There are a minimum of 178 wolves in Washington, according to Friday.Washington’s wolf population grew at least 24% between 2019 and 2020, despite the death of 16 wolves to legal hunting, lethal removal in response to conflict and natural mortality. There were 29 packs and 16 successful breeding pairs statewide.“It’s exciting for wolf recovery that the numbers continue to grow,” said Julia Smith, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s statewide wolf coordinator. “You never know where it’s going to be. Populations go up. They go down. That’s normal, so it wouldn’t have been...…There are a minimum of 178 wolves in Washington, according to Friday.Washington’s wolf population grew at least 24% between 2019 and 2020, despite the death of 16 wolves to legal hunting, lethal removal in response to conflict and natural mortality. There were 29 packs and 16 successful breeding pairs statewide.“It’s exciting for wolf recovery that the numbers continue to grow,” said Julia Smith, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s statewide wolf coordinator. “You never know where it’s going to be. Populations go up. They go down. That’s normal, so it wouldn’t have been...WW…

Several local organizations are accepting donations, or organizing occasional volunteer crews, to try and restore or improve shrub-steppe habitat. The Spokane Audubon Society is accepting donations to help purchase plugs to be planted in shrub-steppe habitat that has been burned. For information visit .The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council has . For information visit .To learn more about Conservation Northwest's ongoing sage grouse work visit .Or go to to find out how else you can help.To tune into Friday's Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting visit...…Several local organizations are accepting donations, or organizing occasional volunteer crews, to try and restore or improve shrub-steppe habitat. The Spokane Audubon Society is accepting donations to help purchase plugs to be planted in shrub-steppe habitat that has been burned. For information visit .The Inland Northwest Wildlife Council has . For information visit .To learn more about Conservation Northwest's ongoing sage grouse work visit .Or go to to find out how else you can help.To tune into Friday's Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Commission meeting visit...WW…

The Snake River on Tuesday was named the“The America’s Most Endangered Rivers report is a call to save rivers in need of urgent action,” Tom Kiernan, president of American Rivers said in a news release. “We’re facing a critical choice on the Snake River. We can either stay with the status quo, which means failing salmon runs, more costly litigation, increasing energy insecurity and broken promises to tribes. Or we can choose to invest in salmon recovery and infrastructure solutions that create a future of abundance and prosperity for the region. We think the choice is clear and we’re...…The Snake River on Tuesday was named the“The America’s Most Endangered Rivers report is a call to save rivers in need of urgent action,” Tom Kiernan, president of American Rivers said in a news release. “We’re facing a critical choice on the Snake River. We can either stay with the status quo, which means failing salmon runs, more costly litigation, increasing energy insecurity and broken promises to tribes. Or we can choose to invest in salmon recovery and infrastructure solutions that create a future of abundance and prosperity for the region. We think the choice is clear and we’re...WW…

Distance: Six miles roundtrip to the lake, 8 miles if you add a hike to the canyon rim. Directions: From Spokane, drive west on Highway 2 until the town of Wilbur. From there head north on Highway 174 following signs for Grand Coulee. At the Grand Coulee junction head west on State Highway 155 toward Electric City. Pass Electric City. Near milepost 19 turn east (left) on to Northrup Canyon Road and follow signs to the Northrup Canyon trailhead parking lot. Difficulty: Moderate. Be cautious, it's rattlesnake and tick season.Season: Best in the spring or fall....…Distance: Six miles roundtrip to the lake, 8 miles if you add a hike to the canyon rim. Directions: From Spokane, drive west on Highway 2 until the town of Wilbur. From there head north on Highway 174 following signs for Grand Coulee. At the Grand Coulee junction head west on State Highway 155 toward Electric City. Pass Electric City. Near milepost 19 turn east (left) on to Northrup Canyon Road and follow signs to the Northrup Canyon trailhead parking lot. Difficulty: Moderate. Be cautious, it's rattlesnake and tick season.Season: Best in the spring or fall....WW…

More than a dozen regional environmental groups, including the Spokane Riverkeeper, are publicly opposing a proposal to breach the four lower Snake River Dams, calling the concept a “nonstarter.”The environmental advocates in Washington and Oregon who announced their opposition to the plan on Tuesday say the proposal will neuter two bedrock environmental laws – the Endangered Species and Clean Water acts.But some environmental groups and area tribes have backed the new effort, saying the plan floated by Republican Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson may be the last chance to save salmon runs on the...…More than a dozen regional environmental groups, including the Spokane Riverkeeper, are publicly opposing a proposal to breach the four lower Snake River Dams, calling the concept a “nonstarter.”The environmental advocates in Washington and Oregon who announced their opposition to the plan on Tuesday say the proposal will neuter two bedrock environmental laws – the Endangered Species and Clean Water acts.But some environmental groups and area tribes have backed the new effort, saying the plan floated by Republican Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson may be the last chance to save salmon runs on the...WW…

