Associated Press
Report: Tully’s Coffee closing stores due to lack of coffee
SEATTLE (AP) - Tully's Coffee, which once aspired to challenge Starbucks in the global coffee market, is temporarily closing stores due to a lack of coffee.
The Seattle Times reports that Tully's project director Krystal Tonning emailed company managers Thursday advising them that there was "very minimal coffee left in stores...
197-pound cougar captured by Washington state biologists
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Washington state wildlife biologists have caught and tagged a 197-pound (89-kilogram) cougar.
The Spokesman-Review reports that the biologists tagged the massive cat on Monday north of Chewelah.
State carnivore research scientist Brian Kertson called the cat a monster...
Man pleads guilty to shooting death of missionary student
YAKIMA, Wash. (AP) - A 29-year-old man has pleaded guilty to the shooting death of a Tieton missionary student.
The Yakima Herald reports that 29-year-old Saul Llamas Rios pleaded guilty on Thursday to the October 2016 death of Trae Olyer...
Washington Legislature approves supplemental budget plan
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) -The Washington Legislature has sent Gov. Jay Inslee a supplemental state budget that puts more money toward teacher salaries, the final step in a multiyear process to bring Washington state into compliance with a state Supreme Court mandate on education...
Idaho potatoes set record for production value last year
BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho potatoes were valued at $1.19 billion last year, setting a record for the crop's production value.
The Capital Press reports the 2017 production value was 23 percent higher than the prior year and 14 percent higher than the previous record value of $1...
Washington Senate passes one-time statewide property tax cut
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The Senate has passed a one-time statewide property tax cut over the objections of Republicans who argued that majority Democrats improperly paid for it by redirecting revenue that would normally go to emergency reserves...
Washington Legislature OKs bill to boost oil safety measures
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - The Washington Legislature has passed a measure that aims to boost safety around the transportation of oil in the state.
The House on Wednesday approved the bill on a 62-35 vote. It earlier cleared the Senate and now heads to Gov...
Law makes it easier for Hanford workers to get worker comp
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) - Gov. Jay Inslee has signed a bill designed to make it easier for workers on the Hanford Nuclear Reservation to qualify for worker compensation benefits.
The state Legislature recently passed a bill to ease the standards Hanford workers, who for decades made plutonium for nuclear weapons, must meet in order to receive such benefits...
Oregon students list mental health services in top concerns
PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) - A student-led report found that Oregon high school students cited mental health services among their top policy concerns.
Oregon Public Broadcasting reports data compiled by Oregon Student Voice shows that 40 percent of students listed mental health resources as the most important issue for schools...
Bill passed to show details of Washington college sports budgets
OLYMPIA, Wash. (AP) - A bill that would require public universities to release more details about their spending on sports has been passed by the Legislature and is headed to Democratic Gov. Jay Inslee for his signature.
The bill was approved 49-0 by the state Senate on Tuesday...