Spokane7
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25 years residency, I have finally been called for jury duty.” Which prompted me to post: “Many are called, but few are chosen.” Take it away, Trish: “I feel like I'm going to reprise childhood, sitting on the bench, bouncing up and down, shouting, 'Pick me! Pick me!” and probably with the same disappointing result. … Seems like the only things kids picked other kids for when I was in school were athletic games. I would only get picked fourth if there were only four people to choose from.”
taking a significant step toward the Republican presidential nomination. Despite the setback, Newt Gingrich vowed to press on. Returns from 38 percent of Florida's precincts showed Romney with 48 percent of the vote, to 31 percent for Gingrich. Former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum had 13 percent, and Texas Rep. Ron Paul 7 percent. Neither mounted a substantial effort in the state/Associated Press. 
2006 road rage incident with her husband and two daughters. Jonathan Wade Ellington, 51, has already served six years in prison for the Jan. 1, 2006, incident but was released last year after the Idaho Supreme Court overturned his convictions because of problems with his first trial. Judge John Luster today allowed him to stay out of jail until his new sentencing, which is scheduled for March 26. Ellington’s lawyer, John Adams, called the verdict the most unfair he’s seen in 30 years of jury trials/Meghann Cuniff, SR. 
Hart’s latest endeavor is 
coffee shops have a lot to offer.
Parenthood called “deeply disturbing and disappointing.” The Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation has broken off a partnership through which it provided cancer screenings at Planned Parenthood clinics, the Associated Press 
that the olives are harvested at an olive farm in a far more tropically inclined region of the country, California, and blended and infused immediately on site. Gallons of Rachael Ray’s favorite acronym source are then trucked up here where they are bottled for sale and sold with attractively designed labels and in fabulous gift baskets on the shelves of the Coeur d’Alene Olive Oil Company shop in the heart of downtown near 4th and Sherman. That makes perfect sense, I suppose, (because) owners Brad and Sandra Gunn … also own the California farm itself but reside here/OrangeTV, Get Out! North Idaho via Foodbeat NW. 
Presidential nominee Zombies, including Richard Nixon (loss for President, loss for Governor), Ronald Reagan (loss for President in '68, '76) GHW Bush (loss for Senate in '64 and '70, loss for President '80) George W. Bush (loss for the House of Representatives in '78) who, by following their own personal plan, ultimately became president/Dennis Mansfield. 
wrangling over contentious public policy issues is an undeniable reality. The most polarized schism in our society might be over cottage cheese. Many love the stuff. Others call it vile. And, no, we can’t all just get along. Not totally, anyway. Seemingly innocuous, some would say bland, it might seem strange that these mass-produced curds would elicit passionate condemnation. But cottage cheese haters are not into tolerance/Paul Turner, The Slice. 
experienced was last June between city beach and the college beach. We were very lucky that time but I am really worried that the loose dog problem is only going to get worse before it gets better. Just this morning while walking in East Tubbs Hill Park, two women with three dogs lost control of their large lab mix. He came running straight for Charlie. He didn't look real friendly so I yelled at them to get control of their dog. Thankfully, nothing happened and the dog came when called. As they feebly apologized, I kind of lost it. I have had it with strange dogs invading my dog's space without permission and then the owner saying, “Sorry”. Around here people seem to think they can do whatever they want at long as they tack on a “sorry.”
according to students in a “Multicultural Perspectives on the Body and Dress” class at Washington State University taught by Linda Bradley. “That’s pretty much what models look like,” said Bradley, a professor and curator in the Department of Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles.Ten years ago, the ideal woman was size 4; 20 years ago, size 8; and 50 years ago, thanks to Marilyn Monroe, size 12. “So the ideals are getting harder and harder to reach,” Bradley said. “Body image is a huge problem in America, and the reason is that our ideals are so unbelievable”/Nella Letizia, WSU News. 
Duroc: February is my least favorite month. Thank God it’s the shortest February is too frustrating - some years it’s winter, some years its just grey and miserable. I like February when it’s cold, snowy, and sunny. I hate February when it’s rainy and dark. Most years, I just want February to be over with as soon as possible.
Republicans against the initiatives, and in favor of leaving intact the draconian education reform legislation. John Foster is the former executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party. Foster is most notorious for his role as a staffer for Idaho's blue dog Congressman Walt Minnick, and leading Minnick's 2010 re-election campaign to an 
apologized to the caucus for his handling of the attempted ouster of GOP redistricting Commissioner Dolores Crow. “Most of the comments were very, very supportive,” Denney said. He said he gave “kind of a statement as to what happened and what went on,” lasting two to three minutes, then took questions from caucus members. Then, he said, “We talked about two or three other things that kinda came up in the course of that”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
Farmers Market Advisory Board held a special meeting following a decision last week during a Moscow Administrative Committee meeting where the board's input was sought regarding prohibiting dogs at the market. City attorney Rand Fife also proposed an amendment to market policy that would require organizations to apply for space in Friendship Square. Though not included in this year's policies revised by the board, the issue of removing dogs from the market was brought by Councilor Wayne Krauss, said Fife, because of comments he received from the public regarding safety concerns/Brandon Macz, Moscow-Pullman Daily News. 
kidnapped & probably murdered Montana teacher who never returned from a job earlier this month. The virtual run will begin at 9 a.m. Saturday 11. Jill writes: “I’ve thought of Sherry during almost every run in the past three weeks, some of them adrenaline-fueled races against myself as I’ve thought about the many dangers to runners, especially women, no matter how many precautions we take. I’ve imagined the many ways Sherry’s story might have ended differently, have ended later. But we can’t revise real life the way we might a blog post or piece of fiction. We also can’t predict how our own stories will end.” 
lawmakers giving the green light to building a state-based health insurance exchange. In a statement released to IdahoReporter.com Tuesday, ICL president David Ripley says the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), the law through which exchanges are derived, is ripe with questionable policies. “ObamaCare is loaded with subsidies for the abortion industry, which is why Planned Parenthood is pushing so hard for its enactment,” Ripley said. “We are very worried about the move to voluntarily assist in the federal take-over of health care in Idaho. It jeopardizes conscience rights of employers, contains massive subsidies for the abortion industry and will lead to rationed care for the elderly and disabled”/Dustin Hurst, Idaho Reporter. 
season that opened Nov. 15. That compares with 204 wolves taken by sportsmen in the HUNTING season that opened Aug. 30. Idaho's total wolf kill by hunters AND trappers since Aug. 30 is 264 wolves. The hunting and trapping seasons will continue to March 31 or until management unit quotas are reached. In 2011, Idaho sold 32,273 wolf hunting tags. Idaho requires sportsmen to purchase new hunting and fishing licenses each year on Jan. 1/Rich Landers, SR Outdoors. 
bankruptcy. Kootenai County records show Green, 63, is wanted for failure to appear for selling alcohol without a license at the marina of the 33-acre, multi-use project on the Spokane River next to the Post Falls Dam. The Landing has been billed as an anchor for the city center. Green's bond is $5,000 and the warrant was issued on Jan. 12. “If he would be contacted today (by police), he'd be arrested and booked into jail,” Post Falls Police Chief Scot Haug said. Wanted persons also have the option of seeing a judge to “quash” their warrants through the court process/Brian Walker, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
experience; too crowded; too violent, too much concrete. It’s way too hard to celebrate Christmas when it’s 86 degrees. It’s been a good move for us. But I miss my old friends as I get older. When I traveled down for my brother’s funeral I realized how comforting and accepting they are, how I could jump back into a conversation that had ended 20 years ago, how easy it was to feel 18 in their presence. I won’t move back because my daughter and my grandson are in this area but I’m saving up for another trip to replenish my heart.
up. I get paid the Friday before, after the bills, I’ll see if shopping includes pepsi, a bag of chips and french onion dip. That will be after a sack of cat litter and a bag of soil to get my seeds for this year’s Farmer’s Market planted soon. Sit down in front of my HDTV and watch the latest bunch of silly ads. I don’t really get into sports, as you can see.
President, and so on. Should they have a POST certificate to be Sheriff? Should they have a PhD to run a community college? This is a trend I don’t care for. It is echoed in my profession as well as many other ancillary modalities. I throw ionizing radiation at people all day long. I handle broken limbs and sick babies and grandma’s. Yet, in the State of Idaho, the only requirement for such duties is to be at least 18 years old - to operate the machinery!
following in her This Is Not A Fairy Tale blog, titled “The Name Game.” She writes: “I asked this quite a while ago before I knew many Mumblrs, and I’m still curious. When did you decide the name of your baby? Before it was born? Or maybe once you knew the gender? Did you have a name picked out and change your mind when it was born because it didn’t seem fitting?I know many people in our generation name them before birth and refer to the baby with their name during pregnancy, and people in my mom’s generation say to wait because you need to see what they’re like first. What to do, what to do …”
in a high profile shooting in downtown Coeur d'Alene announced he is running for Kootenai County Sheriff. Adam M. Johnson, 27, will seek the elected post as a Republican. He said finding a solution to the jail capacity issue without asking taxpayers to a fund a new building is key for the county, as is trimming the sheriff's office budget while finding ways to financially incentivize deputies to remain here instead of leaving for other departments. Johnson said his recent legal troubles - which include a citation for consuming alcohol from the December 2009 shooting and a 2011 guilty plea for felony heroin possession - don't mean he isn't serious about the job/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
Cindy Facebooks: “Time outs are great for any relationship. For instance, this morning my computer was running super slow. I nagged. I even shook it, just a little. No response. So finally, I said, “We need to take a break.” I turned it off and went for a 3 mile walk. Came back and things are running so much smoother! Obviously, we both just needed time to sort out our issues.”
a favorite NFL team would miss the birth of their own baby to attend the Super Bowl, according to a poll conducted by Harris Interactive. Another 19 percent would miss the funeral of a loved one, 20 percent would miss the wedding of a close friend or family member, 21 percent would miss an important work responsibility and 23 percent would give up a vacation in order to watch the Super Bowl/CNSNews.com. 
Dustin Hurst of the Idaho Reporter tweets: “Whoops. I completely forgot I was on call for jury duty today. I called the line and my number was selected. Yikes.” And: “Maybe I will volunteer next week or something.”
Coeur d'Alene Police Department. City fire and police units responded at 4:45 a.m. to a report of a structure fire at 
appoint another federal judge. Idaho's had just two federal district judges since 1954, said the measure's sponsor, Rep. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, (pictured) and the federal caseload has increased so dramatically that there are now big delays in processing civil cases. … Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, said he believes the “federal judiciary has served as a handmaiden” to overstepping the U.S. Constitution. He said he'd be willing to support the memorial, but only after a new president is elected and replaces President Obama/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
you guys that I couldn't control my own party and I was probably the only governor in the United States that didn't have his choice as party chairman,” Otter told me late last week. “I've been able to work with Norm, but you know, I just don't want that to happen again.” … First District U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador, a key player in boosting Semanko in 2008, said Monday that he's hoping to agree on a consensus candidate with Otter, as well as his GOP House colleague, Rep. Mike Simpson, and Idaho Republican Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. 
elsewhere. In six weeks, Lee will take the helm at Northeastern Junior College in Colorado. We wish Lee well. His tenure in Coeur d'Alene might have been short, just under four years, but he bolstered NIC's instructional quality during one of the most challenging periods in the college's history, with expansive student growth met head-on by funding challenges. But this editorial is not an ode to a good man going elsewhere. It's an introduction of a good man who has been here all along, who just might be the best person to lead North Idaho College/Mike Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
that you could run on a slow news day. Why not have a “write like Dave” contest on Huckleberries some time? You could invite everyone to write one or two sentences in “Dave speak”. It could be a ha-huge bunch of fun! I would suggest also having “write like DR”, “write like Duroc” and so on contests but I expect they would get very ugly, very quickly. Anyway… just an idea/SpudBob.
Kitty duct tape after an instructor from one of the local higher education institutions couldn’t resist trying to give a lecture to a group of business professionals. The instructor was surprised and a little frustrated when he was told to stop talking and listen. Actually, I am not sure who was more shocked – the instructor or the business people who had taken time out of their day to share their thoughts about professional workforce readiness and preparation. After a few moments of awkwardness, the business community opened the floodgates during the first part of the Lewis-Clark State College Coeur d’Alene Business of Listening Tour/Marc Stewart, Lewis-Clark State College. 
landed a job in Sacramento. We sold our house in Idaho, bought another in California and I arrived last week — like the Beverly Hillbillies — on an old truck with three dogs, three cats and our furniture. There’s some history here: I’m an Idaho native — lived in the state of 53 of my 60 years — and in print I’ve had a glorious good time for decades making fun of Californians. Especially California expatriates to Idaho. They tried a little too hard to impose their big-city ways on the Gem State, I reckoned. And they boasted much too often about selling their houses in Orange County for 10 times as much as they paid for their new homes in Idaho/Steve Crump, Twin Falls Times-News. 
When their plane crashes in Alaska’s frozen wilderness, a bunch of oil-field roughnecks fight for survival. Not only do the men combat cold and hunger, they’re stalked by a wolf pack. Film previews feature eerie howls and shots of feral eyes glinting in the darkness. When carnage ensues in this R-rated film, the wolves are usually the winners. But the movie’s portrayal of wolves as man-eaters dismays Gary Wiles. “My first reaction was, ‘Oh, no!’ ” said Wiles, a wildlife biologist for the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. “It looks totally like a Hollywood-contrived movie: something to strike at people’s basic fears”/Becky Kramer, SR. 
a unanimous 6-0 vote, to Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa (pictured). Ysursa, joining the confab by phone from a meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State, told the commissioners, “I sure want to thank you for all the work you've done.” He quoted Commissioner Sheila Olsen about a “triumph of civility,” and said in his view, that's what occurred in the commission. “We can get going for that May primary,” Ysursa said. “Obviously there could be lawsuits, but I think you've done a commendable job of it. Thank you all for your service”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
regarding the Reagan Republican Forum held in Coeur d'Alene a couple of days ago. I did not attend that function because I was not notified of the event until a couple of days before it was held and I had a previous speaking engagement with 40 people who were also part of an “important constituency.” My question is, are you the “I” who asked this question on the blog? 'Question: I still can't figure the strategy with Green and Spencer here. If Green truly had a busy schedule Thursday, he should have cleared out an hour to speak to an important constituency like the Reagan Republicans. Anyone?' If you are, I want to make it clear that there is no “strategy with Green and Spencer.” Larry Spencer does not speak for me and does not control my schedule or campaign.” (Photo from John Green Facebook page)
for more than 30 years of the human rights movement to counter the activities of hate activities and hate crimes in the Pacific Northwest. As I have said on numerous occasions, there is no doubt in my mind that the two journalists in the entire United States with the most extensive knowledge and expertise on this subject are Dave Oliveria and Bill Morlin. Between these two excellent journalists, they have a combined history of more than 60 years. I have often referred reporters from such newspapers as the “New York Times” to Dave or Bill for background information. We are fortunate that you both have chosen to stay in the Inland Northwest during your successful journalism career. And the Southern Poverty Law Center was very wise to recently bring Bill on board as part of their blog reporting/Tony Stewart, Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. 
made any of them uncomfortable and explain kind of what I did and why,” the House speaker told me Thursday. “That’s probably about it.” The Midvale Republican’s misstep is by no means the first in a six-year reign. The blowback has been more intense because it included revered former Gov. Phil Batt, who said Denney sullied the redistricting process by introducing rank partisanship to a reformed system approved by voters in 1994. But there’s a far greater force at play than a publicity snafu over trying to force Crow from the redistricting commission. Lawerence Denney is playing King Lear. Instead of three daughters he can’t figure out, he has three ambitious men who aspire to the throne and don’t want to wait until 2014 to be crowned/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. 
in the last year she's noticed an alarming trend. She has encountered more and more unleashed dogs while on the downtown hiking hill's trails, she said, dogs which have attacked her spaniels way too often. Eight times in the last year by her count, three of those in the last two months. “It's really, really gotten to be a problem,” she said. And when the owners catch up to their unencumbered dogs, they're holding the very leashes that could have prevented the encounters. “I don't understand where they're coming from, but they don't seem to have any remorse for it,” she said/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
years at the time of his election, is a citizen of the United States and shall have resided within the county one (1) year next preceding his election.’ That’s it. However, in 2008 Senate Bill 1356 would have changed the qualifications, adding ‘and is not a convicted felon’ to 34-618 (2). The bill also added training for newly elected Sheriffs. The bill was approved by the Senate but when it went to the House it was amended to remove ‘and is not a convicted felon’. How crazy is that? A person who can’t vote for themselves or carry a gun can still be a Sheriff in Idaho. And who in the House do you think seconded the motion to allow felons to be Sheriff? Our very own Phil Hart. :) Oh, my.
Tony Stewart and Coeur d’Alene police Sgt. Christie Wood emailed my HucksOnline blog that the highlighted activities are but a “partial description of who we are.” Huckleberries had spotlighted how Rachel Dolezal, formerly of the Human Rights Education Institute, faced down KKKers during their protest of the task force-backed MLK Day event for fifth-graders at North Idaho College Jan. 13. In their email, Stewart and Wood listed hate-crime victims the task force has helped, dating back to attacks against Hayden restaurant owner Sid Rosen and Coeur d’Alene mother Connie Fort in the early 1980s. The group, they said, was instrumental in the 1998 case of Victoria and Jason Keenan that ultimately bankrupted the Aryan Nations. The 1986 bombing of the late Bill Wassmuth’s home is an example of serious threats task force members have endured, they said, adding: “We are not just a feel good organization”/DFO, SR Sunday Huckleberries. 
County sheriff. Johnson is a Coeur d'Alene businessman who was involved in a December 2009 shooting that wounded two Mose Lake men. Johnson didn't say which party nomination he'll seek: : “Friends, Family, and citizens of Kootenai County, it is with great pleasure that I announce today, my intention to run for the office of Sheriff of Kootenai County in the upcoming 2012 election. A press release and press conference will be released and scheduled soon to formally announce these intentions with the public-at-large. In the meantime and throughout the season we will use the linked Facebook page, as well as a soon to be active website that will be used to provide updates, event notifications, how to contribute to the campaign/get involved, and other related items.” (Photo from Adam Johnson Facebook page) More below.
shifts her into a different district, where she wouldn't have to face ally Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, if she ran for another term. “I haven't had a chance to look at what the size of the district is or what it looks like,” Broadsword said. “I have to look at all my options. I've been receiving a lot of encouragement to stay, to please run for the Senate again … so I just have to look at the whole picture.” Under the new plan, L-93, Broadsword ends up in the new District 7, along with first-term incumbent Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood. The previous district plan, L-87, put both Broadsword and Keough in District 1/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
rising tuition. His proposal that colleges and universities cut costs or risk losing out on some federal aid was part of a larger package of “college affordability” ideas unveiled by the president Friday in a speech at the University of Michigan. Obama wants to increase funds for higher education, mostly through an expansion of federal loan programs. He also will require colleges and universities to give families standardized information to allow comparison shopping on financial aid packages, graduation rates and employment prospects for a college’s graduates. Obama also called for Congress to act to prevent a doubling of the interest rate this summer for the government’s subsidized Stafford loan program, which covers more than 7 million students/Christi Parsons, Tribune Washington Bureau.
