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As we approach the unofficial end of summer with Labor Day Weekend just ahead, local farms and gardens around the region are bursting with the bounties of the late summer's harvest. Fresh tomatoes, zucchinis, peaches, cucumbers, corn, peppers, apples and more can be found at the Inland Northwest's many farmers markets. Green Bluff's farms and orchards are also at their peak, and peaches are the fruit of the moment.

Scrolling through our online database of area markets, one may notice that several are a short month or so from wrapping up the 2014 seasons at the end of September. Don't miss out on the chance to enjoy our region's bounty before it's too late. 

Big Red Barn Farmers Market | Saturdays through Sept. 27, from 8 am-1 pm. Pioneer Plaza, 605 Morgan St., Davenport, Wash. facebook.com/BRBFarmersMarket (280-9896)

Bonners Ferry Farmers Market
 | Saturdays through Oct. 31, from 8 am-1 pm. Corner of Hwy. 95 and Kootenai Street, Bonners Ferry, Idaho. bonnersferryfarmersmarket.org (208-267-2780)

Cheney Farmers Market
 | Tuesdays through Sept. 23, from 2-7 pm. Cheney City Hall parking lot, 609 Second St. (235-2223)

Chewelah Farmers Market |
 Fridays through Oct. 17, from 11:30 am-5:30 pm. City Park, 600 N. Park St., Chewelah, Wash. chewelahfarmersmarket.com (936-4353)

Clayton Farmers Market
 | Sundays through Sept. 28, from noon-4 pm. Clayton Fairgrounds, 4616 Wallbridge Rd., Clayton, Wash. (276-9644)

Coeur d’Alene Farmers Market
 | Wednesdays through Sept. 24, from 4-7 pm. Sherman Avenue and Fifth Street, downtown Coeur d’Alene. kootenaifarmersmarkets.org (208-772-2290)

Colville Farmers Market | Wednesdays through October, from noon-5 pm. Stevens County Fairgrounds, 317 W. Astor Ave., Colville, Wash. facebook.com/ColvilleFarmersMarket (732-6619)

Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market | Fridays through Oct. 17, from 3-7 pm. Knox Presbyterian Church parking lot, 806 W. Knox. facebook.com/EGFMarket (398-9628)

Hayden Farmers Market
 | Saturdays through Oct. 18, from 9 am-1:30 pm. Corner of Hwy. 95 and Prairie Ave., Hayden. kootenaifarmersmarkets.org (208-772-2290)

Liberty Lake Farmers Market |
 Saturdays through Oct. 11, from 9 am-1 pm. 1421 N. Meadowwood Ln., Liberty Lake. libertylakefarmersmarket.com (879-4965)

Millwood Farmers Market
 | Wednesdays through Sept. 24, from 3-7 pm. Millwood Community Presbyterian parking lot, 3223 N. Marguerite. facebook.com/MillwoodFarmersMarket (924-2350)

Moscow Farmers Market
 | Saturdays through October, from 8 am-1 pm. Friendship Square and Main Street, downtown Moscow. facebook.com/MoscowFarmersMarket (208-883-7000)

Northeast Washington Farmers Market | Wednesdays and Saturdays through October, from 9 am-1 pm. Corner of Main and Astor, downtown Colville, Wash. newfarmersmarket.org (675-8896)

Pullman Farmers Market | Wednesdays through Oct. 22, from 3:30-6 pm. Spot Shop parking lot, 240 NE Kamiaken St. facebook.com/pages/Pullman-Farmers-Market (334-3565)

Rathdrum Farmers Market | Saturdays through October, from 9 am-2 pm. City Park on Hwy. 53. (208-640-9315)

Ritter’s Farmers Market | Saturdays through Sept. 27, from 10 am-5 pm. Ritter’s Garden & Gift, 10120 N. Division. (467-5258)

Sandpoint Farmers Market
 | Saturdays through Oct. 11, from 9 am-1 pm; Wednesdays, from 3-6 pm. Farmin Park, Third Avenue and Oak Street, Sandpoint. sandpointfarmersmarket.com (208-597-3355)

