In brief: Reward offered in October grade-school bomb threat

Crime Stoppers of the Inland Northwest is offering a reward for information leading to an arrest in a bomb threat made to a North Idaho elementary school in October.

The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the threat called into Garwood Elementary School around 10:30 a.m. on Oct. 21, a news release said. Shortly after, the Wells Fargo Bank in nearby Rathdrum was robbed. The robber left the bank driving a silver two-door passenger car.

Tips can be made anonymously by calling Crime Stoppers at (800) 222-TIPS (8477) or submitting information on the website www.crimestoppers inlandnorthwest.org. All information received is kept confidential. Callers do not have to give their names or appear in court. The tip line does not use recording devices or caller ID.

NIC offering free brain symposium

North Idaho College will present a free, weeklong symposium called “Brains Rewired” on brain research and how it affects daily life.

The symposium will be held March 14 to 18 at NIC’s Coeur d’Alene campus.

Each day will include several presentations focused on one of 12 key principles outlined in the book “Brain Rules,” by Dr. John Medina, an NIC news release said. For more information, visit www.nic.edu/cardinal connections or call (208) 769-3276.

Fugitive may be in CdA region

A fugitive wanted for failing to check in with the Idaho Department of Corrections may be in the Coeur d’Alene area. 

Bonner County authorities say Grant “Bear” Timothy Larson, 31, is possibly at a motel with friend Rok Tugmother Bass, 33, and a woman identified only as Amanda.

 They no longer believe Larson is with Marie Thompson, who they said last week may have been traveling with the fugitive to Canada.

Larson, 5-foot-7 and 210 pounds, has numerous tattoos, including “savage” and “oso tight” on his neck.

He was convicted of third-degree assault in King County in December and allowed to move to Idaho, but he didn’t check in with authorities as required. Now he’s wanted for escape from community custody. He’s also wanted on assault and battery charges from 2008.

Anyone with information is asked to contact the task force at (208) 666-5747 or the Bonner County Dispatch at (208) 265-5525.

Campus gun bill advances in Idaho

BOISE – Idaho lawmakers gave initial approval Thursday to a bill that would curtail the power of administrators to restrict where students, faculty, staff members and visitors can carry concealed firearms on Idaho’s public university and community college campuses.

Rep. Erik Simpson, R-Idaho Falls, says his bill is about making campuses safer, and the version approved by the House State Affairs Committee would allow people to carry concealed firearms everywhere on campus except in undergraduate residence halls.

Existing statutes give university and college presidents authority to prohibit firearms anywhere on campus.

Senate OKs tougher rules on PACs

OLYMPIA – Campaign committees would be less likely to hide who they are and where they get their money, as well as face bigger fines if they get caught trying, under a bill passed Thursday by the Senate and sent to the House.

With a 46-0 vote, the Senate passed SB 5021, which requires political action committees to list the name of the person or group sponsoring them and raises the fine for major violations to $10,000. It was amended, however, to allow much lower fines for what state Sen. Don Benton, R-Vancouver, called “small, unintentional mistakes.”