HBO’s Best Of The INW — 2/13/09

Vice President Joe Biden points to some new sunglasses he tried on while talking with Special Olympics athlete Michael Barrantes on Thursday in Boise. Biden talked with Barrantes, a floor hockey medalist from Costa Rica, in one of the Special Olympics venues that focuses on the health of the athletes. This program is called Opening Eyes and it provides eye check ups with immediate glasses, sunglasses and sports glasses presented to the athletes free of charge. Story here .  (AP Photo/Matt Cilley)

• Cartoon: Now on stage /David Horsey, Seattle PI
• Griffey, Mariners close to one-year deal /Seattle PI
• Montana kills state pancake legislation /Billings Gazette
• Constitutional amendment would allow UI to charge tuition /Idaho Statesman
• Caldwell floor hockey Special Olympians win silver /Idaho Press-Tribune
• UIdaho freshman arrested on rape charge /KXLY
• Orbusmax Special: Another staffer resigns in Portland mayor scandal here .

• Best of Spokesman.com blogs /SR
• Bacterial meningitis confirmed at Orofino High /KTVB
• Horizon Air uses same planes as one downed in New York /KTVB
• Simplot announces new CEO /Idaho Press-Tribune
• Court: BNSF responsible for Kalispell refinery cleanup /Billings Gazette
• Homemade bomb kills Montana commander in Mosul /Missoulian