Inland Journal

Inland Journal: West Plains aquifer protection, PFAS and Providence psychiatric triage

West Plains residents will decide in August whether to tax themselves to protect their underground drinking water. We take stock of PFAS-related projects underway on the West Plains. Providence decides to change which health care providers will do psychiatric assessments on ER patients at Sacred Heart.

Inland Journal: Braver Angels, Spokane County's treasurer and anti-obesity drugs

We talk with a Lincoln County woman who is part of a group trying to lower the temperature of American civic dialogue. Spokane County Treasurer Mike Volz tells us what his office does. And a University of Washington researcher talks about helping people to lose weight, including anti-obesity drugs.

Inland Journal: Habitat for Humanity, Washington's health exchange and Secret Spokane

We talk with Habitat for Humanity Spokane CEO Michelle Girardot about how the organization will spend $6.5 million from the state. Fewer people are buying health insurance through the Washington and Idaho exchanges. Author Adriana Janovich explores odd things about Spokane.

Inland Journal: 10 years of UW's health partnership with Gonzaga; French students in Spokane

A sign of 10 years of progress: when the UW-GU health partnership began, UW medical students studied in a building that had once been a Native American museum. Now they share a state-of-the-art facility with dental and human physiology students. Also, foreign exchange programs are alive and well in Spokane. We meet two recent French visitors.

Inland Journal: Safe and Healthy Task Force; the future for Spokane's waste-to-energy plant

Inland Journal: David Folkenflik, pairing police and mental health counselors, and RepublicEn

We talk with NPR's media correspondent on the eve of his visit to Spokane. Eliza Billingham hears what Spokane police officers think about working with mental health professionals in the field. A former South Carolina congressman urges his fellow Republicans to use their taxing powers to combat climate change.

Inland Journal: Rural health challenges, assessing properties and flying into smaller airports

We talk with two representatives of Prosperity Eastern Washington, which is using billboards to carry the rural health message to rural residents. Spokane County Assessor Tom Konis tells us about his office determines the value of properties. Kent Craford from SeaPort Airlines talks about why his carrier prefers flying into smaller airports.

Inland Journal: Rural health care and medical education

We talk with East Adams Rural Healthcare Chief Executive Todd Nida about the state of Ritzville's hospital. Two graduating Spokane medical students tell us where they'll start their careers this summer. And two Spokane medical residency programs are celebrating different kinds of news.

Inland Journal: WA legislative recap; new schools and parks; and how to advocate for others

Public radio state government reporter Sarah Mizes-Tan summarizes Washington's 2026 legislative session. We hear about new parks and schools projects scheduled for Spokane this year. Spokane author Kathy Colkitt writes about how to be an effective advocate.

Inland Journal: Excerpts from a debate about the millionaire's tax

This week, the Washington House of Representatives debated — for more than 24 hours — and then approved an income tax on people who make more than a million dollars a year. We hear some of the arguments they made in this week's Inland Journal.