In brief: GU grad nominated to be House chaplain

The U.S. House of Representatives has nominated a Gonzaga University graduate as its new chaplain.

House Speaker John Boehner, in consultation with U.S. Rep. Nancy Pelosi, on Friday announced his intent to nominate the Rev. Patrick J. Conroy, a Jesuit, as the 60th chaplain of the House. He would succeed the Rev. Daniel P. Coughlin, who retired last month after more than 11 years of service.

Born in Everett, Conroy teaches theology at Jesuit High School in Portland and previously served 10 years as a chaplain at Georgetown University.

He entered the Society of Jesus in 1973 and was ordained a Catholic priest in 1983. He earned a master’s degree in philosophy from Gonzaga in 1977.

In the 1980s he served Indian reservations in Eastern Washington, first as a pastor in Inchelium, on the Colville Reservation, then in Ford and Wellpinit, on the Spokane Reservation.

His nomination will be forwarded to the full House later this month, according to Boehner’s office.

Chelsea Bannach

Driver hospitalized after Idaho crash

A man was hospitalized Friday night after he lost control of his vehicle on Highway 41 near Spirit Lake, Idaho.

Peter T. Gokey, 42, of Blanchard, Idaho, was northbound in a GMC Sierra pickup when he failed to negotiate a left-hand curve on Spirit Lake Cutoff Road at 11 p.m., went off the east shoulder and into some trees, according to the Idaho State Police.

Gokey was taken to Kootenai Medical Center in Coeur d’Alene. He was listed in stable condition Saturday afternoon.

The ISP was investigating the accident.

Chelsea Bannach