The Columbian

Northwest

Longview high school students to join school board as representatives

March 28, 2024, 7:44am Northwest

Beginning in the fall, students from Mark Morris and R.A. Long high schools will have the opportunity to offer input — but not vote — at Longview School Board meetings as student representatives. Read story

Instacart settles over alleged labor violations for nearly $750K

March 28, 2024, 7:41am Northwest

Grocery delivery company Instacart will pay nearly $750,000 to settle allegations it failed to comply with Seattle’s law mandating gig workers receive paid sick and safe time. Read story

CCTV, Surveillance security camera with the traffic light and sign against a blue sky

New Washington law will allow traffic cameras on more city streets and county roads

March 28, 2024, 6:05am Latest News Free

Drivers in Washington state may soon face better odds of getting caught on camera if they run a red light, speed through a work zone on a city street or fail to stop at a crosswalk. Read story

Student arrested on WSU campus after alleged knife threat at residence hall

March 27, 2024, 7:32pm Northwest

A Washington State University police officer fired his gun at a student inside a campus residence hall on Wednesday after reports the student had a knife. The bullet missed. Read story

FILE - Legendary Seattle mountain climbers twin brothers Jim, left, and Lou Whittaker celebrate their 80th birthday with a party at the Space Needle in Seattle, Tuesday Feb. 10, 2009. Lou Whittaker, a Seattle-born and -raised mountaineer and glacier travel guide who climbed Mount Rainier more than 250 times, died Sunday, March 24, 2024. He was 95.

Lou Whittaker, among the most famous American mountaineers, has died at age 95

March 27, 2024, 5:43pm Latest News

Lou Whittaker, a legendary American mountaineer who helped lead ascents of Mount Everest, K2 and Denali, and who taught generations of climbers during his more than 250 trips up Mount Rainier, the tallest peak in Washington state, has died at age 95. Read story

All hail Chainsaw: the big guy with the jagged dorsal fin who, together with his fellow Bigg’s killer whales, has already racked up a record number of sightings of the orcas for 2023.

These Puget Sound orcas could be designated as distinct species

March 27, 2024, 1:45pm Latest News

For more than a century, killer whales have been understood to be just one worldwide species, Orcinus orca, with many types. Read story

A selection of books that deal with LGBTQ+ issues is seen here at the Southwest Branch of the Seattle Public Library. Calls to ban books at public libraries have been increasing nationwide, including in Washington where the number of titles challenged state has skyrocketed from 10 in 2017 to 42 in 2021, according to the ALA.

WA passes bill to protect libraries, as other states target them

March 27, 2024, 8:17am Latest News

Washington has passed legislation intended to safeguard its public libraries, after a small city in the southeastern corner of the state nearly became the first community in the nation to shutter its library over the book battles that have engulfed schools, libraries, cities and states across the country. Read story

Did WA Legislature drop the ball? Hundreds of Tri-Cities nuclear fuel jobs in the balance

March 27, 2024, 7:56am Northwest

A tax breaks-for-jobs deal between Richland and French nuclear fuel manufacturer Framatome Inc. is headed into extra innings after the 2024 Legislature adjourned without passing two key bills. Read story

Man who lit fire at Spokane County Democrats’ office released after being found not guilty by reason of insanity

March 27, 2024, 7:54am Northwest

The man who lit a fire at the Spokane County Democrats headquarters in 2020 was found not guilty by reason of insanity by a federal court judge and released last week. Read story