It's almost February, and that means one thing to Mariner fans -- spring training is just around the corner. With the addition of infield sluggers Richie Sexson and Adrian Beltre to the lineup, we'll have something to look forward to this year after that 99-loss season in 2004. Now, comes news that the M's are considering Mike Cameron for centerfield again and have just signed a speedying Cuban for shortstop. Usually, Huckleberries Online shies from sports. But one thing that unites us Northwesterners is the Mariners, right? You can find the latest on the boys here.

APhoto: Mike Cameron, as a Mariner in 2003, making a sliding catch on a ball hit by Boston Red Sox' Nomar Garciaparra (who has since moved on, too).

1. Political cartoonist Eric Devericks/Seattle Times looks at the ballooning federal deficit here.

2. "Idahoans should keep track of their spare change — federal land agencies can charge fees wherever there is a toilet, a trash can, a nature sign, picnic tables or parking and security service, thanks to an experimental recreation fee program that became permanent late last year," warns The Idaho Statesman here.

3. Washington Repubs claim they have found 737 illegal votes and continue to scour the counties for more as they pursue their court case to overturn the governor's election here.

4. A Missoula teacher who disappeared on Halloween wearing a Martha Stewart mask has surfaced in Thailand. Yup, she was abducted in a UFO. The Weekly World News, via the Missoulian, tells you all about it here.

5. Barry Lane McAdoo, who is suspected in the beating death of his son, Brandon, took rat poison before he walked into the snow to get away from cops. Now, he's had parts of his legs amputated due to frostbite here.

6. IMHO-NW: Tim Woodward/Idaho Statesman (Visiting Hemingway's Key West home), Laura Stavoe Harm/Idaho Statesman (Gay marriage ban), Coeur d'Alene Press (Spokane's aquifer resolution), Jim Moore/P-I (Neuheisel's courtroom battle kicks off), and Timothy Burgess/Seattle Times (Faith-driven voters).

*The Idaho Statesman provides photos of how Idaho's 116th Brigade Combat Team celebrated Christmas and the Liberty Bowl in Iraq here.

*A plan that would ban firearms in Washington's Legislative Building is coming under heavy fire here.

*Post Falls is No. 2 and Sandpoint is No. 3 in the latest Idaho 4A prep basketball poll here.

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