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Former Idaho Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick has been hired by his former colleague Gabrielle Giffords’ to assist her effort to expand background checks on gun purchases. Minnick’s Washington, D.C., firm is Majority Group LLC, which he founded in 2011 after losing his first re-election bid to GOP challenger and now-Rep. Raul Labrador. Minnick and two others from Majority Group registered as lobbyists effective March 31 and filed their disclosure report April 12 as the Senate was preparing to vote on background checks, which were ultimately rejected. The filing is available on the Sunlight Foundation website. Minnick has had his differences with the NRA, getting a “D+” grade when he defeated Republican Bill Sali in 2008. Two years later, the NRA boosted his grade to a “B+,” while Labrador got an “A”/Dan Popkey, Idaho Statesman. More here. (AP file photo, of Walt Minnick)

Question: Can't trust those dern Democrats with guns, can you?

Read more here: http://blogs.idahostatesman.com/idahos-minnick-hired-by-gabby-giffords-to-lobby-for-gun-control/#storylink=cpy

It seems I offended a great number of people with last week’s column regarding my speeding ticket that a quick follow-up appears appropriate. First, as an update, I entered a plea of “not guilty” a few days ago. It seemed problematic for me to admit I violated Idaho Code 49-654(2)(E) for excessive speeding when that statute doesn’t exist. So I didn’t. Based on the comments, I know some people will be offended by my decision. Oh well. We all learn in fourth grade Civics that our system of government is comprised of three branches: legislative, judicial and executive. The legislative branch writes the law. The judiciary adjudicates the law and the executive carries out the law. The legislative process involves lawmakers agreeing on public policy and asking the executive branch to consent to those policy proposals by signing their legislation into law/Wayne Hoffman, Idaho Freedom Foundation. More here.

Question: I pleaded not guilty -- and lost -- to the only speeding ticket I ever received, when I was 18 years old. Have you ever fought a traffic violation?

Spokesman Keith Erickson of Lake City Development Corp. provides this report from recent LCDC board meeting:

So … what will the Coeur d’Alene area look like 20 years down the road—and what efforts can be made to ensure it remains a vibrant community? That’s what Visioning 2030 is all about. Officials are seeking financial assistance from the LCDC to help fund a study to plan for the community’s future. Advocates of the plan are seeking $15,000 in funding from the LCDC to shoulder the costs of a consultant to devise a plan. The process will weigh strongly on community participation, support and input, city attorney and project advocate Mike Gridley told the board. “What we want to determine is, ‘what do we need to do today to get long-term goals in place to make the community as healthy as it can be in the future’” Gridley said. He emphasized that this study would not be a “dust-gathering” report away , but a working document to help community leaders shape future growth in a structured and beneficial way.  “The plan is to establish goals, assign tasks and make it happen. Ultimately, there will be assigned responsibilities that will be followed up on. This will provide a road map to follow future growth that benefits the whole community,” Gridley told the board.

Complete report here

Question: Is this a project that should get LCDC money?

It seems I offended a great number of people with last week’s column regarding my speeding ticket that a quick follow-up appears appropriate.

• Larry Spencer: I won't disagree that she (Christa Hazel) is a Republican but even moderate Republicans think of her as a left leaning type. Why on earth would you say she is conservative?
• Sam Crawford: Larry, in Kootenai County being conservative is a relative thing. Compared to me Christa is very conservative. Compared to you very few people are conservative.

Question: Does "conservative" mean anything today archconservative Kootenai County today?

Sheila Sutton updates the Powerball prize money sign at the Super C convenience store in Lincoln, Neb., today. Powerball officials say the jackpot has climbed to an estimated $600 million, making it the largest prize in the game's history and the world's second largest lottery prize. Sutton sold a million dollar powerball ticket on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Nati Harnik)

Question: How much money have you spent on the current Powerball lottery, so far?

