases and hospitalizations in the coming weeks. The emergency declaration is the legal underpinning for the executive orders that the governor has

TACOMA, Wash. (AP) — Tacoma Police Department interim Chief Mike Ake says an investigation shows two officers involved in the death of Manuel Ellis have been exonerated of any wrongdoing. The News Tribune reports that Ake told the Tacoma City Council at a special meeting that Officers Masiyh Ford and Armando Farinas have been notified

By ANDREW SELSKY Associated Press SALEM, Ore. (AP) — A man lost his job as a jail deputy in Portland, Oregon, and will be on probation for six months for stealing blank vaccination cards for use by himself and his family. The Multnomah County District Attorney and Sheriff Mike Reese said Robert Haney pleaded guilty

By KEITH RIDLER Associated Press BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho is among 27 states asking the U.S. Supreme Court for an emergency stay to prevent President Joe Biden’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate for larger private employers from taking effect. The request for the emergency stay filed Monday follows a decision Friday by the 6th U.S. Circuit

COLFAX, Wash. (AP) — The largest remaining area of native Palouse prairie in southeastern Washington state will be preserved thanks to a transaction that moved hundreds of acres of Steptoe Butte into public ownership. The Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports Kent Bassett, of Bellevue, Washington, and Ray and Joan Folwell, of Pullman, sold a 437-acre parcel

By MIKE SCHNEIDER Associated Press U.S. population growth dipped to its lowest rate since the nation’s founding during the first year of the pandemic. That’s because the coronavirus curtailed immigration, delayed pregnancies and killed hundreds of thousands of U.S. residents. Figures released Tuesday by the U.S. Census Bureau show that the U.S. grew by only

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State lands generated $55 million for public schools that Republican Gov. Brad Little and other top elected state officials presented to students in an annual symbolic big check ceremony at the Statehouse. The presentation on Tuesday by Land Board officials represents money generated from state-owned lands for the 2022 fiscal year.

PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — The city of Portland, Oregon, could pay $100,000 to settle a federal lawsuit filed against police by a man who said he was pepper sprayed, thrown to the ground and unlawfully arrested during a September 2020 protest. The Oregonian/OregonLive reports that 40-year-old Dmitri Stoyanoff sued the police, saying he was arrested

EUGENE, Ore. (AP) — As the highly transmissible omicron variant spreads across the country, University of Oregon students, faculty and staff will be required to get a COVID-19 booster shot as soon as they are eligible. That’s according to an announcement Monday by school officials. Currently the university and the state’s six other public universities