Relief is near

With this morning’s discussion of our depressing run of news fresh in mind, we’re running a front page centerpiece on an area retiree who spends his days helping out the less fortunate. This was no easy feat - a 60-inch story on more details of Joseph Duncan’s past (sorry - that’s all the details you’re getting for now) is going to wipe out most of the A-section space, and developments out of London and Iraq are heavy contenders for limited Page One space. These stories, in the grand scheme of things, are probably more important, but we also recognize the need to give our readers a break from death and destruction.

Also coming up tomorrow:

The state Supreme Court has agreed to expedite Jim West’s recall appeal; a memorial service for Dylan Groene is expected to proceed as scheduled on Saturday; and a new report reveals that pollution in the Coeur d’Alene basin is worse than previously thought.