Summer news cycle is over

“Pig Out in the Park,” right, and the return of children to area schools are sure signs that summer is winding down.

After what was a long holiday weekend for most staffers, “It’s back to work,” said Editor Steve Smith. “We don’t have Larry Craig to kick around this week,” he added, noting that the senator’s story carried what is normally a slow news week.

The week-long story played itself out over the weekend. It was announced on Friday morning that Craig would have a press conference on Saturday. It was learned by Friday afternoon (and posted online) that he would resign. Meanwhile, columnist Doug Clark’s “Tap Three Times” parody video has now received 60,000-plus hits on YouTube.

Highlights of the weekend papers from the table:

-The latest installment (online and in print) in the unsolved crimes “Cold Case” series;

-The Valey Voice feature on the Spokane River;

-A busy Sunday sports cover page with lots of breaking news; and

-Monday’s story about a family who stretches their back-to-school dollars by shopping at a second-hand store.

“I thought it was a pretty good holiday weekend paper(s),” said Smith.