Schools may get to hire trustees' spouses

BOISE (AP) - The Senate Education Committee voted Thursday to lift restrictions that bar school districts from hiring the spouses of board members.

Idaho top state to own a home, study says

COEUR d’ALENE — A new study names Idaho the ideal place for homeowners.

MY TURN: Save NIC from FUD

Why do we read in this paper on September 16th, that representatives of the majority of the county, the Republican Party (63,755 voters, 63% of registered county voters), are supposedly working to do away with NIC?

Italy and North Idaho

We have recently had the privilege to try some great Italian wines that are new to the market here in North Idaho (or at least new to us) that when combined with some of the existing offerings are expanding greatly the list of possibilities from this old world growing region. We started on this journey when a customer of ours began asking about wine from some of the Italian regions we were less familiar with. The customer specifically asked about wines from Orvieto and Costamolino.

OPINION: Idaho Democrats make the case for Biden

So our 80-year-old president, Joe Biden, is seeking a second term. No big surprise there. And it doesn’t take much of a political prophet to predict that Biden will not carry Idaho’s electoral votes — regardless of who the Republicans come up with as their nominee.

Heading into Hayden Days

COEUR d'ALENE - Cars, jump houses, beer and a parade.

Drivers, please focus

Distracted driving accidents rising in Idaho

Keep your eyes on the road

Popular runner's magazine features Tubbs Hill

By HOLLY PASZCZYNSKA

New St. Maries school chief eyes challenges

Joe Kren to replace Dave Cox, who has led district for 19 years

ST. MARIES - When Joe Kren looked at the St. Maries school superintendent's job, he saw a natural progression for he and his family.

Finally, a good idea on core standards

Fear of federal overreach is alive and well in Idaho’s capitol building.

Gas prices lowest in months

Fuel under $3.50 a gallon

According to AAA, Idaho’s average price for regular is $3.94 per gallon, which is 17 cents less than a week ago and 36 cents less than a month ago.

Lake Cd'A under microscope, take 2

Intensive water quality study resumes today

Public invited to attend meetings this week

Life boils down to making good choices

The pro-choice movement is gaining momentum.

Historic Silver Valley Chamber of Commerce hosts installation banquet

Installation banquet planned for Silver Valley Chamber for officers and board

Idaho gas prices now below national average

BOISE – Idaho gas prices are currently below the national average, even as both prices went up in the last week.

BACK THEN You can’t wipe with gems

Diamonds are a government’s best friend.

Idaho auctions oil, gas leases

BOISE (AP) - The Idaho Department of Lands has auctioned off oil and gas leases on 5,250 acres of state-owned land in southern Idaho for $263,000.

OUR GEM: Harmful algal blooms pose risk

Freshwater algae are a natural and important part of lake, river and stream ecosystems. They produce oxygen by photosynthesis, take up nutrients such as phosphorus from water and are the foundation of aquatic food webs. As with many things in life, there can be too much of a good thing.

Clark hunts for more than diamonds

I knew Diamond Dan, of Clark's Jewelry fame, traveled the world over in search of diamonds and gems but I had no idea he was also a big game hunter. Dan will appear in an episode of a new History Channel reality show, "Mounted in Alaska," with his colorful Alaskan taxidermist friend, Russell Knight.

The 'bellwether' continent of Antarctica is seeing record sea ice

Weather Gems

As I mentioned last week, Antarctic sea ice in late September hit a 35-year record high in total volume exceeding the previous record set a year ago in 2012 during September.