Becky Kramer

Michael Chappell, who founded Gonzaga University’s Environmental Law Clinic, died unexpectedly Sunday while he was golfing with friends. An autopsy was performed Monday, but the cause of death wasn’t immediately known.

A federal judge has approved a $263.4 million settlement with Hecla Mining Co. that resolves one of the nation’s largest Superfund lawsuits. The money paid by Hecla will be used to clean up historic pollution in the Coeur d’Alene River Basin, including toxic levels of lead and other heavy metals in sediment.

The U.S. Attorney’s Office has dropped a misdemeanor charge against a Porthill, Idaho, man who shot and killed a grizzly bear in his yard. Instead, Jeremy M. Hill was issued a noncriminal citation for the May 8 shooting of the 2-year-old male grizzly, and paid a $1,000 fine.

The U. S. Attorney’s Office has dropped misdemeanor charges against a Porthill, Idaho, man who shot and killed a grizzly bear in his yard.

Population growth will ramp up demand for water in arid Eastern Washington over the next 20 years, even as climate change alters flows in the Columbia River and its tributaries, a new study says. By 2030, cities are expected to divert 24 percent more water to serve rapidly growing populations. But a warmer climate will diminish the Columbia Basin’s water supplies during the critical summer months, when farmers are irrigating crops, salmon are migrating and residents are trying to keep their lawns green.

A grizzly shot by a Boundary County man had approached within 40 yards of his children, who were outside playing basketball, and charged at the man after it was wounded, according to a statement by Boundary County Prosecutor Jack Douglas. The statement provides more details about the May 8 shooting. Jeremy M. Hill, 33, of Porthill, Idaho, pleaded not guilty last week to a federal charge of illegally killing a threatened species. A jury trial is scheduled for Oct. 4.

A grizzly shot by a Boundary County man had approached within 40 yards of his children, who were outside playing basketball, and when wounded, charged at the man, according to a statement by the Boundary County prosecutor’s office.

Avista Corp. has reached a proposed settlement over the company’s request for higher electric and natural gas rates for Idaho customers. If approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the settlement would result in a 1.1 percent increase in base electric rates and a 1.6 percent increase in natural gas rates effective Oct. 1.

BIG CREEK, Idaho – Sunshine Silver Mines Corp.’s new board of directors paid an inaugural visit to their namesake property this week to assess the state of the once-prolific silver producer. Purchased at a bankruptcy auction last year, the 127-year-old Sunshine Mine was showing its age Thursday afternoon. “Are those original buildings?” one board member asked politely, eyeing weather-beaten metal siding. “Yes, from the 1930s,” was the reply.

Avista Corp. has reached a proposed settlement over the company’s request for higher electric and natural gas rates for Idaho customers. If approved by the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, the settlement would result in a 1.1 percent increase in base electric rates and a 1.6 percent increase in natural gas rates, effective Oct. 1.

A Boundary County man pleaded not guilty Tuesday to unlawfully killing a female grizzly bear in his yard. So many friends and family members showed up to support Jeremy M. Hill at his arraignment that the hearing was forced to move into a larger room at the U.S. Courthouse in Coeur d’Alene. Hill, 33, faces one charge of killing a grizzly – a federally protected species.

A Boundary County man pleaded not guilty today to unlawfully killing a female grizzly bear in his yard. So many friends and family members showed up to support Jeremy M. Hill at his arraignment that the hearing was moved into a larger room at the U.S. Courthouse in Coeur d’Alene. Hill, 33, faces one charge of killing a grizzly – a federally protected species.

Forest entomologists say it’s been a banner year for tussock moths, a native pest that strips green foliage from fir trees. The moths are in their caterpillar stage, actively feeding on Douglas fir and grand fir trees in Spokane and Kootenai counties. They leave behind red-colored, damaged-looking foliage.

Two Idaho snowflies will not be protected under the Endangered Species Act, U.S. Fish and Wildlife officials said today.

Investigators are looking into the cause of a second fire in three weeks at the Lucky Friday Mine. The underground silver mine near Mullan, Idaho, was evacuated at 7 p.m. Tuesday after a contract employee reported he smelled smoke.