Plus, election officials in Washington state are working with law enforcement to investigate how a box of unopened ballots ended up behind a dumpster. Local and federal law enforcement believe that gang members have been trafficking guns across state lines to youth in Spokane County. The race for Spokane County Prosecutor widens. WA asparagus farmers say they're having a hard time finding labor because of fear over the federal immigration crackdown. And Egypt’s national team has chosen Spokane as its base camp during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Most police in WA aren't meeting violence de-escalation training requirements, per a new state audit. Spokane leaders float the idea of splitting the fire department from the city to create a new fire district. Spokane Community Colleges and the University of Idaho are partnering to get more students four-year wildlife degrees. That could especially benefit local Tribes. The newest U.S. submarine is named "Idaho" to honor the landlocked state's unique contributions to naval science.

Plus, Washington sheriffs sue over new state law. The Kootenai County jail isn't always hitting staffing requirements even though officers are working thousands of hours of overtime. And some members of the Spokane Transit Authority board are pushing to get a sales tax renewal in front of voters this August.

Plus, Kootenai County leaders disagree who has the power to stop middle schoolers from bringing drugs to school. Bonner County ambulances want to stop giving rides to people who don’t have any other way to get from the hospital back to a nursing home. And state support for rural Washington fire districts won’t get the ax after all.Hear more of Stephen Thompson's thoughts on Spotify algorithms, his pop culture hot take, and why he thinks joy is integral to any media diet at spokanepublicradio.org.

Plus, Spokane considers "right to cooling" for renters and pauses development of can-centric businesses in swathes of the city. Increased parking rates in Spokane might not be just because of a new tax. ID brings in more revenue than expected, but still less than legislators targeted. Private and public funders put millions of dollars towards a new library in Republic, WA.

Plus, the Washington DNR is deciding which of its 200 sites will be shuttered after funding cuts. Hydropower operators in the Columbia River Basin are pushing back against a ruling that requires them to spill more water over dams to protect endangered salmon. WA's new requirements for sheriffs face more legal trouble. Spokane City Council is rushing to stop new drive thrus and quick vehicle service shops near public transit stops.

Plus, Washington's new 'millionaire's tax' faces legal challenges led by two previous state attorney generals. Washington school superintendent Chris Reykdal lambasts Democrats for cuts to kindergarten prep. A far-right blogger appeals her defamation case over a CDA drag performance, and Idaho Governor Brad Little vetoes five bills.

WA declares a fourth consecutive statewide drought, and the state Ecology director says future snowpack will be unreliable. The second-biggest gender pay gap in the U.S. is in WA. Why?STA says its all but certain federal dollars are coming to cover half the cost of bus rapid transit on North Division.Famed Northwest climber Jim Whittaker, the first U.S. man to summit Mt. Everest, dies at 97.

Plus, Spokane Housing Authority builds childcare into its newest low income housing project, the Forest Service plans to close research stations and WSU gets a "new" athletic director.

Plus, the WA Supreme Court is set to consider a Let's Go Washington lawsuit challenging the new income tax's referendum clause. And a new law in Idaho will ban transgender people from using bathrooms that align with their gender identity, but some Idahoans say it will be difficult to enforce. Finally, Spokane Valley could be the next American city to ban cryptocurrency kiosks amidst a nationwide crackdown.