District historic buildings badly damaged in a Sept. 25 blaze. “I see the value, when somebody slips and falls, in putting your hand out and helping them up,” he said. “There’s so much joy and happiness here. It’s a real pleasure to be here and do something to help the community.” Modine played the role of high school wrestler Louden Swain in “Vision Quest,” a coming-of-age film that was shot in Spokane in 1984 and featured Ferguson’s. On Friday morning, he joined a group of fans at another “Vision Quest” locale, Riverfront Park, for a flash mob – a gathering that’s typically promoted through word-of-mouth and social network websites/Chelsea Bannach, SR. 
happened. A week and a half ago I contacted Keith, Bob and Ben and they promptly responded to me. I was having a hard time getting contact info for John so I called Spencer for it but he declined to give me info. I finally got his campaign info on Friday and called and e-mailed him with no response. On Tuesday I saw John and asked if he received my correspondence and he said he didn’t. I then asked him if he could attend as there was also going to be press there reporting the event and he told me that he would check his schedule and get back to me. He never did. You all can make your own assumptions. (HucksOnline photo: John Green at United Conservatives of North Idaho meeting earlier this winter)
before them over the years I’ve always come away with a feeling of disconnect. I believe that’s because there are really three Idahos. There’s the Mormon-dominated southeastern Idaho, the newly-urban Ada/Canyon Idaho and of course our very own north Idaho. I’m not sure any state in the country can say their own people have so little in common. This is the great divide that keeps Idaho backwards in so many ways, from funding education to building and maintaining roads. Many of my friends have served from here and often can’t wait to get out. Their enthusiasm to make a difference is dashed from the get-go, it seems. That’s the amazing thing about Idaho, with its one party rule, that so little gets done every year. Maybe things will change one day. One can only hope.
at a later date, like a dog with a bone. Long ago I promised myself I would always look up words I didn’t recognize. I’ve pretty much adhered to that dictum ever since. For many years that meant keeping a dictionary nearby; and later, as my writing ambition grew, I added a thesaurus. But with the advances in technology during the past decade, my word-finding tools have evolved, sadly turning my treasured reference books into dusty relics of a bygone era - dinosaurs in a digital world/Mary Jane Honegger, Writing North Idaho. 
Ron Paul, well known as a physician, congressman and libertarian , has also been a businessman who 
pursued a marketing strategy that included publishing provocative, racially charged newsletters to make money and spread his ideas, according to three people with direct knowledge of Paul’s businesses. The Republican presidential candidate has denied writing inflammatory passages in the pamphlets from the 1990s and said recently that he did not read them at the time or for years afterward. Numerous colleagues said he does not hold racist views. … But people close to Paul’s operations said he was deeply involved in the company that produced the newsletters, Ron Paul & Associates, and closely monitored its operations, signing off on articles and speaking to staff members virtually every day/Jerry Marken & Alice Crites, Washington Post. More here.
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announcing that he won't seek another term as party chairman. Semanko wrote that the “secret to our success” was that “the grassroots of our Party was motivated and energized to recruit candidates and support them because they were included, and we weren't shy about standing up for our core, conservative Republican principles.” He wrote, “As I conclude my four year tenure as Chairman and hand the reins over to someone else at the Republican State Convention in Twin Falls this summer, this will be my proudest accomplishment”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
projects, new adventures. We've noticed that as we age (we're both in our mid-50s) it's harder to feel passionate about all of the above. We decided we feel “half passions” which we abbreviated to “half-pashes.” Anyway, a couple I wrote about today, Ken and Debby Dahlke, discovered ballroom dancing four years ago, when both were in their 50s. They share the passion with others by organizing practice nights at the Kroc Center in Coeur d'Alene. On Sunday, they will hold a Snowflake Ball. (
educate.The reality is charter school student family incomes reflect the general population. The chart (follow link) compares the percentages of students who were eligible for free and reduced lunch during the 2008-09 school year (the most recent year publicly available) in 17 charter schools with the percentages of eligible students from the districts around them. Five charter schools had significantly more students living in poverty than the districts surrounding them, five charter schools had poverty rates within plus or minus 3 percentage points of the districts and seven charters had significantly fewer students living in poverty/Brianna LeClaire, Idaho Freedom Foundation. 
Cindy is making a mark on Twitter, after resisting the notion that it also was a valuable social media. Seems the Coyote Country (Seattle area?) site enjoys her humorous quips, awarding her this week with a certificate for Dutch Bros. coffee. Writes Cindy to HucksOnline: “Turns out they liked by acceptance speech so much they are going to 'Dig in the bin of awards' so more may follow!”
and contrary to the vision of openness embodied by our state’s founders and by the designers of the Capitol as it existed in1919. Legislators used to roam and mingle with the citizenry. They had to. By architectural design, the only exit from the House and Senate chambers, prior the renovation and expansion, was through the Rotunda. Now, legislators can remain tucked away behind closed doors all day every day, never having to interact with the public. They can take the back stairs or elevator to their offices in the basement level and re-emerge in a committee hearing room without ever using the common areas where the real people hang out/Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Freedom Foundation. 
journalistic ethics (an oxymoron?) to feature false, defamatory attacks dressed up as 'news.'” Then this: “Mike Patrick’s editorial ran online on 1/14, and in print as his lead editorial on 1/15. First the title: 'Empty stomachs, vacant hearts.' Are you kidding me? (I considered titling this My Turn “Bleeding hearts, empty heads,” but decided that would only be half-true.)” Later, Koler says: “I accurately used the term 'social services bureaucracy' to describe the vast scope of undertaking by our school district. I also impliedly questioned whether combining education and social services responsibilities was the best way to deliver both education and the necessary social services, stating, 'I’m not sure that’s how I would do it, but that’s a fact about what our education system is today.' I did not state that needy children should go hungry or otherwise be deprived of necessary support.” 
“Obviously the last three years have been difficult economic times.” At the state's colleges and universities, student fees have risen for the past four years while state funding has dropped, he noted. The schools have also had to eliminate an array of programs; in the past three years, 72 degree programs, 13 minors or certificate programs, and 28 professional-technical ed programs have been eliminated; there are another 20 requests pending to discontinue degree programs this year/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
political behavior. Yet he so mishandled the Sen. John McGee fiasco that in comparison, Boss Denney's mild rebuke of tax scofflaw Phil Hart last year looks like a public flogging. And Hart was only guilty of hypocrisy - refusing to pay his own taxes while serving on the House Revenue and Taxation Committee.McGee, R-Caldwell, on the other hand, committed a crime - one that could have killed somebody/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. 
Treasurer Ron Crane for using a state gas card to fill up his private vehicle, concluding there's no evidence the four-term Republican acted with criminal intent. Canyon County prosecutor Bryan Taylor did recommend Crane quit using the gas card for undocumented purposes and begin more-comprehensive record keeping, ensuring he's not using taxpayer-funded gasoline for personal trips. Taylor also suggested Idaho clarify travel policies governing elected officials/John Miller, AP. 
Medicare prescription drug benefit in 2003. Otter is co-chairman of the Idaho presidential campaign of Mitt Romney's, Gingrich's chief opponent for the GOP presidential nomination. 
informed of the reasons he could not attend, but chose to not mention it. This way DFO could title the thread as if Green didn’t show up to something he had indicated he would attend. Yesterday, when DFO posted that all four would be there, I pointed out that Green would not be.
Some sports have a mercy rule, which ends games when one team has an embarrassingly large lead. Idaho politics might need one, because some Republicans are determined to run up the score. Take the redistricting controversy, for example. Currently, Republicans occupy 85 of the 105 legislative seats. Plus, all of the statewide officeholders are Republicans. Few states can boast stronger one-party rule. So no matter how creative redistricting gets, the electoral whippings will continue. That’s not good enough for House Speaker Lawerence Denney and Idaho Republican Party Chairman Norm Semanko, who tried to bench two Republican members of the redistricting commission in part because they weren’t trying hard enough to extend that 85-20 Statehouse lead over the next 10 years/Spokesman-Review Editorial Board. 
commissioners approved dropping the grades of 117 county positions last month, and raising the grade of 50 others. The three officials' next step will be determining whether the different grades warrant changes in pay for those positions, said Commissioner Todd Tondee. “We haven't adjusted anybody's pay yet. We're just halfway through the process,” Tondee said. “From the employees' side, if they get downgraded, we're not saying they're not worth what they're doing. We're just trying to put them within a fair rating within our system.”
kept building up, and the wind was howling. It was terrifying.”Warden and Clarkston resident Jonathan Moore, 25, went for a drive and got stuck in the snow in the Willow Springs area, located about 25 miles south of Pomeroy. They survived on animal crackers, two vitamin waters, dry dog food, garbage remnants and snow, before being rescued by logger Jackson Russell of Lewiston Monday morning.”Thank God for loggers,” Warden said Tuesday. “They are my angels, that's for sure. When I saw him, I told him I would become a logger and work for him the rest of my life”/Kerri Sandaine, Lewiston Tribune. 
eager shoppers flooded into the remodeled store for its grand reopening Wednesday, and were able to pluck discounted products from its expanded departments and all-new grocery offerings.
“It's a really nice store,” said Ginger Clem of Troy, who was casually pushing a shopping cart through the widened aisles with her husband Dennis. “They put back our material and craft stuff all the older people wanted.” Clem said she was disappointed after the old Moscow Walmart closed in 2010, and a new Walmart in Pullman opened without large bolts of fabric she needs for her sewing projects/Joel Mills, Lewiston Tribune. 
North Idaho College Vice President for Instruction Jay Lee announced Thursday his plans to resign from NIC after accepting the presidency at Northeastern Junior College in Sterling, Colo., a junior college with approximately 2,400 students. NJC is part of the Colorado Community College System, which includes 13 state community colleges that serve more than 162,000 students annually. Lee will begin as president at NJC March 12/Stacy Hudson, NIC Press Room.
Boss Denney, left, and Stormin' Norman launched their lawsuit after the Idaho Supreme Court tossed out the six-member panel's unanimously adopted redistricting plan. Crow and Hansen, claimed Denney and Semanko, were too easy on the Democrats. To preclude a repeat, Denney wanted to appoint former Rep. Bob Forrey, R-Nampa. Semanko had named Angela Cross of Post Falls. Wednesday, the Idaho Supreme Court dumped that petition in the trash can, agreeing with Attorney General Lawrence Wasden that Crow and Hansen can't be fired. But the GOP and Troupis have no reason not to try again. When their suits against the state fail, they lose nothing.If they win, they can collect attorney fees — from you. Isn't that cute?/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. 
his crosshairs: the Transportation Security Administration. In an interview with the Idaho Reporter, Barbieri said he hadn't consulted with the TSA about a measure that would outlaw unwanted searches at Idaho airports, and he wasn't “even sure that the state has the authority to end the pat-downs,” but he still was ready to introduce a bill that would amend Idaho Code preventing TSA personnel from touching a person without consent. But in a real head-scratcher, Barbieri, in the same interview, said he also opposed full-body scans of passengers/George Prentice, Boise Weekly. 
rattlesnakes and coyotes. We'd be left with a hunter's paradise - a state teeming with game animals and hunting opportunity, right? That's the sentiment I heard recently at a meeting on the hunting season setting proposals in Butte, where an oft-angry group of sportsmen called for large-scale killing of predators to increase the number of deer, elk and other game species. The suggestions ranged from having government trappers shoot wolves from helicopters to creating a season on eagles so they don't kill mountain goats/Nick Gevock, Montana Standard. 
explained, “For example, my mother’s family is from Germany and my father’s family came from Ireland, so I’m half German and half Irish.”Excitedly, kids raised their hands to share their family backgrounds. I pondered what I knew of my own history, and when Mrs. Pendergast called on me I was ready.“I’m part German, part Scottish, and part Arkansas,” I said.My classmates seemed impressed until Mrs. P. ruined everything by informing me that though my father was born there, Arkansas was a state, not a country, and therefore not culturally significant/Cindy Hval, Front Porch. 
continuing to treat two vacant rooms to make sure the pests don't return. Brad Nason, Rocky's vice president for student life, said Wednesday that the infestation started late last August or early September, in a room in Widenhouse Hall, the biggest dorm on campus, with 175 students. Bedbugs were found in four rooms, he said, but the whole building had to be treated. One company was brought in early last semester, but the bugs weren't eradicated, so Action Pest Control was contracted to begin a second round of treatments around Thanksgiving/Ed Kemmick, Billings Gazette. 
drinking 
Amendment freedoms, but after reading an Attorney General's opinion and studying the law, concluded it didn't. “But the perception is still out there,” King said. “I've gotten emails from all over the state. They believe they are just expressing their rights to freedom of assembly.” She said, “I think the occupiers have pointed out issues that we should be working on,” from jobs to the homeless to drug and alcohol treatment. “As you vote, think about the image of Idaho — are we portraying an image of intolerance?”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
squabbles and bleak debates over energy regulations and insurance exchanges — it is appropriate that we express our gratitude for Idaho Republicans.They have rescued us from boredom. We the media, the politically jaded, we the reality TV fans and monster truck ralliers - they have spared us from mere legislation. This is particularly true of House leadership. It's been fascinating to watch them these past few weeks. They've managed to turn the session into a soap opera, taking issues that might otherwise have drawn yawns and transforming them into gripping drama/William L. Spence, Lewiston Tribune. 
by hoarding. Spokane resident Judi Manuel is one of them. In fact, hoarding almost cost Manuel her life. But the disorder also gave her daughter, Ceci Garrett, a new purpose. In August, Garrett launched Adult Children of Hoarders Spokane – a peer-to-peer recovery and support group. She and her mother were featured in a 2009 episode of “Hoarders.” On Monday, another Spokane-area resident will be featured along with two local professional organizers, Martha Goss and Cindy Vanhoff/Cindy Hval, SR. 
strikes to cripple an enemy. That's a strategy much preferred to the land invasions of Iraq and Afghanistan that have cost so much American blood and treasure over the past decade. The contrast to a full-bore invasion is stark: A small, daring team storms a pirate encampment on a near-moonless night, kills nine kidnappers and whisks the hostages to safety. Special operations forces, trained for such clandestine missions, have become a more prominent tool in the military's kit since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks that led to the ongoing war in Afghanistan. The administration is expected to announce Thursday that it will invest even more heavily in that capability in coming years/Associated Press. 
budget request includes $2.5 million for that next year. “Just as it is in every other part of our lives, we recognize that technology is no longer a 'nice-to-have' tool in the classroom. It is an essential tool,” Luna said. He's asked schools and districts to send letters of interest if they want to be in the first third; so far, he's gotten 73 letters representing 139 schools and more than 57,000 students - that's two-thirds of the state's high school students/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
slimy hide. Or so the Thompson shysters claim. Gee, Karl. Too bad you didn’t have this “come to Jesus” moment a few years back. Could’ve saved the public all the expense and bother of holding a federal trial. You know, the one in Yakima last fall that found you GUILTY as hell. This is just another Hail Mary ploy by the defense, of course. The goal this time is to get Thompson a discount on the already woefully thin amount of prison time he has coming/Doug Clark, SR. 
smiling face. As is customary, I took the cal … But the voice on the other end was that of a little almost-4-year old boy, my lone grandchild. “We're gonna have a baby Sister!” boomed the little man-cub's voice. Caught off guard, I paused for just a second. Then I realized what he was saying - that his mother, father and he had just returned from the doctor's office and with the birth-date still off on the horizon, the physician had determined the sex of the baby. And “we're gonna have a baby sister” suddenly and completely made sense/Dennis Mansfield. 
submit a brief. Tomorrow’s hearing should be very interesting. The decision … (confirms) that their attorney screwed up. We’re gonna have eight commissioners show up tomorrow with no clear guidance on who the proper commissioners are. If the goal was to make sure that Idaho moves their primary to August, this is a great ruling for Semanko and Denney. Where is the commission meeting tomorrow?
pause and a mildly jaundiced eye. Just like hers, these babies are hand-formed and thick, but not thick enough to have that sense of meatloaf-esque overkill that some places like to do (hi, Nosworthys). Just like hers, they're moist and juicy without being total grease bombs, and there's a certain deep auburn richness to the flavor of a well cooked beef patty that they both have in common. Naturally, there's somewhat of an unavoidable giggle factor to the name Scrud's/OrangeTV, Get Out! North Idaho. 
This time, it was author Tom Mueller’s, “Extra Virginity: The Sublime and Scandalous World of Olive Oil,” a book (cover shown in inset) that reveals that most of the extra virgin olive oils sold in U.S. supermarkets are not what they seem. In fact, in Mueller’s new book, he reveals that most of the oils labeled “extra virgin” are probably not the quality, antioxidant rich oils that consumers think they’re eating to protect themselves from cancer, heart disease, Alzheimer’s and other health problems/Lorie Hutson, SR. 
this story that is still painful today, over 40 years later? Because I see today an approach towards bullying that is both misguided and dangerous. Walking into a local middle school, I saw a “No Bullying” sign, followed by a list of protected categories: race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, etc. Whew, I thought. At least they didn’t have my vulnerabilities at the time of bullying listed: thick glasses, short, awkward, opinionated, teacher’s pet, etc. What a horror that would be! Pointing out the vulnerabilities of those bullied serves only to “blame the victim,” increasing the intrinsic shame that the bullied already bear. This approach is misguided.” 
“remarkable success” at the polls. That's the assessment from one of the architects of the GOP's success — Phil Batt, a former governor, lieutenant governor, legislator and state Republican chairman. Batt submitted a guest opinion today, criticizing House Speaker Lawerence Denney and GOP Chairman Norm Semanko for trying to fire redistricting commissioners Dolores Crow and Randy Hansen. Writes Batt: “Our party leaders want to sully the reapportionment process for more political gain. I guess they want 100 percent Republicans of their own variety (Dolores and I probably don’t qualify)/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. 
seconds to earn what I did last year. In contrast, I would have to work 416 years 6 months 23 days 11 hours 20 minutes & 7 seconds to earn what Mitt did in 2010. His total income for the year was listed as $21.6 million, more than one-half of which came from capital gains. Slate magazine has a nifty income calculator that compares your salary with Mitt Romney's 2010 income. 
about how the court will handle a lawsuit filed by House Speaker Lawerence Denney and Idaho Republican Party Chairman Norm Semanko, who seek to fire and replace their appointees to the redistricting commission. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden and Secretary of State Ben Ysursa say the law requires the fall appointments to stand. The commission is set to reconvene Thursday at 9 a.m. to redraw maps the court ruled unconstitutional last week. Burdick signaled late Wednesday morning that the court will make its mind clear soon. “We're workin' on it,” he told me before entering the Senate. “That's all a guy can say”/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. 
