Huckleberries Best of the INorthwest — 11/5/07

Dan Pelle/Spokesman-Review

Gonzaga basketball player Ira Brown is the new dog in town. He comes to GU as a junior transfer player who has already tried baseball and reached AA San Antonio as a pitcher here /Dan Pelle, Spokesman-Review.

Online Poll: In early returns, 68% of the respondents to a Lewiston Tribune poll say that Idaho should switch to vote-by-mail ballots.

1. Idaho has the fewest doctors per capita of any state with around 140 for every 100,000 residents, with family doctors suffering from the biggest shortage here /KTVB.

2. Closing arguments have started in the Frederick Russell vehicular homicide trial. Russell is charged with causing a crash that killed three Washington State University students six years ago on the Moscow-Pullman Highway/Spokesman-Review here .

3. At Adam’s Blog, Adam Graham provides a critique of the London Telegraph’s “Top 100 Most Influential Conservatives” here .

4. News Roundup: Operation Lights Out kept CDA sex offenders away from children /KXLY; Micron’s Appleton gives up bonus, still earns nearly $8.6M /Idaho Statesman; Boisean accused of kidnap, rape of woman responding to ad /Idaho Statesman; Boy looking for cat starts house fire /KTVB; Washington takes huge leap in American health ratings /KHQ; and

5. Blogosphere: Idaho D’s down in the roots /Randy Stapilus, Ridenbaugh Press; SR layoffs: Irony or hypocrisy /Dogwalk Musings; Bison issue, like wolves, one of tolerance /Rocky Barker, Idaho Statesman; Importing more inmates cure to overcrowding? /Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise; and Obama Idaho grand opening successful /Julie Fanselow, Red State Rebels.

6. IMHO-NW: At least some people learned from Craig mistake /Tom Henderson, Lewiston Tribune; Newspaper opinions from Idaho, West re: Western issues /Idaho Statesman; Economic outlook bright for Idahoans /Coeur d’Alene Press; and Sali and the shield law (updated) /Kevin Richert, Idaho Statesman; and Curious carpoolers /cartoonist David Horsey, Seattle PI.

Orbusmax: Northern California middle school cancels cross-dressing day here .