In North Idaho, skilled workers are in demand

Creating the next generation of trade workers proves challenging

The demand for skilled labor in North Idaho is high. Some of the highest projected employment growth in the region is driven by occupations in health care, construction, personal care and services and transportation and material moving. These occupations made up 35% of total job postings in North Idaho over the last year while accounting for 25-30% of regional employment, according to Lisa Grigg, Idaho Department of Labor economist for north-central Idaho.

Educators participate in i-STEM Institutes at North Idaho College

Educators participate in i-STEM Institutes at NIC

Teachers love to teach, but they also love to learn. Nearly 100 educators from across North Idaho and other parts of the state participated in four days of i-STEM Institutes at North Idaho College this week. They deepened their knowledge and enhanced their science, technology, engineering and mathematics practices through projects and principles they can bring to their classrooms this fall.

Mountain West Bank tackles cemetery cleanup

On Wednesday, the staff of Mountain West Bank and a handful of volunteers tackled the massive job of going up to the cemetery for a cleanup project.

Glacier National Park plows at Big Drift

Construction paving done on lower end of Sun Road, though shoulder work continues

Glacier Park plow crews cleared the snow at the pass and then headed down to the Big Drift east of the Continental Divide

OPINION: Unity

“If you want to build a ship, don’t drum up people to collect wood and don’t assign them tasks and work, but rather teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.” — Antoine de Saint Exupery

Best Night Sky Events for June

At first quarter, the moon always rises around mid-day and sets around midnight, allowing it to be seen in the afternoon daytime sky, too.

Southwest US to bake in first heat wave of season, and records may fall with highs topping 110

The unseasonably hot weather already has taken a toll in some areas. The U.S. Border Patrol reported on Monday that four migrants died last weekend from heat-related causes while attempting to cross the border in southeast New Mexico, near El Paso, Texas.

Biden administration old-growth forest proposal doesn't ban logging, but still angers industry

Environmentalists have urged the administration to go even further as they seek to stop logging projects on federal lands in Idaho, Oregon, South Dakota, Montana and other states.

East Sherman Food Trucks breaks ground

New street eats court expected to open as early as September

The east side of Sherman Avenue is about to become a whole lot tastier.

Lakeland schools honor two 2024 MVPs

Sescilla wins Hawaii trip; Mathews awarded $2K

After a performance this spring, Lakeland High School choir and band teacher Mark Sescilla was taken aback by the volume of people who showed up for a reception thrown by his colleague.

Town hall will address fair’s future

Community members are invited to learn about the history of Kootenai County fairgrounds and weigh in on its future at a town hall meeting in July.

How did North Korean soldiers wander across the world's most heavily guarded border?

Neither incursion was an invasion, or even a maneuver meant to test the South’s defenses, Seoul says, but more likely an accident.

Wyoming pass landslide brings mountain-sized headache to commuting tourist town workers

Each day, thousands make — or used to make — the half-hour-plus drive over Teton Pass from more affordable communities in eastern Idaho. Commuters are now looking at at least another hour of driving and possibly two through a different route into Wyoming.

South Africa's new government brings Black and white together. It's also reviving racial tensions

South Africa is now faced with the likelihood of seeing more white people in senior government positions than ever since apartheid ended

New Mexico governor declares emergency as thousands flee wildfires that have damaged 500 structures

State Forester Laura McCarthy described the fires as “dangerous and fast moving” in strong winds up to 20 mph.

Kootenai County to authorize Panhandle Health District to enforce aquifer chemical rules

Kootenai County commissioners will consider authorizing Panhandle Health District to enforce rules about how businesses located over the Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer handle chemicals.

Survivors of Israel music festival massacre unite to build a healing community

On Thursday, thousands of people attended the Nova Healing Concert in Tel Aviv, the first Tribe of Nova mass gathering since the Oct. 7 attack.

Legals for June, 19 2024

Legals for June, 15 2024

Majority of Americans favor forgiving medical debt, AP-NORC poll finds

About 6 in 10 people with debt from medical bills favor medical debt forgiveness if the person has large amounts of debt compared to their income, compared to about half of people without medical debt.