Ellen Dennis

The U.S. government is moving toward reclassifying marijuana as a less harmful drug, a federal spokesperson confirmed this week. If finalized, this change in classification by the U.S. Department of Justice would federally recognize the medical use of cannabis. It would not federally legalize the drug for recreational use, however.

The candidates who managed to clinch a party endorsement are not guaranteed a spot on the general election ballot come November. However, an endorsement earns them free publicity and fundraising help from the party in the coming months. 

Ferguson spoke at a luncheon in the Spokane Convention Center to a room full of roughly 170 local politicians and community members, asking them to donate to his campaign. Spokane Mayor Lisa Brown and City Councilmember Zack Zappone spoke at the fundraising event before Ferguson stepped up to the podium.

After a backlash, delegates returned Saturday for the final day of the state Republican Party convention in Spokane and endorsed gubernatorial hopeful Semi Bird, a day following party leadership’s attempt to to skip making an endorsement in the race altogether.

Roughly 1,800 delegates showed up to the three-day political gathering at the Spokane Convention Center, marking the annual event’s highest turnout in history, officials said. The GOP’s attempt to forgo making an endorsement in the governor’s race came after news broke that gubernatorial candidate Semi Bird was convicted in 1993 of a misdemeanor for lying on a credit card application.

The 10.5 mile freeway that's 23 years in the making is fully funded. The final 3.5 miles left to build will be the most complicated, engineers say, and drivers should expect delays on I-90 down the line. 

The state Department of Natural Resources owns about 3,000 acres of urban growth land that could be used for residential development 

A pair of colleges in the Inland Northwest whose sports teams are overseen by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics face a new reality: transgender athletes will soon be banned from competing on women’s teams.