As fires start blowing smoke, one WA senator wants more transparent home insurance

Coroner pushes Kootenai County to ban kratom sales entirely, citing rising deaths

Plus, NWS issues red flag warnings for much of eastern, central WA. ID once again has one of the lowest SNAP payment error rates in the country, while WA could soon be penalized for its rate. WSU looks to attract Indigenous youth to health sciences careers using basketball. A Gonzaga lecturer heads to Spain to swim in the "Gay Olympics." Maple Street Bridge reopens first to pedestrians, cyclists before cars return. And Idaho's Wassmuth Center for Human Rights celebrates its 30th anniversary and its CDA namesake.

WA schools face skyrocketing risk coverage rates as more pay out over sex abuse claims

Plus, Spokane County wants to restart its inmate work crew program, but can potential hosts afford the proposed fee increase? A WA man is being held pre-trial in connection with an alleged plan to attack the White House. West Plains residents are beginning to schedule PFAS testing for wells. Kootenai Electric Cooperative will start service again in parts of Spokane County. Avista wants to raise its rates; AG Nick Brown says it doesn't need the extra money. ID faces another tough budget year. SCRAPS will up its adoption fees to combat rising food, medical costs for its animals. And NWS issues a Fire Weather Watch for eastern, central WA.

Spokane bans data center construction for the next year

Plus, SPS and Spokane announce a child care partnership. A new analysis shows more than a third of WA families struggle to afford the essentials. Revenue from WA's gas tax is only down slightly this year despite much higher fuel prices. USPS officials were a no-show for a meeting with a WA House panel. And as crews make progress on the Colville Reservation's Kartar Fire, the Garred Road Fire grows to 3,400 acres near Coulee City.

Whose job is it to stop tenants overheating? Spokane explores a 'right to cooling'

Plus, crews make progress in containing the Kartar, Gold Run and Upriver Fires. USFS looks to triple timber coming from the Blue Mountains. Center for Biological Diversity pushes feds to protect two threatened INW wildflower species. NW's yanked observatories to return to ocean after Trump administration backs down. Cantwell- and Baumgartner-backed bill meant to make college sports fairer advances. And the US men advance to the World Cup knockout stage while Team Egypt leads its group.

Summer break is here—including for the newsroom

Now that it finally feels like summer here in the Inland Northwest, lots of our listeners are headed out to one of the many lakes and rivers to enjoy the sun and take some time off. The newsroom is doing the same. Don’t worry, we’re going to keep bringing you news from across the Northwest throughout the summer. But we’re taking a break from the long-form stories and interviews that usually round out the podcast each morning. We’ll be back in your feed on Monday with regional headlines. Enjoy the holiday, and we’ll see you at the lake.