The Kootenai County Reagan Republicans will host the first election forum of 2012 with the announced Republican Candidates for Kootenai County Sheriff at their noon lunch meeting Thursday at Fedora Pub & Grille, 1726 W. Kathleen Ave., Coeur d'Alene. Candidates Bob Foster, John Green, Keith Hutcheson, and Ben Wolfinger have been invited to participate, and three have confirmed. The four announced candidates will compete to be the Republican nominee selected during the May 15 Kootenai County primary election. 
disenfranchising voters. They're wading deeply into illogical waters. And they've partnered with the legal equivalent of the Flat Earth Society. Where would they get the notion that they might pull it off? From the highest court in the state. Last week, the Idaho Supreme Court voted 4-1 to strike down the citizen commission's plan for realigning Idaho's population growth with its 35 legislative districts. That redistricting plan was a remarkable feat, accomplished quickly and unanimously by the commission's three Republican and three Democratic members/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. 
long razed. Those yellowing bills were the back-in-the-day come-ons for wannabe fighters. Here’s how much boxing has changed: Converts are now made in beauty shops. It helps, of course, if a boxer is in the chair. This happened just on Monday to Queen Underwood, who by virtue of her bronze medal at the last world championships and her Seattle roots is the flag-bearer for next month’s U.S. Olympic Team Trials for Women’s Boxing at Northern Quest Resort. Booked for an awards show later this week, she made an appointment with a stylist. “I’m tired of braids and ponytails,” she said to the stylist, pinning her hair issues on her current vocation of boxing/John Blanchette, SR. 
night to shrink the gap between rich and poor, promising to tax the wealthy more and help jobless Americans get work and hang onto their homes. Seeking re-election and needing results, the president invited Republicans to join him but warned, “I intend to fight.” In an emphatic State of the Union address, Obama said ensuring a fair shot for all Americans is “the defining issue of our time.” He said the economy is finally recovering from a deep and painful recession and he will fight any effort to return to policies that brought it low. “We've come too far to turn back now,” he declared/Ben Feller, Twin Falls Times-News. 
pat-down by Transportation Security Agency officials. Maybe Idaho state Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, sympathizes with the U.S. senator because he is readying a bill that would outlaw unwanted TSA searches within the Gem State’s borders. In an interview with IdahoReporter.com, Barbieri said the pat-downs do little to improve airline security and are more for show than anything else. “I’m just adding that federal TSA personnel cannot touch a person that does not want to be touched,” Barbieri said. “And if they do, without consent, they are subject to the state battery law”/Dustin Hurst, Idaho Reporter. 
and a Kootenai County resident is one of them. State GOP chairman Norm Semanko appointed Angela Cross of Post Falls to the commission. House Speaker Lawrence Denney selected Bob Forrey of Nampa. Semanko and Denney filed the necessary documents with the Idaho Supreme Court today to ensure the appointments are recognized by the time the commission convenes Thursday in Boise. Cross is a community activist who is deeply involved with the Idaho Republican Party. She serves on the board of directors of the 3Cs (Cancer and Community Charities) and helps coordinate Kootenai Medical Center's annual Festival of Trees benefit/Coeur d'Alene Press. 
switching to campaign mode. He talked about the exceptionalism of the American people and how they are the key to our country’s greatness. I agree, and I also agree with many of the ideas he set forth in his speech. Unfortunately, his words tonight did not match the policies he has put forth over the past three years when we have seen record debt, unemployment and layers of new regulation/U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, via Kevin Richert/Idaho Statesman. 
a record number of Americans receiving food aid. Idaho has set its own record, as the number of people receiving food stamps rose from about 87,000 in 2007 to about 229,000 in 2011, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Now, 15 percent of Idahoans get food stamps. Since Otter became governor in 2007, the food stamp caseload has jumped 163 percent, putting Idaho behind only Nevada’s 172 percent growth rate/Dan Popkey, Statesman. 
advisory vote. In her latest newsletter, Mary blasts Mayor Bloem for allowing letters opposed to the advisory vote to be read into the record. And Councilman Kennedy for “rude, untrue, unwarranted attacks” on County Clerk Cliff Hayes last month which have absolutely nothing to do with an advisory vote. And Councilwoman Deanna Goodlander for having the audacity to break into a coughing fit and not excusing herself during public testimony. And Counciman Woody McEvers for making kumbaya statements but failing to support the motion for an advisory vote. Then, she gushed about the “great job” that newbies Dan Gookin and Steve Adams did in supporting the public vote. 
Sheriff’s Association have begun issuing wallet-size “Hope Cards” to people who have obtained long-term civil protection orders against spouses, former spouses, stalkers or anyone else. On the front are the names of those being protected, the court that issued the order, the order number and the date it was issued. On the back is the name of the person ordered to stay away from the holder, a date of birth, physical description and, most importantly, a picture. Court-issued paperwork is far less convenient and far less useful because it lacks a photograph/Spokesman-Review Editorial Board. 
National Weather Service forecasters said. An incoming Pacific storm is carrying milder air with it, but cold air in place over the Inland Northwest could result in snow and a mix of precipitation for several hours today. A hazardous weather outlook is in place for Spokane and Coeur d’Alene. A more serious winter weather advisory for snow is posted for areas to the north and west of both cities. The chance of snow and freezing rain is 80 percent today with a 90 percent chance of freezing rain and rain this evening with little or no accumulation of ice/Spokesman-Review. 
Priscilla Bell told Idaho lawmakers today. “As with most higher education institutions, NIC has experienced significant growth in enrollment over the past four years,” she said, even as state funding has dropped. NIC's for-credit student population has increased by 45 percent in four years; professional-technical education enrollment has grown “by a whopping 68 percent,” Bell told the Legislature's joint budget committee. Now, both student tuition and fees and local property taxes exceed state funding as a portion of NIC's budget/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
the party's chairman and the speaker of the House of Representatives have the power to fire their appointees and name new members to the panel. Republican Chairman Norm Semanko (right) and House Speaker Lawerence Denney (left) want to remove redistricting commissioners Randy Hansen, a former Twin Falls legislator, and Dolores Crow, a former House member from Nampa. But the Idaho attorney general says Semanko and Denney don't have the power to remove them, even though they appointed Hansen and Crow to the panel/Associated Press. 
appears in Coeur d'Alene Press today: “Rose Mary was born on Jan. 13, 1947, in Cheyenne, Wyo., and died on Jan. 20, 2012, in the presence of her loving family at Hospice House in Coeur d'Alene. Rose Mary was the second of four children of Jim and Eileen Poelma. She grew up in the rural farming community of Carpenter, Wyo., 20 miles southeast of Cheyenne. She lived in a community, school and family where faith and music went hand-in-hand with the hard work of farming. Her grandmother taught her to play the piano at an early age, and the rest of her family often played music together as a group, whether it was during informal family gatherings or for barn dances.” 
contentedly watching a TV show or movie one moment and then, with the appearance on the screen of a vaguely familiar actor or actress, find it impossible to think about anything except one maddening question. What have I seen him in before? Sometimes it comes to you – or to someone seated nearby – right away. “The guy in the insurance commercial? He played a power hitter in the original ‘Major League.’ Pedro Cerrano. His real name is Dennis something.” Or “She was in a bunch of British stuff, ‘Foyle’s War’ for one”/Paul Turner, The Slice. 
first home when the market collapsed and people became desperate to sell. My employment situation was much more unsettled under George W. Bush. So was my wife’s. Our crappy insurance company brought us to the brink of bankruptcy because of a medical emergency they refused to fairly cover. Also under George W. Bush. But guess what: I didn’t blame Bush for our personal misfortune. And I don’t credit Obama for the turnaround my family has accomplished the past few years. Are things bad for a lot of people right now? Yes, they are. But Obama had little to do with it. (AP file photo)
Davenport Hotel in downtown Spokane. Kate Allison (unknown city of residence) was the winner last week. You'll again find questions with an Idaho flavor in Jim Camden's weekly poll. (invisible ink on) In fact, I'll give you the answer to Question No. 2, if you don't tell Jim: 75 mph.(invisible ink off. Good luck — and let HucksOnline know how you did when you complete the quiz. 
to reduce his potential prison sentence because he claims to have taken responsibility for using excessive force on Otto Zehm and lying to cover it up. Assistant U.S. Attorney Timothy Durkin has responded to an earlier request filed by defense attorney Carl Oreskovich to reduce Thompson’s sentencing guidelines, which currently call for him to serve between 27 and 33 months in federal prison. Oreskovich has argued that the decorated former officer has accepted responsibility for the crimes/Thomas Clouse, SR. 
purpose. Even though the sale of the building is the technical reason for closing there is one immutable truth in what brought us to this point. Our community that we have so generously supported throughout the years failed to support us in return. With the population of Post falls alone our business should have flourished. It would be easy to blame the economy but that is not the case. Harry Potter 7: P2 had sold in its opening week $170 million in ticket sales. We had 1 copy of the movie and did not sell out 1 showing while the Riverstone had multiple copies and was sold out for almost a week”/Julius Vinchinsky, Post Falls Theater. 
outside the view of the media and their constituents. A caucus is not unlike Las Vegas. What happens there stays there. But on Friday, nine Republican state senators pulled back the curtain and gave their constituents a glimpse inside the cloistered caucus — although their motivations were probably more machiavellian than altruistic. Regardless, it is an astounding twist in the implosion of state Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell. Nine days after Senate Republicans caucused, and decided to keep the embattled McGee in party leadership, the nine Republicans issued a statement saying they wanted to replace McGee. The fact that a group of Senate Republicans went public in such an unorthodox fashion illustrates a schism within the caucus/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. 
hand mirror to be able to once again deliver the State of the Column address. Especially since I’m able to upstage the president, who later today will perform his own annual magic-show attempt to misdirect voters away from the royal mess he’s made. Aw, don’t get on Barack Obama’s case. Sure, the economy’s more strained than Steven Tyler singing the national anthem. And true, you must now sell a kidney to buy the same gallon of gas that sold for a buck-something when the O-Man took office. But be fair. The prez promised change and change he has delivered. This is not the venue for solving the nation’s problems, of course/Doug Clark, SR. 
Federation of Reagan Republicans submitted a citizen's initiative to the secretary of state's office that would privatize liquor sales in Idaho and eliminate the state Liquor Division. Liquor sales in Idaho are now conducted through state-run or contract stores. In his group's push to change that, Reagan Republicans president Jeff Ward (pictured) of Post Falls said his members intentionally avoided ties to trade groups or retailers. They want a measure focused on scaling back government, not one designed to make millions in profits for private industry, he said/John Miller, AP. 
State Sen. Mary Margaret Haugen, D-Camano Island, announced she would vote yes on Senate Bill 6239, giving it a majority in that chamber. The companion bill, HB 2516, has the votes necessary to clear the House, said Rep. Jamie Pedersen, D-Seattle, and Gov. Chris Gregoire has called for the Legislature to pass such legislation. Barring some unexpected shift, that suggests Washington would be the seventh state in the nation to pass a law on same-sex marriage. But it would be the first state where voters have the ultimate say on a bill passed by the Legislature/Jim Camden, SR. 
the silent film “The Artist”; the family drama “The Descendants”; the Sept. 11 tale “Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close”; the Deep South drama “The Help”; the romantic fantasy “Midnight in Paris”; the sports tale “Moneyball”; the family chronicle “The Tree of Life”; and the World War I epic “War Horse.” The nominations set up a best-picture showdown between the top films at the Golden Globes: best musical or comedy recipient “The Artist” and best drama winner “The Descendants”/AP. 
income of $42.5 million over the two-year period. Romney's tax information — covering more than 500 pages — 
Tuesday night. There’s no word on which Democrat that Crapo will be sitting with and, unlike many members of Congress, he’s kept it low key. Congresspeople from other states have been sending out press releases touting their participation in the bipartisan seating arrangement, a sign that the partisan atmosphere in Congress has become so poisonous that it’s reached the point where it’s considered a big deal where people sit. Alaska Sen. Murkowski is the main Republican championing the bipartisan date idea in the Senate, while Colorado Democratic Sen. Mark Udall is doing so in his party/Sean Cockerham, Idaho Statesman. 
condoms” in his untied sweat pants when police arrested him after a brief foot chase near the Girls Scouts office at 1404 N. Ash St., said Deputy Prosecutor Patrick Johnson. Green's g-string, pocketful of condoms and lack of pants “gives me a great cause for concern for our community,” Johnson said today at Green's first court appearance. Assistant Public Defender Mike Elston disagreed. “I fail to see the significance of the allegation of the g-string or the condoms,” Elston said. “The allegation is he looked through a window”/Meghan Cuniff, SR. 
privatize liquor sales in Idaho. The move is separate from one that had been mulled by the same grocery association that backed the successful liquor privatization drive in Washington state; that group said today that it won't push an initiative this year after all. The “Reagan Republicans” group said its initiative would push privatization on smaller-government grounds. “This was kind of our coming-out party for Reagan Republicans statewide, something that we thought reduced the size and scope of government,” said Jeff Ward, president of the Kootenai County Reagan Republicans and the new Idaho Federation of Reagan Republicans/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
Chairman Norm Semanko (pictured) and GOP House Speaker Lawerence Denney to attempt to fire their two appointees to the state's bipartisan citizen redistricting commission. “Make no mistake, this is a Republican against Republican fight and a clear example of the unacceptable culture in the GOP-controlled Statehouse. That culture is one of ongoing bullying and arrogance as GOP leaders seek to purge moderate, reasonable lawmakers from their ranks,” the Dems' statement said/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.
accommodate 
11 reorganization. Parent firm Buffets, Inc. filed the bankruptcy last week in Delaware, announcing it would close 81 underperforming restaurants. Those closed restaurants are roughly 16 percent of the 500 it operates nationally. The local locations were 12205 E. Sprague, at the corner of Pines and Sprague, in Spokane Valley; and 5504 N. Division St. in Spokane. Both closed Thursday, said Melissa Sheer, a company spokesperson/SR. 
down-sized — 117, to be exact. In a memo from Kootenai County Board of Commissioners Jan. 12, 99 employees has their positions & pay docked one grade, 50 employees had their positions & pay docked two grades. Seventy-nine workers stayed the same after recommendations by the Position Review Committee. And 50 staffers had their pay & position increased one grade. Huckleberries also hears that the Position Review Committee recommended to the commissioners that many more — maybe all workers reviewed — have their pay increased one grade. But that recommendation was rejected by the commissioners. The memo didn't indicate when the wage changes would take place. Positions not subject to the review were: sheriff's sworn personnel, 9-11, and attorneys. (For those keeping score at home, HucksOnline has a copy of the memo)
that seclusion is limiting public access to House lawmakers. Last week, House Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, ordered that all access points to House lawmakers’ offices be secured and locked to the general public. Meetings with House lawmakers must now be scheduled and visitors are required to check in with security before entering the office areas. This is a break of process from the prior two sessions in the Capitol building. For the past two years, visitors could come and go as they pleased in order to meet with lawmakers/Idaho Reporter staff. 
tomorrow's school board special workshop meeting. The workshop meeting is rumored to be the starting point of a long discussion regarding a possible spring or summer levy vote. The idea behind the online petition is to let our elected trustees know that there are parents and community members who are requesting that our community be asked to support safety and security related improvements in our schools. We want voters to be asked to extend the expiring levy so we can begin to tackle the long list of needs that have been previously identified in the school district's Ten Year Long Range Plan. 
local union leaders say they can still work effectively with their district administration to help shape policies. “This (legislation) basically said to districts that if you don’t want to work with teachers in these areas, you can say by law you don’t have to do it anymore,” Boise Education Association President Andrew Rath said. “But I think they’ve found that districts want to work with the teachers.” Association leaders Sam Stone of Caldwell and Luke Franklin of Meridian agreed. “We can always talk to our district,” Franklin said. “Our relationship isn’t really ‘us against them’”/Kristin Rodine, Idaho Statesman. 
with regard to confronting bigotry, prejudice and hate. This is only a partial description of who we are. For 31 years, the work and activities of the KCTFHR have included supporting the victims of hate crimes going back as far as the Sid Rosen and Connie Fort cases in the early 1980’s, the Victoria and Jason Keenan case in 1998 and the more recent 2011 Marlon Baker case. Let us not forget that members of our board have experienced serious threats on their lives such as the bombing of the late Father Bill Wassmuth’s home. We are not just a feel good organization/Christie Wood & Tony Stewart, Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations. 
send our message. As a matter of fact I would like to thank the varios media outlets that chose to not cover stories about us. I find it better for community members that see us out at demonstrations to be able to come right up to us and get solid facts right from us rather than hearing it through the media that only seems to print what they want to about a particular issue. So I ask the media to please continue to not cover our demonstrations so we can continue to get facts out to the communtiy/Shaun Winkler, White Knights of Ku Klux Klan, Spirit Lake. 
delinquent taxpayers, and instead using first-class mail. The reason: 35 percent of certified mail is returned, simply because folks don't bother to pick it up. Today, Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, urged the House to support HB 362, legislation from the state Tax Commission to try first-class mail instead for a year, to see how it works; the Tax Commission would report back to lawmakers after a year on the results/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
initiative to privatize liquor sales in Idaho and eliminate the Idaho Liquor Division. A draft copy of the proposed initiative petition must be filed at the Secretary of State’s office with the signatures of twenty qualified electors of the state as specified by Idaho Code 34-1804. Upon submission, the proposed initiative must be forwarded to the Idaho Attorney General who has twenty days to provide recommended changes. IFRR President Jeff Ward announced that the initiative is an effort solely by his organization and no trade organizations or potential retailers were involved or consulted in the draft initiative/Reagan Republicans news release. 
bother planting a garden? Just asking because I've been looking at my garden catalogs and wondering whether it's worth it to spend the money for seeds if the world is going to be incinerated. I understand the prediction is the world won't end until Dec. 21 and that's long after the growing season. But it could affect what to plant, such as beets, green beans, corn and the like. Is there any point in planting crops you normally can or freeze for the winter if you won't get to use them up before we're toast?/Kathy Hedberg, Lewiston Tribune. 
speak, primarily for the purpose of giving the Liberals something off of which to bounce their diatribes. Sort of like keeping a few mice alive so they can be fed to the snakes. Another analogy might be the feeding of Christians to lions. Many people in North Idaho are appalled by what goes on in this blog. It is difficult to get Conservatives to even look at this blog once they have seen it the first time. It has become a safe place for the counter culture to present its views.
after year. I’m betting half of them at least have loose screws rattling around inside their cranial cavities. How else do you account for the ridiculous ways they waste our money? But getting back to our point …Dante Autullo, a 32-year-old Illinois man, was using a nail gun in his workshop when the device somehow went off on his noggin. … But as riveting as this not-so handyman’s ordeal is, here’s the real shocker. And I quote: “… he posted the X-ray on Facebook during his ambulance ride between hospitals for surgery.” My friends, the social media is a social disease/Doug Clark, SR. 
cost-saving measure. “The legal authority to assign property tax appeals to an advisory board is unclear, but under current statutes, I believe the procedure will not withstand a court challenge,” wrote Carol Olsson, deputy attorney general, in a letter to Rep. Frank Henderson, who had approached the office about the legality of the commissioners' idea. But the county is still going to create the new advisory board as planned, said Commissioner Jai Nelson, their legal staff holding ground that it is legal and will give taxpayers a fair say/Alecia Warren, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
coach Joe Paterno, the man long regarded as its center. The school's flagship campus, established in 1855 in the small town of State College and conceived as a place for farmers to receive a scientific education, sits in the state's geographic center. But its physical presence is also woven throughout Pennsylvania, with two dozen campuses scattered across the state. So Paterno's death from cancer on Sunday has created emotional ripples that have spread throughout the university's broad network of alumni, both within the state and far beyond/CBS News. 
voters. And perhaps most troubling for Romney’s campaign is that 
Dope Magazine, Seattle’s new medical marijuana journal. How do you go from a teacher of the year in Rathdrum to a medical pot advocate in the Emerald City? In two words? Tom Luna. The Idaho superintendent of schools chased the former teachers union rep from education with his so-called 2011 reform that values online experimentation more than hands-on teaching. Also, Ridley had an epiphany when she received more attention for a front-page, classroom photo in the Coeur d’Alene Press that showed a hint of cleavage than she had had as a teacher. After navel gazing, Ridley passed on Gonzaga to chase her passion, writing professionally/DFO, Huckleberries. 
