A Kootenai County jury took about seven hours Friday to convict a 16-year-old boy of murdering his father and brother in a bloody attack inside their Coeur d’Alene house almost two years ago. Eldon Gale Samuel III was found guilty of first-degree murder for killing 13-year-old Jonathan Samuel and second-degree murder for killing Eldon Samuel Jr.
A couple strolled through rain at City Park in Coeur d'Alene today. (Kathy Plonka/SR photo)
A judge at the federal courthouse in Portland Friday denied bail to three of the militants arrested near Burns earlier this week in connection with the armed occupation at the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge. Judge Stacie Beckerman denied bail to both Ammon and Ryan Bundy, saying both defendants are a flight risk and a danger to the community.
We're almost to the end of January, which means we can start thinking happy thoughts about spring. Recent rains are clearing the snow from my garden spot. I have one last project left to complete my renovation of my garden spot, which runs fence line to fence line across the back of my yard. Can't wait to get started. But I'll have to do so.
The Cutline Contest today features GOP presidential candidate Donald Trump striking a boxing pose while boycotting the Republican debate in Iowa. Thursday winner: Cindy.
Scanner Traffic for Friday PM (25 items & counting + link to AM Scanner Traffic with 12 more items) includes some clown in a Pontiac Firebird with blue & yellow lights overhead who was trying to pull over cars on the freeway ...
For the Inlander, Mary Lou Reed writes: "If you consider yourself a lonely, independent thinker just living in North Idaho because you love it, do not despair. ... Hope is on the way. It's called Better Idaho. Better Idaho is the name of a website (betteridaho.org) that will make you laugh, cry, think and generally feel a lot better."
OK, here's how mountains get made out of molehills. Cindy is reading something into the launch of our web pet page, which featured photos of 6 dogs and ONLY ONE CAT (her all-caps, not mine). "Does the Spokesman-Review hate cats?" she asks. Personally, I consider the web launch to have a photo of one cat too many. Toughts?
A jury Friday began deliberating whether to find 16-year-old Eldon Gale Samuel III guilty of murdering his younger brother and father in Coeur d’Alene almost two years ago. Samuel is charged with first-degree murder for killing 13-year-old Jonathan Samuel and second-degree murder for killing Eldon Samuel Jr., 46.
Rick Bonino, On Tap blog, has been watching Mad Bomber brewery in Hayden grow up in the last many months. Now he tells you about the brewery's new system that is producing quality product, including Ignition IRA.
AG Lawrence Wasden tweets: Let's the record straight: I'm not looking for "mystery shoppers" or your personal info. Instead, my @LinkedIn acct was hacked today. If my account can be hacked, so can yours.
The daily roundup of posts from the Huckleberries Online blog roll includes a photo of an eagle on ice. Also: Day After: Santa Clara/SportsLink, Occupation continues/Fort Boise, Wolf pack surrounds pet dog/Outdoors, First Take: GOP debate/Stapilus, 'Cartel Land': Scarier than 'Sicario'/7 Blog, Talking turkey, deer & partridges/Slight Detour ...
The Bard of Sherman Avenue offers a happy springtime thought in this late January day when Mother Nature can't decide whether to rain on us or snow on us.
The Oregonian has just posted an enhanced video of the fatal shooting by authorities of Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupier LaVoy Finicum.
State Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, was awarded the "crow" by legislative colleagues today, for getting just eight votes on her motion to “lay on the table” the conformity bill, HB 425. The tongue-in-cheek gag award is given to the legislaor who gets the least support on a bill or motion.
Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, second from left, sits with Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome, second from right, during Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s budget presentation in the Idaho Capitol Thursday. The two co-chairwomen of the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee listened to Ybarra’s 7.5 percent budget request for FY2017.
Ten legislators representing North Idaho have joined the reckless attack on public school funding proposed by legislation offered by Rep. Ron Nate: Cheatham, Dixon, McMillan, Mendive, Redman, Scott, Shepherd, Sims, Nuxoll and Vick. Nate proposes to amend the state Constitution to allow state funding of church schools. Better Idaho comments.
Scanner Traffic for Friday AM (12 items & counting) ...
The news making AM Headlines today includes the release of the video that shows the fatal shooting of Malheur Wildlife Refuge occupier LaVoy Finicum. Also: Host Gonzaga defeats Santa Clara/SRPastor Abedini's wife seeks separation/AP, Warming center to reopen tonight/Press, Idaho couple among 4 remaining occupiers/KTVB ...
Wallace resident Jon Ruggles has filed a complaint against a Shoshone County Solid Waste Department employee who parks his pickup in a prominent location at the transfer station, bearing a Confederate flag on the front license plate and back window. The Shoshone News Press published a front-page story about it Thursday.
Mike Kennedy Facebooks: "Kathleen has been gone for six days. The Malheur Wildlife Refuge in Oregon will look better after a month long occupation than our house will when she arrives home. World's Worst Mr. Mom reporting for duty!" Question (for the Men of Hucks Nation): Do you keep the house tidy while your wife is away?
In the poll Thursday, a majority of Hucks Nation said virtual schooling should be shut down in Idaho. The vote followed news this week that only 20% of the high schoolers enrolled in virtual schooling graduate. Today's Poll: What is your general view of the city of Post Falls?
In his Cheers & Jeers column today, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune gives Jeers ... to state Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard. Scott doesn't seem to know that a Supreme Court decision trumps state law. Others earning jeers this week are Idaho County Commissiner Jim Chmelik & Rep. Ron Nate.
Idaho County Prosecutor Kirk A. MacGregor said Commission Chairman Jim Chmelik did nothing wrong by voting to set aside ($5,000) for an organization he formed to fight the federal government over control of public lands. (Question: Do you agree with prosecutor that it's OK for a commissioner to vote to give money to a group he's involved with?)
The first specialty license plate bill of the year was introduced in the Idaho House Transportation Committee Thursday afternoon, honoring the Orofino High School Maniacs. Rep. Paul Shepherd, R-Riggins, sponsored the measure. He noted the Maniacs have a tremendous fan base in the Clearwater Valley.
D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.
