Northwest

Wash. woman spots stolen car in drive-thru

KENNEWICK — A Washington woman whose car was stolen from her apartment complex saw the stolen SUV hours later -- in the drive-thru of the McDonald's restaurant where she works.

Wash. florist sues state in gay wedding case

RICHLAND — A florist targeted by two lawsuits for refusing to provide flowers for a same-sex wedding has filed her own lawsuit against Washington state, claiming the state is violating her religious beliefs.

Washington fire deaths down slightly in recent years

Fewer fire-related deaths were reported in 2012 than in the two previous years, according to a report released Wednesday by the Office of the State Fire Marshal.

70 Tri-Met execs earn more than $100,000 a year

PORTLAND — Portland's TriMet mass transit system has 70 executives and managers earning more than $100,000 a year.

2 letters contain ricin in Spokane

SPOKANE — A postal workers union in Spokane says two letters that appeared to contain the deadly poison ricin have been found.

Economists say Oregon tax revenue forecast up

SALEM, Ore. — A slow, steady economic recovery means the state treasury will take in more money than previously expected, economists said Thursday.

Police shoot, kill suspect in fatal attack in Spokane

SPOKANE — Spokane police shot and killed a man on Thursday who was tracked to the Nine Mile Falls area after a fatal attack.

UPDATE: State releases draft rules for pot industry

Officials have spent eight months working on them

SEATTLE — Officials in Washington state took their first stab at setting rules for the state’s new marijuana industry Thursday, nearly eight months after voters here legalized pot for adults.

State lawmakers look to make recall process easier

Work session explores hurdles petitioners face

OLYMPIA — Washington lawmakers are considering ways to make it easier for citizens to recall elected officials, holding a work session Wednesday that explored the hurdles people face when they try to pursue such a campaign.

No sign of Susan Powell's remains on Oregon property

Utah mother disappeared in 2009

SCOTTS MILLS, Ore. — After spending two days at a rural Oregon property looking for traces of missing Utah mother Susan Powell, police have found no signs of her and have exhausted the lead, authorities said Thursday.

Budget cuts pare volcano monitoring

Emergency planners, airlines could be left without key information

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Scientists monitoring Alaska's volcanoes have been forced to shut down stations that provide real-time tracking of eruptions and forgo repairs of seismic equipment amid ongoing federal budget cuts -- moves that could mean delays in getting vital information to airline pilots and emergency planners.

Great Wolf Lodge lifeguard accused of raping teen

OLYMPIA -- A lifeguard for the water park at the Great Wolf Lodge at Grand Mound has been arrested on suspicion of rape.

Inmate who killed guard sentenced to death

EVERETT — A Washington state judge has sentenced an inmate to death for killing a state corrections officer in a prison chapel two years ago.

Boy, 10, sentenced to 3-5 years for plotting to attack classmate

Second boy is undergoing mental evaluation

COLVILLE — A 10-year-old boy who plotted to attack a classmate at Fort Colville Elementary School was sentenced to three to five years in a juvenile detention facility on Wednesday by Stevens County Superior Court Judge Allen Nielson.