In Brief - April 18, 2008

Around the Northwest

• Follow the money: yhe Washington State Public Disclosure Commission has just unveiled a new clickable county map which allows voters to see where candidates for Governor are getting their money.
• After two decades, an agreement between environmental groups and a Canadian mining company has paved the way to open a gold mine in Okanogan County.
• Gas consumption in the Northwest is as low as it was in 1966.
• Salmon season in Idaho looks to be a big one.
• A weak dollar and wheat shortage have benefited Oregon wheat farmers, pushing exports to record levels.

Around the Nation

• Pope Benedict XVI arrived in New York to address the UN General Assembly.
• A 5.2 earthquake struck in Illinois this morning, and was felt in Chicago, Cincinnati and Milwaukee.
• Citigroup reported $5.1 billion in losses in the first quarter and will cut 9,000 jobs.
• With tax rebates from the economic stimulus package on the way to consumers, stores are stepping up promotions in order to convince you to buy big ticket items.

Around the World

• NATO mistakenly supplied the Taliban.
• Another election in South America, this time in Paraguay, looks to end decades of oneparty rule and install another leftist.
• An imprisoned Chinese human rights activist lost his chance to appeal his case when prison guards refused to allow him to meet with his lawyer.

This Day In History

• 1506 - construction on the current St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City began.
• 1980 - Zimbabwe Independence Day
  
• 1983 - a suicide car bombing destroyed the U.S. embassy in Beirut.