Grass burning season under way

For tomorrow:

—You may have noticed big plumes of smoke over the Rathdrum Prairie today. It’s the beginning of the annual field burning season for grass growers.

—A review of tax records found no evidence that a prominent pedophile priest ever worked at Morning Star Boys’ Ranch in any official capacity, the ranch’s spokeswoman said this week. (The priest has admitted molesting more than a dozen boys.)

—Spokane County Commissioners reacted angrily to news reports suggesting they had some type of verbal agreement with Mayor Jim West in which the city would leave the county with certain tax-revenue rich retail areas. Commissioners said the only thing they’ve told West is to keep his hands off commercial and residential property alike.

—Environmental groups say snowmobiles are killing the country’s last caribou. They plan to file a lawsuit today in hopes to forcing the feds to curtail snowmobile traffic in North Idaho.

And from the wire services:

—Thousands of Jewish settlers and supporters defied today’s deadline to leave Gaza, pelting Israeli troops with eggs and stones and dancing around the Torah in celebration of their resistance to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon’s historic plan to disengage from the Palestinians.