NEW THIS MORNING: Thursday, Oct. 17

1. Upgrades en route to Coeur d'Alene's Government Way

The persistent red lights on Government Way could be green for longer next year. 

The Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a $2.3 million contract with Thorco, Inc., for the Government Way Signal and ADA Improvements Project.

It also approved a “sole source purchase request” to spend about $1.5 million with Western Systems for traffic light equipment. 

Scheduled to begin next spring, the project is expected to improve traffic flow on the busy north-south corridor that sees more than 16,000 vehicles pass through its intersections daily. 

“I think people will appreciate it,” said Councilor Dan Gookin. “It’s going to move things right along.” 

2. Coeur d'Alene man charged with illegal elk killing

Prosecutors said a local man killed an elk using illegal means and then tried to hide the evidence.

A grand jury indicted Joel P. Rose, 61, of Coeur d’Alene, Oct. 9, on charges of unlawful taking of wildlife and alteration and/or concealment of evidence, both felonies. 

The charges stem from Sept. 10, when prosecutors said Rose shot a trophy bull elk with a silenced rifle during an archery-only hunt. 

Rose allegedly concealed fired bullet casings, stabbed a bull elk with an arrow after it had been fatally shot by a rifle and buried the animal’s ribcage and internal organs on his property, according to court records. 

Prosecutors said he “altered or concealed” evidence because he knew it was about to be discovered in a criminal investigation and was trying to prevent the evidence from being found or used. 

After jurors indicted Rose on the charges, a $10,000 warrant was issued for his arrest. The warrant was returned Monday. 

3. Department of Environmental Quality announces water funding opportunities

The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality on Tuesday announced fiscal year 2026 funding opportunities for Idaho’s drinking water and wastewater systems.

Interested applicants are asked to electronically submit letters of interest detailing funding needs for funding to grants.loans@deq.idaho.gov for each funding opportunity. Letters of interest forms are available on DEQ’s grants and loans web page. Completed letters are due by Jan. 10. 

4. Moonlight may hamper views of the Orionid meteor shower, debris of Halley's comet

The Orionids — one of two annual meteor showers from Halley's comet — peak early Monday. A bright waning moon may make them difficult to spot.

The Orionid meteor shower can be unpredictable. It shines like a fireworks display in some years, but is fairly slow in other years.

This highly variable shower may result in anywhere from 20 to 60 visible meteors per hour under ideal viewing conditions, said NASA's Bill Cooke.

This year’s peak activity happens on a night when a waning moon is 83% full. The shower lasts through November 22.