The Spokesman Review

Rainfall is expected over the Inland Northwest later today and Friday with possible rain showers lingering through the weekend. Snow is not expected.

BOISE – Former Idaho U.S. Rep. Bill Sali persuaded an Idaho House committee Wednesday to introduce a bill to fund his new nonprofit organization, the “American Heritage Foundation,” through a new specialty license plate that would bear the motto “In God We Trust.” The foundation, which Sali and his wife Terry formed on Jan. 25, will work to educate the public about “foundational principles and history of the United States,” the bill says. Sali said it’ll do things like give away copies of the Constitution.

Former Idaho Congressman Bill Sali persuaded an Idaho House committee today to introduce a bill to fund his new nonprofit organization, the "American Heritage Foundation," through a new specialty license plate that would bear the motto "In God We Trust."

COEUR d’ALENE — A Coeur d’Alene engineering firm is estimating that removing hundreds of trees along the city’s dike road as ordered by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers could ...

Light snow falling over Spokane late this morning is not likely to cause any accumulation, forecasters said.

Grizzly bears are tucked away in their winter dens for at least another six weeks. But grizzly specialist Kim Annis is already embarking on northwestern Montana’s rural talk circuit. Hired four years ago by Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks, Annis speaks to hundreds of people each year at libraries, schools and community events about living in grizzly country.

An Idaho lawmaker says the Silver Valley is clean enough, and she wants the EPA to end its Coeur d'Alene Basin cleanup, rescind its Superfund designation and get out of the valley within five years.

KETCHUM, Idaho – The Nature Conservancy has entered into an agreement with a central Idaho rancher to restore a large pond that feeds into Silver Creek, a nationally renowned fly-fishing ...

BOISE – A St. Maries legislator raised fears about a “nanny state” when the Idaho House considered legislation this week to ban the sale of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes to children, but the measure ended up passing unanimously. State Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, cast the only “no” vote on HB 405, but then, at the last minute, changed his vote to “yes.”

Bowl full of laughs: Sue Radobenko, right, and Michelle Bowen wore football jerseys while serving lunch at Borah Elementary in Coeur d’Alene on Friday. Faculty and students were encouraged to wear team jerseys in preparation for the Super Bowl on Sunday.

BOISE – On a 5-4 vote, an Idaho Senate committee Thursday killed legislation to allow big trucks to drive 75 mph on the state’s freeways, just like cars. Senate Transportation Committee Chairman Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d’Alene, sponsored the bill. “The primary issue that brought this forth was safety,” Hammond said. “Throughout my service on this committee, I have heard how safety is always enhanced when you’ve got all traffic flowing at a common speed.”

BOISE – Idaho’s three community colleges strongly oppose legislation that would expand their boards of directors and impose new residency rules on the additional members. After hearing from representatives of the colleges Thursday, the House Education Committee killed the bill on an 11-6 vote.

BOISE – Sen. Jim Hammond won’t seek a fourth term in the Idaho state Senate and instead will apply for the upcoming opening for president at North Idaho College, along with looking at other options that will keep him closer to home and family. “I never intended to set a record here,” Hammond, R-Coeur d’Alene, said Thursday. “It’s an opportunity for someone else.”

Long before most Americans knew about global warming, Julian Powers was sounding the alarm.   In lectures on college campuses, at Earth Day fairs and through letters to the editor, the retired engineer sought to educate Spokane residents about the atmospheric buildup of greenhouse gases and why they should be concerned about warmer winters, scantier snowpacks and melting polar ice. Friends called him “Mr. Global Warming.” He attacked inaction by politicians and used science to draw people into discussions.

On a 5-4 vote, an Idaho Senate committee has killed legislation to allow big trucks to drive 75 mph on the state's freeways, just like cars.

Sen. Jim Hammond won't seek a fourth term in the state Senate, and instead will apply for the upcoming opening for president at North Idaho College, along with looking at other options that will keep him closer to home and family.

All three of Idaho's community colleges strongly opposed legislation designed to expand their boards and impose new residency rules on the additional members, and after hearing from them Thursday, the House Education Committee killed the bill.

An air stagnation advisory was posted today for a wide area of Washington east of the Cascades, but the Spokane and Coeur d'Alene areas are not included in the advisory.

The Idaho House has voted unanimously, 68-0, in favor of HB 405, to ban the sale of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes to minors, but only after much debate and strong opposition from Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries. Harwood cast the only "no" vote, but then, at the last minute, changed his vote to "yes."

North Idaho Sen. Steve Vick wants Idaho to enact a constitutional amendment to require two-thirds votes in both the House and Senate to pass any tax or fee increase.