SPR News Today

Plus, Washington's Supreme Court says the "millionaires' tax" can't be challenged by referendum—though voters may still get a chance to weigh in. Rep. Michael Baumgartner holds a town hall in Republic after seeing protestors in Colville. Gas prices in Washington hit another record high today. And Spokane is trying to curb late night street racing.

Plus, more measles cases are popping up in Washington. The Reardan Health Clinic will soon expand to double its capacity. Retired police, firefighters sue Washington over budget maneuver they say puts their pensions at risk. The Spokane Conservation District is asking small towns to support a $5 increase to parcel fees before it asks county commissioners. And at least one artificial intelligence company is approaching small town governments in Washington offering AI tools…to help with AI compliance.

Plus, a Thurston County judge partially blocks WA's new standards for law enforcement leaders. Six transgender Idahoans sue their state over its criminal bathroom ban. Data centers make planning for energy use in the Northwest unpredictable, a new analysis says. STA decides to send sales tax renewal to voters this August—but with a sunset clause. And GOP Rep. Michael Baumgartner embarks on a tour of 12 counties in 12 days ahead of reelection filing.

Plus, WAs ask judge to force private immigration detention center to allow state health inspections. Unofficial special election results show none of the ballot measures in Stevens and Spokane Counties passed. Private construction companies want in on fixing Idaho's failing infrastructure. College students in Idaho will pay more for tuition next year. And Moscow officials deny a permit to a developer connected to a Christian nationalist religious movement.

Plus, WA's Attorney General sues Safeway, Albertsons for allegedly overcharging customers for years on “buy one, get one free” offers. STA calls special meeting to decide whether to put sales tax renewal on August ballots. Hunters will soon see improved water quality after years-long project. And Trump says military training in the Owyhee Desert must continue despite concerns over pollution and disruption to wildlife.

Plus, we look ahead to Idaho’s primary as counties in the panhandle prepare to begin early voting. District 1 will see two rematches: Sen. Woodward v. former Sen. Herndon and Rep. Sauter v. Sauter. Spokane and Stevens County voters have until tomorrow to weigh in on school and library ballot measures. (Editor's note: A previous version of this story mistakenly identified a failed East Valley bond attempt as having taken place in November. The bond appeared on February 2026 ballots. We regret the error.) WA high schools have the chance to get free suicide prevention training, but almost no schools east of the Cascades are participating in the program. And we walk through WA’s new climate action plan, which gives the state 25 years to decarbonize.

Plus, an Adams County hospital "resets," pausing many patient services as it tries to stay afloat until levy dollars arrive. About 30,000 Idahoans likely no longer have health insurance, latest data shows. Idaho lawmakers get first look at federal rural health program. WA officials unveil 400-page statewide climate plan.

Plus, a majority of WA Supreme Court seats are up for election this year, Spokane County relaunches its emergency notification system, Hunters aims to fix its water treatment system, state funding for salmon recovery dries up, and the Salish School of Spokane gets funding for a solar project at its yet-to-be-built campus.

Plus, ID Gov. Brad Little shrugs off "no confidence vote" by the state's biggest teachers' union and says the state may not have budgeted enough money for wildfire season on a visit to CDA. WA police are way behind on required de-escalation and cultural awareness training, and the Criminal Justice Training Commission can't do anything about it. The gray wolf population grew in WA last year, while depredation numbers fell. And DOJ is investigating UW—again.

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.

Plus, the Spokane County Sheriff's office has temporarily stopped using its license plate reader system in response to a new state law, sheriffs sue WA to block new eligibility requirements for law enforcement leaders, SPD's new gun crime unit is taking shape in northeast Spokane, crimes against cannabis retailers are chronically underreported to the Washington Liquor and Cannabis board, ID Democrats say this year's budget cuts were unnecessary and harmful after years of tax cuts, and climate officials warn low snowpack means Northwest residents should prepare for a bad wildfire season.

Plus, Legislators wrap up 2026 legislative session in Boise, Idaho moves to restrict teachers' unions, Spokane's legislative delegation sees more turnover, unemployment in Washington hit its highest rate since 2021, and a UW researcher says a newly FDA-approved GLP-1 pill could have major benefits worldwide.

Plus, ID is poised to increase work requirements for Medicaid expansion health coverage, transgender Idahoans could face prison for using some bathrooms that match their gender identity, and the Gem State is considering allowing the public to carry guns into county courthouses. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office gets money from the Department of Homeland Security to help keep Spokane and Seattle safe during the FIFA World Cup. More seniors and disabled people will be exempt from Washington property taxes next year. And Amazon is paying into a fund for water infrastructure because of a lawsuit over data centers in northeastern OR.