South Perry Farmers Market
 | Thursdays through October, from 3-7 pm. The Shop, 924 S. Perry. thursdaymarket.org (720-8449)

Spokane Farmers Market
 | Saturdays through Oct. 29, from 8 am-1 pm and Wednesdays from 8 am-1 pm, starting June 11. 20 W. Fifth. spokanefarmersmarket.org (995-0182)

St. Maries Farmers Market | Fridays through Oct. 3, from 3-6:30 pm. Downtown St. Maries, Idaho. (208-245-4381)

Tuesday Growers’ Market
 | Tuesdays through October, from 4-6:30 pm. Moscow Food Co-op, 121 E. Fifth St., Moscow. moscowfood.coop (208-882-8537)

West Central Marketplace |
 Tuesdays through mid-October, from 3-6 pm. A.M. Cannon Park, 1920 W. Maxwell. facebook.com/WestCentralMarketplace (703-7433)

HERE
“Drive High, Get a DUI,” says a new campaign slogan from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, which will have extra patrols through Labor Day. (S-R)

Constantly cold people rejoice; this fall could be warmer than usual. Weather experts are predicting a weak El Nino pattern in the Northwest. (KREM)

It could happen to you: Coeur d’Alene School District employee wins $100K in scratch game. (CdA Press)

After he was bit multiple times, a Spokane County Sheriff's deputy shot and killed a dog in Greenacres. (KXLY)


THERE
Ukrainian President Petro O. Poroshenko says Russian troops have crossed into his country. (NYT)

The Ebola outbreak in West Africa eventually could exceed 20,000 cases, the United Nations says. (TIME)

Polygamy is now essentially decriminalized in Utah after a federal judge declared a portion of the state’s polygamy ban unconstitutional. (FOX SLC)

Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie got married. Finally. (AP)

Writerly types, rejoice! Your favorite Spokane sons, Sherman Alexie and Jess Walter, have started a podcast where they read excerpts from things they're working on, talk about writing and interview guests.

It's called "A Tiny Sense of Accomplishment" and you can find it here or embedded below.

The discussions offer insight into how Alexie and Walter work, plus glimpses at unpublished works. But they're also conversational and wide-ranging enough to sound like you're just eavesdropping on friends. Enjoy!

Every year we shine the spotlight on people in our area who are doing their bit of good. This week we put Jeni Riplinger-Hegsted, the program director of St. Vincent de Paul’s Art on the Edge, on the cover. It is always hard to pick just one person as we profile three people but her photo lent itself to a cover the best, but in no way does it lessen what the other two people do. Randy Ramos and Kate Burke also deserve the spotlight.

I also wanted to make "Give Guide" more prominent, so I drew by hand a new give guide logo. I used two different "layers" and had a ribbon weave in between the letters and then applied a gradient. The end product is something that is much more lighthearted and handmade.

Welcome back to Weed Wednesday, your weekly dose of pot news. Wondering what this is about? Click. Looking for our previous marijuana coverage? Click. Got a question or tip? Email me at heidig@inlander.com.

Check this out: We have a new map of all the open recreational pot stores in Spokane, which we'll be updating as more are licensed and ready to sell. Our map is here, and as always, Weedmaps has you covered for customer reviews and medical locations. This weekend, we'll add Sativa Sisters (10525 E. Trent), which is preparing to open Friday at 11 am. They sent us a press release announcing the event and saying "anyone interested in the revolution" is welcome to attend. So, consider that your invite. Here are a couple looks at the shop from Sativa Sisters' Facebook.

Let's also take a moment to appreciate this new art Satori shared over the weekend.

Spokane also now has a cannabis testing lab, KXLY reports.

The Spokesman has a story today about an Ephrata pot store owner who decided to name his business High Times Station. It turns out that major pot magazine, High Times, doesn't take the lightly. The store has since changed its name, but that's not stopping High Times' parent company from pursuing a trademark infringement case.

