Flood Awareness Week: Snowmelt, seasonal rains add to risk

The Idaho Office of Emergency Management (IOEM) is joining the annual observance to remind Idahoans of the importance of flood preparedness and awareness, especially as spring snowmelt and seasonal rains increase the risk of flooding across the state.

Critics warn staff cuts at federal agencies overseeing US dams could put public safety at risk

Trump administration workforce cuts at federal agencies overseeing U.S. dams are threatening their ability to provide reliable electricity, supply farmers with water and protect communities from floods, employees and industry experts warn.

EDITORIAL: Shield law signals Idaho's commitment to press freedom

The Idaho Legislature has unanimously passed House Bill 158, creating a much-needed shield law to protect journalists' confidential sources. This legislation, now awaiting Governor Brad Little's signature, represents a significant step forward for press freedom in our state and deserves wholehearted praise.

EDITORIAL: If you love a parade, volunteer

Tomorrow’s St. Patrick’s Day parade in Coeur d’Alene notwithstanding, parade season in our local communities begins in earnest at least three months from now. The City of Post Falls is striking up the band early with an updated ordinance to cover future processions in the city. The need for updating was first discussed with the council in May of last year and at the March 4, 2025 council meeting a draft ordinance was brought forward. The proposed revisions were reviewed and discussed. The crux of the updating is as simple as the realization that “we’ve always done it this way,” isn’t a solid reason to continue the city’s responsibilities, which according to the city administrator is unsustainable. For the Post Falls Festival Parade, the City was providing to the organizers traffic management, security, assistance with planning, golf carts, traffic cones, clipboards, promotional sandwich boards and approximately $11,000 in staffing costs, primarily from the police department. Post Falls is no longer a small town of several thousand, it’s a thriving city of nearly 50,000 people. It makes sense that public safety and the allocation of resources, both human and financial, are a priority for the City. The mayor and council are entrusted with being good stewards of public money and by clearly outlining organizers’ responsibilities for community events they’re doing just that. The parade-going public might not realize just how much time, energy and money go into producing an hour or so of entertainment on sunny summer days. In every case, from the granddaddy of them all, Coeur d’Alene’s 4th of July Parade, to Hayden Days and the three-block-long Rathdrum Days Parade, generous sponsors and entry fees cover the expenses and dedicated volunteers do the heavy lifting. Somewhere along the way the City of Post Falls stepped into the Post Falls Festival Parade breach, filling roles traditionally held by volunteers. This reset via ordinance simply clarifies roles and responsibilities moving forward for this and other events. It’s also a reminder to the community just how vital volunteers are to special events and activities that enhance our quality of life here in beautiful north Idaho. If you love a parade, volunteer!

Little issues disaster declaration: Flooding fears rise in Kootenai County

Little issues disaster declaration in Kootenai County

Little said the combination of damaged infrastructure and rising runoff creates a dangerous scenario.

VETERANS PRESS: Why didn’t anyone let him know?

Quote from the December 2018 newsletter…

'Catastrophic failure' avoided in Dudley

Culvert repair diverts flood

With precipitation in the forecast for the next few days, Ben Weymouth, the director of highways for East Side Highway District, said repairs were completed just in time to rectify the River Road culvert failure in Dudley. Rainfall and early spring runoff in Fourth of July Creek led to a partial collapse of culverts and damaged the floodgates beneath River Road near Dudley.

Free music, dancing with One Site for Seniors

The free event includes live music, dancing, beverages, snacks and silent auctions.

Myanmar quake death toll rises to 1,644 as resistance movement announces partial ceasefire

A unilateral partial ceasefire to facilitate earthquake relief efforts was announced on Saturday by Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government, which coordinates the popular struggle against the ruling military. The country's death toll from the disaster soared to 1,644.

3rd Avenue Marketplace announces Holbrook as next executive director

The 3rd Avenue Marketplace announced Tuesday that Executive Director Leslie Orth is retiring after a decade expanding the organization's community impact. Charlene Holbrook, the current board of director chairperson, has been appointed as the new executive director. The leadership transition will go into effect June 2.

OUR GEM: North Idaho Green Summit

The Green Summit is a refreshing journey through all that North Idaho has to offer for those of us that love this place. Attendees will hear encouraging messages about how to preserve the green spaces that we love so much.

OUR GEM: April stewardship opportunities

While April 20 marks Earth Day, the mission of The Our Gem Coeur d’Alene Lake Collaborative encourages us all to practice stewardship every day. Here are some ways to get involved this April and contribute to the care of our Earth.

Westlund announces candidacy in Post Falls mayor race

Post Falls City Councilor Randy Westlund has officially announced his candidacy for Mayor of Post Falls. Westlund stated in a press release announcing the decision as a way for him to advocate for responsible growth and "protect our local economy from the pressures of reckless overdevelopment.”

Trump administration rolls back forest protections in bid to ramp up logging

President Donald Trump's administration acted to roll back environmental safeguards around future logging projects on more than half of U.S. national forests under an emergency designation announced Friday that cites dangers from wildfires.

House passes Medicaid budget, heads to governor

The budgeted items include funding to do surveys required by the federal government, for a contract for actuaries to forecast costs, the population adjustment, and costs related to the passage of House Bill 345 — which among many reforms, required the move of the entire program to a contract with a third-party managed care organization.

Hecla forges ahead with Lincoln County mine

That optimism met a roadblock when the state of Montana tried to label Hecla’s former CEO, Phillips S. Baker, a “bad actor” for his involvement in a failed mine cleanup in north-central Montana. Legally designating Baker a “bad actor” would have prevented Hecla from conducting any mining activity in Montana until the state was compensated $32 million for the failed clean-up of three mines owned by Pegasus Gold Corp., where Baker was once an executive. (Baker countered that he was innocent and that he had already left Pegasus before the company went bankrupt). After Gov. Greg Gianforte took office in 2021, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality dropped its effort to blacklist Baker.

Rock climbing in Post Falls parks aims higher

City gains partnership with Spokane Mountaineers

The climbing areas of Post Falls Community Forest and Q’emiln Park emerged largely unscathed after the Parkway Fire scorched the area Aug. 4, 2023. The trees and foliage shielding climbers from the hot sun, however, did not fare as well. The Post Falls Parks Department said that the climbing routes are turning over a new leaf by working on creating a partnership with the Spokane Mountaineers.

Pop-up poetry tonight at Emerge

Community members are invited to "tell a story, get a poem" with Coeur d'Alene's first poet laureate, Jennifer Passaro, from 5-8 tonight at Emerge, 119 N. 2nd St., Coeur d'Alene.

Emergency abortions are now allowed — at only some Idaho hospitals, judge rules

Idaho doctors can perform an abortion as stabilizing care during a medical emergency, a federal judge ruled Thursday — so long as they’re at the right hospital.

Pottery competition April 11 at Emerge

Emerge will host its fifth annual Ceramic Throwdown and Cup Frenzy from 5-9 p.m. Friday, April 11.