• 12:15 p.m. Caller reports vicious dog in 1300 block of Front Avenue/CdA.
• 12:05 p.m. CPD officer reports dead cat laying on Ramsey Road, north of Kathleen Avenue/CdA.
• 11:59 a.m. Small dog contained @ 8820 Heavenly View Lane/CdA.
• 11:58 a.m. Potential, unattended illegal burn reported on Breezy Way/McGuire Road, Post Falls.
• 11:30 a.m. Coeur d'Alene Police Department activities report for May 16-17 here.
• 10 more items below

• Memorial Field: 101 of 143 respondents (70.63%) said they don't want to see historic Memorial Field leveled or moved as part of Four Corners revitalization 37 of 143 respondents (25.87%) support doing away with Memorial Field at its present location. 5 (3.5%) were undecided.
• Thursday Poll: 27 of 53 respondents (50.94%) would like to see a federal shield law. 23 of 53 respondents (43.4%) wouldn't. 3 (5.66%) were undecided.
• Today's Poll (pick three): Who will win the Coeur d'Alene School Board elections Tuesday?

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) -- Holly Lahti of Rathdrum, Idaho, won one of the biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history, and then seemed to disappear off the face of the earth.   The 31-year-old Lahti this week gave her first interview since she split a $380 million Mega Millions jackpot in January 2011.   As might be expected, Lahti received lots of real estate and business invitations, letters ...

Holly Lahti has had several people impersonate her on Facebook. FedEx made multiple stops at her home and her family's homes each day, delivering real estate and business invites, including one from the Gorgeous Ladies of Wrestling. She has received many letters from inmates and, of course, there has been a barrage of marriage proposals from strangers. That's what happens when you split a $380 million Mega Millions lottery jackpot. It was the second-largest lottery jackpot in U.S. history at the time and now ranks as the fifth-highest. Soon after she hit that jackpot in January 2011, Lahti (pronounced Lot-ee), now 31, fled to California from her hometown of Rathdrum and all the hype that came with the win. But, in her first interview since striking it rich, Lahti told The Press this week she's finally starting to settle into her life's next chapter/Brian Walker, Coeur d'Alene Press. More here.

Question: Would you leave North Idaho if you had $80M burning a hole in your pocket from splitting the Mega Millions lottery jackpot?

Fazliddin Kurbanov, the Uzbeki man facing federal terrorism charges in Idaho, entered not-guilty pleas to all charges this morning, speaking through a Russian interpreter.

Fazliddin Kurbanov, the Uzbeki man facing federal terrorism charges in Idaho, entered not-guilty pleas to all charges this morning, speaking through a Russian interpreter.

The Kootenai County Reagan Republicans are trying to establish a beach head on the Post Falls School Board, too, supporting Glorie Ward and Carol Goodman. Meanwhile, Balance North Idaho has endorsed incumbents Dave Paul and Julie Hunt. You can read about the two races below:

• Dave Paul vs. Glorie Ward here.
• Julie Hunt vs. Carol Goodman here

Question: Will two more dominos topple to the growing shadow of the Reagan Republicans?

COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — Holly Lahti won one of the biggest lottery jackpots in U.S. history then seemed to disappear from the face of the Earth. She actually moved to the California coast. Lahti, 31, of Rathdrum, Idaho, gave her first interview this week since splitting a $380 million Mega Millions jackpot in January 2011.

Authorities search a Boise apartment linked with an accused terrorist Thursday. Read report by Betsy Russell/Eye on Boise here. (AP photo)

• Idaho Records/Sherry Adkins, SR
• Serial killer Yates appealing death sentence/AP
• St. Vinny's launches $1M drive/Maureen Dolan, Press
• Vestal: 'Citizen' and 'illegal' are nuanced concepts/SR
• Crapo throws himself at mercy of FCC/Dan Popkey, IS
• Kootenai County unemployment rate drops to 7.2%/Press
• North Idaho dual enrollment suits them/George Kingson, Press
• Nonprofit group appeals halfway house decision/David Cole, Press
• Washington pot draft rules put product out of sight/Jim Camden, SR
• The Slice: If only everything about the past were so clear cut/Paul Turner, SR
• Continued decline in workforce helps keep Idaho's jobless rate stable/Statesman

Name: Brian Wallace

Name: Glorie Ward

Temperature: 56.7°F | Humidity: 75% | Pressure: 29.90in (Rising) | Conditions: Clear | Wind Direction: SW | Wind Speed: 0.0mph

Name: Julie Hunt

... At Coeur d'Alene Library Thursday, with a group of home-schoolers that meets once a month in the children's department. The Zone 5 stealth candidate was telling others that he has culled the RecallCDA lists looking for support for his candidacy for the Coeur d'Alene School Board. Have you seen Bjorn?