Local / Idaho Briefs January 26, 2012

Reader helps nab fugitive

Thanks to a Press reader, a wanted criminal is no longer on the street.

Don Robinson, supervisor of the FBI's Coeur d'Alene office and the North Idaho Violent Crime Task Force, reported that Darrell Beedles, a recent Fugitive of the Week featured in the print and web versions of The Press, was captured Wednesday in Kootenai County.

"The tipster specifically stated that they saw Beedles featured in today's Coeur d'Alene Press," Robinson said.

Beedles, 36, was sought on a Kootenai County felony warrant charging him with felony failure to register as a sex offender.

Higher fees for oversized loads

BOISE (AP) - The Idaho Transportation Department is seeking permission to charge a little more for truckers hauling huge loads across state highways.

Agency officials say they hope a proposed fee increase for oversized load permits will help offset a $645,000 annual cost to administer the program.

IDT official Regina Phipps told state lawmakers this week the agency is required to recoup costs for overseeing the program.