Huckleberries Best of the INorthwest Online — 12/5/07

Kathy Plonka/Spokesman-Review
Former tug boat captain Forrest Schmeling is seen through the condensation on a window of the Florence Lee tug boat while docked at North Idaho Maritime in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday. He retired on November 8 after working at the job since 1975. Story here . Slide show here .

1. Men’s Health ranks Spokane 11th nationally among the drunkest cities, based on statistics that include binge drinking, DUI arrests and fatal accidents involving intoxication/The Falls. More here .

2. U.S. Sen. Larry Craig’s bathroom sexcapades have been with us for some time now. Last night, Craig’s misadventure in the Minnesota airport restroom provided the plot line for “Boston Legal”/Hard 7. More here .

3. Online Poll: By 27% to 26%, a plurality of 453 respondents to a Lewiston Tribune poll believe Eastern Washington football coach Paul Wulff will be the next Washington State football coach over former Cougar and five other choices.

4. News Roundup: I-5 to reopen Friday at earliest /Seattle Times; 5 WSU frat men arrested for October fight /WSU Evergreen; Craig files 45 changes for global warming bill /Idaho Statesman; Rains dampen Schweitzer’s proposed opening /Bonner County Bee; and Pet owners says improperly euthanized /Coeur d’Alene Press.

5. Blogosphere: Joseph Pulitzer, then & now /Bay Views; It’s time to change cyberstalking law /Dogwalk Musings; Really, Hillary! /Morialekafa; Payette cabin rents frozen for year /Eye On Boise; and What’s in a letter /MountainGoat Report; and Mary Verner’s secretive group /NW Republican.

6. IMHO: Is Muhammad less deserving than U.S. flag /Jim Fisher, Lewiston Tribune; Celebrating the end of Prohibition /Dominick Bonny, WSU Evergreen; It’s time to resume something that’s right /John Blanchette, Spokesman-Review; Excessive spending is not right /U.S. Rep. Bill Sali, Idaho Statesman; and Supporters should re-examine Ron Paul’s record /Graham Dart, WSU Evergreen.

Orbusmax Special: S.L.U.T. T-shirt makers announce party for streetcar’s opening day here .