SR Morning Headlines (2/3/05)

SR Photo/Jesse Tinsley: A detention deputy in the Kootenai County Public Safety Building (jail) watches over inmates in several “pods” in the east housing wing of the jail Wednesday.

* County studies second jail expansion: Commission considers putting proposal to extend half-cent sales tax for small addition on November ballot / Erica Curless , SR — Dang! Just how many bad guys do we have in Kootenai County? We keep building it, they keep filling it. If we don’t build it, will they stay away?

* Warm streak may be nearing end: Cold front expected to hit region this weekend, may bring snow to North Idaho ski resorts / Jonathan Brunt , SR — For those keeping score at home, we’ve had 16 straight days of plus-40 temperatures. But that should come to an end this weekend.

* FBI arrests EMT on child porn charges: Couple turn in man who allegedly contacted them on Internet / Bill Morlin , SR — Sick.

* High court petitioned on field-burning: Group says burning is a health risk, wants ruling overturned / Karen Dorne Steele , SR — Although I support the grass farmers (because I prefer them to suburbia on the prairie), but I can see why Bonner County residents are hosed. Basically, the farmers burn when the wind is blowing toward Bonner County.

* Gay marriage ban loses in Senate: Push to seek constitutional amendment falls 3 votes short / Betsy Russell , SR — Let’s see … Sen. Dick Compton opposes gay marriage, but he believes a constitutional amendment banning it is unnecessary. Reminds me of the abortion debate among politicians who are personally against abortion but don’t want to force their views on others. Meanwhile, the unborns continue to die by the hundreds of thousands.