Northwest

North Wash. I-5 bridge collapse caused by oversize load

A truck carrying an oversize load struck a bridge on the major thoroughfare between Seattle and Canada, sending a section of the span and two vehicles into the Skagit River below, though all three occupants suffered only minor injuries.

State auditors fault Seattle schools over federal grants

Seattle Public Schools may have to repay as much as $490,000 to the federal government because state auditors say the district did not spend some of its federal grant money appropriately in the 2011-12 school year.

Missing woman's family not giving up

Private eye will review file on Susan Powell, father says

SEATTLE — Police say they've taken their best shot at finding missing Utah mother Susan Powell. Now, her dad is hoping a review of the newly released case file — containing tens of thousands of pages of detective reports, maps, interview transcripts and more — might turn up something the investigators missed.

Study: Amphibians disappearing at alarming rate

GRANTS PASS, Ore. — A new study has determined for the first time just how quickly frogs and other amphibians are disappearing around the United States, and the news is not good.

UPDATE: Freeway bridge collapses into Skagit River; no fatalities

Authorities say there were no fatalities when the Interstate 5 bridge over the Skagit River near Mount Vernon collapsed Thursday evening, dumping vehicles and people into the water below.

Multnomah County health chief accused of biting husband

The head of Multnomah County’s health department was arrested on an accusation of domestic violence, but her husband declined to press charges.

Legislature OKs Instant Racing at Portland Meadows

PORTLAND — Since opening in 1946, the Portland Meadows racetrack has withstood a fire that burned its grandstand to the ground and the massive flood that eliminated Vanport City. But it might not survive the exodus of gamblers who prefer the simplicity of slot machines to the inscrutable numbers inside the Daily Racing Form.

Coos Bay, Ore., gas export terminal application filed

PORTLAND — Developers proposing a $7 billion plant to export natural gas from the Rockies and Canada to Asia filed a formal application this week with federal regulators.

Quagga mussels found on boat entering E. Oregon

ONTARIO, Ore. — An Eastern Oregon checkpoint aimed at keeping invasive species from hitchhiking into Oregon on boats has opened for the spring, and it found an infested boat the next day.

Census puts Seattle population at 634,535

SEATTLE — News Census figures show Seattle had the 14th largest population jump among all U.S. cities between 2011 and 2012.

No pay raise for Washington governor this year

OLYMPIA — Gov. Jay Inslee and most statewide elected officials and lawmakers won't get a pay raise this year, but judges will see a salary hike under the salary schedule adopted by the Washington Citizen's Commission on Salaries for Elected Officials.