One morning, just last week, I was again thinking about our options for returning to public school when I had a sort of epiphany. For the first time, I asked my son what he wanted to do. His answer was clear and confident. “I want to continue homeschooling.” The door that I’d left open suddenly started to close. Actually, it was more of a slam. Just like that, I realized there was an option I hadn’t been considering. And it really is the best option. I mean, look at what we’re doing: one-on-one teaching, creative curriculum, independent learning. Who wants to argue against that?/Idaho Dad, A Family Runs Through It. 
identical twin feel unique? Well, it so happens that I was born one minute before midnight, my brother following 15 minutes the other side. We have separate birthdays. A college professor once told me that he estimated that only 1 pair out of 1,500 had separate birthdays, making us rare indeed. But now after reading an Associated Press story, I'm feeling rather ordinary. In a story filed on Jan. 4, AP medical writer Mike Strobbel relayed “In 2009, 1 in every 30 babies born in the U.S. was a twin, an astounding increase over the 1 in 53 rate in 1980, according to a government report”/Jerry Hitchcock, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
offensive. Sure, the cardinal is also a bird, but a cougar is primarily a cat. What we really have to consider is that not only does the mascot “cardinal” bring the-worst-of-all-things, religion into the public school, it also brings to mind the horrible things some Catholic clergy did to children that some cardinals covered for. Not only that, the historic Catholic church was responsible for some terrible conflicts that cost thousands of lives and helped deteriorate east/west relations over hundreds of years. Having a cardinal as NIC’s mascot is terribly offensive to anyone who has any regard for these victims, not to mention its obvious religious connotations which should not be allowed at a public school. (2007 AP file photo of Vatican cardinals)
manager of the Scenic Bay Marina & Motel in Bayview, Idaho. “The problem is, is there’s not really a lot of building codes on the lake and so people think they can build these things how they want.” Unlike house boats, float homes do not have motors and are more or less stationary, and they are popular around the Scenic Bay portion of the lake. However, many of the two-story float homes have a boat shed underneath, Celeri said, which makes them less stable as snow and ice pile up on top. “A good amount of them started out as a standard boat shed and over the years, they would add on to them,” he said. … About three homes are tilting into the water, one seriously, he said/Chelsea Bannach, SR. 
few weeks after turning 77. He had been ill with Alzheimer's for about seven years and in a care facility the last year or so, and we were all a lot younger 16 years ago, but my sisters and I were commenting today how young 77 now sounds to us. We thought my dad was so old when he died. But now that we six Nappi siblings are in our 50s, 60s and our oldest sis is 70 — 77 doesn't sound so old, after all/Rebecca Nappi, End Notes. 
“Thanking God for the two strong strangers that helped me get unstuck this morning … I tried to pull in to the parking lot for Jazzercise … and didn't make it … they helped me get free, then I parked on the street — Bridgette Helstrom Lowry via Facebook.
caucus. The nine, in a statement issued Friday, said they want to clarify how they voted. They said media reports of the vote to retain McGee “led many of our constituents to mistakenly conclude that all members of the Senate GOP caucus voted to affirm support for Sen. McGee. …” “Our constituents expect us to stand up for the convictions, principles and values we have said we represent and … our constituents deserve to be reassured that their confidence in us us not misplaced.” The signers of the statement, in addition to Winder, were Sens. Russ Fulcher, Dean Mortimer, Sheryl Nuxoll, Mitch Toryanski, Monty Pearce, Shirley McKague, Steve Vick and Lee Heider/Idaho Statesman. 
Tuesday, March 6th, the day of Idaho’s Republican Presidential Nomination Caucus, every county in the state will hold a County Caucus. Instead of selecting Idaho’s nominee for the GOP presidential candidate at the polls in the May primaries, voters must show up to participate in their counties’ Caucuses. Idaho has 32 delegates to send to the national convention. That is more delegates than Iowa, New Hampshire or Nevada. Idaho will be a big, early prize for the winning Republican Presidential candidate, and we should expect to see candidates paying more attention to Idaho Republican voters.” 
John McGee to step down from his GOP Caucus leadership position. Like within the last little bit, my insiders tell me. “C'mon John, do the right thing, for a change,” seems to be their request. If this is accurate and Mr. McGee 
General's opinion issued today in response to an inquiry from Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa. “No mechanism exists for the removal of a Commissioner once appointed,” Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane wrote in the opinion. “A vacancy can occur if a Commissioner resigns.” You can read the 
good public policy. This is a cynical ploy. Self-preservation is usually a top-of-mind matter for politicians — and this is a particularly brazen example. Truth is, some lawmakers don’t like filing for re-election in late February or early March. After all, they are in Boise in the midst of a legislative session, while primary challengers can get the jump on campaigning. This timetable works best for voters, though, because it allows them to vote in a primary before the start of summer vacation season (and, while the actions and inactions of the most recent legislative session are fresh in their minds).” 
copyrighted material, is trying to recover its servers and get back online, a lawyer for the company said on Friday. 
excellent education in CDA, both have gotten their BS degrees from Idaho colleges, and one is currently getting their MA and one will start an MA program in the fall. Both are employed. We made education a priority and took advantage of everything CDA had to offer. Those that complain seem to have no kids or kids who failed in the system for whatever reason. I also have an MA plus many credits and graduated for an Idaho school. It’s all about priorities. The teachers do extremely well considering the lack of support from out local legislators - who I hope are defeated in the next election. (Kathy Plonka SR file photo of Coeur d'Alene school children)
more likely to have less of a berm at your driveway if you’ve made an effort to shovel/plow it before the plows arrive. In my neighborhood if a driveway hadn’t been touched, there was no courtesy dropping of the gate. I kinda get that but what about single parents/disabled folks who have a hard time getting out to shovel? Otherwise - keep up the good work CdA! (Jesse Tinsley SR file photo: A snowplow works its way down C St. in Coeur d'Alene last February)
school officials and some parents believed the word is disrespectful to women. Students in the Canyons School District named the cougar their top choice to become the mascot of the new Corner Canyon High School. The school is expected to open in 2013. However, district officials overrode the student vote after complaints that that the word “cougar” is offensive and derogatory towards women/Todd Starnes, Fox News. 
back-tracking: “I can see Risch’s bind. As an attorney by trade, the idea of protecting intellectual property must carry some basic law-and-order appeal. It’s also a sensitive spot for this newspaper and our parent company, as more of our readership migrates to online platforms — where readership is easy to track, yet harder to monetize. Still, I can’t help but think that Risch’s Internet unsavviness came back to bite him on this one. If you don’t use the Internet — if that behavior isn’t wired into your routine — it’s tough to be sensitive to people who fear that SOPA and PIPA would stop the free flow of information online. I wouldn’t call him Risch 2.0, but the senator has become a bit more plugged in over recent years. He has told Spokane Spokesman-Review blogger 
leaning chief executive has again put his foot down against talk of the state getting out of the liquor business. Otter has been adamant in his stand on the matter - the state has a vested interest in maintaining its control of how intoxicating spirits are distributed and sold in Idaho. We respectfully disagree and, as we have opined in the past, would like to see liquor sales handled by private industry. It works well for 32 states, and there's no reason it can't in Idaho/Murf Raquet, Moscow-Pullman Daily News. 
legislative session. It could have been funding for Idaho's public schools and universities, gearing up for mandated federal insurance exchanges or even debating the merits of Gov. Otter's IGEM program. Instead it's anti-camping legislation. Specifically, it's legislation that would force those pesky Occupy Movement folks off state land in front of the old Ada County Courthouse. Apparently the state doesn't have an anti-camping law. Upset at looking at the symbolic tents of a handful of protesters, state solons are springing into action/Idaho State Journal Editorial Board. 
don't think for a minute that the pain won't be felt here in Kootenai County. While state officials have estimated the negative economic impact for the Valley at $13 million, a figure used by Hecla CEO Phil Baker better illustrates the severity of the blow to North Idaho. Baker says that the loss will do more than cost some 300 workers their jobs; Hecla will reduce its expenditures for the mine from about $100 million last year to $20 million this year. That's an $80 million kick to the economy's gut, much of it right here in North Idaho/Mike Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press Editorial Board. 
former GOP state Rep. Dolores Crow, because party members don't think she protected their interests. That's after Idaho Supreme Court justices threw out the new political boundaries Wednesday. On Thursday afternoon, Denney told the Associated Press that GOP legislators are angry and believe Crow and other Republican commissioners in October backed a plan that's too generous to minority Democrats. They want commissioners who will support a map more favorable to Republicans. Denney says he'd prefer Crow to resign, not force him to fire her/Associated Press. 
Toastmasters Club on a recent Tuesday. As the official greeter, he helped people relax. The more relaxed, the better the speech. But Toastmasters isn’t just about speechmaking. To understand the organization’s wider scope, Toastmasters is doing a blitz of free Inland Northwest workshops starting Monday. Toastmasters International, founded in 1924, boasts more than 270,000 members in 13,000 clubs in 116 countries. There are about two dozen clubs in Eastern Washington and North Idaho/Rebecca Nappi, SR. 
From her snow bunker, Cindy Facebooks: “So the good news is that I made it safely to my secluded writing retreat, despite windshield wipers that iced up so much they were useless. The bad news is that my writing retreat doesn't come equipped with snow-shoveling teenage boys. I dug myself a path and closed the door.
In Major Ben Wolfinger's latest felony warrant list, three people are wanted for probation violations, one for failure to appear in court on a felony DUI charge, and one on a charge of eluding a police officer. A $50,000 bond has been set for Shane Eddy Stallcop, 43, of Coeur d'Alene (above left), who is wanted for failure to appear on the felony DUI charge. A bond of $10,000 was set for Alexander Michael Cook, 22, of Coeur d'Alene (above middle), who is charged with eluding an officer. Individuals wanted for possible probation violations are: Beth Anne Keesler, 52, of Spokane Valley, for grand 
theft (above right); Rachel Elizabeth Muzzy, 22, of Post Falls for receiving stolen property, driving with a suspended license (below left), and Justin Dale Williams, 28 of Coeur d'Alene for delivery of controlled substance (below right). No bond was set for Keesler, Muzzy, or Williams. 
reputation for actually “getting the internet” and making good use of it to promote his message and motivate and activate his supporters. But it appears that perhaps he doesn't quite get the internet that well. That's all I can think after reading the details of a 
fugitive Nathaniel Robert Howell. Howell is wanted on a Kootenai County felony warrant charging him with four counts of lewd conduct with a minor and five counts of sexual exploitation. Bond has been set at $150,000. Howell is a 5-feet-10 white male, weighing 175 pounds with hazel eyes and blonde hair. Howell was last lived in the Sagle and Coeur d'Alene areas. His last known vehicle is a 1985 Blue Toyota Truck with an Idaho license plate number of K432983. 
spend their after-school hours. And since last January, the clubs have filled more than just empty hours – they’ve filled empty bellies. While the clubs have always served a healthy snack, the impetus to offer dinner came from a conversation Northtown branch director Jason Anderson had with a hungry little boy/Cindy Hval, SR. 
a snowboard. He also loved to race super cross motorcycles, where he became comfortable catching huge air going off jumps at high speeds. So it came as little surprise when Adam, 26, took up the sport of mono skiing five years ago after losing both of his legs in a roadside bombing while serving in Baghdad. Adam, who graduated from Sandpoint High School before moving to Colorado in 2003, will compete in the 2012 Winter X Games mono ski for the second straight year on Jan. 26-29 in Aspen, Colo./Eric Plummer, Bonner County Bee.
doing his part to ensure President Barack Obama gets re-elected in November. But c'mon, Mr. Vice President! You're better than this! Biden had a Homer Simpson “d'oh!” moment when he tried to rally a San Francisco crowd at a political fundraiser with a football metaphor and spoke of the “Giants on their way to the Super Bowl,” 
WOW … so I can get about half of my driveway shoveled, before I completely poop out … then when I feel like conquering it again, I have to RE-shovel the top half again … then get pooped … never quite reach the bottom half … At least it is PRETTY — Bridgette Helstrom Lowry, via Facebook.
steps of the state Capitol has had to be moved, because the Idaho Freedom Foundation scooted in early and reserved the steps for a Tea Party rally. That didn't happen this year. Asked why not, Freedom Foundation head Wayne Hoffman said, “I think the Tea Party group has gone from doing rallies to doing a lot more public policy-type work,” including getting involved with legislation/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
primary election: One from committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, (pictured) to delay the state's primary from May to August while also doing away with the presidential primary; and one from Secretary of State Ben Ysursa to just do away with the presidential primary; it no longer serves any purpose since both parties now choose their presidential delegates by caucuses. Loertscher said he favors the shift of the primary to the later date because the move back in 1980 from August to May made for more months of campaigning. “The political season was extended in Idaho, which in my personal opinion is not a good thing,” Loertscher said/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
presidential race and will endorse Newt Gingrich, according to a campaign source. Perry, who trails GOP front-runner Mitt Romney badly and fared miserably in the Iowa caucuses and New Hampshire primary, is telling supporters he will drop his bid for the nomination. Perry has scheduled a news conference for 11 a.m in North Charleston, S.C. The Texas governor entered the race in August to much fanfare and immediately topped polls. But a series of disastrous debate performances, including one in which he failed to remember the three government agencies would shut down as president, left him behind the GOP pack/
this week. And a lot of you Spokane drivers have apparently lost your snow-navigating skills. I’m telling you, it was four-wheeled insanity out on the South Hill streets Wednesday. Slipping and sliding. Tires a-spinning. Car windows crusting over with ice … And that was just me behind the wheel of “Big Maroon,” the snow car I bought a couple years ago. My lovely wife, Sherry, thinks I need another old heap like Republicans need another presidential debate. Not true. Big Maroon – a 1990 Lincoln Town Car – was a steal because it cost only 500 bucks and came with a brand new set of Blizzak snow tires/Doug Clark, SR. 
weeks ago. Trial-by-fire driving conditions for her. Then again she doesn’t feel too sorry for me when I’m caught in the clusters of traffic in her neck of the woods. As for myself (the dude with fresh new default pic), I’m not looking forward to the arduous drive to Pullman this weekend to cover Stanford/Cal at Washington State. No me gusta.
watched the game, you’ve managed to shut the door on other problems, at least for a while. And maybe in the end, that’s why we watch Sports, for the balance it provides. Those who don’t have a “team” will never understand this. At the same time, Sports grows ruder, attitudes get worse, crowds get louder, and the sport changes character. Which is why I don’t watch pro basketball. With golf, the gallery has really changed, whooping and hollering after every tee shot. Makes me cringe. But that’s the way society seems to be going these days. And now they say that Poker is a sport. Sheesh. (AP illustration)
could be as simple as walking down the street and my kids hear it from a bar patron with sidewalk seating. I also know that kids embarrass parents by repeating things they shouldn’t and it creates comedy gold as a story to re-live at a later date. I’m not surprised that a tv show would pick this up. It’s not the first time. This last Christmas, I just wanted to share a holiday movie about a Red Ryder BB Gun with my kids and instead had to answer questions regarding “electric sex” and what the “F-Word” was (which Ralphie, like Lily, says, “Fudge.”) I cant change the world. I can only deal with cards I’m dealt to play this game. Unfortunately, it includes the F word. As a parent, I don’t like it but I address it regardless.
Swedish version. Evidently the dish was a hit and a namesake side dish after the restaurant at the Hasselbaken Hotel in Stockholm, Sweden. They are also referred to as Accordian potatoes as in an accordian when the instrument is fanned out to play. You can do just about anything with these beauties and they are so simple. Just slice them thinly, smother them with butter or seasoned olive oil with bits of garlic in the slices and they will permeate the house with an aroma begging for dinner to be served soon. The trick is to cradle them in a large ladle and slice.That way you don't go through the bottom of the spud/Stebbijo, Stebbijo's Place. 
Fall High will be remembered for poor judgment by a spirited crowd of students and inadequate adult supervision. I am encouraged, though, by the thoughtful community dialogue of what constitutes good sportsmanship that has emerged over the past few days. CHS is a better school than Friday night's snapshot of behavior. As the Superintendent of the Coeur d'Alene School District I apologize to the players, students, parents and administrators of Post Falls High School. We did not create an atmosphere of respect and positive competition — period/Hazel Bauman, Coeur d'Alene Superintendent of Schools, via Coeur d'Alene Press. 
commission back to work and throwing into doubt the state’s schedule for its May primary election. Thursday morning, a House committee will consider legislation to push the May primary back to August; the bill is sponsored by Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, (pictured) chairman of the House State Affairs Committee. Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysrusa, the state’s chief election officer, said, “We’re not jumping up and down opposing a move to August.” But, he said, “I happen to believe May’s a better time for an election than August, in the middle of the summer, just with people on vacation”/Betsy Russell, SR. 
today,” reports Bill Jennings from 
years ago. In fall 1985. Only that time Edinger was on the side fighting an advisory vote. At issue that time was the call for an advisory vote on Duane Hagadone's controversial proposal to return hydroplane races to Lake Coeur d'Alene. Hagadone threatened that he would pull the proposal before he would allow it to be put on the ballot. The council was split down the middle — with Steve McCrea, Jim Michaud, and Bob Brown for the vote and Edinger, Dixie Reid, and one other (whom I can't recall) against. Edinger was wearing a pro-hydroplane button. I was in my first year of reporting on local government. Before the meeting, then Mayor Jim Fromm told me he planned to vote for the advisory vote. Based on that statement, I submitted my story that the motion for an advisory vote had passed 4-3 with Fromm casting the tiebreaker — 15 minutes before the council voted, to meet my deadline. And then crossed my fingers that Fromm was good for his word. He was. And that's why I'm still earning my supper with the SR rather than being fired that night for guessing on the outcome of a front-page story. (BTW, the matter was placed on the ballot and the public overwhelmingly rejected the hydroplanes) — DFO.
some compassion (in news reports) that says, 'This is a tough, tough position to be in.' It's not fun. … Do I lose sleep at night? Yeah.” In 2011 — freshly re-elected, but facing a third year of budget-cutting — Otter sought no compassion. He passed on the traditional annual session with reporters, sending Lt. Gov. Brad Little in his place. This year, Otter will resume the tradition. He has agreed to a breakfast meeting and question-and-answer session with reporters, sponsored by the Idaho Press Club. The session is scheduled for Jan. 25. The easy pundit fallback here would be to question motives/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. 
