ITD takes title at national Snow & Ice Conference

The Idaho Transportation Department team finished on top at the The 2021 Western Snow & Ice Conference last month in Colorado.

Record heat and drought persist in Far West

Weather Gems

Temperatures throughout the drought-parched Far West soared to as high as 110 degrees late Monday afternoon near Redding, Calif.. Other record maximum readings for June 8 included; 108 degrees at Chico, Calif., 106 degrees at Red Bluff, Calif., 105 degrees at Sacramento, Medford, Ore., and Yakima, Wash. Stockton, Calif., reported 104 degrees. It was 103 degrees at Wenatchee, Wash., and 100 degrees at Lewiston, both new record highs for the date. Spokane observed a record 96 degrees on Monday.

2015 should be an 'active' thunderstorm year

Weather Gems

The National Weather Service estimates that every year there are approximately 100,000 thunderstorms in the U.S. About one-tenth, or 10,000 of these thunderstorms, are quite severe accompanied by torrential downpours, large-sized, crop-destroying hail and often deadly tornadic activity.

Remembering wolves amid efforts to keep or kill them

I remember two wolves in particular.

ELECTION: One view in verse

Our president had gotten a little grey around the edges.

Smelter would expose residents to pollution

My wife and I live in Blanchard, Idaho. Since November of 2017 we have found ourselves involved in a fight to stop Hi Test Sands, a Canadian company, from building a silicon smelter in Newport, Wash. Hi Test Sands, proposes to build this smelter only 12 miles from our home and less than one mile from schools, churches, and the downtown district of Newport.

ADVERTISING: Advertorial — Flower Agate

Flower Agate is a crystal that was recently discovered in Madagascar and is beginning to grow quickly in popularity.

Idaho's children deserve better vision from leaders

Idaho business leader Bob Lokken recently described Idaho's current education and economic conditions as a "death spiral."

And now for the seniors

Thanks to the amazing generosity of hundreds of people and the couple who hosted them, the Boys & Girls Club of Kootenai County ran into a windfall Tuesday night.

May Sun shine on state politics

A new news organization aims to scratch Idahoans' political itch.

Taking issue with rude driving label

Honk if you’ve heard this already.

Daniel Robert Garnett, 37

It is with the heaviest heart that we announce the passing of our cherished and beloved family member, Daniel Garnett, who we lost suddenly and unexpectedly on June 14th, 2024, at the age of 37.

Gold show next week at fairgrounds

The annual gold prospector and treasure show is next week at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds.

Coeur d'Alene's new 2011 precipitation and snowfall averages

Weather Gems

At the end of each decade, I recalculate temperature, precipitation and snowfall data for the Coeur d'Alene area dating back to the inception of regular weather observations in 1895.

Into the woods

Nearly 350 student participate in Idaho State Forestry Contest

Future foresters, firefighters, engineers and more took to the woods Thursday to explore silviculture and expand their knowledge of all things arboreous. Using Farragut State Park as their classroom, nearly 350 students from across the Gem State participated in the 40th Annual Idaho State Forestry Contest.

OPINION: Get Dorothy Moon

Since the moment of Dorothy Moon’s landslide victory at the 2022 Idaho State Convention, former chairman Tom Luna, his unhinged sidekick Trent Clark and fellow travelers have been waging a disinformation campaign to discredit and depose Madam Chairman Dorothy Moon. They formed the ironically titled “Gem State Conservatives” PAC and are using funds from undisclosed donors in a state wide effort to displace grassroots conservative Precinct Committeemen. Their tactics are worthy of the Biden Administration and are applauded by Democrats.

How arctic animals are coping with less sea ice

Weather Gems

My friend, Cecil Hathaway, a regular contributor to my column, recently sent me an interesting article that Matt Ridley wrote on Sept. 22 of this year for the Wall Street Journal entitled; "What Arctic Foxes Know About Global Warming."

Another Bob Felix article: How ice ages begin

Weather Gems

Before we get to our regular weekly article, let me first say that Tok is not a 'suburb' of Fairbanks. In fact, it's more than 200 miles away from Alaska's second biggest city.

Prairie ousted at state AA tourney; Loggers triumph again at state A

TWIN FALLS - Derek Tymesen hit a two-run home run in the third inning, but the Prairie Cardinals left 15 runners on base as they fell to the Boise Gems 7-3 in a loser-out game in the state AA American Legion baseball tournament on Friday at Skip Walker Field.

Gas prices: How low will they go?

COEUR d’ALENE — For the second week in a row, Idaho’s average gas price dropped 14 cents per gallon, pushing Gem State pump prices ever closer to the $2 mark, according to AAA Idaho.