In brief: Coal terminal meeting today
Today’s scoping meeting on a proposed coal export terminal in Longview takes place from 4-8 p.m. at the Spokane Convention Center.
The time was incorrectly reported in previous stories in The Spokesman-Review.
The open-house-style meeting allows people to learn more about the proposed project and comment on the scope of environmental impact statements prepared by the state of Washington, Cowlitz County and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Millennium Bulk Terminals-Longview LLC proposes to build and operate a terminal to export coal from Montana and Wyoming to Asia.
Woodstove changeout rebate
Residents in the Idaho communities of Pinehurst, Kingston and Enaville can obtain a rebate for upgrading to cleaner, wood-burning stoves.
The program is designed to improve air quality by encouraging residents to purchase federally certified wood stoves or natural gas or propane units for fireplaces. The rebates range from $800 to $1,500, and participants can also claim a deduction on their Idaho tax returns.
The old wood stove or fireplace unit cannot be reused and must be disposed of properly. For more information, call (208) 666-4609 or visit the woodstove changeout program page at www.deq.idaho.gov.
Political groups endorse candidates
Three political groups in North Idaho have endorsed candidates in mayoral and city council races this fall.
Reclaim Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday endorsed Mary Souza for mayor of the city and Chris Fillios, Sharon Hebert and Noel Adam for City Council.
• Information: www.reclaimcda.com
Balance North Idaho endorsed Steve Widmyer for Coeur d’Alene mayor and Amy Evans, Woody McEvers and Kiki Miller for City Council; in Post Falls, the group picked Ron Jacobson for mayor and Alan Wolfe for council.
• Information: www.balanceni.com
Kootenai County Reagan Republicans endorsed Souza for mayor and Fillios, Hebert and Adam for the Coeur d’Alene council; in Post Falls, they picked Kerri Thoreson for mayor and Barry Rubin for council.
• Information: www.reaganrepublicans .net/endorsements.html
Two killed in semi, pickup collision
A collision between a semitruck and a pickup on Trent Avenue at Starr Road east of Spokane Valley killed two people Tuesday, the Washington State Patrol said.
WSP has not identified the victims.
The wreck occurred at about 4 p.m., and a subsequent investigation partially blocked Trent for the evening commute and caused traffic detours and backups for several hours.
Updated Idaho forest plan released
A new plan for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests lists climate change as one of the drivers affecting future management of the 2.5 million-acre forest.
Restoring ecosystems so they are resilient to a changing climate is among the plan’s goals. The plan also addresses the forest’s ability to sequester carbon.
The forest plan, released this week, is designed to provide broad management direction for the Idaho Panhandle National Forests over the next 15 years. The plan was last updated in 1987.
About 38 percent of the forest is suitable for timber production, according to the plan. Restoring fire-adapted ecosystems is also a priority. The plan advocates prescribed burns and allowing some lightning-caused fires to burn.
The plan can be found at www.fs.usda.gov/kipz. Compact discs or hard copies can be requested by calling (208) 765-7417.