A year after the North Monroe Corridor road diet, some business owners along the slimmed-down thoroughfare in North Spokane say they're thriving. Many of the project's original skeptics, however, say the project has increased congestion

Mention The Great PNW bears to the majority of Spokanites, and one image immediately comes clearly to mind. That animated image, to innocent eyes, looks like one grown bear on his back haunches standing behind another that's resting on all four paws.