Firm to sue insurer over scam losses

Officials from a Post Falls business whose former owner admitted stealing from his employees’ pensions are suing an insurance company to recover losses, Kootenai County District Court records show.

James C. Stone, former president of Alpha Health Services, was covered under an insurance policy issued by Allied Mutual Insurance Co. of Iowa when he invested money in a Nigerian scam in 2002, according to court records filed Feb. 10.

Stone, 56, pleaded guilty last month in U.S. District Court to stealing more than $46,000 from the pensions of employees who worked in the firm’s seven group homes for developmentally disabled adults.

He now faces up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. Sentencing is scheduled for March 27.

Representatives for the pension plan argued that Allied Insurance failed to compensate the plan as required under an insurance policy.

The policy covered Stone for losses up to $125,000, records showed.

Olympia

Washington House ends parking fee

Declaring the $5 parking fee at Washington state parks a “failed experiment,” the state House of Representatives on Monday voted overwhelmingly to do away with the charges later this year.

House Bill 2416 passed 94 to 2. The bill now goes to the Senate, where Majority Leader Lisa Brown, D-Spokane, says it has a good chance of passing.

Boise

Helicopter ban under scrutiny

Lawmakers questioned a Forest Service representative Monday about a prohibition on helicopters in designated wilderness areas, in this case to put tracking collars on wolves.

“It just seems like in applying these laws there ought to be some aspect of common sense,” said Rep. Jack Barraclough, R-Idaho Falls. “We’re not asking for 100 Hells Angels motorcycles to go in.”

Jack Troyer, the regional forester for southern Idaho and portions of five other states, said the government is not ready to allow helicopters but remains open to discussion.

“I think we will (reach an agreement) here in the long run,” Troyer said. “Maybe not in the next month.”

Washington, D.C.

Option may ease border crossing

A new passport requirement for those crossing the U.S.-Canadian border may be eased with a family discount-card program and a day-pass option, authorities said Monday.

Lawmakers have been pushing the Homeland Security and State departments to come up with a cheaper, quicker alternative to the passport requirement, which is to go into effect in 2008 under a new law called the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. A new passport costs $97, and government officials have indicated they are working on a second option – a new wallet-sized identification card.

Boise

Attorney general to seek re-election

Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced his bid for re-election Monday.

“One of the core duties of the office of the attorney general, and that I have and have taken upon my oath, is to seek firm and fair criminal prosecution,” Wasden said. “That work is not done.”

Wasden touted his accomplishments as attorney general, citing the successful prosecution of former Boise Mayor Brent Coles as an example.

Compiled from staff and wire reports