Huckleberries Best of the INorthwest Online — 11/1/07

Jed Conklin/Spokesman-Review

A school bus passes remnant fall colors on Wednesday morning in Spokane.

1. The man now tied to a sex-extortion case involving a Washington legislator was identified earlier this year during a separate multi-agency investigation of a Spokane escort business that was laundering money and promoting prostitution at Northern Quest Casino/Bill Morlin, Spokesman-Review, here . Former Rep. Richard Curtis speaks to Columbian here .

2. Cali Kaltschmidt, the Auburn High School senior cheerleader who was accidentally trampled by the football team during halftime of Friday’s 37-6 win over Auburn Riverside, has made national news. Kaltschmidt, 18, appeared on “Good Morning America” on Wednesday here /Seattle PI.

3. University of Montana in the running for Most Vegetarian-Friendly College in America here .

4. News Roundup: Schools try to calm parents worried about MRSA /Spokesman-Review; $1.6M grant to train Coeur d’Alene Tribe employees /Spokesman-Review; Armory to leave Missoula /Missoulian; Judge defends furlough for convicted rapist /KTVB; and DUI suspect detained by witnesses until police arrive /KTVB.

5. Blogosphere: Chick Bilyew: Bombastic in a good way /Randy Stapilus; Conscientious objection /Dogwalk Musings; XM radio and the Grateful Dead /Kellogg Bloggin’; Larry Craig vs. Larry Craig /Red State Rebels; and The Sinking Lifeboat Dilemma /TUBOB.

6. IMHO-NW: Lunching in the face of death /Doug Clark, Spokesman-Review; Who elected these guys /David Horsey, Seattle PI; Green — the new crimson /Haley Paul, WSU Evergreen; The real Halloween weekend /Tyler Wilson, Coeur d’Alene Press; and Lamenting the eminent loss of local cable /Craig Staszkow, Moscow-Pullman Daily News.

Orbusmax Special: Central Washington’s sign-language chimp dies at 42 here .