Huckleberries Best of the INorthwest — 11/17/08

Frank Varga/Skagit Valley Herald, AP
Mark Ryan, of Kingfisher, Okla,. makes his way north on HW 530, south of Conway, Wash., Thursday, Nov. 13, 2008. Ryan, his horse and a packmule, started out from Oklahoma for Ferndale, WA, on June 2nd to visit a friend. Ryan said he always asks permission to camp on private property every night and usually gets it. Ryan’s horse is on its sixth set of horseshoes and his mule on its third. Story here .

* Idaho officials solve mystery of floating beets /Twin Falls Times-News
* Idaho State dean ‘grossly erred’ w/layoff warning /Idaho Statesman
* Alleged UI student killer deemed competent /KTVB
* Seattle could name new manager Tuesday /Seattle PI
* UW, WSU presidents among US highest paid /Seattle PI
* 20-ounce Idaho infant struggles for survival /KTVB
* Horses suffer as economy falters /Billings Gazette
* Wyoming to disband wolf team /Billings Gazette

Orbusmax Special: Portland population stuck at 568,380 here .