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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 2016

Parting Shot -- 6.1.16 

Fighters take a photo while firing artillery during fight against Islamic State militants in Fallujah, Iraq. Iraqi forces this week pushed into the city's southern sections after securing surrounding towns and villages more than 50,000 people are believed to be trapped inside the Sunni majority city, about 65 kilometers (40 miles) west of Baghdad

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Hump Day Wild Card -- 6.1.16 

I'm working a few more hours from home today, as I await the arrive of my refurbished computer tower at work. It's definitely a different vibe at home, a bit more relaxing. Maybe it's the scanner. I find it hard to completely concentrate when the scanner is yakking nearby, especially those days when I have both scanners operating.

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Idaho primary turnout only 23% 

The turnout for the Idaho primary election was only 23%, or a scotch higher than the lousy turnout in Kootenai County. And you wonder why it's so important to get your supporters to the polls. The majority of the superminority turnout wins.

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Legislative pension perk scrutinized 

The Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation voted unanimouslyto recommend that the Legislature revisit a pension perk. The panel wants to do away with the 1990 law that grants big boosts in state retirement pensions to longtime, part-time state legislators who late in their careers take high-paying, full-time state jobs.

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Republicans prepare for confab 15 

Two years removed from a fractured confab that left most party business undone, hundreds of Idaho Republicans will gather this week in Nampa for the party’s state convention. This year’s convention theme is “Faith, Family, Freedom … Firearms!” (Question: Do you think Idaho Repubicans can make nice this year? Or will we see another battle royale?)

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Michael Paul (courtesy photo from Coeur d'Alene Press)

Iraq native offers Arab culture classes 

Michael Paul learned the United States was different than his native Iraq when he locked his keys, wallet and phone inside a Post Falls car wash. The police officer who responded to the "locked-out" call wanted to help rather than hinder. Now, Paul is offering a class on Arab culture at the Kroc Center.

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Quotable Quote 

"Today's yard breakthrough: I just cut down and rolled up barbed wire. A more fitting metaphor for covering the Legislature I have never found" -- Kevin Richert.

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Enviros sue to stop wolf killings 

Five conservation groups on Wednesday filed a lawsuit in Idaho seeking to stop a federal agency from killing wolves in the state until a new environmental analysis is prepared. Western Watersheds Project and 4 other groups say in fedeal lawsuit the 2011 analysis by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Wildlife Services is outdated.

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Lost & found in Sandpoint

What's the power of the social media? Well, someone lost her purse in Sandpoint, a friend of Marianne Love's niece. Marianne wrote about it in her Slight Detour blog. And the man who found the purse saw this blog post. That enabled him to contact the woman who lost the purse. Do you have a similar story re: impact of social media?

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Doc: Idaho must close Medicaid gap 

In a guest opinion for the Idaho Statesman, Dr. Bruce Belzer of the Idaho Medical Association comments: "As a family physician in Idaho, I’ve watched in dismay as the past four legislative sessions failed to address the “gap” population in any meaningful way. This disappointment was particularly poignant on the last day of the 2016 session."

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NIChristian grad focused on health, faith

Taryn has written a number of stories re: North Idaho graduates for our grad tab, including this one: "Overcoming anorexia, with God's help: It was an innocent response to bullying by her basketball teammates freshman year of high school. If she couldn’t fit in with them, Olivia Kinnick decided she would beat them." It almost beat her.

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Poll: CEOs prefer Clinton to Trump 11 

More than half of Fortune 500 CEOs say they would prefer Hillary Clinton to win the White House instead of Donald Trump, according to a new survey. Fifty-eight percent of the CEOs said they would support Clinton, the front-runner for the Democratic nomination, while 42 percent would support Trump.

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Idaho newborns win college money

New parents at four Idaho hospitals got a surprise bonus with their newborns on Sunday —$529 in an IDeal — Idaho 529 College Savings Program account. The families were chosen to receive the scholarship because their children were the first babies born at the hospitals on 529 College Savings Day, May 29.

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Legislators may get 4% raises 11 

Salaries for Idaho state legislators would rise 4 percent over the next two years, from the current $16,684 a year to just over $17,350, under a recommendation approved on a 3-2 vote today by the Citizens Committee on Legislative Compensation.

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Big Mac attacked 

A blind Louisiana man is suing McDonald’s because he says the fast food chain’s late-night drive-thru policy discriminates against people who are visually impaired. Huckleberries has provided a link to the complete story below. Also, HucksOnline has this question for readers: Does the blind man have a legitimate complaint against McDonalds?

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My 2 Cents: Is local GOP broken? 34 

The lopsided vote that elevated Hard Right Brent Regan to the chairmanship of the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee raises the question: Is the local GOP broken beyond repair? Should centrist Republicans and Independents seek other solutions to help good candidates win office, especially in purplish Coeur d'Alene?

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An unplugged wedding 

When they married, Marley Jay Marlow and his bride, Amber, made one unusual request of guests -- stay off their phones during the ceremony and other key moments. In doing so, they hoped to make the celebration more enjoyable for everyone. What do you think? Have cellphones become too intrusive during special occasions?

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Poll: Hillary's emails of concern 

In the Tuesday Poll: Most respondents said either that Hillary Clinton's email scandal was important or "somewhat important" to them. 108 of 275 respondents (39.27%) said the email scandal was important to them. Today's Poll: Today's Poll: Which generation has a higher moral character -- Baby Boomers or millennials?

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And another one bites the dust 

On his Facebook page, Kevin Richert responds with concern to the news from the Boise Weekly that Bill Cope's column has ended. It wasn't Cope's decision either. I didn't read Cope. Kevin didn't either. But Kevin has some thoughts on this unhappy development that I share.

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Permitless carry law has limitations

In a weekend article, the Coeur d'Alene Press cautioned readers that the new permitless carry law has limitations. These limitations include interstate travel, court-approved diagnoses of mental illness, and individuals under the age of 21. Also, you can't take a concealed weapon onto the property of another without permission.

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Former CdA super Bakes enjoys life 

Writing for the Idaho Senior Independent, Jack McNeel lets us know what former Warren Bakes is doing in retirement. The former Coeur d'Alene superintendent of schools, now almost 77, has pursued his love of fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation since retiring. He lives in Hayden Lake. Do you remember Warren?

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Letter: 'Boomers' had it right 28 

In a letter to the Coeur d'Alene Press editor, Ed Torrence comments: "My generation, “the Baby Boomers,” has seen the massive collapse of the moral and civil fiber of America. Our children and grandchildren have been born into it and so consider it the norm. It was not always so." Do you think Baby Boomers were the last morally right generation?

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Huckleberries Online

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.