KAYE THORNBRUGH

Kootenai County commissioners reject cell tower

Kootenai County commissioners voted 2-1 Thursday to nix a cell tower off Potlatch Hill Road, reversing their previous decision to approve it.

Legislators press South on accreditation, finances

NIC interim president addresses Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee

Idaho legislators pressed North Idaho College Interim President Greg South on issues threatening the school’s accreditation Thursday morning, when he addressed the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee.

Justice building expansion moves forward

Plans for a $22 million addition to the Justice Building located on Kootenai County’s main campus in downtown Coeur d’Alene continue to take shape.

South addresses legislators, answers questions about accreditation

Community colleges to present to JFAC today

North Idaho College Interim President Greg South lauded the school’s career and technical education programs and faced questions about accreditation Wednesday when he addressed the Idaho House Education and Senate Committees in Boise.

County approves Hayden law enforcement agreement

Kootenai County commissioners approved on Tuesday the law enforcement services agreement between the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office and the city of Hayden for fiscal year 2022.

Swayne asks court for injunction

Legal counsel representing North Idaho College President Nick Swayne has asked a Kootenai County court to prevent the college from making major changes until Swayne’s lawsuit, which seeks his reinstatement, is resolved.

NIC attorney billed nearly $25K in December

North Idaho College attorney Art Macomber billed nearly $25,000 in December 2022 and the interim president’s consultant will receive more than $15,000 for 20 days of work, newly revealed public records show.

Post Falls women charged with grand theft

Two Post Falls women are facing felony charges after they allegedly stole mail from more than 40 different people, including credit cards and W-2 statements.

NIC trustees to consider student representation

Enrollment drops 9%

The North Idaho College board of trustees voted unanimously Wednesday night to explore giving the student body president a seat at their table.

NIC has three new leadership team members

Newly hired interim president brought on interim employees

The North Idaho College Board of Trustees will convene tonight at 6 p.m. in the Student Union Building on the main NIC campus. Interim President Greg South is expected to introduce two of three new NIC employees: Peggy Bradford, NIC’s interim provost, and Debbie DiThomas, who the college confirmed Tuesday is “in a consulting role as Special Assistant to the President.” A third new hire, James Forkum, NIC’s interim Dean of Student Life. Forkum is reportedly working remotely and will be on campus next week.

Internet crimes costly for Idahoans

Idahoans aged 50 and older lost more than $10.7 million to internet crimes in 2021, according to a report from the FBI. The real losses may be much higher than what are currently known. Many victims of internet crimes are reluctant to notify law enforcement. “They’re embarrassed because they feel like they should’ve known better,” said Coeur d’Alene Police Capt. Dave Hagar.

NIC trustees will meet Wednesday

Board to consider student representation

The North Idaho College Board of Trustees will meet Wednesday at 6 p.m. in the Edminster Student Union Building, Lake Coeur d’Alene Room on the main campus. It will be the first meeting since the board hired Interim President Greg South, who will present a report. Also on the agenda is a motion for South to “evaluate ASNIC representation” on the board. The item will reportedly call for a nonvoting representative from NIC’s student

Mmmmm, mac and cheese

Thousands attend Cd'A festival featuring a favorite comfort food

Thousands of people hit the streets of downtown Coeur d’Alene on Saturday for what proved to be a bit of a scavenger hunt. The prize? Liquid gold. It was the Coeur d’Alene Downtown Association’s sixth annual Mac & Cheese Festival, featuring dishes prepared by local chefs competing for the coveted Golden Noodle Award.

Cd’A Airport could see commercial flights

Community members gathered Thursday night at the Stancraft Jet Center to learn about the possibility of a commercial terminal at the Coeur d’Alene Airport. The informational meeting was hosted by Stancraft and Avports, an airport operations management company based in Virginia, which has proposed the development of a commercial use passenger terminal.

NIC amends accreditation response letter

North Idaho College sent an amended response to a warning letter issued last month by its accrediting organization in order to correct an error.

Residents seek cell tower reversal

Kootenai County commissioners will reconsider a decision to approve a cell tower off Potlatch Hill Road. Around 60 residents gathered Thursday night for a reconsideration hearing, the vast majority of whom asked commissioners to deny the project.