The Washington State Liquor Control Board has a new set of FAQs about how marijuana businesses can advertise, warning them to use a separate business to sell hats or t-shirts and to be careful with things like on-vehicle advertising. Read the whole thing here.

The state Utilities and Transportation Commission issued a notice Thursday telling charter and excursion vehicle operators they're not to allow pot consumption in their vehicles. That means no weed buses, like the one operating in Seattle. (Similar services have been popular in Colorado.)

The nonprofit Brookings Institute has a new report out praising Washington's legalization process. While Colorado won congratulations (and most of the international media love) for getting its system off the ground first, "there is a case to be made that Washington is undertaking the more radical and far-reaching reform," writes Brookings fellow Philip Wallach in the report. Specifically, Wallach writes about the state's efforts to gather detailed data as legalization unfolds in order to better understand what works and what doesn't.

Also in research news, a study out this month shows couples who smoke (or vape, eat, whatever) pot are less likely to engage in domestic violence. Another shows that medical marijuana legalization may help cut down on opioid overdose deaths.

Finally, a rapper did the ice bucket challenge with weed, and enjoy this video of comedian Sarah Silverman probably, definitely high and showing off her vape pen at the Emmys.

Today marks the beginning of the 35th Annual Pig Out in the Park festival, filled with 45 food booths and hundreds of bands on three stages in Riverfront Park. While the hefty lineup (seen here) can seem overwhelming at first, we've broken it down with a day-by-day guide of acts you should check out.

TODAY

Buzz Vineyard
4:15-5:30 pm, River Stage
This classic-style blues artist plays heartfelt twang with singer-songwriter intimacy.

Cathedral Pearls
7:30-8:45 pm, River Stage
Come watch where Bartlett owners Karli and Caleb Ingersoll's passion for live music comes from, with their youthful, pop-inspired and indie-rooted band Cathedral Pearls.

THURSDAY

Abe Kenney
12-1:15 pm, River Stage
Close your eyes and relax along the riverside to the beauty of classical guitar. Kenney is a talented instrumentalist who may lull you into a meditative state.

Sherfey & Acuff
1:30-2:45 pm, River Stage
You won't believe these young bluegrass prodigies. With the talent of musicians double — even triple their age — these two young men have mastered their string instruments.

Ayron Jones and the Way
6:45-8 pm, Clocktower Stage
This self-proclaimed urban rock band from Seattle fuses hip-hop and rock elements to maintain a diverse dynamic.

Too Slim and the Taildraggers
8:30-9:45 pm, Clocktower Stage
As one of the headliners for this year's event, this rock 'n' roll/country twang band is sure to deliver a toe-tapping good time.

FRIDAY

Hamish Anderson
5:30-6:30 pm, Clocktower Stage
All the way from Australia comes Hamish Anderson, playing pop-rock tunes with indie vibes.

Mama Doll
7-8:15 pm, River Stage
This Inlander 2014 Band to Watch charms with their four-part harmonies and female folk allure. New to the scene but quick to gain popularity, Mama Doll are something to brag about.

Los Lobos
9-10:15 pm, Clocktower Stage
Prepare to dance with your hips to this Latin rock group. Don't miss a chance to see these multi-Grammy award-winners play a free show.

SATURDAY

Kari Marguerite
12-1:15 pm, River Stage

A product of the Sara Barielles generation of vocalists, Marguerite is also jazzy and smooth. 

Danielle Oliver
1:30-2:45 pm, River Stage
Directly following Marguerite, stick around to listen to sweet-girl pop from the lovely Danielle Oliver. 

Jonathan Jackson and Enation
9-10:15 pm, Clocktower Stage
If you watch the TV show Nashville, you may highly anticipate seeing the Emmy award-winning actor who plays Avery Barkley's character, though Nashville novices and fans alike will love this performance. 

SUNDAY

Flying Spiders
4-5:15 pm, City Hall Stage
Multi-member band Flying Spiders may have lost their leader last year, but they are back and still powerful as ever. They fuse hip-hop, soul and rap in an orchestral way to create a rich and full sound.

