Hump Day Wild Card -- 12.9.15
I awoke early to get a jump on Wind Storm II. But it appears to be a flop so far. Which is fine by me. And I'm sure it's fine by you. I noticed a large spruce about a half block away from our house...
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 9, 2015
Parting Shot -- 12.9.15
Migrants and refugees react as they arrive on a dinghy from the Turkish coast to the northeastern Greek island of Lesbos earlier today. Greek authorities said in an incident at the southeastern Greek islet of Farmakonissi a number of people have died and others are missing after a boat carrying migrants sank in Aegean Sea.
Hayden man pleads in triple fatality 5
A Hayden man has pleaded not guilty to three counts of vehicular manslaughter in a Sept. 12 crash that killed a Spokane man and his two young daughters. Investigators say Ryan J. Turner, 27, had been drinking before he got on U.S. Highway 95 driving the wrong way in the southbound lanes and collided head-on with a minivan.
PM Scanner Traffic -- 12.9.15
Scanner Traffic for Wednesday PM (16 items & counting + link to AM Scanner Traffic with 20 more items) includes 2 reports of panhandlers at Post Falls Walmart East and a possible transient camp behind Cabela's at State Line Village ...
Cutline Contest -- 12.9.15 11
The Cutline Contest today features Gonzaga men's basketball coach Mark Few being congratulated after his team escaped with a 61-58 win over Montana in The Kennel last night. Tuesday Winner -- No Comment.
Idaho Poll: 70% say tax system fair 15
A new statewide poll commissioned by the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho has some unfavorable news for those planning to push for major tax reforms or tax cuts in the coming year: 70 percent of Idahoans rate the current state tax system as mostly or very fair right now.
New Yorker spotlights Labrador 10
In a New Yorker article, titled, "A House Divided: How a radical group of Republicans pushed Congress to the right," Congressman Raul Labrador of Idaho gets more than his fair share of ink: "The public face and strategist for the Freedom Caucus is Raúl Labrador ... (who) revels in the mischief-making that has characterized the House since then."
Dear declares himself guilty 6
The man accused of shooting three people to death and wounding nine others at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado last month declared himself guilty and a "warrior for the babies" during an outburst in court on Wednesday.
Archives: Sims explains vote 7
On this glorious day when North Idaho finally gets its mental health crisis center, I thought I should remind you about the 3 local legislators who voted against it: Reps. Kathy Sims, Vito Barbieri (who had the nerve to attend the ribbon cutting Tuesday) and Ron Mendive. Also, I have provided Sims' explanation for her incredibly poor vote.
Edit: Idaho already has a good lawyer 3
In the Moscow-Pullman Daily News editorial today, Devin Rokyta chides ideological legislators -- all Republicans -- who have wasted taxpayer money of frivolous constitutional challenges because they don't trust the good lawyer the state already has: Lawrence Wasden.
Edit: Long odds for sales tax reform 1
In his Lewiston Tribune editorial this morning, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase comments that the odds are long re: reforming the sales tax and turn more money loose for public schools.
HucksOnline Blogos -- 12.9.15 5
The daily roundup of links from Huckleberries Online blog roll includes a photo by Kari Lynn introducing us to the newest lake in North Idaho -- Lake Winco.
Along the Waterfront
Walking Partner Greg Lee and I saw two note-worthy things during our noon walk along the waterfront today -- other than all the flags at Veterans Plaza in McEuen Park blowing stiffly toward the northeast: a portable outhouse that had blown over near Harbor House and a large pine about to topple, both east of the Harbor House.
Trees 1
If you're not smiling already because Wind Storm II didn't live up to its name, The Bard of Sherman Avenue is likely to make you do so with his latest rhyme, which was inspired by today's forecast.
Wind warning dropped to 'advisory'
The National Weather Service late this morning dropped a high-wind warning for parts of the Inland Northwest as a strong Pacific windstorm began to wane. While gusts to 61 mph were reported around 7 a.m., the southwest winds overall were blowing at speeds below the prediction of peak gusts of 50 to 55 mph late Wednesday morning.
GOP backs Trump Muslim plan 168
Nearly 2/3s of likely GOP primary voters support Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump’s proposal to ban Muslims from coming into the country, according to a new Bloomberg Politics/Purple Strategies PulsePoll survey..
'Star Wars' release set Dec 17 2
Unless you've been living under a rock, you know that release of the new "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" movie will occur during the holidays -- Dec. 17, to be exact. It'll have new characters, including British actress Daisy Ridley (shown at a press conference). Question: Do you plan to watch the new "Star Wars" during its first week after release?
Do you end texts with a period? 28
Brevity may be the soul of wit when it comes to texting, but punctuation is key. No one likes receiving a text with a period attached to the end, according to a new scientific study. Sure, it might be grammatically correct but people really will think you're a jerk.
AM Scanner Traffic 1
Scanner Traffic for Wednesday AM (20 items & counting) doesn't include much in the way of wind damage so far (although Coeur d'Alene Airport recorded a wind gust of 68 mph this AM) ...
Regan stands by PAC story 6
Brent Regan, a former Coeur d'Alene School Board trustee and political activist, is standing behind his story that he bankrolled an attack flier circulated by Responsible CDA PAC during the City Council election last month: Regan told the Press Tuesday he donated simply because he was asked to do so. "They came to me with a proposal."
AM Headlines -- 12.9.15
AM Headlines for Wednesday includes link to SR story re: the wind blowing the roof off the U.S. Postal Service facility at the Spokane Airport, which could cause mail delays for the region. Also: Washouts close Bonner County roads/KXLY, Mail delays likely as wind blows roof off USPS facility/SR, Otter not working on 'instant racing' legislation/EOB
Anthony to retire in January 4
One of the worst-kept secrets in town involved the retirement of Coeur d'Alene Parks/Recreation Director Steve Anthony. He will retire in January. His wife, Robin, made the announcement official today in a Facebook post. Our parks and recreation departments prospered for decades under Steve Anthony and Doug Eastwood.
Poll: Don't trust BNSF, RR companies 1
In Tuesday's Poll, a supermajority of Hucks Nation said it doesn't trust BNSF in particular and railroad companies in general, in wake of a report that BNSF was fined $71,000 for hundreds of violations involving spill reporting. Today's Poll: Has the recent uptick in mass shootings inspired you to apply for a concealed weapons permit?
Library branch planned for LCHS 2
An expansion of public library services beyond downtown Coeur d’Alene was approved Monday by school district trustees, in addition to previous endorsement by the Coeur d’Alene Public Library Board and the Coeur d’Alene City Council.
Liquor laws spook Bardenay owner 26
When successful Idaho restaurateur Kevin Settles looked for a place to open a fourth Bardenay restaurant and distillery, he looked to Colorado, not Idaho, the Idaho Business Review reports, because of Idaho’s pricey and prohibitive liquor license laws. Settles owns Bardenay restaurants in Boise, Eagle & Coeur d'Alene.
D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.