Rand Paul believes the western U.S. is populated by many independent-minded people who seek to escape big government. It's a place that's fertile territory for Paul's political aspirations. Especially Idaho, a place that's home to his kind of people, he said. More than 500 people turned out Wednesday night at North Idaho College's Schuler Performing Arts Center to see and hear the U.S. senator from Kentucky, Republican presidential candidate and physician. "The tax code is chasing people away," Paul said. "Let's get rid of the whole thing." His idea to replace the IRS tax code - with its more than 70,000 pages of complication - struck a chord with the North Idaho audience. He favors a 14.5 percent flat-rate tax that applies to both individuals and business. He also wants to eliminate every special-interest loophole. Small, limited government is his prescription/David Cole, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

• Paul holds rallies in Boise, Nampa today/Eye on Boise