Several key senators withdrew their support from the Senate's Protect IP Act, including Tea Party favorite Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), an elected member of his party's leadership. Sen. Jon Cornyn (R-Texas), who leads the Senate GOP campaign team, and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah), the chairman of the Senate Finance Committee, also retreated from the bill. Thousands of websites went dark on Wednesday to protest the two Internet piracy bills, the House's Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Senate's Protect IP Act (PIPA)/
drinking at a city fire station early Sunday morning an isolated incident that should not affect the public's vision of the agency. University of Idaho students Nicholas Turco, 20, and John Westberg, 18, were found drinking alcohol in a vehicle in the parking lot of the Moscow Volunteer Fire Department's Station No. 3 on North Main Street around 2:45 a.m. Sunday and cited for minor in possession, according to Moscow Police Chief David Duke, who said no other firefighters were contacted during the incident/Brandon Macz, Moscow-Pullman Daily News. 
in a hottly discussed topic (NIC’s purchase of the Ed. Corridor) that you hear comments from both sides on an issue when it is being decided. I did hear from those that thought it was wrong for NIC to make the purchase, and they often had strong arguments to support their view. But now that the purchase has been completed and the infrastructure is in place(Thank you, LCDC). I have heard nothing but raves and compliments on the NIC Board’s proper decision. I can only hope that sometime in the near future Sandi and the city councilman can have the same success. Vision and change are sometimes difficult, but necessary.
week's quiz have an Idaho flavor. Last week's winners were: William Mahaney and Brad Hawkins. Mahaney won the random drawing for two tickets to the men's basketball game between Gonzaga and San Francisco in Spokane Thursday. Hawkins, who was drawn from among all perfect scores, won a $50 gift card to the Davenport Hotel. The top prize this week is a $50 gift card to the Davenport. There's no random prize this week. But News Quiz handlers are trying to find prizes for a random drawing in future weeks. You can take the quiz 
the Coeur d’Alene River, a former bordello called the Snake Pit. Full of ambience and odd historical relics, as well as Joe and wife Rose Mary, it has been a must stop for years for thousands of fly fishermen seeking a burger and an adult beverage, along with advice on where to find the wily cutthroat. In recent years additional hundreds of bicyclists traveling the 76-mile Trail of the Coeur d’Alenes from Plummer to Mullan have made it a must pit stop. Joe is the epitome of Will Rogers’ old saying that he’d never met a man he didn’t like. Always gracious, the Wyoming native and intrepid follower of his Wyoming alma mater’s football team, the Cowboys, he is as good a listener as he is story teller. Joe and Rose Mary walk the talk of “faith, family and friends”/ Chris Carlson, Carlson Chronicles. 
somehow this situation has become worse, not better, because of the GOP Caucus meeting last week. Now, every GOP Senator (perhaps every legislator) has somehow become wrapped in John’s cocoon — and the Senate Democrat Leadership sees this opportunity. As the press rolled out, following the “Caucus confidence vote”, I believe that it became apparent to a number of GOP senators that they were now perceived to be supporting John, and even comfortable with his behavior — even though they are not/Dennis Mansfield. 
setbacks are part of life and that it's about how you move forward. My job last summer was searching for employment. I applied for dozens of jobs. I met with people every week. I kept coming up empty. As the frustration and the bills mounted, I realized the fundamental problem — I didn't have my college degree. I couldn't get past the human resources sentries to even get an interview. I started working at newspapers in my early 20s and never looked back — until now. While I was working in the communications and public relations industry the last 15 years, the world changed. A bachelor's degree is the new high school diploma. It's a must have if you want to be hired in the professional world/Marc Stewart, Lewis-Clark State College PR. 
A controversial plan to redesign McEuen Park won’t be put to a public vote, the Coeur d’Alene City Council decided Tuesday night. The City Council voted 4-3 not to hold an advisory vote on the plan, following two hours of passionate testimony from citizens on the plan to redesign the popular green space on the city’s waterfront. Mayor Sandi Bloem cast the tie-breaking vote. “I don’t think that good planning can take place in a public vote,” she said. The redesign is still a work in progress, Bloem said. Council members Deanna Goodlander, Mike Kennedy and Woody McEvers joined Bloem in voting against the public advisory vote. Council members Ron Edinger, Steve Adams and Dan Gookin favored an advisory vote/Becky Kramer, SR. 
or protest? A true Dr. King approach is both. I am an Educator by profession. I began my work in Mississippi and have continued human rights and intercultural education at the university and public school level after leaving my affiliation with HREI. Yes, that’s part of the solution. I will never minimize that. But to pretend that protest is not acceptable, needful or that it was not part of Dr. MLK’s path is to not fully appreciate the Civil Rights Movement. The entire movement was based on DOING something rather than sitting by, ignoring things and letting the gravity of human depravity run its course with ongoing Black Codes and Jim Crow laws. The sit-ins were active, not passive. The marches were active, not passive. The voter-registration was active, not passive. Non-violent (on the part of those who championed equality) and tasteful? Yes, but passive? No. 
that was overturned because the Idaho Supreme Court ruled a state trooper lied on the witness stand. Jonathan Wade Ellington (pictured) has been free since early November on a $50,000 property-backed bond after returning to Kootenai County from a prison near Boise. Ninety-four Kootenai County residents are to report to the courthouse this morning for jury selection. Opening statements could occur as early as Thursday morning. But first, Judge John Luster will decide whether to dismiss the case against Ellington because of a last-minute evidence issue defense lawyers say infringes on his right to a fair trial/Meghann M. Cuniff, SR. 
footing the bills. I’d ask that he review the %’s of kids that are on free lunches at each school. The numbers are sad to the point of mind numbing. I’d go as far as saying that our group comprises of Ron Paulers, Romney guys, Santorum fans, Obama supporters…you name it. No one has a problem with giving a kid a fresh pair of clothes when he or she is wearing the same shirt and pants day in and day out. Stick to your principles, Mr. Koler, but please realize that these programs are the only chances that these beautiful children have at the simplest blessings that many kids are fortunate enough not even to notice. God created them in his image and loves them to no end. Making the backpack program available at school is the most effective way you are going to help them.
Coeurd’Alene police officers are currently searching for a 9-year-old female who ran away from home at 2 p.m. today in the 1400 block of Kaleigh Court. Ryan Tobiasson is 4-foot-3, 75 pounds, with blond hair and blue eyes. She was last seen wearing a blue coat, jeans, and pink/black/and white boots. The girl left behind a note saying she was running away. Due to her age and extreme weather conditions this child is in danger. CPD asks you to call 769-2320 if you see her.
On Facebook, Cindy posts: “Left home with pants unzipped: check. Left money on bank counter: check. Hunted down by cash delivering bank teller in produce section of grocery store: check. Spelled one easy name incorrectly and one impossible name, correctly: check. Called “buddy” by my nail tech: check. Walked in sideways blowing snow: check. I think my work here is done.”
which is something that was much needed in the popular resort.The Hagadone owned Coeur d' Alene Resort has embarked on a 2.5 million dollar remodel project. The project has most of the lobby and store area near the main entrance off of Front Ave. and Second St. closed off to the public. Guests now use employee corridors, and it forces departments such as Human Resources to temporarily be moved into the vacant spaces in The Resort Plaza Shops across Front Ave. from the main resort/Matthew Behringer, Inland Northwest Business Watch. 
a place for young people to gather. It was, yes, a tavern. There was beer that flowed and yes, sometimes people abused that right. Things have not changed as far as I can tell. Beer is still consumed and abused today. To call our business anything other than a business is like saying that grocery stores cause obesity. The Rathskeller hosted live entertainment for 20 years, offering top acts that drew literally thousands (if not tens of thousands) into its welcoming space over its life. It pulled visitors from Canada, Washington, Montana, Oregon and brought tourism to our humble little town; it provided and paid taxes for the citizens. It was one of the best “fast food” places and probably the most popular pizza place in town. 
introduced 
was all good words, good works and “come to Jesus.” Then Friday, Boss Denney said two can play this “culture of corruption” game, responding to state Democratic Chairman Larry Grant's blast at the GOP. So Denney began lobbing water balloons at Democratic legislators. One, he said, used a state computer to solicit campaign contributions. Another, he said, used a state computer to forward employee complaints against a state commission chairman to influence another political contest. … Let it be said that using taxpayer resources on partisan campaigns is a no-no. But Boss Denney, the new ethics cop?/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. 
learned this the hard way, but in retrospect I'm thinking it's meant to be a walk-up window, not a drive up window. I realized this when another hungry customer pulled into the lot, got out of his rig and knocked on my window: “Hey buddy, you mind if I squeeze in here to get my order?” Come to think of it, the kind sirs running the shack had given me kind of an odd look when I shimmied my Mercury Mystique directly up next to his building, but how was I to know it was supposed to be a walk-up scenario with no cement parking barriers or anything to pitch a clue at me? Mea culpa, I guess, and fortunately I was handed my food right away after I realized my faux pas and Mr. Window Knocker was able to pick up his order without any trouble/OrangeTV, Get Out! North Idaho. 
alleged “environmental damages” for having the temerity to mine silver, lead and zinc in the Silver Valley? (That amount, ironically, is about what Hecla intends to spend extending the life of the Lucky Friday by some 30 years.) Or was it just last week, when the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration shuttered the Lucky Friday mine for up to a year on an utterly vacuous claim that is main vertical access way, the Silver Shaft, had miraculously become unsafe - overnight? This is the same MSHA that inspects the shaft every three months, most recently a month ago. What changed in 30 days to render the Silver Shaft unserviceable? According to MSHA, 30 years' accumulation of crud leaking from sand lines that have built up along the mile-deep, 18-foot cylindrical shaft's concrete liner/David Bond, Silverminers.com. 
item, scheduled under old business, was requested by City Councilman Ron Edinger. Edinger requested a handful of times in 2011 that the multi-million park proposal be put in the hands of the voters to gauge the public's support on the project before any of the proposed changes are put in. It never received a second in 2011, so the council members never had to vote up or down on the idea. New city council members Dan Gookin and Steve Adams, who earned their seats after the November election, have said they plan to second Edinger's motion this time around, so that should change tonight/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
should be a national holiday, or why human rights merit one,” and wasn't the first to say so, I struggled. Monday wasn't just MLK Day; it was also Human Rights Day in Idaho. January 1947 marked the initial drafting of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which outlines basic civil rights including marriage, voting, religion, and economic equality (many on which MLK also focused, leading to several changes in U.S. law now considered fundamental). This document was signed December of the following year, when most other states and nations celebrate Human Rights Day. To be honest, I hadn't encountered such a viewpoint until moving to Idaho from another state, so I spent the weekend exploring why/Sholeh Patrick, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
hillbilly attire, holding aloft a sea of red plastic cups. In fact at least twice, maybe three times the PA system played the currently popular country drinking song, Red Solo Cup. Some of the taunts from the Viking section to the Trojan players were offensive at best. When the buzzer sounded at the end of the game the entire CHS student section, maybe 100 strong, rushed the court under the basket in celebration. Which wouldn't have been a problem had there not still been three Post Falls players on the court and caught in the throng. At least a couple punches were thrown/Kerri Thoreson, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
at a coffee shop recently in Coeur d'Alene. “Before I was young, successful, running a business. You kind of get some blinders on.” Even after attempted murder and aggravated battery charges were dropped against him in January 2010 after a sealed grand jury found the shooting was in self defense, Johnson had questions of his own. If the shooting was ruled self defense, where were new charges against the aggressors? He was beaten so badly that around one year after the incident, doctors discovered he had several broken C7 and T1 vertebrae in his neck. And there were reports - which the Moses Lake visitors deny — that the visitors were kicked out of the Torch Lounge moments before the encounter/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
this morning to a cascade of congratulatory phone calls, emails and tweets about the birthday special NBC threw for her last night. That's the one where 
Sandpoint for 11 years, since its creation in response to a planned 2001 Aryan Nations parade that didn’t happen. The city of Sandpoint got first shot at hosting “Tolerance,” but passed on it, claiming at the time that lack of a policy for public art was the problem. Trouble is, the sculpture resembles two giant stick figures coupling. “Tolerance” has many detractors. An arsonist once tried to burn it down. The Bonner County Daily Bee reports on the balancing act performed by commissioners. They support the idea behind “Tolerance,” but not necessarily the offbeat sculpture. Besides, the wood is rotting. And courthouse expansion plans could crowd “Tolerance” off the lawn. Maybe it’s time to check back with Sandpoint city leaders to see if they have finally adopted a public arts policy/DFO, SR Huckleberries. 
currently held by Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, and Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint. “Neither one of us is a slick Boise politician,” Ahrens said. “We know what it’s like to balance a checkbook.” After her inclusion in a New York Times feature story and an appearance on “Late Night With David Letterman” in 2010, Pam Stout became something of a national Tea Party icon. Her county job heading the Bonner County Property Rights Council further bolstered her conservative credentials. Now Stout aims to take her views to Boise as a District 1 representative/Cameron Rasmussen, Bonner County Bee. 
educate less fortunate children is a cross that should not be borne by public schools. What's sad is that Duncan Koler probably isn't the only Coeur d'Alene School District patron who feels that way. When Koler railed last week against what he called the “social services bureaucracy” that he alleges the school district is becoming, he packaged feeding, clothing and providing health care for children into his list of mistaken steps the district is taking, leading it down the slippery slope of socialism. Duncan's sarcastic rant Monday (you can hear it on 
appropriate for sports heroes like Tim Tebow to “force” his faith on the rest of us who are watching his team on TV. Whether he wins or loses tonight, Tebow will be interviewed. And he'll utter his well-known sentence, ” I'd like to thank my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ” - which has caused not only an awkwardness but an antipathy/anger in many circles - and it will be broadcast across the world, once more. And people will be angry and EVEN portray Tebow as being an 
anyone can show me a time in history when Dr. King attended a Klan protest then perhaps we will change our tactics, but you will not find that Dr. King ever did that.” Instead of engaging with the Aryans our Board members and HREI hosted the 27th year of the Children’s show at NIC. This year is was a wonderful presentation of “Living Voices”. CDA & Post Falls School Districts brought the children in and they learned about human rights atrocities in our history. They were also sent away with a message of hope, tolerance, and support of human rights for all. As they left the college by bus their route went right past Winkler and his crew. Sadly, the little kids saw for themselves a current example of hate. (Photo from “Images of Rachel Dolezal”)
Friday was opening night for the small stage version of “Rent” in Coeur d’Alene. The content of the play is a hot issue because some characters are gay and have aids. A group met at Saint Joan of Arc to pray the rosary. Protestors say the prayers are for reparations that have been committed by the musical. A spokesperson for the group told KREM 2’s Cole heath the prayers are to counteract the blasphemous or sinful situations portrayed in the show/KREM. 
Boise State President Bob Kustra (shown in Boise State photo) has been a vocal opponent of an NCAA proposal to give student-athletes an additional $2,000 stipend. During an interview with American Public Media's Kai Ryssdal on “Marketplace,” Kustra gave made his strongest comments to date about his reluctance to give the stipend. In December, Boise State 
Winkler was in military garb packing a gun on his belt. I (Rachel Dolezal) posted across the street with an African American Flag (red/green/black) and a sign that said, “Malcolm X is my hero.” Winkler hurled plenty of assaults at me directly, calling me out by name. I said nothing to them the entire time. I was there alone for maybe 20 minutes, and eventually around 25 people showed up, some with signs and flags some with voices. We were black, white, hispanic, gay, straight, male, female, young, and old. Some white male college students stood on the KKK side with signs reading: 'I’m NOT with Stupid' that had arrows pointing at the KKK individuals. Some students had GSA rainbow banners. One guy had a sign that said, 'Not everyone in Idaho is racist.' A veteran came by and said he’s ashamed to have fought for the racists across the street…” (Kathy Plonka 2008 SR file photo of Rachel Dolezal during her tenure as a Human Rights Education Institute educator)
Meeting, Lora Gervais and General Bob Brooke were re-elected to the KCRR Board and Jim Hightowers was newly elected. They will serve three year terms. Congratulations to Lora, Bob and Jim and a thanks to all 7 candidates who ran for KCRR Board. I also announced I would not be running again for KCRR President during the January 28th Election Board Meeting. Its been a great three years and I want to thank all Reagan Republicans for making our organization so effective. I encourage anyone interested in any of the executive positions to let a board member know about our interest. 2012 should be another banner year for KCRR.”
new study. Swedish researchers analyzed data from 11 clinical trials and 6,643 pancreatic cancer patients, 
reading legislation — starting with the legislation on which they actually vote. But there is some gamesmanship going on here, as McGeachin and her committee prepare to take center stage in the debate over a state-run health care exchange. McGeachin, R-Idaho Falls, is emerging as one of the Legislature’s best-positioned opponents of the proposed exchange — a federally funded portal where individuals and small businesses can shop for health insurance. And if McGeachin can turn the debate over the exchange into one more Statehouse referendum on the law Republicans love to call “Obamacare,” she just might rally enough resistance to stop the exchange/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. 
been found, and the FBI said Friday it had one man in custody and was questioning another in connection with her disappearance. Sidney Public School officials posted a statement online saying they learned of Sherry Arnold’s death Friday morning. No further information was available. FBI Special Agent in Charge David J. Johnson of Salt Lake City said a tip from the public led to the suspects. The popular 43-year-old math teacher from the oil boom town of Sidney near the North Dakota border had been missing since last Saturday morning/AP. 
group, used his weekly column to give high marks to the start of the 2012 legislative session. And Hoffman didn't gloat about 
in Boise and debated some of the weirdest stuff imaginable — declaring the courting of foreign investment to Idaho “subversive,” demanding the firing of any university president who resists arming college students with concealed guns or labeling Idaho “the Free-Market State.” So what happened? For some reason, Semanko's GOP website won't tell you. But we will. Foreign investment is safe. The guns on campus measure failed. Free-Market State? That passed/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. 
they call a “culture of corruption” among Republican officials, saying some Democratic lawmakers, too, have stepped across ethical lines. “Both sides – Republicans and Democrats – make mistakes or even cross the line into the camp of ethical lapses of judgment,” Denney wrote in a statement. “Both sides are looking at reforming the process to, as is best possible, reduce the chance of partisanship when looking into complaints of ethical violations”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise.
this week, he had to do a 180, to the tune of $300 million. Here’s the recap: On Jan. 5, at a legislative preview sponsored by The Associated Press, Otter made his case for a state-run (but federally funded) health exchange, which would allow small businesses or individuals to shop for the most affordable insurance coverage. Otter upped the ante with a new argument: He said the state risked losing $300 million in Medicaid money, should it fail to establish an exchange. Sounds like a compelling argument. Indeed, we wrote at length about it in a Jan. 6 editorial restating our support for a state-run exchange. Trouble is, Otter had his facts wrong, and admitted as much to the AP late Wednesday. Good luck unringing that bell, governor/Idaho Statesman Editorial Board. 
just outside Wallace. One dog died and another sustained a facial bite, said Shoshone County Sheriff Mitch Alexander, and there were many wolf tracks in the area. A neighbor reported the dog that died was a Rottweiler. Idaho Fish and Game notified residents in the area and informed them that it is legal to shoot the wolf pack. Calls made to Idaho Fish and Game official Josh Stanley about the attack weren't returned. Mullan resident Barry Sadler didn't just have his dogs attacked by wolves a few years ago - they chased his daughter into the front door and came right up on his porch. Sadler shot and killed one of the offending wolves/Kelsey Saintz, Hagadone News Network. 
