Parting Shot -- 12.16.16 7
Annie Glenn rests her hand on her husband John Glenn's casket as he lies in honor today, in Columbus, Ohio. Glenn's home state and the nation began saying goodbye to the famed astronaut who died last week at the age of 95.
FRIDAY, DEC. 16, 2016
TGIF Wild Card -- 12.16.16 97
Would you rather deal with frigid cold, as we have in the Inland Northwest now, or the muggy heat that you find in the South and many other places in the dead of summer? I side with the cold, esp. if that means cooler summers. The cold has its problems. Dead car batteries. Broken pipes. Icy roads. But there are ways to deal with such problems.
PM Scanner Traffic -- 12.16.16 2
Scanner Traffic for Friday PM (16 items & counting + link to AM Scanner Traffic with 11 more items) includes 2 crashes on Neider Ave/CdA within 7 minutes of each other -- one west of Govt Way & one east of Govt Way ...
Cutline Contest -- Time2Vote 11
The Cutline Contest today features two sisters, dressed as Ewoks, who attended the opening of the new "Star Wars" movie, "Rogue One," in Spokane Thursday. Cutline Contest winner Thursday: HFHayden.
Footballer admits felony assault 5
A football player originally charged with sexually assaulting a black, mentally disabled teammate after an October 2015 Dietric High football practice pleaded guilty to a lesser felony Friday, and prosecutors now say it wasn’t a sex crime. The Twin Falls Times News reports.
City offers X-country skiing, sledding 2
The city Parks & Recreation Department is offering a cross country ski trail for all ages and a sledding hill for youngsters at McEuen Field. Recreationalists can gain access to the winter outdoor activities from the main City Hall parking lot at the foot of Tubbs Hill.
Would You Rather? 12
Cindy Hval and her sons enjoy playing a dinner table game called, "Would You Rather." It goes something like this. One participant asks another: "Would you rather hug Bill Clinton or Hillary Clinton?" And so on. Cindy introduces the game below as well as a podcast about it. Huckleberries has a link to that podcast below.
Twin Lakes rustic 1
This viewtiful Twin Lakes winter scene is brought to you by the talented Idaho Scenic Images camera of Linda Lantzy.
New Ed House chair gets kudos 3
What should you know about Julie VanOrden, Idaho’s new House Education Committee chairman? She’s fair, smart and well informed, say Republicans and Democrats who know her. “She’s a thinker,” said Rep. Patrick McDonald, R-Boise, the committee’s new vice chair. Bill Roberts/Idaho Statesman reports.
Obamacare has helped Idaho big time 9
New federal data show the Affordable Care Act has reduced the share of Idahoans without health insurance by more than one-third since the law took effect in 2010. Audrey Dutton/Idaho Statesman reports.
Christmas spirit
SR photo bud Kathy Plonka took her camera to Atlas Elementary this AM, where she photographed para educator Meghan Palmer during the CYT (Christian Youth Theater) production of "A Charlie Brown Christmas."
Idaho D leader to seek DNC chair 4
The executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party is the latest candidate seeking to be the leader of the Democratic National Committee. Sally Boynton Brown announced her candidacy Friday. The Associated Press reports. Tweet Angry North Idaho responds: ""BRINGING THE SUPER SUCCESSFUL IDAHO MODEL TO THE NATION!"
Poll: Don't arm M's, Seahawk fans 5
In Thursday's poll, a whopping 84% of Hucks Nation opposes proposal by state Rep. Matt Shea, R-Spokane Valley, to allow fans with concealed weapons to attend games at arenas and stadiums in Washington state. Today's Poll: How do you get rid of the snow on your driveway and sidewalk?
AM Scanner Traffic -- 12.16.16
Scanner Traffic for Friday AM (11 items & counting) ...
AM: Rathdrum hires female chief
AM Headlines today starts with Coeur d'Alene Press report that Rathdrum has hired its first female police chief. Also: EWU prepares fans for cold game/KHQ, UI remembers student killed in crash/KHQ, Temps dip to zero for 1st time since 2014/SR, Tribes, feds claim same land in eastern Idaho/AP, KCSO: Be mindful re: where you snow plow/Press + more...
IFF: Kootenai Health network self serving 21
In his column this week, executive director Wayne Hoffman of Idaho Freedom Foundation examines the Kootenai Care Network, which limits medical choices for Blue Cross customers.
Stapilus: No more Bill Hall columns?
In a column today, Randy Stapilus of the Ridenbaugh Press reacts to news that Opinion Page editor emeritus Bill Hall of the Lewiston Tribune will no longer write a column. Those of us who knew -- or worked with -- Hall were shocked by his recent announcement that he would no longer write his column, for health reasons.
WSJ: Trump Jr steered Interior pick 6
The Wall Street Journal is reporting that Donald Trump Jr. heavily influenced his father's decision to pick Montana Rep Ryan Zinke instead of Washington Rep Cathy McMorris Rodgers to direct the Interior Dept. The Trumps oppose the position taken by McMorris Rodgers & other Republicans in favor of transferring federal lands to states to manage.
Finish this Sentence 5
Cindy Hval provides the fodder for this "Finish this Sentence" post. On her Facebook page, she writes: "Life is better when your undies are not inside out." Feel free to finish this sentence: "Life is better when ..."
Ivanka to inherit office usually reserved for 1st Lady 38
Ivanka Trump will reportedly inherit an office in the same White House space typically used by the First Lady — the latest evidence the President-elect's eldest daughter is preparing to take on a substantial White House role in her father's administration. The New York Daily News reports.
Cheers: Risch wilderness backing key 1
In his weekly Cheers & Jeers column, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase of the Lewiston Tribune gives CHEERS to ... U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho: "When they close the books on his long political career, historians may open their account with what's coming next: Risch's pursuit of the first wilderness area in Idaho's Panhandle." Thoughts?
What's with hideous Seahawk unies? 21
Facebook's going cuh-razy re: the look of the Seattle Seahawks uniforms last night. The Hawks took the field wearing goopy green unies with the blue identification insignia. One Facebook friend wondered if Nike had purchased the Seahawks. David Bond thought his TV had gone nuts.
Jeers: Ybarra botched it 5
In his weekly Cheers & Jeers column, Opinion Editor Marty Trillhaase/Lewiston Tribune gives JEERS to ... Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra: ""She could not have bungled the release of an ugly audit of Idaho's teacher evaluation program any more had she tried."
'Rogue One': A review 4
Katie Walsh, of the Tribune News Service, reviews "Rogue One": "The wait is over and the results are in: It doesn’t break the mold in terms of franchise formula, and it’s an enjoyable installment in the “Star Wars” canon. However, it’s not much more than that." Q: When do you plan to see "Rogue One"?
Odom going to treatment center 1
Kyle Odom, 30, of Coeur d'Alene, who is accused of shooting pastor Tim Remington last March, will be sent to a state-run mental health facility prior to facing a criminal charge. Keith Cousins/Coeur d'Alene Press reports.
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.