THE CHEAP SEATS with STEVE CAMERON: Zags were so far, and yet so close

IF YOU had no skin in this title game other than wanting to see what brand of basketball the riches of NIL can buy these days, it was a thriller. The collectives who fund the sport’s best teams — note that all four No. 1 seeds made it to San Antonio — get their money’s worth. More than anything Monday night, you got to see big, strong athletes who leave politeness in the dressing room. This game was just short of violence. There were times when it looked like the YMCA on Saturday afternoon, complete with bloody noses and no referees. Maybe they should have played, “Make it, take it.”

PREP GOLF: Coleman, Kellogg boys win at Pinehurst tourney

Johnny Stovern shot 81, Easton Towne 84 for Kellogg, which won the team title by 21 strokes over Priest River.

Coeur d'Alene High recipient of Douglas fir that went to space

Coeur d'Alene High recipient of Douglas fir that went to space

Some trees become matchsticks, musical instruments or furniture. Others are turned into paper and used to make books filled with extraordinary tales of adventure. A few select trees become space travelers and have exciting stories of their own. One such NASA Moon Tree was planted Monday afternoon at Coeur d'Alene High School.

Passion drives Pinehurst Golf Course improvements

Volunteers make their mark

For 97 years, the Pinehurst Gold Course has been a popular stop for casual linksters, but the course’s staff and club members are hoping that a few upgrades can make the experience even better.

NIC SOFTBALL: Cardinals swept by first-place CSI

Megan Nelson had three hits on the day for NIC (15-19, 7-13 SWAC), which won the series opener before dropping the final three games.

Solid snowpack raises water supply outlook

April could still bring some cooler weather that slows down the snowpack melt rate, but right now, it looks like winter has ended and spring has officially arrived in Idaho," the report said.

Chip Shots April 8, 2025

Scores, news, etc., from local golf courses, leagues.

MY TURN: Tom Hanley My Turn misleading

In a My Turn column published on March 7, Community Library Network (CLN) Trustee Tom Hanley attempted to oversimplify the ongoing conflict between the Cooperative Information Network (soon to be rebranded as Inland Northwest Libraries, or INL) and the CLN. He framed the debate as a false choice between those who "protect children" and those who do not. This misleading narrative, a classic Straw Man fallacy, is designed to distract from the real issue: the CLN’s unilateral attempt to seize control of the INL and impose its extreme ideological agenda on an entire network of libraries that serve both Idaho and Washington.

Legals for April, 8 2025

Mega Millions tickets rise to $5, but the lottery promises more giant jackpots

The biggest change is the ticket price hike from $2 to $5. Lottery officials expect that jump to increase revenue from the twice-weekly game, enabling them to improve the odds of winning the jackpot from 1 in 303 million to 1 in 290 million. The higher ticket price also means the jackpot can start at $50 million, rather than the previous $20 million, and that the grand prize is expected to grow more quickly. Each time there isn’t a big winner, the jackpot will jump by a larger amount. Officials expect it will more frequently top the $1 billion threshold that draws extra attention — and bigger sales.

American YouTuber who left a Diet Coke can for a reclusive tribe on an island is arrested in India

Visitors are banned from traveling within 3 miles (5 kilometres) of the island, whose population has been isolated from the rest of the world for thousands of years. The inhabitants use spears and bows and arrows to hunt the animals that roam the small, heavily forested island. Deeply suspicious of outsiders, they attack anyone who lands onto their beaches.

Egg hunts, other spring fun to be found around North Idaho

Egg hunts, other spring fun to be found around North Idaho

Colorful eggs abound as Post Falls city staff prepare for a Q’emiln Park egg extravaganza.

New tornado outbreaks in the Midwest

Tornado and severe weather season in the central U.S. have ramped up this spring. Last week was especially tough as at least 50 twisters were reported from the Deep South northeastward into Michigan.

THE FRONT ROW with MARK NELKE: ‘I just feel very grateful’ — Jim Winger’s road to the Idaho Athletic Hall of Fame includes a bus ride, some chances taken, a perfect season ... and a supportive wife

"When we first got married, I wasn’t sure that’s where we were headed,” Teri recalled of the coach/wife of a coach lifestyle. “But when he got the Legion job, and he got the job at Coeur d’Alene ... OK, that’s where we’re headed ... which was fine, because I had been a sports fanatic forever. I was fully invested in that.” “It’s worked out great.”

PREP TRACK AND FIELD: Zack Cervi-Skinner finishes runner-up in 2-mile at Oregon Relays

Cervi-Skinner, who signed with Wake Forest in December, finished in 9 minutes, 1.26 seconds. Viking senior Max Cervi-Skinner, who also signed with Wake Forest, was third in 9:01.35. Max Billett of Shorewood High in Shoreline, Wash., won in 8:59.55.

NIC SOFTBALL: Larney delivers walk-off in opener for Cardinals against rival CSI

The teams play another doubleheader today at Lake City High starting at 11 a.m.

HUCKLEBERRIES: Candy and chaos

The late George Cecil compared the 1975 “Rabbit Riot” at City Park to his day’s pell-mell Vietnamese evacuation of Da Nang.

Milestone Announcement

See who's celebrating!

Roy Diteman, 91

Roy R. Diteman passed into the open arms of Jesus on the first day of Spring 2025. Roy was born to Lorna (Fish) Diteman and Curtis H. Diteman on Jan. 17, 1934.

OUR GEM: April stewardship opportunities

While April 20 marks Earth Day, the mission of The Our Gem Coeur d’Alene Lake Collaborative encourages us all to practice stewardship every day. Here are some ways to get involved this April and contribute to the care of our Earth.