shown to Lakes Magnet Middle School students. Following the showing of the film, students in all the school's advisory classes will participate in teacher-led followup discussions on racism. Produced by Idaho Public Television host, Marcia Franklin, “The Color of Conscience” first aired in May. The documentary examines the past 30 years of the modern human rights movement in Idaho, and chronicles the efforts of local human rights activists who in 1981 founded the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations/Coeur d'Alene Press. 
signs condemning the play, the performers and maybe the audience, too. This is America, thank goodness. In this land of the free and home of the brave — those brave enough to perform a controversial, critically acclaimed work of art and those brave enough to make a symbolic statement in a small sea of theater-goers who likely disagree with them - there's plenty of room for dissenting opinions, so long as everybody obeys the law. Just as it is the right of Playhouse decision-makers to put on this sold-out production, so, too, is it the right of critics to say it does not meet their moral standards. The gray area is this: When is protest a legitimate disagreement, and when does it constitute outright bigotry?/Coeur d'Alene Press Editorial Board. 
young woman who wishes to remain anonymous recently gave the Spokane Police Department 1,600 Beanie Babies in near perfect condition. “Apparently she got into her 20s and decided she didn’t need them anymore,” said Officer Ryan Snider. All patrol cars will have a few of the miniature stuffed animals, which were once a collector’s craze. Wal-Mart donated sandwich bags to store them, Snider said. Patrol officers have long had older stuffed animals to give to the children they encounter in all types of calls, from car crashes to domestic violence reports and drug raids/Meghann Cuniff, SR. 
replica, it does include a woodstove. And knick-knacks on the walls. Water is served in mason jars. And menu items are homemade, comfort-food goodness. “My grandma loved cooking for people, and I think I inherited that trait,” says Turnbough. That means from-scratch baked goods — wheat bread, rye, sourdough, sandwich buns, even biscuits (wheat or white), with homemade gravy ($5-$7). Griddlecakes are made with real buttermilk ($4-$7) while the Johnny Apple Cakes include red applesauce and a honey-cream cheese topping ($7)/Carrie Scozzaro, Inlander. More here. (Carrie Scozzaro photo: Italian omelet at Grandma Zulas Kitchen) H/T: Get Out! North Idaho.
quarantined mail that’s infected, attention seeking, irritating, too-good-to-be true, perverted or predatory. But the blogging spam filter is a little different. While my email filter is overflowing with ridiculous offers of sex, money and drugs, my blog comment filter includes compliments. I realize these are auto-generated nuisance messages designed to clog the cogs of cyberspace and many of them appear to be written by someone who doesn’t have a great grasp on English, but quite a few are also affirming/Jill Barville, 3Rs. 
and volunteers their views on selling Camp Easton. The goal, said Tim McCandless, the CEO of the Spokane-based regional Scouts group, is to help board members decide whether to sell or keep the historic camp on Lake Coeur d’Alene’s east shore about 20 miles south of Coeur d’Alene. Some Scouts and neighbors of Camp Easton reacted angrily in August when they learned of a plan to swap Camp Easton for a new Boy Scout camp to be built by a developer on the west side of the lake/Tom Sowa, SR. 
other states have during his annual 
investigation of a video that purports to depict four U.S. Marines urinating on the corpses of Taliban fighters — a video both men condemned as deplorable. In a separate public statement, Panetta said such behavior is “entirely inappropriate for members of the United States military” and that those responsible will be held accountable. The video, posted on the Internet, shows men in Marine combat gear standing in a semi-circle over three bodies. It’s not clear whether the dead were Taliban or civilians or someone else. The title on the posting called them Taliban insurgents and said the men were from Camp Lejeune, N.C., but officials would not immediately confirm it/Washington Post. 
both parties and both houses, to agree on a bipartisan bill within the next couple of weeks. Both House Speaker Lawerence Denney and Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill confirmed the agreement. “I believe we must maintain and grow public trust in government,” declared Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, who said she began working on the bill in the fall. “My intent was to keep it simple, easy to use and low-cost. I am pleased to say that Speaker Denney also recognizes the importance of the idea and will collaborate with us”/Betsy Russell, SR. 
should be fired or hired. But the high court tempered its decision bolstering the constitutional separation of church and state by refusing to give a detailed description of what constitutes a religious employee, which left an untold number of workers at churches, synagogues and other religious organizations still in limbo over whether government antidiscrimination laws protect them in job bias disputes. It was, nevertheless, the first time the high court has acknowledged the existence of a so-called “ministerial exception” to anti-discrimination laws — a doctrine developed in lower court rulings/Associated Press. 
folks think of family home movies. But these things do occur to Spokane siblings David Ball and Donna Larsen. For them, these are staples in the movies they’ve been filming together for 11 years. On Jan. 7, they premiered their newest film, plus two others at the Garland Theatre. Although they’ve shown their home movies at smaller venues, this was their big screen premiere. “We’re so excited!” Larsen said/Cindy Hval, SR. 
said just before the New Year with a decision that seems sure to get the ultra-controversial Citizens United corporate campaign finance case back before John Roberts and Company very soon. Citizens United is the case, you will recall, that President Obama denounced in his 2010 State of the Union speech. The U.S. Supreme Court’s January 2010 decision, decided 5-4, not only overturned a century of settled campaign finance law, but served to midwife the unprecedented level of unregulated and mostly undisclosed spending of the so called Super PAC’s in the current Republican presidential primary process/Marc Johnson, The Johnson Post. 
Tuesday afternoon that Denver Broncos quarterback Tim Tebow will be the featured speaker at Stillwater Christian's community banquet March 7. Since then, calls have been pouring in from people wanting tickets. “I think this is the longest stretch without the phone ringing right now,” Director of Development Craig Hunnicutt said in a phone interview Wednesday morning. “It's been about 30 seconds.” Many of those calls have been from people outside the Kalispell area, he said. And nearly all have been from people ecstatic to hear the pro quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner is making a stop in the Flathead Valley/Kristi Albertson, Daily Inter Lake. 
Dec. 23 in the MAACO Bowl played in Las Vegas — the gambling capital of the U.S. But it wasn’t until he returned to Idaho that he really hit the jackpot. The coach, who finished his sixth season, signed a five-year contract that will pay him $2 million next year and increase to $2.8 million in 2016. He received $500,000 in his first year, and his pay for the 2012 season will be higher than that of 30 other BCS-conference coaches and make him 33rd-highest in the nation. Yes, that’s a lot of money to pay a man coaching a sport at a school the size of Boise State. And he’s worth every penny/Idaho Press Tribune Editorial Board. 
people think the plug should be pulled because of what they call immoral behavior in the musical.Rent has won a Pulitzer, a Tony and was made into a popular motion picture. According to Lake City Playhouse artistic director George Green, Rent is about “artists trying to make it in the world through their struggles, through their addictions, through their pain, through their sickness and overcome.”The musical takes place under the shadow of HIV/AIDS, and there are several characters that are homosexual, and not everyone in the community is OK with the play being performed in Coeur d'Alene/Anusha Roy, KXLY. 
concern Wednesday in Idaho’s Silver Valley. Officials at Hecla Mining Co., which operates the underground silver mine, said it will take a year to clean the shaft to regulators’ specifications. The mine will be closed during that time, resulting in the layoffs of more than 200 employees and contractors. Federal inspectors closed the shaft last Friday, citing a buildup of sand and cement on the shaft’s walls. The deposits could break off and “potentially fall thousands of feet down the shaft and cause serious damage,” said Amy Louviere, a spokeswoman for the Mine Safety and Health Administration, or MSHA/Becky Kramer, SR. 
unshed tears.As I slowly navigated the school parking lot, an avalanche of words tumbled out. “Alex went to California for Christmas break,” said Sam, 12. “And he’s not coming back!”While I drove, Sam expressed his sadness at the sudden move of a boy who’d been his friend since preschool. “It was just supposed to be a visit,” he said. “But now they are staying in California, and I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”By the time we reached home we’d decided he would write a letter to Alex to tell him how much he’d miss him. Sam said his teacher had his friend’s new address/Cindy Hval, SR Front Porch. 
investigations in one year, which could be some sort of record. His many infractions, including the mishandling of seized painkillers, established what Knezovich dubbed a poor performance pattern. No, duh. But the real nugget came when Smith committed malicious mischief by stabbing the seat of a truck he was searching like Brutus skewering Caesar. Claimed he thought it was funny. Et, tu, Travis? The bottom line is that Ozzie did the right thing for humankind by firing this clown. But apparently we have gone through the looking glass/Doug Clark, SR. 
(Washington State) will leave the Broncos for jobs in Bowl Championship Series conferences, a source told the Idaho Statesman. Their exact titles are unknown, but Yates is expected to coach defensive backs for new Aggies coach Kevin Sumlin in the Southeastern Conference and Choate is expected to coach a defensive position for new Cougars coach Mike Leach in the Pac-12. Washington State already has hired special teams coach Eric Russell, who like Choate attended St. Maries High in North Idaho. The two departures will cost the Broncos experience and recruiting ties/Chadd Cripe, Idaho Statesman. 
readers for forgiveness. I made an honest stand about reducing county precincts and had certain people publically question my motives and my character. I, in turn, reacted badly. Although I still believe in the policy I wrote about and in the facts I presented, in anger, in hurt, and with wounded pride, I did two things that were contrary to the values that I, and I think the Reagan Republicans, stand for. For betraying my own, and I believe our collective principals, I am truly sorry/Jeff Ward, Reagan Republicans. 
A Coeur d'Alene man wanted on 9 counts of lewd conduct heads the Kootenai County sheriff's list of wanted felons this week. Nathaniel Robert Howell, 32, (upper left) is wanted on charges of 4 counds of lewd conduct with a minor and 5 counts of sexual exploitation of a minor. Bond is set for him at $150,000. Others on the felony warrant list are: Ashley Marie Davis Allen, 20, of Post 
Falls, (upper middle) on a charge of failure to appear for possesion of a controlled substance and drug paraphernalia (bond: $50,000). Jeremy Jay Johnson, 23, of Liberty Lake, (upper right) unlawful taking of wildlife (bond: $20,000). Joshua Keith Ley, 32, of Post Falls, (lower left) grant theft, pettit theft, probation violation for burglary (bond: $75,000). And Mack Lloyd Snider, 50, of Troy, (lower right) delivery of controlled substance ($25,000). 
spooked when a ground wire burnt through as a result of the short-circuiting caused by the missing wire, according to Avista crews. Avista crew members speculate the theft occurred between 1 and 2 a.m. because the system became unstable at that time. The theft knocked out power to about 5600 Avista customer as well as to traffic lights on Highway 95, Northwest/Ramsey, and Atlas Road. Investigating officer found copper wire cut away in at least eight areas, some cleanly and some ragged, indicating the thief didn't have proper equipment. Avista has yet to make a damage estimate but repair workers speculated replacement costs in the thousands of dollars. The substation was enclosed by high, chain-link fence, topped by barbed-wire strands. 
Gonzaga's home game against San Francisco on Thursday, Jan. 19, are about 100-to-1. About 30 Merry Hucksters have entered the contest so far. All entries in the weekly News Quiz are eligible for the drawing for the Gonzaga tickets. A top prize of lunch for two at Davenport's Palm Court Grill will be awarded for the best score. The first question is pretty easy: “The Inland Northwest experienced a drier than expected December as a result of (five choices given).” 
he calls “the worst night of my life:” the night of drinking that landed him in the Ada County Jail last Father’s Day, and resulted in a guilty plea on a DUI charge. Then, Republicans had to decide whether they wanted McGee to remain in leadership, and allow the politically ambitious McGee to serve as the public face of the GOP caucus. I can’t imagine this was easy on McGee — just as, I’m sure, it was difficult for him to break his seven-month silence and talk to reporters about his arrest. There are still holes in the story, particularly the still unsubstantiated claim that McGee suffered a concussion that contributed to his erratic Father’s Day behavior/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. 
“Contrary to what they're saying in various parts of town, the decision to move the Doomsday Clock closer to midnight has nothing to do with my recent election to City Council” — Councilman Dan Gookin re:
Idaho Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter's State of the State address Monday. Otter was present to deliver his sixth session-opener of Idaho's Legislature. Like his predecessors, it's his job to set an agenda. Some governors offer a detailed blueprint for governing. Others issue a call to action on a handful of initiatives. But Otter's six-page, 28-minute address was devoid of either. He offered a porridge of feel-good slogans — jobs, education and tax cuts - that was thin on passion and weak on detail. Filling in the blanks will be lawmakers who at the end of a 90-day session likely will find a governor willing to sign most anything they put on his desk/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. 
percent pay raise, the gap between Otter's salary and that of the highest paid state employee just keeps growing. The governor's fiscal 2012 salary is $115,348, up from $110,734 last year, according to the annual “Rainbow Report” issued by the state controller's office. Boise State University head football coach Chris Peterson was once again the highest-paid state employee, with a $1.17 million annual salary – up 28 percent or $255,000 from the year before. (The report, which was released Friday, didn't include the $375,000 raise the State Board of Education approved for Peterson last week. Nor did it mention that Peterson's salary is paid from revenue generated by the Bronco football program, not state tax dollars)/Lewiston Tribune. 
Stenson (pictured), a bartender at Seattle bar Canon, who grew up in Colville and, at 62, has been recognized by cocktail afficionados as one of the best bartenders in the country. The story also makes for a good history of the Washington cocktail scene in general. (Did you know it was illegal for full-service bars in Washington to even have windows before the mid-'70s?) I don't really have my own Stenson story, as do the characters in the opening of the Seattle Weekly, but I will say that, last fall, I stopped by the Zig Zag cafe, the Seattle bar where Stenson spent a decade, specifically to try his Last Word, an old drink that he has made famous as 
highest ranking post in the GOP controlled chamber. Republican senators met behind closed doors in the Idaho Capitol Wednesday to determine if McGee should retain his leadership post. Last year, McGee pleaded guilty to drunken driving in a plea deal after being arrested in a Boise neighborhood. The Caldwell Republican has apologized for his behavior and is aware of the disappointment expressed by his senate colleagues/John Miller, AP. 
miners,” Peak said. A jewel- bedecked, elaborately dressed woman tended the bar. Paintings and stuffed animals and Western memorabilia covered the walls and hung from the ceiling. Smoke thickened the air. It was January 1978. “It was surreal, it really was,” he said. “A pretty rowdy bunch.” Within weeks, he owned the place with a partner. Since then, Peak and his wife, Rose Mary, have kept the Snakepit, aka the Enaville Resort, open virtually every day but Thanksgiving and Christmas – a place for a meal, a drink (legal or otherwise), some gossip, a dish of complimentary huckleberry ice cream and a blast of wood-hewn “atmosphere”/Shawn Vestal, SR.
the Coeur d’Alene Reservation has transformed this community and delivered our people from abject poverty and a century-long dearth of opportunity. I see the pride in our people that comes from the hope and opportunity that gaming provides. That is precisely the reason Indian gaming was embraced by the United States and the state of Idaho.
Federal Elections Commission (FEC), Romney already has won the Republican money race in the Pacific Northwest. The Republican nominee-in-waiting far outpaces his GOP rivals when it comes to raising money in Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. 
announced Tuesday evening a year-long closure at its Lucky Friday Mine in North Idaho for removal of built-up material in the silver shaft. Hecla’s stock, traded on the New York Stock Exchange, lost a quarter of its value in morning trading today. It was trading around $4.40 a share at 8 a.m. Pacific, down $1.44 from the close Tuesday. That’s the lowest it has been since mid-2010. Federal mine inspectors, who are investigating accidents at the Mullan, Idaho, mine, closed down Lucky Friday’s main shaft last week as a result of hazards associated with loose rock. The vertical shaft is the underground silver mine’s main entrance and exit, and hauls both workers and materials/Spokesman-Review.
would eventually have to face his hometown paper — his tone and content seem sincere and as re-countable as any person could muster under such an alcohol influence. Wanting to get it “behind him” may sound, to some, like a politically convenient thing to do as the session opens this week. I don't. I've worked with thousands of folks in the clutches of substance abuse. Taking a fierce inventory of who and where they are is vital to future health; moving past one's poor behavior is key. Moving towards complete sobriety is paramount. He can move forward, personally. He will also most likely be held accountable, publicly, by the voters for his actions. Both are needful for healing. 
ension and medical benefits obligations, increased competition and tough economic conditions. The Chapter 11 filing on Wednesday comes just two years after a predecessor company emerged from bankruptcy proceedings. That company, called Interstate Bakeries and based in Kansas City, Mo., filed for bankruptcy protection in 2004. It emerged in February 2009/Associated Press. 
for the old truck to dump and come back. Dan asked a good question about using other city trucks for the purpose. The answer from Water Department head Jim Markley was that the trucks are needed for work in the summer when all trucks are in use, however the truck would be available in the off season for snow,leaf removal for other departments. A new truck had been budgeted at a price of 100,000.00 and was a line item in the budget. The price after bidding the truck out came in at 126,000.00. This requires an approval for the additional costs. This is paid for by fees charged for water, an enterprise fund — fees for service not tax dollars. The funds are there, they simply need approval. Myself and Woody voted for the measure. It will go to the full council at the next meeting.
electoral voters, that we adorn them as the nominee. That’s silly, it is contra-intuitive and it should be just plain wrong. I remember when George W. went to South Carolina in 2000 and somehow made John McCain go away. We all saw what happended over the next eight years. How sad that the rest of us didn’t have a reasonable vote in who our party nominee would be. The system is broken. I hope at some time in my life a real candidate selection system will evolve. I’m not counting on it.
first two contests of the presidential nominating season. Fox News also projects that Ron Paul will finish second and Jon Huntsman will finish third. Rick Perry is projected to finish in sixth place. Unclear is what Romney's margin of victory will be, though Fox News projects he will win by double digits. With just 14 percent of precincts reporting, Romney is leading with 36 percent of the vote. Paul has 24 percent and Huntsman has 18 percent/Fox News. 
the Republicans will get updated mailing lists at taxpayer expense so they probably believe their new closed primary law has some redeeming social qualities…but be very afraid to open your mail box once they all know where you live. I would predict that the public will be even stronger in their demand for permanent absentee ballot status. One of our most frequent complaints at the elections office was why in the world did people have to fill that out every year…and that was with a much easier and simpler form.
my 
the County’s website. “The Secretary of State just put out this new Absentee Ballot Application form, although it is dated 2011; and is requiring all Counties to use it,” said Hayes. “We should have had the revised form last year.” Over 100 people have already sent in the old form to request their Absentee Ballot, so Elections has to mail them a different request form. “Then the voter has to fill out much of the same information again. I’m really sorry for inconveniencing the voting public,” Hayes concluded. The major difference between the two application forms is the addition of Party Affiliation information on the new application/Kootenai County Clerk's Office news release. 
