Frost covers the winter coat of a horse standing in a pasture near Great Falls, Mont., Wednesday/Robin Loznak, AP Photo/Great Falls Tribune.

Red State Rebels: Emmett Republican Steve Thayne replaces Bill Sali as most extreme Idaho legislator here?

1. Reporters from several British media outlets spent the day in Boise today trying to get more information on two local pilots involved in a deadly friendly-fire incident four years ago. Newly released cockpit video recordings show the accidental killing of a British soldier during combat in Iraq. The tapes are creating international controversy here.

2. Richland, Wash., Mayor Rob Welch has accused State Reps. Shirley Hankins and Larry Haler of trying to strong-arm him and other city officials because the city has shut down a Richland business here.

3. Vacations, tickets to a Rolling Stones concert, season tickets to University of Montana football games - these are just some of the things Mineral County officials believe former St. Regis school district clerk Julie Downing purchased with taxpayer money over a seven-year period. The amount of money embezzled, they say: more than half a million dollars here.

4. A group of Boise State University students wants school officials to bring in more conservatives speakers to balance liberal speakers here.

5. Butte-Silver Bow Sheriff John Walsh wants it to be illegal to carry an open container of alcohol on the streets of Butte, Mont., an old mining town, while opponents say events such as St. Patrick's Day wouldn't be the same. Walsh has drafted a proposed city ordinance that would call for a $500 fine for violators here.

6. IMHO-NW: Doug Clark/Spokesman-Review (Wearing fluorescent orange -- to pee?), Jim Fisher/Lewiston Tribune (Idaho minimum wage should match Washington's), Rich Landers/Spokesman-Review (Nurture farmers, conservation), Leaning Straight Up (Huck Finn, racism and my daughter), and Brian Murphy/Idaho Statesman (Tough times at UI).

Online Poll: 66% of 6225 respondents to a Seattle Times poll say Lt. Ehren Watada is not a hero for refusing to go to Iraq.

*Benewah County man pleads guilty to beating, tying, killing, burning woman who refused to loan car here.

*Barn fire near Lewiston, Idaho, kills 5 horses here.

*3 dead ID'd in Montana medical plane crash here.

*Spokane Police are investigating a 2 vehicle crash that sent one truck into a tavern and a car into a mobile home here.

Orbusmax Special: Oregon governor set to fire state climatologist over global warming here.

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