State Sen. Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, has become one of the most powerful politicians in Washington state. See Item No. 3.

Ex-Whitworth prof Stephen Meyer and his Center for Science and Culture are at the center of a controversy re: the teaching of evolution. Nah, the Seattle think tank isn't insisting on the teaching of intelligent design, too. Rather, it's advocating that schools teach the flaws in Charles Darwin's theories, too, here.

1. Eric Devericks/Seattle Times is on the money in his view of the late, great Republican revolution here.

2. Boiseans don't know they're living with a TV legend in their midst, sez Statesman columnist Tim Woodward, here.

3. Quietly, Washington Sen. Lisa Brown, a former WSU economics prof, has become one of the most powerful politicians in the Evergreen state -- and the cover page feature in the latest issue of The Inlander here.

4. Mariners Digest: The Mariners face a long road back from a 99-loss 2004 season if they're going to compete in the AL West, according to the Seattle Times, here. And it sounds like pitchers Aaron Sele and Jeff Nelson have caught on with the M's for another stint here.

5. Three Iraqi men who risk their lives by interpreting for Idaho National Guard troops in the Kirkuk area are featured in a Statesman article here.

6. IMHO-NW: Chi Dooh Li/PI (Schiavo case hits close to home), Richard Stallings/Idaho Statesman (Terri Schiavo politicking), Idaho Statesman (Amending highway bill), and Daily Evergreen (Pullman, Wal-Mart good fit), Joni Balter/Seattle Times (An unusual freshman congressman).

*Swan's Landing Restaurant is rising from the ashes in Sandpoint here.

*Thomas Hamilton has cut a deal with the Idaho Department of Lands to fix the Spokane River bank he gouged for a boat slip here.

*Gonzaga announces new dean of law school here.

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