Idaho fails at government spending transparency

Idaho is the least transparent state in the nation when it comes to online access to government spending data.

Friend request denied

Facebook hits new low as IPO lock-up ends

Students weigh in on hot gun topics

One of my neighbors living off the Mullan Trail does home schooling for 16 students every Tuesday. A couple of weeks ago I was asked to fill in and teach her class in English grammar. I asked each student to pick from one of two subjects that are being discussed - gun control and illegal immigration. I told them after grading and correcting their papers I would pick out the two best and send them to The Press. They were all enthused to see their papers in the newspaper.

Greek vote proposal undermines euro deal

Prime minister pushes public vote on plan

FRANKFURT, Germany - It took only a few words from Greece's prime minister to upend Europe's efforts to convince the world that its grand plan to save the euro would mark a turning point in the continent's debt crisis and keep it from hurting the global economy.

Idaho official objects to pact

Tribe, county pursuing deal to put land in trust

Kootenai County and the Coeur d'Alene Tribe are weighing a state official's objection to whether they can create an agreement over how the county collects dollars on reservation property.

Life's a holiday on Primrose Lane

My Garden Path

Hi there to all my gardening buddies! I trust you survived the winter OK. Speaking of winter, I'm sure you heard what our groundhog friend, Punxutawney Phil had to say on Feb. 2. Since he did NOT see his shadow, that means an early spring. What a treat that would be, especially after last year, when spring refused to arrive. It didn't warm up here until the middle of June. Folks replanted their gardens over and over as the seeds just kept rotting from the cold wet ground.

Grocers may seek support to privatize liquor sales

BOISE(AP) - A grocery industry lobbyist met with Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter and other officials last month over mounting a campaign to privatize Idaho's state-controlled liquor sales, as retailers like Costco Wholesale Corp. hope privatization success in neighboring Washington late last year will spread to neighboring states.

Winemaking talent

Over the past five plus years we have had the honor and privilege to work with some of the most talented winemakers from many of the North American Appellations. We have done tastings and winemaker dinners with these creative geniuses from Oregon, Idaho, Washington state, and many of the growing areas of California. During that time we have had winemakers up for repeat appearances only a handful of times, and this coming week we will be welcoming back not only one of the true winemaking talents from Walla Walla but also one of the most generous and genuinely nice people in the wine business.

A man of many mediums

Longtime artist presents 60 years of work; exhibit open until Feb. 6

COEUR d'ALENE — Harold Balazs made his way through The Art Spirit Gallery on Saturday, cane in shaky hand, chatting with guests and signing copies of one of his books.

Coldwell Banker agents up for the challenge in 2017

COEUR d’ALENE — While Realtors in other regions of the country are facing year-over-year decreases, local Coldwell Banker agents will be working to outdo themselves in 2017.

THE FRONT ROW WITH MARK NELKE: Thursday, January 14, 2016

Another hat for versatile coach Taylor

Darren Taylor grew up a baseball guy in Coeur d’Alene, but he has worn a lot of different coaching hats over the past few decades in North Idaho.

Big ideas and chances abound

Over the weekend there were stars and fireworks in the sky but I’m thinking there might have been a figurative giant light bulb, too. What with Nick Smoot’s third annual Think Big Festival attracting an eclectic and enthusiastic group of entrepreneurs in the tech fields and the Spokane chapter of the American Advertising Federation’s second annual collective campout, Think Outside, at Camp Sweyolakan — that’s quite a creative brain trust in our little corner of the world thinking big and thinking outside.

Police body cameras can have hidden costs

ST. PAUL, Minn. - The rush to outfit police officers with body cameras after last summer's unrest in Ferguson, Mo., threatens to saddle local governments with steep costs for managing the volumes of footage they must keep for months or even years, according to contracts, invoices and company data reviewed by The Associated Press.

Avista merger concerns roll in

By BRIAN WALKER

A record low on average 30-year fixed mortgage: 3.29%

Long-term U.S. mortgage rates have sunk to a record low, giving many homeowners an opening to refinance their loans to free up more money to spend.

Nutcracker noel

HAYDEN — It all started with a gnome.

Idaho’s ‘path’ continues with first-round FCS playoff game

Idaho, back in the playoffs for the first time since 1995, plays at Southeastern Louisiana (8-3) tonight at 4 p.m. PST in a first-round game on the SprinTurf at 7,408-seat Strawberry Stadium in Hammond, La.

'Fabric in my hands'

Quilters donate baby blankets to neonatal intensive care patients

Ginger Hain has been sewing for over 50 years, so she’s gotten pretty quick at quilting blankets for Wee Ones Quilts, which donates them to the Kootenai Health Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

Don’t let California virus spread here

I read with interest the “My Turn” guest opinion by Emily Sinclair. Since moving to Northern Idaho a year ago, I too, have run into the “attitudes” when some people find out I came from California I have pretty thick skin, so I got over it.

Full cupboards, full bellies

St. Vincent gets help for the homeless

Local donations stock St. Vincent De Paul's pantry