In brief: House OKs bill to fight counterfeit medicines
The House gave final passage Thursday to a North Idaho lawmaker’s bill designed to protect Idahoans from counterfeit prescription drugs.
Sponsored by Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Cocolalla, Senate Bill 1184 tightens rules for licensing prescription drug wholesalers and creates “pedigree” requirements for drugs as they travel through the supply chain.
House sponsor Rep. Bob Ring, R-Caldwell, a retired doctor, said Americans have unknowingly bought an increasing number of counterfeits since 2000. The labels, packaging and pills look the same, and “the pharmacist can’t really tell the difference,” he said.
He said contents of drugs may be diluted or replaced by other substances, such as drywall gypsum.
The House voted 63-3 in favor of the bill, which still requires Gov. Butch Otter’s signature.
– Parker Howell
Post Falls
Foxtail developers file $5 million tort claim
Developers of the Foxtail project – turned down by the Post Falls City Council – filed a tort claim this week, seeking at least $5 million for the city’s “unlawful conduct” in the denial.
The City Council refused last month to annex the multi-use project, saying the timing wasn’t right for such a massive development east of Highway 41.
The developers claim the decision was “arbitrary, capricious … (and) was ill-advised,” said attorney Bob Dunn, who is representing Tomlinson North Idaho Inc. and Hayden LLC.
The Foxtail developers are seeking damages for engineering fees, lost profits and development study costs.
The claim notes that the City Council gave the go-ahead this month to annex a different multi-use project in the area, the 100-acre Tullamore East development on Highway 41.
The Foxtail project has been more than two years in the making. The City Council turned it down for the fourth time in February because of sewer capacity and traffic concerns.
The proposal called for 649 houses, 245 multifamily units, and acreage for commercial development, a school site and open space, on 280 acres between Poleline and Prairie avenues.
– Hope Brumbach
Sandpoint
Sandpoint events aim to keep teens off meth
Lake Pend Oreille High School and the Sandpoint Teen Council are sponsoring three days of activities to encourage teenagers to stay away from methamphetamine.
From 4 to 5:30 p.m. Sunday at the Adventist Community and Youth Center, Pine and Division streets, David Greco of the Youth Leadership Institute will host a talk for teens, their parents and other interested adults about drugs. Pizza will be provided.
From 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday, Maureen Sedonaen, founder and director of the Youth Leadership Institute, will be at the center talking about prevention and other issues. And from 9:30 a.m. to noon Tuesday, teens will gather at Panida Theater in Sandpoint for the March Against Meth.
For more information, call (208) 263-6121.
–Meghann M. Cuniff