NEWS: Law enforcement agencies across the country are struggling with recruiting and retaining officers, a new report says.
IN OTHER NEWS...
No wrongdoing here
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that he withheld almost $400 million in military aid from Ukraine because European nations had not contributed enough. The funds were frozen days before Trump pressured Ukraine's new president to investigate Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. (New York Times)
Impeachment fervor
House Democrats are rushing to endorse impeaching President Trump over the bomb-shell revelations that he withheld military aid from Ukraine before pressing the Ukrainian president to investigate a political rival. (151 out of 235 House Democrats support impeachment.) Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, who has long resisted impeachment efforts, now appears to be softening her position. (New York Times)
Left behind
In an op-ed highlighting the dangers that journalists face across the globe, New York Times publisher A.G. Sulzberger revealed that the Trump administration apparently was unwilling to step in and prevent a New York Times reporter from being arrested by Egyptian authorities. The paper turned to the reporter's native country of Ireland for help instead, prompting Irish diplomats to usher the reporter to the airport within the hour. (New York Times)
Infrastructure troubles
Spokane Valley city leaders are grappling with how to pay for road maintenance given that some existing revenue sources, such as the gas and telephone tax, have remained stagnant or decreased. New taxes may be coming in the future. (Spokesman-Review)
Rural healthcare
Fairfield, a town in Spokane County of roughly 600 people, saw its health clinic close in early 2019. Now many residents are heading to Spokane for medical care. (Spokesman-Review)