DVDs - including the British science fiction program and many other movies and series - valued at a total of more than $4,600 were stolen from the Hastings entertainment store in Coeur d'Alene, according to a police report. The store, located at 101 E. Appleway Ave., noticed the discs were missing following an inventory check at the end of last month. Managers at the store told police they believe the thefts occurred some time in December. “That's a highly unusual number of DVDs to walk out the door” as shoplifted items, said Coeur d'Alene Police spokeswoman Sgt. Christie Wood/David Cole, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
writes: “Anybody who has brought home a date knows: Adding a person into the folds of your family can be gut-wrenching. In Joseph Kesselring’s classic 'Arsenic and Old Lace,' the Random Acts of Theatre Players bring to life the hilarious troubles of Mortimer Brewster, played by 19-year-old College of Southern Idaho drama major Thomas Crozier of Jerome. Mortimer discovers his closet contains not a few embarrassing skeletons but a growing graveyard after he proposes to Elaine, played by Megan Choate.” 
field and see a storm coming from three counties over. In other vast swaths of U.S. countryside, the highest elevations are found atop low, rolling hills. Sometimes people who live in such places wind up moving to the Spokane area. Upon surveying their new surroundings, these individuals determine that we have mountains here. And that’s where it gets complicated. Yes, it’s certainly true that there are mountains hereabouts. Quite a few, actually. They just aren’t particularly tall or breathtakingly jagged, as is the case elsewhere in the Northwest/Paul Turner, The Slice. 
Via Twitter from Melissa Luck/KXLY: “Dear people of the world: Our fax machine was jammed for 6 days and no one noticed. Please stop using fax to communicate.”
and reserves. All of these issues are important, but it is really hard to govern if there is little confidence that government serves their interests,” House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, pictured, said of Idahoans. “It is unfortunate that the governor has failed to address the culture of arrogance and entitlement that is pervasive in the Legislature and GOP leadership.” The minority Democrats noted that they've introduced numerous ethics bills over the years that in many cases were ignored. “We hope this year will be different,” Rusche said/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
The Rathdrum City Council tonight will hold public hearings on a street name change request to honor a fallen city police officer and a proposed law banning minors from having e-cigarettes. Mayor Vic Holmes and council members Fred Meckel and Debbie Holmes - all re-elected during November's election — will be sworn in. The meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 8047 W. Main. John Franco, father of former Rathdrum Officer Jonathan Franco who died in September at 27 due to a motorcycle crash while off duty, is requesting to change the name of Lauren Loop near Betty Kiefer Elementary to Jonny Franco Loop in honor of his son/Brian Walker, Press. 
candidate won the GOP straw poll. Ron Paul. Quoth Dennis: “Some might argue that the Straw Poll was merely a 'fundraiser' for the state GOP (paying $30 to vote in it could give that impression) — but it was a POLL that Ron Paul will gladly celebrate nationally…and Romney will attempt to deflect intentionally. But, a win over Santorum by 8 votes in Iowa… and a loss to Ron Paul in Idaho? If I were Romney's staff, I'd wonder why this 'fundraiser'/straw poll was not invested in by Mitt supporters. After all, they HAVE the money to spend … So, until March's Super Tuesday the nation will believe that Idaho is owned by Ron Paul.” 
even as a late surge in the polls by 
Clearwater and Snake Rivers. You could have a Boise-style Greenbelt and an active community of sun-worshipping bicyclists, anglers, and boaters, if it wasn’t for the overpowering stench. It’s a shame — that valley has so much to offer. But that paper mill sends out a smell that far surpasses its economic impact… I know it’s the “smell of money.” We had a sugar factor in my own hometown, and we always justified it. But it stunk, and it polluted, and in the long run, I’m not certain that it was worth it.
over the years. The answer of course is that we have a small pack of wolves in the forest above the house. We can hear them at night and have found signs of them. It is curious to us because we don’t allow hunting on our property. We like it to be a safe sactuary for all wildlife, including over 60 wild turkeys who roost in our trees at night. This no hunting policy has been met with much dismay by hunters who stop and check out the property, but we don’t believe in hunting just for the sport of it. But, unfortunately, the wolves pay no attention to the ‘No Hunting’ signs and are slowly thinning the wild turkeys. More below
Kathy Stewart calls her green van the “Wolfmobile.” She wears T-shirts and coats with pictures of wolves. She says the wolf is her guardian. So, the message she wanted to deliver to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game on Monday about wolves was not surprising. “Stop killing them.” “Get education about the wolf. Don't go out and kill it because you can,” she said before a candlelight vigil at Independence Point. Stewart, joined by husband Glen wearing his wolf T-shirt, was one of about 10 people who took part in the event organized by the Northern Idaho Wolf Alliance/Bill Buley, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
“sexual orientation” and “gender identity” added to the state's laws prohibiting discrimination in employment, housing and education. They call their campaign “Add the Words, Idaho” and they're using sticky notes to make their point. So far for this year's legislative session, Add the Words volunteers say they have collected hundreds of sticky notes to lawmakers from more than 50 different Idaho towns. Add the Words volunteers will begin placing sticky notes on the doors of the House and Senate chambers today, as the 2012 legislative session begins/Coeur d'Alene Press. 
upgrading the Broncos’ success on the field. We asked how he’s been able to build a national reputation for excellence with what’s considered limited resources by today’s college football standards,” Otter said late in his speech. “What I took away from his answer was this: FOCUS. Focus on the challenges at hand. Focus on leveraging your strengths. Focus on improving every day. Focus on what you can control. And focus on helping individual players understand how they can help achieve team goals while reaching their own academic and athletic potential …”/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. 
to the Gonzaga Bulldog game against San Francisco in The Kennel Thursday, Jan. 19. You don't have to score a perfect 10 to win either. A prize of lunch for two at Davenport's Palm Court Grill will be awarded for the best score. The first question is pretty easy: “The Inland Northwest experienced a drier than expected December as a result of (five choices given).” 
and Jacobson “Outstanding County Chair.” 
every year. Similarly, it had been many years since a car of mine refused to start. And then the other day, it happened. I immediately knew why, though I am far short of being widely recognized as a mechanical genius. It had dawned on me one day that the battery in the car we bought new almost seven years ago had yet to need a replacement. So even I realized that was a stretch. I vowed I would, in a timely matter, replace the battery before it stranded us somewhere. To dysfunctional mechanics like me, a timely manner means one of these days. Thus it was that the battery was rude enough to die on me/Bill Hall, Lewiston Tribune. 
needs to address should be cleaning house. While we are pleased that Governor Otter has finally joined the Idaho Democratic Party in addressing Idahoans top priorities such as job creation, education and healthcare, the most important part of today’s State of the State address was what he didn’t say. He did not say anything about ethics. The Majority Party needs to get their house in order and then they can move on to to the important issues of job creation, the health care exchange, and budget discussions. Idaho Democratic legislators have been pushing for this since 2005/Idaho Democratic Party news release. 
but only to offer an unsolicited endorsement to 
From a press release: The Northern Idaho Wolf Alliance (NIWA) will conduct a candlelight vigil to honor 337 fallen Idaho and Montana wolves, and protest the war against wolves, this evening starting at 4:30 - the night of “The Full Wolf Moon.” They will gather near the Independence Point parking lot in Coeur d'Alene and walk through downtown from there. NIWA is joining Howling for Justice and Wolf Warriors to make The Candlelight Vigil for Wolves under the Full Wolf Moon a “Howl Across America” event, encouraging wolf supporters to hold their own vigils across the country on this special night/Coeur d'Alene Press. 
under the word “CLOSED” printed in capital letters Friday: “Due to ongoing medical issues we will be closed for some projects. It has been our sincere pleasure to serve you since 1978 - 2 days closed each year! Stay in touch … Rose Mary & Joe need your support.” 
feeding in the waters around Beauty Bay. The majesty of the birds was only matched by the lake itself, a mirror of calm in an otherwise unsettled world. It is something special to see, the grace with which the eagles fly, seemingly oblivious to the watchers below. Then, to see the sun set as the full moon rose, well, that was the capper for us. We are blessed fully beyond my means to express. Thank God for where we live.
and wine served at the last supper symbolize the body and blood of our Savior. Many times during the Legislative session I attend Mass. Therefore for you to ask me to refrain from my religious celebrations is an invasion of my rights to freedom of religion. I am sure you have your personal religious beliefs and I would not invade on your beliefs. After all this is America the land of Freedom. I work hard to represent my constituents and understand the laws of Idaho concerning consumption of Alcoholic beverages.” Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise, puts the final count for those responding to his request at 18 for, one (Lodge) against, and 4 equivocal. 
clause protecting lawmakers from civil actions during sessions. Now he’s using it as an argument for dismissing a federal lawsuit to foreclose on his Athol home for back federal taxes. In Hart’s reply to the federal lawsuit, in which the Department of Justice is seeking to foreclose on the home to pay off more than a half-million dollars in back taxes, interest and penalties, his attorney charged that the IRS claim is “barred” because a “notice of deficiency” was sent to Hart while the Legislature was in session/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
Spudbob: “I might give (Stickman) a run for (his) money in the “last land line telephone in America” contest. I am also working towards, “last family that does not own a microwave” as well as”last non-cable tv home”. I was, however, an early iPod owner. I guess it’s just about what your priorities are.”
restaurant owner can be found nearly every day, cooking, cleaning and otherwise running the Hayden breakfast and lunch spot off U.S. 95. It's the heat that can come through the front door of the tidy restaurant the Coeur d'Alene City Councilman swears isn't affecting him. Because when some customers pull up to the counter or plop down at a table, they bend McEvers' ear on all things political - like McEuen Field. “Yeah, I've heard that: 'You're the swing vote,” McEvers said Friday in his office at the back of the restaurant. “What the hell is a swing vote?” A swing vote is a vote than can go either way/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
a November referendum. Stage a winner-take-all cage match between Luna and Post Falls instructor Ann Rosenbaum. In one corner, we’d have Luna, a former school board member who got his college degree online. In the other corner, Rosenbaum, a former Marine military police officer who escaped a car bomb in Iraq. New York Times reporter Matt Richtel featured Rosenbaum and two other teachers in an article about the controversy Tuesday. Rosenbaum told the Times: “This technology is being thrown on us. It’s being thrown on parents and thrown on kids”/D.F. Oliveria, Huckleberries, SR. 
Now the player at the center of the controversy, Connell senior Cole Vanderbilt, is receiving death threats. The video was posted by the relative of a Highland High School who was upset with how the gamed was refereed. Vanderbilt and another Connell player are seen committing excessive fouls. North Franklin School District Superintendent Gregg Taylor believes the video shows a different side to the story. He says the Connell coach temporarily pulled Vanderbilt out of the game to discuss the rough play and that he didn’t commit any fouls the rest of the game/KREM. 
Everybody else in Idaho is shelling out $3 and $4 a gallon for gas. But Crane, who commutes the 50-mile round trip from his Nampa home to his office in Boise, uses a state-issued gasoline credit card to fill his tank. In the past three years, that's cost taxpayers $6,900. Crane earns $90,000 a year. Legislative auditors, who uncovered the practice, referred the case to Canyon County Prosecutor Bryan Taylor. The focus seems to be Crane's sloppy record-keeping, although given the sums involved, Crane either was burning up the highways between work and home - or he spent some of the taxpayers' money elsewhere/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. 
spring. Dr. Lorna Finman is sponsoring a reception for two of them from 8:30 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday in the Grove Hotel Hospitality Room in Boise. The two are Pam Stout, leader of the North Idaho Tea Party movement and the Bonner County Property Rights Council, who will be running against state Rep. George Eskridge, and Danielle Ahrens, who will challenge long-time state Sen. Shawn Keough. Also, Donna Capruso already has circulated an email announcing her intention to run against state Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest River. 
looked at the ‘short’ video and nothing stands out as particularly harmful. I remember one game in Priest River where one of our kids actually got punched, and the ref didn’t stop the game ‘til the blood was dripping on the floor. There have been several games where I have shouted from the stands at the ref that if he won’t control the game, I’ll get out there and do it myself (don’t sit next to me at a game, particularly if one of my kids is getting fouled).
and provable, and all are being disallowed he should be able to prove that in court. Having prepared taxes for many years I’m guessing the end result will be that Phil will get his deductions, which should help to offset some of the interest and penalties that have accrued over the years. … I say let’s give Phil his day in court before we judge him too harshly.”
move forward with the creation of a state health insurance exchange, as required by Obamacare, lest the federal government cut its contribution to the state’s Medicaid program. “We’re facing a $300 million expense” if the state doesn’t create a health insurance exchange, Otter warned. “We’re either going to have to raise taxes, which I see no appetite for that, or we’re going to have to cut from someplace else.” Otter said it’s one more reason the state should move ahead with the insurance exchange. I consider Butch Otter a friend. We have a common mentor, the late Ralph Smeed. I think Butch’s heart is in the right place. But by golly, I don’t buy the $300 million claim/Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Freedom Foundation. 
high school basketball game, went viral and showed up on Yahoo.com's homepage.The video, shot by an opposing team's parent, shows Connell payers committing what could be considered flagrant fouls. Yahoo's article said the video has turned Cole Vanderbilt into “one of the most hated players in Washington.”It shows Vanderbilt smacking players in the face as he tries to get the ball away from them. At one point, he clotheslines a player, sending him flying into the air and landing on his back/Colleen O'Brien, KXLY. 
be 4-3 against an advisory vote with the council splitting Edinger/Gookin/Adams in favor and Kennedy/McEvers/Goodlander against — with Mayor Sandi Bloem breaking the time. I'm not sure that would be the end of the matter either. I can see the motion coming up again and again. I'd rather see the council find areas in which they can compromise re: changes to McEuen Field than see this issue continue to split the community. Two things are obvious. A McEuen Field upgrade is supported by most residents. But the size and expense of the Team McEuen proposal adopted by the council is opposed by a solid minority if not a majority of the town. Maybe it's time to consider keeping the boat launch, moving the American Legion field, and putting parking on the other side of Sherman Avenue. Or at least something different from the plan now in play — DFO.
Kage Mann: Elvis birthday is this Sunday. Hard to believe the ‘King of Rock’ would have been 77 years old. Twenty years ago, Jerry Glanville used to claim he seen Elvis down south. It’s nice to fantasize every once in a while.
Stefani Cook at Rigby High. Idaho Senate Finance Committee Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, also weighed in, telling the Times the legislature was “dazzled” by lobbyists for high-tech companies who gave to Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna's 2010 re-election campaign. “It’s almost as if it was written by the top technology providers in the nation,” Cameron told the Times. “And you’d think students would be excited about getting a mobile device, but they’re saying: not at the expense of teachers.” In letters to the Times 
Saw a car this morning being driven by someone who had bothered to scrape frost from only about 10 percent of the windshield. The driver was, in effect, peering out of a little peep hole. Submarine captains in old World War II movies could see more when looking out of their periscopes than that South Hill motorist could see out of the frosted windshield. So here's my question: Why not take an extra minute or two and scrape the rest of the windshield?/Paul Turner, The Slice. 
legislative leaders took pains to show they’re engaged, doing the public’s work and open to ethics reforms that until now got no traction. House Speaker Lawerence Denney (pictured) — oft-criticized for letting tax scofflaw Rep. Phil Hart off easy — warmed to a Democratic proposal to make Idaho the 42nd state with an independent ethics commission. Currently, lawmakers may be scrutinized if a complaint is raised by a colleague. The only arbiter is a committee of legislators. “Having the public have the confidence that we did the right thing (is important),” Denney said. “If there were an independent body to look at the facts, it might actually be a good thing”/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. 
Spudbob: I need some Huck’s help: The son of some Portland friends is getting married in CdA this May and they are looking for a place to hold the rehearsal dinner. Criteria includes: Good food, reasonable price, varied menu, privacy, nice ambiance, etc. Suggestions?
put to a public advisory vote will be up for the City Council to decide Tuesday, Jan. 17, the first full meeting for new councilmen and vote-supporters Dan Gookin and Steve Adams. Councilman Ron Edinger's motion will receive a second. Then whether the McEuen Field project should be put to a public advisory vote will be up for the City Council to decide Tuesday, Jan. 17, the first full meeting for new councilmen and vote-supporters Dan Gookin and Steve Adams. With the election of Adams and Gookin, who were seated Tuesday, that's expected to change/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
seeking to collect more than half a million dollars in back-income taxes. Rep. Phil Hart claims in the document that the IRS is wrong in asking him to pay eight years worth of business deductions, which he believes have been denied because of his book challenging the legality of the income tax. “No, they won't accept my answer,” Hart predicted of the federal government's reaction. “They never do in any lawsuit.” But his answer does kick off the legal process, he stated/Alecia Warren, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
Three months ago I 
now retired from the newspaper but writing history, still, for us and others. He had cleaned out his desk pretty well but left behind about 12 files. I'm pretty sure he didn't forget or need them, because we talked about what items he would be coming to collect over the weekend and he didn't collect these. I looked through each file before pitching them all. One contained photos from an Elvis impersonator. Another had ideas for his column, dated 1992. One of his ideas: “Cars that are smarter than you.” Cleaning out his files made me miss him even more and it also helped me pitch many of my own files because I realize I won't need them/Rebecca Nappi, End Notes. 
Four Kootenai County men and a Spokane woman lead the felony warrants parade in sheriff's Major Ben Wolfinger's weekly list. Eric Kurtis Larson, 24, of Coeur d'Alene (top left), is wanted by KCSD on a charge of first degree stalking with bail set for him at $25,000. Three people 
are wanted for failure to appear for a court proceeding: Amber Marie Crawford, 40, of Spokane, top center (to face a charge of receiving or possession of stolen property, $25,000 bond set); Anthony Scott Mendoza, 35, of Coeur d'Alene, top right (for probation violation for aggravated assault and FTA for disturbing the peace, no bond set); and Richard Lee Trower, 39, of Post Falls, bottom left (for attempted grand theft, no bond set). Finally, Harold Dean Murray, 50, of Coeur d'Alene, bottom right, is wanted for a probation violation for delivery of a controled substance. Bond for him was set at $25,000 
and playing soccer. I walked around the playground five times and enjoyed the activity of it. The sun was shining and the sky was blue and my hands and toes stayed warm. It was lovely…well, as lovely as a walk in the sunshine can be while supervising 45 children/A Butterfly Moment. 
visiting the YMCA, seeing people sweating while running in place while watching people cook on little personal TVs, then departing to a shower with nice warm water and sweet-smelling soap, and noticing the little machine that spin-dries our swimming suits so we may all avoid the hardship of carrying home a wet swimming suit in our automobiles, and then noticing the sign on said swimsuit-drying machine: 'Use at your own risk.'”
