Our Northwest Economy

Washington Gets $590M To Improve Seattle To Portland Rail Service

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Washington will get nearly 600-million dollars to improve Amtrak rail service along the I-5 corridor. Meanwhile Oregon will get just a fraction of that. The Obama administration announced the federal grants [today] Thursday. Olympia Correspondent Austin Jenkins explains what it will mean for rail travel on the West side of the Cascades.

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North Idaho Repository Proceeds Despite Concerns

(photo: Father Scott Coble speaks at a recent pilgrimage of Gonzaga University students and faculty to the Cataldo Mission in north Idaho. Courtesy of Gonzaga University Ministry.)

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho – A field in the mountains of north Idaho has become a crossroad for two historic forces…mining and the legacy of Catholic missionaries. Federal stimulus money is accelerating projects to remove the toxic remnants of north Idaho's mining history. That contaminated dirt is going to a new dump that's near a building important to both Native Americans and Jesuits. Inland Northwest Correspondent Doug Nadvornick takes us to the East Mission Flats Repository.

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Northwest Silver Mines Enjoy Good Times

COEUR D'ALENE, ID - Mining is traditionally a boom-and-bust industry. Right now, times are good. The Coeur d’Alene, Idaho-based Hecla Mining Company today announced that high silver prices have translated into record profits.

(Pictured: Hecla President, Philips Baker.)

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