SALT LAKE CITY – Conservative lawmakers in Utah have fired another salvo in their longtime campaign against online porn with a new requirement that all cellphones and tablets sold in the state automatically block pornography in a plan that critics call a significant intrusion on free speech.Supporters and critics alike are now waiting to find out if new Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, will sign or veto a l that the GOP-controlled Legislature passed this month.Cox hasn’t indicated publicly which way he’s leaning. His spokeswoman, Jennifer Napier-Pearce, said only in an email that Cox “will...…SALT LAKE CITY – Conservative lawmakers in Utah have fired another salvo in their longtime campaign against online porn with a new requirement that all cellphones and tablets sold in the state automatically block pornography in a plan that critics call a significant intrusion on free speech.Supporters and critics alike are now waiting to find out if new Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, will sign or veto a l that the GOP-controlled Legislature passed this month.Cox hasn’t indicated publicly which way he’s leaning. His spokeswoman, Jennifer Napier-Pearce, said only in an email that Cox “will...WW…

MANKATO, Minnesota – Mary McGaw grew up in a Republican home on the rural prairie of south-central Minnesota. But as she moved from her tiny town of Amboy to the nearest city of to study nursing, her politics migrated, too.McGaw was moved by the plight of underinsured and became concerned about the viability of safety programs. She cast her vote for in November, and nearly three months later, she is pleased with how hard the new president is fighting for his priorities.“He’s trying to get something done, even though there’s pushback from all sides,” said the 37-year-old registered nurse,...…MANKATO, Minnesota – Mary McGaw grew up in a Republican home on the rural prairie of south-central Minnesota. But as she moved from her tiny town of Amboy to the nearest city of to study nursing, her politics migrated, too.McGaw was moved by the plight of underinsured and became concerned about the viability of safety programs. She cast her vote for in November, and nearly three months later, she is pleased with how hard the new president is fighting for his priorities.“He’s trying to get something done, even though there’s pushback from all sides,” said the 37-year-old registered nurse,...WW…

After nearly two decades of politicking, controversy and dispute, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the Cascade Locks on the Columbia River, near The Dalles, Oregon, allowing boats laden with goods to pass by once unnavigable rapids.That was in 1896, and it was the start of a decadeslong effort to make the Snake River passable year -round for boats of commerce, according to historian Keith Petersen. To do so, the Corps of Engineers would eventually pepper the Columbia River system with dams – none more controversial than four built on the Lower Snake River.When the dams were built...…After nearly two decades of politicking, controversy and dispute, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers completed the Cascade Locks on the Columbia River, near The Dalles, Oregon, allowing boats laden with goods to pass by once unnavigable rapids.That was in 1896, and it was the start of a decadeslong effort to make the Snake River passable year -round for boats of commerce, according to historian Keith Petersen. To do so, the Corps of Engineers would eventually pepper the Columbia River system with dams – none more controversial than four built on the Lower Snake River.When the dams were built...WW…

WASHINGTON – The first time someone approached Rep. Mike Simpson with the idea of breaching dams on the Snake River to save Idaho’s salmon, he started laughing.“I thought, that’s just crazy,” Simpson recalled. “I said at the time, ‘You need to do everything you can to try to restore salmon runs, every alternative, before you look at taking out dams.’ ”That was about 25 years ago, when the Republican lawmaker was serving as speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives. Over the more than two decades since he was elected to represent the eastern half of the state in Congress, Simpson...…WASHINGTON – The first time someone approached Rep. Mike Simpson with the idea of breaching dams on the Snake River to save Idaho’s salmon, he started laughing.“I thought, that’s just crazy,” Simpson recalled. “I said at the time, ‘You need to do everything you can to try to restore salmon runs, every alternative, before you look at taking out dams.’ ”That was about 25 years ago, when the Republican lawmaker was serving as speaker of the Idaho House of Representatives. Over the more than two decades since he was elected to represent the eastern half of the state in Congress, Simpson...WW…

When a Boise man reeled in an Idaho state-record steelhead, he also hooked a passel of controversy.Scott Turner caught the 39.25-inch steelhead from the South Fork Clearwater River in April . The achievement was promoted by Idaho Fish and Game in a news release, on Facebook and Instagram.One vocal quarter of the angling community didn’t think highly of his catch. In particular, drew quick condemnation from anglers who believe it’s unethical to fish for steelhead so late in the season and so close to spawning beds, known as redds.“The fact that you allow people to fish for spawning fish that...…When a Boise man reeled in an Idaho state-record steelhead, he also hooked a passel of controversy.Scott Turner caught the 39.25-inch steelhead from the South Fork Clearwater River in April . The achievement was promoted by Idaho Fish and Game in a news release, on Facebook and Instagram.One vocal quarter of the angling community didn’t think highly of his catch. In particular, drew quick condemnation from anglers who believe it’s unethical to fish for steelhead so late in the season and so close to spawning beds, known as redds.“The fact that you allow people to fish for spawning fish that...WW…