A beloved Mercer Island teacher was accused twice of sexual misconduct with students. The school district kept it quiet.
Gary "Chris" Twombley was put on administrative leave in December 2023
Indigenous Affairs
On an Ancient Road, Tribal Elders Wage a Relentless Battle
The government bulldozed an Indigenous religious site along a busy Oregon highway, but tribal elders and their families still visit Ana Kwna Nchi Nchi Patat in order to satisfy their religious obligations. Now, the elders want the U.S. Supreme Court to h
Washington Tribes Call on Governor to Reject Clean Energy Project Proposal
In a July 28 letter, most of the federally recognized tribes in Washington pushed the state to deny permits to a developer because its project along the Columbia River would mean the unavoidable destruction or damage to sites sacred to the area’s tr
Federal Official Announces Funding for Upgrades to Columbia River Treaty Fishing Sites
Bryan Newland, the Interior’s Assistant Secretary for Indian Affairs, says the money will help begin tackling a lengthy list of longstanding problems at in-lieu and treaty fishing access sites.
Green energy's hidden costs spark opposition
Proposed lithium mine in Nevada would damage ancestral lands, critics say
Tribes look to renewable energy to power jobs of the future
From Florida to Alaska, tribes seek to harness energy from sun, wind and water
At the Crossroads: State of the Economy in Indian Country
‘Stealth’ economy for tribes hides billions of dollars in jobs, growth and revenue for rural communities
Tribal Leaders in Washington Allege State Intentionally Ignores Treaty Rights
After a judge dismissed charges of shellfish trafficking on treaty grounds, tribes and treaty rights organizations say the case exemplifies how Washington officials are working to undermine treaty fishing rights and agreements, which the state denies.
Redistricting: Tribes fight for an equal voice
As states set out to redraw political districts, some have worked to better integrate the needs of Native communities.
Salmon Are No Longer Kings Of The Columbia. That Has Biologists Worried
A recent report shows an explosion of growth of a non-native species in the Columbia River. What does that mean for salmon and the cultures built on them?
A Shellfish Company Gets into the Weeds
The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community shows how eelgrass and aquaculture can coexist in Puget Sound.
Opportunities and Obstacles in Indian Country
InvestigateWest is examining the state of the economy across Indian Country, in collaboration with ICT (Indian Country Today), the Institute for Nonprofit News and eight other news organizations