Many Spokane wildfire evacuees are getting the news they’ve been waiting for.

Spokane authorities are allowing many wildfire evacuees to return home.

*Embargoed until Monday*

Residents in Spokane Washington are facing the impacts of still burning fires that razed hundreds of homes and forced tens of thousands of people to evacuate. For some residents, emergency information in Spanish has been a lifeline. As Monica Carrillo-Casas [kah-REE-yo kah-SUS] reports, Latino-led community organizations are filling that role while people deal with the losses.

It’s county fair season in Oregon. That means people across the state are coming together to celebrate their community’s agricultural heritage. But many of this year’s fairs are being blanketed by a heavy layer of smoke from wildfires across Oregon and Washington. OPB reporters visited fairs in Prineville and Baker City this week.

[[CC] WA-3 primary takeaways

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ERT 0:51 Cut-Copy

Aug. 7, 2026 Elena Neale-Sacks/Andrew Theen]

In the primary election for Washington’s third Congressional district, about one in three Democratic voters broke with incumbent Marie Gluesenkamp Perez [ma-REE gloo-zihn-camp puh-REZ].

[[WRP] WA-3 primary takeaways

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Aug. 7, 2026 Elena Neale-Sacks/Andrew Theen]

The results of Washington’s third Congressional District primary are sparking different reactions among Republicans and Democrats. But as OPB’s Elena Neale-Sacks reports, there are two clear takeaways.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins visited Seattle’s VA Medical Center TODAY [Fri]. KNKX’s Anna Marie Yanny reports he wants to advance psychedelic research here.

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins visited the Northwest TODAY [Fri]. He shared his vision for local veteran care at Seattle’s VA Medical Center.

[Fireline Drones

08/05/26

Murphy Woodhouse/ Mountain West News Bureau ]

Air operations continue to be disrupted by drones flying over restricted areas near wildfires. Destructive blazes in Eastern Washington state are the latest example of the dangerous trend.

[Fireline Drones

08/05/26

Murphy Woodhouse/ Mountain West News Bureau

Note: This can only run through Sat eve. unless stations cut out the first line reference to "this week" ]

HOST

Air operations continue to be disrupted by drones flying over restricted areas near wildfires. As the Mountain West News Bureau’s Murphy Woodhouse reports, destructive blazes in Spokane are the latest example of the dangerous trend.