The Hollers
5:30-6:45 pm, City Hall Stage
From just across the Cascades comes this new Seattle indie rock band with pop-inspired vocals. 

Civilized Animal
9-10:15 pm, City Hall Stage
Wrap up the evening with some local, groovy ska jams.

MONDAY

Hoodoo Udu
7:15-8:30 pm, City Hall Stage
Before wrapping up your long weekend, finish strong and jam to some blues rock. The only thing better than a local six-day festival is a free festival. There's always be something new to eat (don't forget to bring cash) and a daily array of great music, so make a weekend of it.

We’re pleased to share that Inlander reporter Jacob Jones has won the 2014 Washington Mental Health Reporting Award for his stories in our ongoing State of Mind series about the local mental health care system.

In particular, the award recognizes his stories “Locked Away” and “Changing of the Guard,” delving into how Spokane’s criminal justice system handles people with mental illness. The first piece tells the story of Amanda Cook, who took her own life in the Spokane County jail while awaiting a mental health evaluation, and the ongoing struggle of the jail to meet the needs of inmates with mental illness.

From that story:

Within the black-mirrored glass monolith of the Spokane County Jail, the regional criminal justice system bears a responsibility it was never built to shoulder. In the wake of deinstitutionalization in the 1970s, local jail facilities have become the modern asylums, granted dwindling resources to meet the growing demands of a nuanced population of inmates with diverse treatment needs and sensitivities.

The county jails in Chicago, Los Angeles and New York now stand as the three largest mental health facilities in the nation, together treating more than two and a half times the combined capacity of the country's top three mental health hospitals.

Spokane County Sheriff Ozzie Knezovich argues that federal and state lawmakers have forced mental health care onto underfunded local governments. With state and community facilities cutting programs, jails across the country have evolved into warehouses for locking up large numbers of the mentally ill. A 2012 survey of 20,000 jail inmates found 17 percent met the criteria for serious mental illness.

"The criminal justice system," Knezovich says, "is not really the proper place for mental health treatment. ... The jail is [already] way beyond its limits."

The second story follows law enforcement’s work to implement “Crisis Intervention Team” (CIT) training, partnering police with mental health care providers to help them handle encounters with people with mental illness. The training was a requirement of the city’s settlement with the family of Otto Zehm, a 36-year-old schizophrenic janitor who died in police custody in 2006, and remains important as recent high-profile police uses of force have involved citizens with mental health issues.

“Jones’ vivid storytelling helps readers understand the impact that mental illnesses can have on the family and friends of those in need of treatment, many of whom are also at high risk for suicide,” the judges wrote. “His articles document the kinds of challenges facing criminal-justice systems that are increasingly overburdened by people who have a mental illness.”

The award is selected by a panel of judges drawn from media and mental health organizations, the University of Washington’s journalism faculty and people who have personal experiences with suicide risk or loss. It comes with a $500 prize and will be awarded at a ceremony in Seattle Sept 30.

Inlander contributor Leah Sottile won the award in 2012 for “The People Left Behind,” her story about a 13-year-old’s death by suicide and efforts to prevent suicide in the region.

On the new (still-unnamed) plaza next to City Hall Monday, Mayor David Condon announced Spokane’s newest sister city.

San Luis Potosi is a city (in a state by the same name) in central Mexico, which Condon says was chosen after the local Sister Cities Association wanted to pursue a partnership with a Mexican city and San Luis Potosi was included on a “website of Mexico cities that are looking for partnerships in the United States.”

Condon says he looked for cities with similar industries and higher education opportunities. Spokane’s other sister cities are Jilin City, China; Nishinomiya, Japan; Limerick, Ireland; and Jecheon, Korea.

Condon plans to visit San Luis Potosi this weekend to sign the official agreement. In the meantime, he admitted, he’ll practice his the pronunciation of the city’s name, which he stumbled over at the announcement. Let’s all learn together:

Here are some looks at the city from Google street view.

