Quiet morning

Today marks the first time since Katrina hit that a local story took the lead position on the front page (Rehnquist’s death was the only other story to push the hurricane downpage) - a sign that our focus is shifting back to the region. The cleanup effort will still be front page news for weeks to come, but won’t overshadow local issues.

A couple of readers have asked why vacant housing near Fairchild isn’t being opened up to Katrina refugees. We’ll look into it, but many reports have indicated that those displaced want to stay close to home, it’s probably a moot point.

Also, “7” editor Nancy Malone is returning today after a two-week stint as a Red Cross volunteer in Louisiana. The dispatches from the ground are ending, but there’s still a lot of stories to tell, so there may be more to come.

Coming up

This week marks the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark’s near-fatal crossing of the Bitterroots. Look for a front-page story tomorrow.