Bill allows force in defending home

Idaho residents would be allowed to defend their homes and businesses by whatever force is necessary without fear of a lawsuit under a bill passed unanimously by the Idaho Senate on Monday.

The bill was modeled after a Florida law that makes residents immune from civil or criminal prosecution if they injure someone who breaks into their home.

Sen. Mel Richardson, R-Idaho Falls, said the “castle” bill comes from the doctrine that “a man’s home is his castle and he should be able to defend it.”

The National Rifle Association has backed similar proposals in other states.

The bill now goes to the House.

Senators target school bullies

Senators on Tuesday backed a bill they hope will reduce bullying at Idaho schools and on the Internet by expanding the powers of school superintendents, principals and teachers to suspend students who harass or intimidate others verbally, by phone or over a computer.

“There are studies that indicate that bullying is the leading cause of teenage suicide,” said Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden, and the sponsor, before the 31-3 vote.

Originally, sponsors of the bill, including Rep. Tom Trail, R-Moscow, had wanted to make bullying a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in jail, but changed it when colleagues deemed that too harsh.

The bill has already passed the House and now heads to Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s desk for signing.

The bill calls for school district trustees to draft rules on student harassment, bullying and intimidation in a district discipline code. Those rules will be provided to every teacher and student at the beginning of the school year.

Spokane

Skate committee to get red carpet

Spokane’s figure skating promoter Star USA is literally rolling out the red carpet.

In recognition of the U.S. Figure Skating site selection team’s visit, Star USA is lining a portion of Post Street with a red carpet Monday morning.

Star USA, headed by Toby Steward and Barb Beddor, is bidding on the 2009 World Figure Skating Championships. The red carpet treatment will be given to officials from the U.S. Figure Skating Association, who plan to arrive on Sunday night. The carpet on Post Street will run from one block south to one block north of River Park Square. The public is encouraged to attend a ceremony at 11:30 a.m.

“The whole objective is to show that the entire community is supporting them in a very visible way,” Beddor said.

The site visit originally was planned for today and Thursday. Because of the rescheduling, Gov. Chris Gregoire will not be able to attend, Beddor said.

U.S. Figure Skating will decide which city to recommend to the International Skating Union on April 15.

Star USA is the promoter of next year’s U.S. Figure Skating Championships, to be held at the Spokane Arena and Convention Center from Jan. 21 to 28.

Spokane condos get go-ahead

A Spokane County Superior Court judge on Tuesday ruled against an attempt by former Spokane City Councilman Steve Eugster to block the city’s sale of riverfront property for construction of a high-rise condomium tower.

Judge Jerome Leveque said in a written decision that he will dismiss Eugster’s lawsuit on a motion for summary judgment brought by the city and an attorney for the developer.

Leveque said that the two parcels in question, totaling 10,000 square feet of land, were not restricted from sale last year to the adjacent landowner.

Don Barbieri of Upper Falls LLC is erecting a seven-story tower with 32 condominiums just west of the Flour Mill overlooking the Upper Spokane Falls.

Eugster argued that the property had been converted to landscaped park use and a trail, and could not be sold by the city without putting the sale up to a public vote as required by the City Charter.

He said he will appeal Leveque’s ruling to the state Court of Appeals.

From staff and wire reports