While San Luis Potosi is generally described as a safe city, the area is not without its risks.

“Defer non-essential travel to the state of San Luis Potosi, except the city of San Luis Potosi, where you should exercise caution,” reads a recent Mexico Travel Warning from the U.S. State Department. “Violence and criminal activity along highways are continuing security concerns.  U.S. government personnel may not travel outside the City of San Luis Potosi and must abide by a curfew of 1 am to 6 am within a secured venue.” 

Lonely Planet describes San Luis Potosi this way: “The city's colonial core is made up of numerous beautiful plazas and manicured parks that are linked by attractive pedestrian streets. Although not as striking as Zacatecas or Guanajuato, this lively city's cultural elegance is reflected in its delightful colonial buildings, impressive theater and numerous excellent museums.”

And here’s a bit of history from the Mexico Tourism Board:

The city of San Luis Potosi owes its early importance to the discovery of a large silver and gold deposit in 1592. Though its mines never rivaled those of Guanajuato or Zacatecas, the city became an important administrative and commercial outpost. In the 17th century it assumed the role of Mexico’s most important northern city, whose domain once stretched from Louisiana to New Mexico. It is a metropolis that combines its mining past with the magical touch of beautiful buildings from Mexico's colonial past. In 2010, the historic center of the city was listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site within El Camino Real de Tierra Adentro (the Royal Road of the Interior Land) National Historic Trail.

It is one of Mexico’s most picturesque towns, whose central historic center features tiered esplanades, several handsome plazas, flower-filled parks, and an active cultural scene. Following independence, the city played important roles in various political upheavals. General Santa Ana trained his troops here before confronting the invading Texans at the Alamo in 1846. In the 1860s, ousted president Benito Juarez twice established the city as Mexico’s provisional capital. In the 20th century, San Luis was instrumental in Mexico’s 1910 revolt against an aging dictatorship. One of its principal leaders, Francisco Madero, was jailed here in 1910 before fleeing to San Antonio, Texas and issuing the Plan de San Luis Potosi. This document declared invalid the election results, and called on Mexicans to revolt on November 20, the day Mexico’s bloody civil war erupted.

The mayor also announced the start of a new series of cultural celebrations. The first will be “Fiesta Spokane,” a month of events starting Sept. 2 to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month. Over the following months, the city will hold similar events focused on Native American, African American and Asian American cultures. Learn more about Fiesta Spokane here.

HERE
Students all over Idaho rejoice: They’re getting a brand new standardized test this year. (KHQ)

Washington State has graded Spokane area schools. Only 14 percent of schools were ranked in the top two categories. (KXLY)

Land lines are a thing of the past, which is why Spokane County has devised another way to reach locals with its 911 warning system in case of emergency. (S-R)

THERE
An American journalist being held by terrorists in Syria is finally home. (CBS)

The biggest iPad ever (12.9 inches) is coming our way. (Bloomberg)

Just a brief recap: How the Islamic State is faring since declaring a caliphate. (Economist)

FASCINATING
A new study finds that couples who smoke weed together are less likely to get into a domestic dispute. (WaPo)

A Full House reboot could be in the works! (TV Guide)

HERE
Coeur d'Alene teachers will start the school year without a contract.. (CdA Press)

Last night, the Spokane City Council appointed Karen Stratton to take the seat left vacant by the resignation of Steve Salvatori. (Inlander)

Sometimes court documents include bikini pictures — as do the ones unsealed last week, which reveal a link between a Spokane County deputy prosecutor and an inmate in the Spokane County Jail. (KXLY)

To help garner customer satisfaction, Deaconess and Valley hospitals have launched a new billboard ad campaign that electronically updates their average emergency room wait times every two hours. (S-R)

THERE
For those who care about the Emmys, it turns out famous people showed up looking beautiful, some of them went home with awards. The biggest winner of the night was Breaking Bad. (Rolling Stone)

President Obama has authorized surveillance flights over Syria, for what could be a precursor to potential airstrikes. (NYT)