After weeks of avoiding the press, Sen. Larry Craig plans to give an interview to a host of NBC’s “Today” show Tuesday.

This marks the first time Idaho’s senior Republican lawmaker will speak at length to a member of the news media since his arrest in a Minnesota airport bathroom sex sting became public in August.

“Today” show personality Matt Lauer will interview Craig and his wife, Suzanne Craig, in a show to be aired Tuesday at 8 p.m. EDT.

Craig has also agreed to a separate interview by a local NBC affiliate in Boise, KTVB-TV, to be shown the same evening.

When asked about the interview, Craig spokesman Dan Whiting said in an e-mail that it’s an exclusive arrangement between the senator and NBC.

– Associated Press

Voter registration deadline is today

Today is the deadline to register to vote in the Nov. 6 city election. Registrations will be cut off at 5 p.m. However, Idaho law also allows residents to register and vote at their polling place on Election Day.

Coeur d’Alene residents may register at City Hall, 710 E. Mullan Ave., starting at 8 a.m. or the new Kootenai County elections office, 1808 N. Third St., starting at 9 a.m. Post Falls residents may register at City Hall, 408 N. Spokane St., starting at 8 a.m.

Absentee voting is scheduled to begin Monday and continue through Nov. 5. The option is open to anyone who is eligible to vote, and registration can be completed at the same time.

Voting by mail also is an option for Coeur d’Alene residents. Applications can be picked up at City Hall or the county elections office, or downloaded from the city’s Web site, www.coeurdaleneidaho.org. The last day to request a mail ballot is Oct. 31.

– Paula Davenport

Drug money buys drug-sniffing dog

Coeur d’Alene police have used drug money to buy a new dog trained to sniff out marijuana, heroin, cocaine and meth.

Maxx, a 15-month-old German shepherd from Belgium, will live and work with Coeur d’Alene police Detective Eric Paull. The two met Sept. 22 after Maxx spent four months training in Alabama, police Sgt. Christie Wood said.

– Taryn Hecker