OUR GEM: Ecosystem services that wetlands provide

Wetlands refer to the watery transition zones between surface water and dry land. They can be wet year-round or only during certain parts of the year, such as following spring runoff. Essential parts of a wetland include aquatic plants specifically adapted to live in fully saturated environments. In the Inland Northwest, non-tidal wetlands are prevalent, unlike coastal regions that support tidal wetlands.

Mars and Jupiter get chummy in the night sky. The planets won't get this close again until 2033

The best views will be in the eastern sky, toward constellation Taurus, before daybreak. Known as planetary conjunctions, these comic pairings happen only every three years or so

Congressmen issue call to action in Coeur d'Alene

Jordan, Fulcher warn of growing divide in America, call for involvement

The two spoke at Candlelight Christian Fellowship church on Friday night. About 400 people paid $50 each for tickets for the Fulcher fundraiser.

New CEO wants to make Kootenai Health a health care destination

In taking up the reins as CEO of Kootenai Health earlier this year, Jamie Smith noted the independent, not-for-profit mission of the health organization and hopes to carry that banner forward into becoming a regional health care asset. Smith replaced retiring CEO, Jon Ness in March.

Firefighters win Post Falls Battle of the Badges blood drive

“I might try to steal your heart,” firefighter Taylor Carr joked to Vitalant phlebotomist Rheny Gaudio about the stress heart he was given while giving blood. To replenish blood reserves, first responders rallied Thursday to donate blood at the training location for Kootenai County Fire and Rescue.

Fred Birdsall, 61

Fred Bennett Birdsall, 61, passed away peacefully surrounded by friends and family singing and praying over him on Friday, July 26, 2024, at his home near Kelso Lake, Idaho.

The Exhausted Dad: Patience for young children and nobody else

Like a 9-year-old Tommy Lee Jones, my daughter won’t sanction your buffoonery.

Handling with care: PTSD in horses

Equine companionship is built upon a foundation of trust and care. Yet, maintaining a horse’s trust can be challenging, especially when a past event has left the animal with behaviors mirroring what’s diagnosed as post-traumatic stress disorder PTSD in humans.

MY TURN: Facts vs. fallacies

The Community Library Network board of trustees has had quite a lot of letters this month. Due to the timing, it seems likely inspired by a Coeur d'Alene Press Aug. 1 My Turn full of malinformation. I feel it’s my duty to correct that inaccurate information, and other misinformation circulating in our community. It seems there’s a concerted propaganda campaign to turn citizens against the CLN trustees, so in future elections, voters will oppose conservatives. Instead of ingesting propaganda, I would encourage citizens to attend and/or watch the YouTube videos of CLN board meetings to see the truth for themselves versus accepting lies.

How to prevent and manage blossom end rot in your garden

Our recent extreme temperatures are causing great stress in the garden, not only for the plants but for gardeners too! It’s becoming a full-time job keeping the garden watered and protected from the high heat.

Tent camping in a world of RVs

Fewer and fewer folks, based on my recent stays in Glacier National Park, pitch a tent anymore. They don’t roll out sleeping bags or likely even own one.

Former U.S. Sen. Steve Symms dies

Idaho Gov. Little orders flags flown at half staff

Steve Symms, a Republican who represented Idaho for four terms in the U.S. House of Representatives and two terms in the U.S. Senate, died Thursday. He was 86.

Coeur d’Alene Symphony Orchestra announces 2024-2025 season

The theme for the season is “Celebrating Community” and works to encapsulate the symphony’s commitment to bringing together a vibrant community.

15 states, including Idaho, sue to block Biden's effort to help migrants in US illegally get health coverage

Fifteen states have sued the Biden administration over a rule that is expected to allow 100,000 immigrants brought to the U.S. illegally as children to enroll next year in the federal Affordable Care Act’s health insurance.

Congress aims to boost enforcement at the border – with Canada

Most of the people crossing the border come from areas outside Canada. About half come from Mexico, CBS News Boston reported. Others are from India, Bangladesh and Haiti.

Body camera footage shows local police anger at Secret Service after Trump assassination attempt

In the chaotic aftermath of the attempted assassination of Donald Trump at a Pennsylvania rally last month, a local police officer told a fellow officer he had warned the Secret Service days earlier that the building where the 20-year-old gunman opened fire needed to be secured.

THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: The surprising disappearance of the switch-hitter

Listening to Servais or Raleigh, it seems surprising that switch-hitters are disappearing. Servais suggests that family pressure is an issue, at least in America, but nobody says switch-hitting makes baseball tougher. That would be crazy. Still, the trend is going in the wrong direction because kids don’t want to “fail,” even for one at-bat. Seems silly, and it hurts players in the long run.

Emotions run high at library budget hearing in Hayden

Hayden Library was a packed house Thursday night as community members made their voices heard at the Board of Trustees Budget Hearing.

Risch: Presidential election is ‘anybody’s ball game’

U.S. Senator Jim Risch, R-Idaho, has seen his share of political races play out.

Wheelchair Awareness Event coming to downtown

This event is to educate able-bodied people about the difficulties of maneuvering the downtown Sherman corridor during our summertime tourist season in a wheelchair.