For 07-31-2010

BOISE – Three more longtime senior employees of the Idaho State Tax Commission have come forward charging that secret tax deals were offered to those with political influence. Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, is offering to put her pending lawsuit over the deals on hold in favor of an in-depth investigation of the charges. “I think it should make people realize that we have something very serious we’re dealing with,” Ringo said Friday.

Idaho politicians have scheduled an Aug. 9 town hall meeting in Kellogg to discuss a proposed expansion of Superfund cleanup in the Coeur d’Alene Basin. U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo called the meeting to give local residents more opportunity for input, said his press secretary, Lindsay Nothern. Other participating officials include: Gov. Butch Otter; Chief Allan, chairman of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe; and Shoshone County Commissioner Jon Cantamessa. Dennis McLerran, regional administrator for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, will also participate.

Three more longtime senior employees of the Idaho State Tax Commission have come forward with sworn statements charging that secret tax deals were offered to those with political influence, and now Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, is offering to put her pending lawsuit over the deals on hold in favor of an in-depth investigation of the charges.

Kootenai Health has named a Montana healthcare executive to replace longtime CEO Joe Morris, who is retiring.

A line of showers that developed overnight has dampened the Spokane area this morning, but forecasters said drier weather is likely after the line of clouds moves east.

A 28-year-old Spokane man suspected of kidnapping and extortion sneaked out the back door of a friend’s house to evade the SWAT team Thursday in Post Falls, only to be caught later.

BOISE – A special House Ethics Committee voted 4-3 along party lines Thursday to clear Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, of conflict of interest charges related to his ongoing fights over his federal and state income taxes. “I don’t think that the allegations were specific enough,” said state Rep. Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry. “I hope if nothing else that comes out of this, that it’s a wake-up call for all of us to be very careful about our appearances.”

A special House Ethics Committee has voted 4-3 along party lines to clear Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, of conflict of interest charges over his votes on various tax legislation while pressing his own tax fights against state and federal income tax.

Mostly sunny skies return to the Inland Northwest after a late-day thunderstorm on Wednesday caused some flash flooding and gusting winds.

A proposal to designate 215,000 acres of new wilderness areas in the Colville National Forest is drawing support from a broad coalition of forest users. The plan would expand the existing Salmo-Priest Wilderness in Northeast Washington and create new wilderness along the Kettle Crest, protecting six peaks that are each over 7,000 feet tall. The acreage represents some of the most remote, untouched land left in the lower 48 states. It’s home to grizzly bears, lynx and woodland caribou. And it’s an important wildlife migration route that connects the Rocky Mountains to the Cascades, environmentalists say.

For 07-29-2010

BOISE – Idaho needs a third federal district judge, according to U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, who notes that the state hasn’t gotten a new judgeship in 56 years. “We have two judges serving two or three times as many people per capita as our neighboring states,” Minnick told The Spokesman-Review on Wednesday. “It’s wearing out our judges. … We have a better case for a new federal judge than just about anybody in the country.”

The reported victim in an alleged murder-for-hire plot appears to be supporting the main suspect in the case – her husband, former Aryan Nations lawyer Edgar J. Steele.

At least three homes were damaged and dozens more evacuated as a wind-whipped grassfire northwest of Idaho’s capital city expanded to thousands of acres and threatened rural subdivisions.

A flash flood warning has been posted for southeast Lincoln County until 7:15 p.m.

A diver found floating facedown in Lake Coeur d’Alene on Tuesday died of drowning, an autopsy today showed.

Idaho needs a third federal district judge, according to Congressman Walt Minnick, who notes that the state hadn't gotten an additional judgeship in 56 years. "We have two judges serving two or three times as many people per capita as our neighboring states," Minnick said today. "It's wearing out our judges. ... We have a better case for a new federal judge than just about anybody in the country." Minnick is introducing legislation in Congress today.

A severely injured Marine from North Idaho was given a standing ovation on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives as lawmakers thanked him for his service in Afghanistan.

Almost 200 Lewis and Clark devotees will visit Lewiston this coming week for the annual meeting of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.