Northwest News Network

Duck fans who went to bed in a panic Sunday day night awoke Monday to learn that University of Oregon football coach Chip Kelly has turned down an offer to coach in the NFL. He will remain at the U of O.

Citing “unfinished business” at the University of Oregon, Chip Kelly has rejected an offer to coach the Tampa Bay Buccaneers to stay and coach the Ducks.

According to U of O athletic director Rob Mullens this means Kelly wants to “continue to build this program.” Mullens said Monday he expected high level interest in Oregon coaches as an indicator of the school’s success.

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Washington state lawmakers begin their 2012 session with no agreement in sight for how to solve major budget shortfall.

In the House of Representatives Monday, leaders from both parties laid out different visions for how they would balance the budget.

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OLYMPIA, Wash. – Washington added more than 12,000 jobs in November. That drops the state unemployment rate to 8.7 percent.

In fact, employment statistics released Wednesday show that job growth has reached a four-year high in Washington.

The unemployment rate dropped 0-point-4 percent from the previous month. At 9-point-1 percent, it’s still half a percentage point higher than the national average.
Oregon’s drop in unemployment is good news, but state employment economist, Nick Beleiciks, warned people not to get too excited.

Nick Beleiciks: "It's just a one month change so far, which is very welcome after months and months of no change in the unemployment rate. So I think we're not ready to celebrate because of one month change, but it's certainly in the right direction."

The U.S. Postal Service is moving forward with plans to close 252 processing facilities, end next-day mail service, and restrict service to rural areas.

BOISE – Washington State’s move to privatize liquor sales next year could have repercussions on Idaho’s revenues. That’s according to Idaho’s Office of Performance Evaluation.

Analyst Jared Tatro of Idaho’s Office of Performance Evaluation says high prices for liquor in Washington drive bargain seekers to Idaho.

But privatization may change that.

“If Washington prices are reduced to the point where residents stop coming over, what we’re going to see is, for example, if it’s a 10 percent drop in sales, that’s a reduction in $3.5 million in profit,” Tatro says.

The University of Oregon Statutory Faculty formally condemned the State Board of Higher Education Wednesday for firing President Richard Lariviere. The statutory faculty consists of tenured and non-tenured professors. Students, staff and members of the public also attended the special meeting.

EUGENE, Ore. - At a special meeting of the University of Oregon faculty Wednesday, the State Board of Higher Education and Chancellor George Pernstiener were blasted for firing U of O president Richard Lariviere. Lariviere got a standing ovation from about one thousand faculty and students when he walked into Mac Court.

Sounding choked up, Lariviere spoke very briefly before the statutory faculty assembly, transferring his authority to Professor Robert Kyr, head of the U of O Senate.

Lariviere: "And to say thank you, I love you, thank you."

SPOKANE, WA - Spokane County could have another casino if all goes as planned for the Spokane Tribe of Indians. The Spokane Tribe wants to build on 145 acres of ancestral land in Airway Heights, but they must pass several levels of approval first, including that of wary public citizens.

The Spokane tribe created The Spokane Tribe Economic Project, STEP for short, in order to bring an economic boost to their tribe and community.

We've all experienced it.

You're going somewhere busy so there's a long tail-back at the exit. You dutifully take your place at the back of the line, only to watch other drivers zip-up to the front, and squeeze in at the last moment.
State Police Lieutenant Greg Hastings, says it's dangerous and that troopers issued dozens of $142 dollar citations hours after Thanksgiving dinner was finished.

High winds and sheets of rain are causing problems along the coast and some of Oregon's highways Tuesday.
Trees have been blown down along Highway 18 in Polk County -- at the east end of the Van Duzer Corridor.
Lou Torres of the Oregon Department of Transportation says the road is closed.

Boise, ID - Idaho’s Board of Education voted Thursday that students will have to take two online courses to graduate high school. The requirement is unique in the nation. Education Board spokesman Mark Browning says there is one more step.

Mark Browning- “The legislature will get the opportunity to review the rule in January. If and when the legislature approves of it, then it becomes a permanent rule. And should they choose to reject it then we would have to start over but for right now it is in place, it’s done.”

SALEM, Ore. - Earlier this week Bank of America backed down on a five dollar monthly fee for debit card users. That gives consumer groups hope that similar fee relief could come to people who receive benefits by a reloadable cash card.

So far, just one apple orchard in Washington has taken up the state's offer for inmates to help with the harvest. That’s despite a severe worker shortage that has many growers facing big losses.

This week, McDougall and Sons orchard near Wenatchee put more than a hundred inmates to work. They're from a minimum security work camp near Forks.

The orchard pays the state $22 an hour per worker. That covers costs for housing, transportation and other expenses. The inmates are paid minimum wage.

If you’ve ever wondered why your health insurance rate has gone up, that information is now public. Washington State’s Office of Insurance Commissioner has a new website that can help explain that.

Whenever an insurance company wants to raise rates for individual or small group plans, the Insurance Commissioner's Office reviews those requests. In the past, the agency could approve or reject the new rates, but it couldn't release any information behind the decision.