The High Ground: Voices from Eastern Washington

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Grant Fredericks

When Ideology Subverts Education: The Cost of Political Agendas in Central Valley Schools

When Ideology Subverts Education: The Cost of Political Agendas in Central Valley Schools

Central Valley’s school board has shifted from education to ideology. Under Pam Orebaugh, lawsuits, “Biblical governance,” and voucher schemes mirror a national playbook that drains resources and divides communities. The choice ahead: schools for students, or battlegrounds for politics.

Spokane as Ground Zero in the National War on 'Housing First'

Spokane as Ground Zero in the National War on 'Housing First'

How Spokane became ground zero for a far-right experiment: dismantle Housing First, reward encampment bans, and call it public safety. We follow the money, the mandates, and the lives on the line.

Vital Wines and the Vineyards Rewriting the Ethics of Washington Winemaking

Vital Wines and the Vineyards Rewriting the Ethics of Washington Winemaking

In Washington’s wine country, a nonprofit winery is redefining what it means to care for the people behind the harvest. Vital Wines doesn’t just bottle vintages, it funds healthcare, restores dignity, and transforms vineyards into communities of care.

The Plot They Almost Pulled Off

The Plot They Almost Pulled Off

When Congress tried to slip a “judicial gag rule” into H.R. 1, it nearly succeeded. Section 70302 would have blocked courts from enforcing rulings against the President — and Rep. Baumgartner helped it get there.

The Day the Airwaves Were Cut: Public Media Just Lost Its Lifeline in Rural Washington

The Day the Airwaves Were Cut: Public Media Just Lost Its Lifeline in Rural Washington

UPDATE – July 17: Today, the U.S. Senate followed the House in voting to slash funding for NPR, PBS, and the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. The final blow came despite months of warnings from journalists, educators, and rural broadcasters who know exactly what’s at stake. With this vote, Congress

Far-Right Policy. Local Waters. One Line of Defense.

Far-Right Policy. Local Waters. One Line of Defense.

PFAS levels 5,000% above normal. EPA partners vanishing. And a river still carrying the burden. As federal enforcement fades, Spokane’s defenders are left fighting upstream — against policy rollbacks, toxic runoff, and a system designed to look away.

He Said It Was About Energy Security. Then He Cut the Power to the Future.

He Said It Was About Energy Security. Then He Cut the Power to the Future.

Farmers in Lincoln and Columbia Counties were building a clean energy future — until H.R. 1 cut the legs out from under them. What Rep. Baumgartner voted for is already stalling projects and driving up rural energy costs.