The High Ground: Voices from Eastern Washington

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“Roots and Hope: Spokane’s Thrive Project Takes Hold”

“Roots and Hope: Spokane’s Thrive Project Takes Hold”

Cradled by Kindness: How Spokane Built a Home for Hope Nafisa Zafari fled Afghanistan with a single backpack after months in hiding from the Taliban. In her home country, she had partnered with the U.S. Army to open schools for girls, a commitment that put her in grave danger

The Cost of Silence: Baumgartner’s Budget Vote Sellout

The Cost of Silence: Baumgartner’s Budget Vote Sellout

When your member of Congress votes to give away your future, and says nothing about it. The federal budget recently passed by the U.S. House, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” proposes sweeping changes to how the federal government supports states. But in Washington State, and especially in

A Lifeline Withdrawn: Trump’s Budget Targets Energy Aid for Eastern Washington’s Most Vulnerable

A Lifeline Withdrawn: Trump’s Budget Targets Energy Aid for Eastern Washington’s Most Vulnerable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