Top city officials said they're confident the city will be able to save the trees on the dike, and they weren't giving it any political spin. City Administrator Wendy Gabriel and Mayor Sandi Bloem said they believe they are very close to certifying the flood plain through a third party at the price of around $200,000. That would allow the city to keep most, if not all, of the 500-700 trees the Army Corps of Engineers has ordered removed. Details and meetings will be worked out in the coming months, but Gabriel said the chance at tree-keeping is "very good." Bloem seemed even more confident/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

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