In brief: Online registration for Bloomsday open

Online registration for the 31st Lilac Bloomsday Run is open and those who sign up by Feb. 18 have a chance to win a trip for two to one of Seattle’s most popular races.

“This is the earliest we’ve ever launched online registration,” said Bloomsday race director Don Kardong. The address is www.bloomsdayrun.org.

Early-bird Bloomies will be automatically entered in Seattle’s St. Patrick’s Day Dash drawing.

The winner will receive round-trip airfare for two from Spokane to Seattle, two nights (double occupancy) at the Silver Cloud Inn across from Safeco Field and next to the finish line, two pairs of Brooks running shoes and free entry into the run.

Bloomsday is scheduled for Sunday, May 6. Last year almost 45,000 participants registered for the 7.46-mile course. Printed entry forms will be available at locations throughout the Inland Northwest in early March.

– Jeff Jordan

BOISE

Al Gore speech at BSU moved to bigger venue

After about 1,500 tickets were snapped up in 10 minutes for former Vice President Al Gore’s speech later this month, Boise State University has moved the speech to a larger venue and is offering more tickets.

Gore is now scheduled to appear at Taco Bell Arena to give the keynote speech of a conference sponsored by BSU’s Frank Church Institute. The speech is set for 7 p.m. Jan. 22 and is titled “Global Warming: Beyond the Inconvenient Truth.”

Taco Bell Arena is typically used for sporting events. How many tickets will be made available for Gore’s speech has not been decided.

The tickets at Taco Bell Arena will cost $5. The university is setting aside 1,000 tickets for BSU students.

– Associated Press

POCATELLO, Idaho

ISU suspends professor charged with felonies

Idaho State University has suspended with pay Thomas Hale, a history professor and director of the Oral History Project at the school, who was charged in federal court last month with falsely claiming that he mailed out a dangerous substance.

Hale, 61, was arrested in Salt Lake City and faces three felony charges for mailing a substance he claimed was hantavirus to a trustee overseeing his bankruptcy. He has pleaded not guilty.

“Pending resolution of these charges, I believe it is in the best interests of the university to relieve you of your teaching responsibilities for the spring semester and until further notice,” wrote John Kijinski, Hale’s superior.

Hantavirus, which can cause acute respiratory problems or death, has sickened at least 317 Americans and killed at least 93 since 1996.

Hale is also an attorney, and he filed a motion Friday asking U.S. Judge William T. Thurman to recuse himself from Hale’s bankruptcy case.

In that motion Hale included three memos, one of them concerning his suspension from the school.

– Associated Press