Wildfire Emergency in Spokane: Gov. Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency and imposed a burn ban as fast-moving, wind-driven wildfires surged across eastern Washington, with the Old Trails Fire threatening thousands of homes and forcing evacuations and public safety power shutoffs; officials reported about 600 structures destroyed and the blaze near 3,500 acres, with “zero containment” at points as smoke and hazardous air blanketed the region. Heat + Fire Weather: A National Weather Service “particularly dangerous situation” red flag alert and a broader heat wave across the West are raising the odds of extreme fire behavior, while record drought and dry vegetation strain firefighting resources. Landslide Risk Map: A new University of Washington-led study mapped landslide exposure nationwide, finding 6.5 million Americans live on or near landslide-prone land—highlighting uneven recovery capacity between urban and rural communities. Local Environment Debate: A Spokane-area data center/hydrogen proposal drew fresh scrutiny over its history and claims, while a separate op-ed argues data centers haven’t driven higher residential electricity costs in Washington the way critics fear.