HBO’s INorthwest Roundup — 4/3/09

“He’s happy no matter what is going on in the world,” said Don Bird of Coeur d’Alene as he walked with his Golden Retriever, Sunny on Tubbs Hill on Thursday. Kathy Plonka/Spokesman-Review

• Idaho jobless rate at 20-year high /Alison Boggs, SR
• Montana governor vetoes part of horse-slaughter bill /Billings Gazette
• Ex-candidate for Idaho guv sent to prison for tax invasion /Idaho Statesman
• Ex-candidate sues Semanko in campaign dispute /Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman
• Montanan gets 10 years for gouging out eye /AP
• Orbusmax Special: Media ignore abortion connection in Montana plane crash coverage here .

• Ichiro will start season on DL with bleedin ulcer /Larry Stone, Seattle Times
• No charges in RPS garage death /Jim Camden, SR
• Farming town revamps curfew rules /AP
• Back-country residents upset by USPO cancellation /AP & KTVB
• Drivers cling to studded tires despite deadline /KXLY
• Popular Whitefish veterinarian dies in plane crash /Daily Inter Lake