In brief: Arrest warrant issued for Post Falls boy, 9, accused of stealing gum

An Idaho prosecutor issued an arrest warrant for a 9-year-old boy who failed to show up in court.

KHQ-TV reported that the boy from Post Falls is accused of stealing a pack of gum. Police Chief Scott Haug said it’s the first time in his 30 years in law enforcement that he’s ever seen an arrest warrant for someone that young.

Haug said the child missed court because relatives had no way of getting him to the courthouse.

Kootenai County prosecutor Barry McHugh said the warrant was issued because the boy twice failed to appear. He said he couldn’t comment further because the case involves someone younger than 18.

Police investigating death of toddler

KENNEWICK – Kennewick police are investigating after a 2-year-old boy’s death last month was ruled a homicide.

No charges have been filed in the case, but documents filed in Benton County Superior Court show police are investigating the crime of “homicide by abuse” in the death of Nicholas Torres.

The Tri-City Herald said police are sorting through conflicting reports from the boy’s parents and relatives.

Court records show the toddler had suffered a brain injury from lack of oxygen and had older wounds when he was brought to a Spokane hospital days before Christmas. He died Dec. 26.

The boy’s dad, 32-year-old Mario Torres, is in Benton County Jail, charged with tampering with a witness. He is accused of telling another son to make up a story about events leading up to the toddler’s hospitalization.

The father has pleaded not guilty and has denied causing the boy’s injuries.

Idaho ranchers, farmers set record

NAMPA, Idaho – A new University of Idaho report says 2014 was another record year for Idaho farmers and ranchers.

Researchers say sales of milk, livestock and crops reached nearly $10 billion, the fourth year in a row that cash receipts set records.

The Idaho Press-Tribune said overall sales jumped 16 percent between 2013 and 2014. Net farm income was $4.53 billion last year, up 46 percent from 2013.

The potato remained Idaho’s top crop with $885 million in sales.

Hay had record prices of $201 a ton last year, due to strong exports fueled by the drought in California.

Glacier Park saw most-ever visitors

WEST GLACIER, Mont. – More than 2.3 million people visited Glacier National Park in northern Montana in 2014.

The National Park Service Public Use Statistics Office says the estimated total is a record for the park.

The Flathead Beacon reported that Glacier’s previous all-time annual visitation record was 2.22 million set in 1983.

The 2014 numbers represent a nearly 7 percent increase over 2013 and mark the sixth time in the last eight years that visitation surpassed 2 million people.

However, fewer people stayed overnight in the park last year. Some 364,000 overnight campers represents about a 4 percent drop from 2013.

The number of RV campers dropped about 7 percent to around 104,000, and concession lodging stays dipped nearly 8 percent to around 117,000.

There was a slight increase in backcountry campers.