Priest River woman killed in collision
A 51-year-old Priest River resident died Wednesday afternoon following a vehicle collision on U.S. Highway 95 near Genesee, the Idaho State Patrol said.
Ruth M. Caufield’s 2003 Toyota Corolla was hit head-on about 4:40 p.m. by a 1997 Chevy pickup truck driven by Marciano L. Meckle, 29, of Athol, according to a press release.
Troopers said Meckle was northbound when, for unknown reasons, crossed the center and struck Caufield’s vehicle.
Meckle was transported to Kootenai Medical Center by Medstar. Meckle’s condition was unavailable late Wednesday.
Post Falls
Mom held after kids found in rain
A North Idaho woman accused by police of being unconscious due to methamphetamine use while her half-naked toddlers were outside in a rainstorm has been arrested and her children taken into protective custody.
Kara J. Flores, 25, was arrested Monday and has been charged in 1st District Court with felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor injury to a child.
She was held in the Kootenai County Jail on $20,000 bond.
Police said Flores’ 2-year-old boy and 3-year-old girl were wet and wearing T-shirts; the girl also wore a soiled diaper hanging to her knees.
Police were alerted by someone who saw the children.
“It is a little surprising when you see two young children left out in the rain,” Post Falls police Lt. Scot Haug told the Associated Press on Wednesday. “Meth is really having a big effect on our community.”
Flores told police the children were inside the home when she went to sleep.
Worley
Democrats plan annual dinner
The Kootenai County Democrats will have their annual Democracy Dinner Saturday at the Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort Hotel in Worley.
The keynote speaker is Jim Hansen, a former Democratic state lawmaker from Boise who lost his November bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho.
Hansen is executive director of United Vision for Idaho. During his congressional campaign, Hansen limited donations to $100 and argued that voters have lost faith in the election process that allows donors to give thousands of dollars.
The evening kicks off with a $50 private reception with Hansen at 6 p.m. A no-host bar starts at 6:30 p.m., followed by dinner at 7:30 p.m. Dinner tickets are $40. A free bus service to the casino will leave from Riverstone in Coeur d’Alene at 6:10 p.m. and return at 10 p.m.
Tickets are available at the Democratic Headquarters, 1124 E. Sherman Ave., or by calling (208) 765-0965 or e-mailing kcdcc@verizon.net.
For more information contact Barbara Harris at (208) 667-6947 or at bahcdsrm@adelphia.net.
Olympia
Lawmakers back expanded sex-ed
Abstinence-only education would be prohibited in public schools that choose to teach sex education under a measure passed by the Washington Legislature.
After four hours of debate late Wednesday, the bill was approved on a 63-34 House vote and now heads to Gov. Chris Gregoire, who is expected to sign it into law. The measure passed the Senate last month after an equally lengthy but much more heated debate.
“Sex for our children without knowledge is a terrible choice,” said Rep. Shay Schual-Berk, D-Normandy Park. “We must not allow fear to keep our children in ignorance.
” ‘Just say no’ shortchanges our children,” she said.
Under the measure, schools that choose to provide sex education would be required to discuss abstinence with students, but could not teach abstinence without also instructing students about other aspects of sexuality, including the use of contraceptives.
Opponents argued the measure doesn’t put enough emphasis on abstinence, doesn’t require proper notification to parents, and takes local control away from the schools.
Puyallup, Wash.
Students hurt in bus accident
Five students suffered minor injuries Wednesday afternoon when a truck jackknifed and collided with the rear of a bus carrying about 48 students from the Bethel School District.
The collision happened shortly before 4 p.m. as the bus was taking children home from Naches Trail Elementary School, Pierce County sheriff’s spokesman Ed Troyer said.
Five students were taken to Good Samaritan Hospital in Puyallup for treatment of bumps and bruises but were otherwise fine, Troyer said. Cause of the crash was under investigation.
From staff and wire reports