Northwest

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.

Richland nuclear plant out for refueling

RICHLAND — The only nuclear power plant in the Northwest is shut down for a refueling that takes place every two years.

3 rescued from burning Beaverton apartment

ALOHA, Ore. — The parents and an 11-year-old child have been rescued from a burning apartment in Beaverton and sent to the hospital.

Portland police chief works as patrol officer

PORTLAND — Portland Police Chief Mike Reese was asked to cut down on department overtime and he's doing something about it.

Seattle council panel OKs marijuana growing zones

SEATTLE — A Seattle City Council committee has approved zoning for large indoor marijuana farms in some industrial areas of the city.

Little known about suspect in Spokane ricin case

SPOKANE — A 37-year-old janitor who has been charged with threatening to kill a federal judge in a case that involves letters containing the deadly poison ricin is a registered sex offender who lived in a rundown apartment building near downtown Spokane.

Correction: Health overhaul

Health overhaul: In a Page A5 story on May 15, the Associated Press, relying on information provided by the Washington State Office of the Insurance Commissioner, reported incorrect premiums for an insurance plan. The $162 rate is for people younger than 21, not for 21-year-olds.

Groups ask for big-picture look at Northwest coal ports

GRANTS PASS — Environmental groups and a public health organization want the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to consider the big picture — from mining in Wyoming to air pollution in China — before allowing development of three Northwest ports to ship up to 100 million metric tons of coal a year to Asia.

FBI: Arrest made in Washington ricin letter scare

SPOKANE — A 37-year-old man was arrested Wednesday in connection with a case in which a pair of letters containing the deadly poison ricin were discovered in Washington state last week.A grand jury indictment accused Matthew Ryan Buquet of mailing a death threat to U.S. District Judge Fred Van Sickle at the federal courthouse on May 14.

Ex-Great Wolf Lodge lifeguard charged with rape of guest, 14

More information has been released in a case in which Thurston County prosecutors have charged a 19-year-old former lifeguard at the Great Wolf Lodge in Grand Mound with second-degree rape and third-degree child rape for an alleged sexual assault on a 14-year-old girl who was a guest at the waterpark resort.