HBO Poll: Why Was Brannon Laid Off?

Habitat board chairman Rick Shipman says the decision to eliminate Brannon’s job was purely fiscal. Brannon supporter and businessman Jim Doty believes the decision was politically inspired. “It’s pretty hard to sleep at night knowing that you’re eliminating one of your best coworkers,” Shipman said Thursday. “It was extremely painful. We went through a lot of deliberations knowing what a good job Jim’s done — and to have to do that — but we felt like we can go back to a managing board”/ Tom Hasslinger , Coeur d’Alene Press. More here .

• Thursday Poll: 66% of the respondents (50 of 76) favor doing away with the Electoral College and electing presidents by a direct vote of the people. 26 favor the current system.