Gore set to headline Boise conference

Former Vice President Al Gore will speak on global warming at Boise State University on Jan. 22, and tickets will be available to the public starting Wednesday.

Gore’s talk is the keynote speech at a conference sponsored by the Frank Church Institute titled “Global Warming: Beyond the Inconvenient Truth.”

The former vice president’s speech will be at 7 p.m. at the BSU student union’s Jordan Ballroom. Advance tickets are required, but are free. A limited number of reserved seating tickets will be sold, along with tickets for a reception and luncheon the day before the speech.

For ticket information, contact Garry Wenske, executive director of the Frank Church Institute, at (208) 426-2941, or by e-mail at GarryWenske@boisestate.edu.

– Betsy Z. Russell

SANDPOINT

Schweitzer hosting kids ski contest

Schweitzer Mountain Resort will host the 2007 Sports Illustrated for Kids Next Snow Search qualifier Saturday.

The entry fee is $25. The athlete chosen to represent Schweitzer at the finals will compete against 150 other qualifiers for a place on the Sports Illustrated Kids Next Snow Team.

The winner will be selected from competitors age 9 to 13 and will represent Schweitzer at the Next Snow Search Finals, March 2-4 at Killington, Vt. The Schweitzer representative will receive four nights lodging and lift tickets for themselves and a parent in Killington, as well as free entry into that competition.

Contestants should report to the Schweitzer Activity Center between 8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. for registration. The competition will be in The Stomping Grounds Terrain Park beginning at 1 p.m. In addition to ability and style, judges will consider sportsmanship and personality. Helmets and release forms are required.

For more information call (208) 255-3081 or go to www.schweitzer.com or www.nextsnow.com.

– Becky Kramer

Spokane

WSP makes 39 DUI arrests over weekend

The Washington State Patrol arrested 39 suspected drunken drivers over the weekend in Eastern Washington, Trooper Jeff Sevigney said.

The arrests were part of the agency’s holiday patrols, which began in November and continue through today.

Totals for the two-month effort won’t be available until later in the week, but according to figures released last week, the number of arrests appears to be down slightly compared with last year.

As of Dec. 26 troopers had netted 271 DUI arrests, and responded to 906 crashes, including 26 involving impaired drivers. During that same period last year, troopers made 319 arrests.

Troopers filled 79 extra shifts during the special patrols with funds provided by the Washington Traffic Safety Commission.

– Sara Leaming

Couple shot overnight while sitting in car

Two people were hospitalized after being shot while sitting in a parked car in northeast Spokane early New Year’s Day, police said Monday.

A man and a woman, both likely in their 20s, were wounded about 3 a.m., said Spokane police spokesman Cpl. Tom Lee. The man suffered a single gunshot wound; the woman was shot twice. They were in stable condition Monday morning, Lee said.

The unidentified couple apparently was sitting in a car parked in the 1600 block of East Rowan Avenue, Lee said. They didn’t immediately seek medical help or report the incident.

Instead, an officer patrolling for drunken drivers noticed the pair driving erratically in downtown Spokane. When he discovered they’d been shot, he summoned medical aid and they were taken to the hospital.

Officials from the police major crimes unit and the gang enforcement team are investigating the incident.

– JoNel Aleccia