This is ultimately disrespectful to both the process and the candidates that have run the race. Each Conservative Candidate for President brings a lifetime of unique and exceptional experiences that has carried them through years and politics and business. You don’t get elected three times as Governor of Texas, rally thousands to the Capitol against Obamacare, win two terms in the Senate in a blue state, or lead the Republican Revolution because you are a flavor of the month. Perhaps, the most apt comparison is to a marathon.” 
been dominating Twitter and Google searches for several days leading up to Friday night's Season Two debut, occupying the type of web chatter usually reserved for 
Speaker Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, who in the past has single-handedly blocked new ethics laws, said he’s now ready to consider an independent ethics commission to oversee Idaho lawmakers. That’s something 41 states have, but Idaho lacks. “I really don’t believe, as far as ethics goes, that it’s necessary, but perception is reality,” Denney said. The Idaho House convened its ethics committee multiple times in the past year, mostly for complaints involving tax-protesting Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, who also came under fire for his 1996 illegal harvest of logs from state school endowment lands/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
wife, Alyssa; and children Isabella, Zachary, Annalia, and Nikko, traveled south on U.S. Highway 395, a drunken driver blew through the stop sign at Crawford Road. “I saw him coming,” Angelo Santos said, of the seconds before the crash. “I tried to veer right to avoid him.” But the collision proved inescapable. Alyssa Santos thinks her husband’s 15 years as a UPS driver mitigated the damages. “I believe if anyone else had been behind the wheel, it would have been so much worse,” she said/Cindy Hval, SR. 
socialist America is a broken America.” Speaking on a panel about a proposed state health insurance exchange at the AP Legislative Preview today, Barbieri said, “It's a fundamental ideological principle: Can bureaucracy help deliver health care, let alone set costs?” He said he thinks it can't. “A bureaucracy will, a it grows, propose more rules, more regulations, they will use the rules of course to increase their power over time and they will devour competition, which is what a bureaucracy does,” Barbieri declared. “Rules and regulations are the means of achieving these goals, and it will be used - that's what a bureaucracy does”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
Republican Party platform. A pledge never to raise taxes. A pledge never to cross the gun lobby on one side or the anti-abortion rights league on another. But as pledges go, Scott Andrus of Twin Falls has matched the gold standard for being ludicrous. As the Idaho Statesman's Dan Popkey reported, Andrus, who pleaded guilty in a drunken driving-related case, put out the call for temperance: “I humbly ask that you pledge that no beverage alcohol will pass your lips during the 2012 legislative session. Please remain sober as you conduct the affairs of state.” What's next? No more dirty jokes? Decaffinated coffee, anyone? And don't forget your hand sanitizer/Marty Trillhaase, Lewiston Tribune. 
governor in 2014 - just one year into his current second term — Gov. Butch Otter said, “I didn't choose to make the announcement there. That was not part of my idea and part of my script. It was a fundraiser, and it's a fundraiser, by the way, that I started when I was in the United States Congress, of having a Christmas formal, a Christmas party, in northern Idaho. We do the same thing with a harvest ball in eastern Idaho. However, I responded to a question, and the question was are you planning on running in 2014. And my response was yes/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
from salaries to technology boosts and make other changes, including removing many of teachers' collective bargaining rights. “I know they're going to be on the ballot this year, and I'm going to do all I can to make sure that they are still law after the November elections,” he declared. The entire “Students Come First” package is up for a referendum vote in November of 2012 on whether or not to rescind it/Betsy Russell, 
isn’t exactly representative politics. But the straw poll could give us a sense of which faction of the Idaho GOP is more motivated: the Romney wing, or the Paul wing. Romney has long since secured backing from many of Idaho’s big-name Republicans, including Gov. Butch Otter, Sen. Jim Risch and Rep. Mike Simpson. Factor in Romney’s 2008 run, and the support base built along the way, and Romney’s Utah/Mormon Church connections, and you have an establishment candidate. Paul has secured endorsements from a few of the Legislature’s conservative hardliners, including Sen. Shirley McKague, R-Meridian; Rep. Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home; Rep. Vito Barbieri, R-Dalton Gardens, a darling of the fed-bashing nullification movement; and Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, the House’s resident tax scofflaw.” 
second consecutive state football title as the top 2011 high school story in the Inland Northwest. Writes Greg: “The Vikings were simply overpowering – in an athletic and speedy way as they finished undefeated at 12-0 and captured back-to-back State 5A championships. The Vikings may have been not only the best team in Idaho but perhaps Washington. CdA defeated Skyview of Vancouver 52-14, and Skyview went on to play perennial power Skyline in the state final. Quarterback Chad Chalich, who has given an oral commitment to Idaho, passed for 3,641 yards and 42 touchdowns with just two interceptions in 331 attempts. He also rushed for 471 yards and 14 TDs.” 
cats from a Spokane home Wednesday. The couple who live at the residence, located on the 4000 block of North Addison Street, told SpokAnimal C.A.R.E. they have 39 cats. Officers had removed 20 cats as of Wednesday evening. SpokAnimal officials said the unidentified couple who live at the residence was cooperating and no charges have been filed, so they released few details Wednesday. Spokane County records show John K. Billington and Pamela M. Billington own the property, but it is unknown whether they are the two people currently living in the squalid home, which smelled strongly of urine/Chelsea Bannach, SR. 
The Inlander. He was a baby-faced 20-year-old who looked like he'd been forced into a funny Elvis costume and cajoled into doing a family variety show. Every now and then, an event featuring Ben “Preslee” Klein would come across my desk. I'd snicker every time. So I was surprised when I returned to the paper in 2009 that Klein was still performing as Elvis around town. More than ever, I wondered: what motivates someone to dress up like someone else, act like someone else, sing like someone else. Is impersonation (or as I learned while reporting this story, tributing) the ultimate form of fandom? Or is it just really weird?/Leah Sottile, Inlander. 
single state agency, “This year, no building anything, no hiring anyone, no replacing broken items or taking on new projects?” No. This three year austerity strategy has cost Idaho over 3000 state jobs. And somehow the Governor still seems proud of it. When America had its last great depression, rather than paying unemployment for laid off workers, government paid them to do jobs communities needed to have done. Idaho has closed parks, health department offices, scaled back mental health treatment programs, laid off school teachers, increased class sizes in schools colleges and universities and much more. Yet I'm sad to say I suspect those who loathe government will have their way with our economy again. They will continue the austerity in spite of the fact that it's hurting the very people who cry for lower taxes/Sen. Nicole LeFavour, Idaho Legislature. 
base pay for its head football coach, Chris Petersen, to $2 million. In a special meeting, the board voted to bump up Petersen's base pay to $2 million for the 2012-2013 year, up $375,000 from the current $1,175,000. Petersen has a five-year contract that includes annual increases, which would otherwise push his base pay up to $1,575,000 by Jan. 31, 2016; the board will consider a new five-year pact later. He is the state's highest-paid state employee, but the money doesn't come from state fund/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
morning re: someone finding a bloody pair of glasses @ Prairie & Wayne in Hayden (9:05 a.m. item). I reposted the AM Scanner Traffic on my Facebook. Where Stacy Perry spotted it — and said that the glasses may belong to her brother-in-law (Pickens) who was knocked unconscious in the bike crash. Stacy reports that Pickens “suffered pretty severe facial wounds (including broken nose) which required (5) stitches and a potential surgery but was surprisingly lucky that he didn't suffer injuries anyplace else.” Worse yet, Pickens underwent grueling nose, sinus, & tear-duct surgery last summer to correct long-standing health problems. Pickens returned to look for the glasses but couldn't find them. After our Facebook exchange, Stacy reported that an officer had delivered the glasses to Canfield Middle School. Stacy adds: “As hurt as he (Pickens) was last night that was what concerned him most.”
and Vito Barbieri in the GOP primary. Ed Morse, who is challenging Hart, is a real estate appraiser and consultant and board member of the Reagan Republicans group; Mark Fisher (pictured), challenging Barbieri, runs an employee benefits insurance and consulting firm and is a past president of the local Rotary Club. The two, who held a joint announcement last month at a Hayden deli, say they offer practical solutions to the North Idaho district's problems, from jobs to regulations, rather than ideological crusades with little impact/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. 
that in 2011 the City of Coeur d’Alene’s Adopt-a-Street program delivered from Coeur d’Alene roadways a staggering total of 16.02 tons of trash to the County Transfer Station. This is certainly an impressive figure that illustrates the effectiveness of the program and dedication of the 34 volunteer groups that make this possible. Our roads stay much cleaner as a result. The City’s Adopt-a-Street program was established by the City Council in August 2000.”
Democratic nomination and eventually the White House with a win in Iowa. Mike Huckabee won on the GOP side four years ago and is now a Fox News talk show host. George H.W. Bush won in Iowa in 1980 and lost to Ronald Reagan. In fact, the only two eventual nominees to 
Oreille County was killed Dec. 20 by a trapper in North Idaho a few hundred yards east of the stateline. Trappers have reported taking at least six wolves in the Idaho Panhandle during the state's first trapping season, which started Nov. 15 and runs through March 15. Hunters have reported taking 28 wolves so far this season in the Panhandle, counting the one checked in at Coeur d'Alene on Tuesday. Statewide, hunters have tagged at least 173 wolves in Idaho so far this season and trappers have reported taking 24/Rich Landers, SR. 
pleaded guilty to reckless driving Tuesday. Kade D. Laughlin, 21, of Filer (pictured), entered the plea in Fifth District Court in Twin Falls, and was sentenced to 180 days in jail, with 160 of those days suspended. Of the remaining 20 days, Laughlin must serve 10 in jail, and the other 10 days can be fulfilled through community service, said Grant Loebs, Twin Falls prosecutor. As part of his community service Laughlin will speak to youth about what happened Sept. 12, 2010, when Coeur d'Alene teenagers Devon Austin, 19, and Ryan Reinhardt, 18, died in a single-vehicle car accident around 1 a.m. on a rural road outside Twin Falls as they left a party at Laughlin's house/Tom Hasslinger, Coeur d'Alene Press. 
expressed interest and he told me he had already decided he was not going to run again for Council President. I think McEuen played a small role in his thinking as he expressed it to me, in that Ron’s feeling is that the Council President should do his or her best to be supportive of the Mayor, at least on the “big issues”. On McEuen he wasn’t in agreement with the Mayor, and so it wasn’t a major issue for him to not seek the position again. I respect his position on that, and he voted for me last night. So in short, Ron did not seek the position again, and I was interested. Deanna Goodlander made the motion to nominate me and Woody seconded it, both of which I appreciated.”
presidential nominee. The reason? Two changes: Accelerating the delegate-selection process by 2› months, and new rules making a winner-take-all outcome likely. “We’ve been overlooked, but Idaho could be a key prize on the path to winning the Republican nomination,” Jonathan Parker, executive director of the state GOP, said Tuesday. Parker said he expects to see Republican presidential candidates actively campaign in Idaho. The action begins Friday at the Riverside Hotel in Garden City with a non-binding straw poll. Voters will pay $30. Parker readily admits the event is a fundraiser, but expects it will help boost interest in the March 6 caucus/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. 
Review. We're offering a $100 prize to the winner this week. Also, for future contests, we're considering a nice secondary prize (for example, Gonzaga Bulldog tickets) to be awarded by random drawing to someone who has entered but not won the top prize. You can enter this week's contest 
quantity of logs to build a house. When it came time to deliver, he could not fill the entire order. Due to springtime load limits, several other landowners were prevented from providing such logs, as they were unable to access their property with heavy equipment. After calling nearly everyone within 50 miles, I finally talked to a landowner who had the logs I needed. But he literally talked himself out of a sale by informing me, “I would feel guilty if I didn't tell you that since you're using the logs personally, you can take them off of state land. My dad and I did it when we built his house. He had studied the law and ran it by our legislator who verified this was lawful.” I then studied the law and came to the same conclusion. 
back 5 percent of the annual gaming net revenues to the support of education. Yes and No. Yes, they have contributed $17 million by their account but it is misleading to say it all falls under the rubric of education. It stretches credulity to see where funds donated to the Kroc Center or to Mark Few’s Coaches vs. Cancer annual fund drive complies with initiative language that pledged the 5 percent would go to support education in surrounding school districts. Money listed for Gonzaga, for example, includes the annual payment for the tribe’s private box at McCarthy Arena/Chris Carlson, Ridenbaugh Press. 
against Superintendent Tom Luna's push for online classes. Richtel begins his support by focusing on Post Falls teacher Ann Rosenbaum of Post Falls: “
verified that it’s going to be twice as painful to lose at Powerball now – the ticket price doubles to $2 on Jan. 15. There’s not much else you can get for a buck (or two), and it’s nice to have that quick 'what if moment' – plus your odds of playing really do rise if you actually play. 
Pawn store on N. 4th in Midtown Coeur d` Alene.Since taking over the pawn shop he has changed somethings around with the most obvious being the name,The business is now called Golden City Gold Buyers and specializes in buying gold and silver.The Pawn shop part of the business is still there but Clint said he hopes to move the pawn shop elsewhere in the future.The new business can be seen in many ads now being ran on cable tv thru Coeur d` Alene and Post Falls/Matthew Behringer, Inland Northwest Business Watch. 
of their lives, they often regret not taking more risks — personally, professionally and especially, in creative endeavors. Over the weekend, I read Michael Crichton's potboiler “State of Fear” and his words inspired the no-fear mantra, too. He wrote: “Modern people live in abject fear. They are afraid of strangers, of disease, of crime, of the environment. They are afraid of the homes they live in, the food they eat, the technology that surrounds them/Rebecca Nappi, SR End Notes. 
the thousands of hours and dollars contributed by our citizens on causes. I’m not suggesting white papers, just a mention of current mission activity etc. For example, I know that NAMI-Coeur d’Alene, which extends help in various ways to the mentally ill, is gearing up for the return of veterans, many of whom will be dealing with PTSD, depression, unemployment, etc. Did you know that there are resources that focus on helping those in mental distress, including those who are functioning in society? Even if the “focus” were on one organization a week, it could counter the spite, the bigotry, the self-serving commentary that elections (and city art) seem to invite. I like balance. (Kathy Plonka's SR file photo: Amanda Duke, 22, said that she would be staying at the warming center at Fresh Start in Coeur d'Alene Nov. 14)
meeting last night. HucksOnline has obtained a copy of that letter. Cross, wife of Region 1 GOP Chairman John Cross, writes to Ward that “encouraging your fellow PC's (precinct committeemen) to not attend a 'legal' meeting of the KCRCC where the problem (plan to reduce voting precincts) can be discussed in an open forum and voted on rather than only you being able to use your bully pulpit, smacks of arrogance.” Also in the letter, Cross criticized Ward for being part of a public relations group (Ron Lahr's Strategery) that has made money from candidates endorsed by Reagan Republicans. Cross culminates her letter to Ward by saying: “Ronald Reagan would be ashamed of your behavior.”
night. According to Kootenai County sheriff's reports, Zehm had driven with his wife as far as Harrison and back before relatives told police he was in the Fernan area. Patrol officers spotted the Zehms on Fernan Lake Road near the Fernan Gun Range and began pursuit. Zehm reportedly was trying to talk his wife into dropping charges on a Nov. 20 incident in which he doused her with gasoline and threatened to set her on fire. He had a gun with him and had forced his wife into his vehicle after pepper-spraying her. Officers chased the Zehms to Fernan Saddle and to town. Zehm's car reached speeds of 90 mph on the icy road. Mrs. Zehm was able to jump out of the vehicle when her husband slowed on ice to make a turn. Zehm stopped his vehicle and killed himself in the Sherman Avenue intersection with the I-90 eastbound onramp after a spike strip set up by Idaho State Police shredded his tires.
as county clerk before Dan English, who also opposes successor Hayes' plan. In an email to HucksOnline, Taggart said the commissioners should avoid moving too quicklly during a year when redistricting already will add to voter confusion. He tells HBO: 
this fall.Some things have changed with the project as THC points out that the market has shifted greatly since 2007 so while the housing was to be in low priced condo's,now we know that the project will be apartments,45 units in all with 90 parking spaces and ground floor retail space,9,000 sq feet in the newly redesigned Midtown Coeur d Alene district.THC is asking LCDC for 447,000 additional dollars as a pledge to assure a grant from the state.The apartments are to be built directly on 4th st on land LCDC already owns and is currently occupied by Paris Flea Market and a bargin grocery store by 4th St. and Roosevelt Ave/Tom Behringer,
This is especially true since so many of the absentee polling sites that have been used for over a decade have been closed this year as well. Yes, in some cycles there are smaller turnouts and for some time periods during the day the poll workers (who barely make minimum wage for ONE day) may not have enough voters to keep them hopping all the time. But that just goes with the territory since the polls are open for 12 full hours and there are predictable peaks and lulls. And for smaller elections you can cut down on pollings site but you can’t add more at the last minute for large elections.
Editor Joe Palmquist (pictured) points out that most of the five will continue on as part-time help: “(John) Blanchette will average two columns a week over the course of the year and continue to write on local topics. (Vince) Grippi has agreed to take on a part-time gig as our online producer. He will have daily posts in Sportslink, giving readers a gateway to all the interesting sports news in our area. I think you will see (Dave) Trimmer’s name on a lot of Then & Now stories, catching up with former area sports stars, and also covering events when we are shorthanded.”
to address the issue before Congress passed President Obama's health care legislation. “It is great to hear the governor finally express concern about affordable health care but he is showing up late to the game,” Democratic Party executive director Shelley Landry said in a news release today. Sniping between the parties aside, Otter might need votes from the Democratic minority if he wants to get a health insurance exchange through the Legislature. Some Republicans are rallying against the exchange — designed to help small businesses and individuals shop for insurance — because the exchange would be funded through grants from the feds’ health care law/Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman. 
county Republican Central Committee doesn't. Last night, 
final appearances before tonight’s Iowa caucuses. Leaving no stone unturned in his appeal to the patriotism of Iowan voters, Romney quoting from three verses of “America the Beautiful,” which he described as “one of the hymns that I love.” Romney has been dogged by suggestions that his Mormonism is off-putting to conservatives among the Republican base. But a victory in Tuesday evening's caucuses could deflate some air from that theory and go a long way to delivering the Republican presidential nomination/Niall Stanage, The Hill. 
No. 1 in our stories of the year. The proposal to redesign the downtown field commanded a community's attention from start to finish. There were heart-breaking happenings, too, with the deaths of two Lucky Friday miners and two Coeur d'Alene soldiers. The peace and quiet of Benewah County was shaken by three killings. There were the controversial issues, one over a Hindu statue in downtown Coeur d'Alene and education reform. And the changes in the political landscape at the state and local levels was often on page one/Coeur d'Alene Press. 
by Spokane artist Rick Davis made an appearance on Sixth Street and Sherman Avenue as part of a yearlong public art display in downtown Coeur d’Alene. A handful protested the unveiling early last summer. Ditto for Lake City Lighthouse and Hayden Friends churches. Ditto for the Kootenai County Constitution Party. Besides the religious aspect of the statue, protesters imagined hidden symbols on Ganesha that others couldn’t see, like phallic ones and swastikas. The hubbub eventually died away – until a week ago when a large red ribbon and what appears to be a doll depicting the Christ child were added secretly to the display. No harm. But no one will mistake elephantine Ganesha plus Baby Jesus for a Bethlehem manger scene/DFO, Huckleberries, SR.
Department. Daniel Joe Zehm, 52, (pictured) killed himself near the I-90 underpass after the tires of his vehicles were flattened by an Idaho State Police spike strip. Sheriff's deputies, Coeur d'Alene police and the ISP were involved in the pursuit which began when a relative of Zehm's reported at 11 p.m. Sunday that Zehm had his wife, Sondra, and a gun with him in the Fernan area, with plans to go to Kellogg. Zehm's wife had filed a no-contact order against him. Zehm was spotted near the Fernan Rifle Ranch on Fernan Lake Road. Deputies chased Zehm up to Fernan Saddle and back, trying to stop him. At one point, Sondra Zehm jumped out of the moving vehicle — and wasn't hurt. The Spokane County Sheriff's Office will investigate the case since three local agencies were involved.
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