King County Executive Ron Sims walks to the podium to speak at a news conference where he announced that President Barack Obama will nominate him to be deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Monday in Seattle. In a news release, the White House says that Sims would be in charge of HUD's day-to-day operations, a nearly $39 billion annual operating budget and 8,500 employees. Story here. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

• Cartoon: CEOs have bills, too/David Horsey, Seattle PI
• Idaho 3rd most economically stressed state/Idaho Statesman
• Idaho GOP chief Semanko now current on mortgage/AP
• ISP could save $15K by not painting tops of patrol cars/Idaho Statesman
• Idaho senator asks Al 'Goracle': How long do we got?/Idaho Statesman
• Dash The Cat evicted from Moscow-Pullman airport/Moscow-Pullman Daily News
• Orbusmax Special: Oregon power bills jump 500% here.

• Sun Valley doesn't have enough nice hotel rooms/AP
• Special Olympics kicks off in Boise Saturday/Idaho Press-Tribune
• Montana lawmakers mull bill to raise alcohol content in beer/Missoulian
• Washington gains 3, WSU loses 1 in recruiting/Seattle PI