The High Ground: Voices from Eastern Washington

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A Lifeline Withdrawn: Trump’s Budget Targets Energy Aid for Eastern Washington’s Most Vulnerable

A Lifeline Withdrawn: Trump’s Budget Targets Energy Aid for Eastern Washington’s Most Vulnerable

The Trump administration has proposed eliminating a federal program that has, for decades, helped Eastern Washington's poorest residents survive the region’s harshest seasons. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which subsidizes heating in winter and cooling in summer for thousands of veterans, elderly residents, and low-income

Walla Walla grapes near harvest — thriving amid uncertain markets. Photo by Julia Zyablova on Unsplash

Crushed by Chaos: How Trump’s Tariff War Is Gutting Eastern Washington’s Wine Industry

Eastern Washington’s wine industry, long a symbol of the region’s resilience and refinement, is now reeling from a distinctly undignified threat: the chaos of President Donald Trump’s tariff war. What began as campaign bravado has metastasized into economic wreckage for rural winemakers, grape growers, agricultural workers, and

Disconnected: How Federal Rollbacks Betrayed Eastern Washington’s Broadband Future

Disconnected: How Federal Rollbacks Betrayed Eastern Washington’s Broadband Future

In an era where digital connectivity is essential for education, healthcare, and economic opportunity, the Trump administration's abrupt announcement of the termination of the Digital Equity Act represents a profound setback for rural and underserved communities. Enacted in 2021 as part of a broader $65 billion broadband investment,

Sanctuary Amid Uncertainty: Manzanita House's Lifeline for Unaccompanied Minors in Spokane

Sanctuary Amid Uncertainty: Manzanita House's Lifeline for Unaccompanied Minors in Spokane

In the heart of Spokane, Washington, Manzanita House stands as a beacon of hope for immigrants and refugees. The organization's name, inspired by the resilient manzanita plant that thrives after wildfires, symbolizes the strength and adaptability of the immigrant communities it serves. Among its many services, Manzanita House&

Refugio en la Incertidumbre: El Hogar Manzanita y su Apoyo Vital para Menores no Acompañados en Spokane

Refugio en la Incertidumbre: El Hogar Manzanita y su Apoyo Vital para Menores no Acompañados en Spokane

En medio de políticas cambiantes y fondos inestables, un pequeño refugio en Spokane sigue siendo un salvavidas para niños migrantes que llegan solos. Aquí, encuentran algo más que vivienda: encuentran esperanza. Una casa sencilla al norte de Spokane guarda muchas historias. Una mochila en el suelo. Un dibujo en la

Dry Wells, Empty Fields: Eastern Washington's Drought Crisis Deepens

Dry Wells, Empty Fields: Eastern Washington's Drought Crisis Deepens

A Third Year of Drought For the third time in four years, the Washington State Department of Ecology has declared a drought emergency for large portions of Eastern Washington. Despite near-normal snowpacks in early 2024 and 2025, unusually warm spring temperatures caused rapid melt and diminished runoff last year, and

Winter Lifts Local Fortunes: Inside Winthrop’s Balloon Roundup

Winter Lifts Local Fortunes: Inside Winthrop’s Balloon Roundup

The Sky Above Winthrop Each winter, as the Methow River freezes over and snow piles along the boardwalks of downtown Winthrop, something quietly magnificent begins to take shape in the sky. Dozens of hot-air balloons rise over the white slopes and evergreens, casting colorful shadows on the snow-packed valley below.