Daily Briefing begs your pardon for this late (and inadequate post) and promises to do better tomorrow.

Editor Steve Smith liked the colorful selection of photos this morning and predicted no shortage of pinwheels to come in the next few weeks. (He may have a quota for pictures of Santa and pumpkins, but the Our kids: Our Business project has been granted an exception.)

Parker Howell won kudos for his story about the "Deal or No Deal" hopefuls who auditioned at Northern Quest Casino on Tuesday. Howell usually covers business, but, during spring break, we're breaking down those kinds of walls in the newsroom.

Coming up
• A look at the Boys and Girls Club as an example of "what works" for Our Kids.
• A report on free spring skiing at 49 Degrees North from Idaho reporter Erica Curless and photographer Jesse Tinsley. (We're not sure whether they hauled their own boards up to the mountain.)
• A look at changes in the local radio business that includes information on the Spokesman-Reviews new initiative from Howell, who's back on his usual beat.

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