Interim president added to NIC lawsuit

A previously filed lawsuit now alleges that North Idaho College trustees lacked authority to hire interim president Greg South and that South has received “unjust enrichment” as a result.

Cell tower reconsideration Thursday

Kootenai County commissioners will meet Thursday night to reconsider a proposed cell tower off Potlatch Hill Road.

Cd’A man charged with rape, sexual abuse

Joshua A. Ash, 28, of Coeur d'Alene, is in jail on $100,000 bail after he allegedly raped a minor.

STEM Charter dials back dual credit at NIC

North Idaho STEM Charter Academy in Rathdrum will scale back its dual credit offerings through North Idaho College, looking instead to partner with other educational institutions.

NIC attorney subpoenas employees, former trustees

North Idaho College attorney Art Macomber issued 15 subpoenas this week to college employees, former trustees and others, seeking documents, emails, public record requests and other digital records related to the hiring of NIC President Nick Swayne.

DNA, other evidence led investigators to Kohberger

Affidavit reveals details of police work done ahead of arrest

Investigators said they used DNA evidence, phone records and surveillance footage to link murder suspect Bryan Kohberger to the killings of four University of Idaho students, according to newly unsealed court documents.

NIC responds to accreditor's warning

North Idaho College has responded to a warning letter issued last month by its accrediting organization. In a letter dated Dec. 17, the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities cautioned NIC that the board’s recent actions do not align with eligibility requirements and standards for accreditation and gave the college until Wednesday to explain how it is not out of compliance.

NIC interim president receives 18-month contract

North Idaho College has committed to paying a minimum of $465,000 per year to its two presidents.

Another type of warning for NIC

Moody's considering downgrading the college's bond ratings

North Idaho College’s bond ratings are under review for downgrade, following recent actions by the board of trustees.

Kootenai County commissioners reflect on 2022

As Kootenai County’s three commissioners reflect on the year that was and look ahead to the future, one won’t return for another term.

Moscow murder suspect arrested

Police arrested a Washington State University graduate student early Friday in connection with the stabbing deaths of four University of Idaho students.

Post Falls man identified after fatal shooting

Authorities identified the man who police fatally shot Thursday after he allegedly drove a pickup truck into patrol vehicles on purpose.

Post Falls chase ends in fatal shooting

Police apparently shot and killed a person suspected of intentionally driving a pickup truck into patrol vehicles Thursday in Post Falls.

Blogger's attorney responds to defamation lawsuit

A local blogger who accused a drag performer of indecent exposure has responded to a defamation lawsuit filed against her, denying the accusations.

Passenger terminal decision on hold for airport

Commissioners table decision on development and ground lease

Kootenai County commissioners put off a decision Tuesday on whether to approve a 25-year lease for the development of a commercial use passenger terminal at the Coeur d’Alene Airport, pending additional input from legal counsel.

Hayden man charged with rape, incest

A Hayden man is in jail, accused of raping a family member on Christmas Eve.

Many have invested in NIC

Accreditation loss could lead to multitude of legal complications

Tony Stewart knows more than most about thorny property issues in Coeur d’Alene. In the 1970s, Stewart led the fight to prevent the construction of condos on Yap-Keehn-Um Beach, the 3,400-foot stretch of waterfront adjacent to the North Idaho College campus. He was a political science instructor at NIC then, the right person in the right place when reporters from the student newspaper showed him the construction plans. He organized an enormous effort to push back.

North Idaho College trustees hire interim president

North Idaho College now has two presidents — one on administrative leave and a newly hired interim president.

Lawsuit filed against NIC, trustees and attorney

The former city attorney for Coeur d’Alene has filed a lawsuit against North Idaho College, accusing three trustees and the college’s new attorney of fraud and of violating Idaho’s open meeting laws. Mike Gridley, who retired in March after 20 years with the city, filed the lawsuit Monday in his capacity as Kootenai County taxpayer. The civil complaint names Trustees Greg McKenzie, Mike Waggoner and Todd Banducci as defendants, as well as the college’s attorney Art Macomber. Gridley has asked the court to nullify any illegal actions made by the three trustees and forbid Macomber from practicing law in the county.

NIC trustees to meet Wednesday

Former attorney implores board, college leaders to take immediate steps to maintain accreditation

North Idaho College trustees will attempt to correct numerous open meeting law violations made last week when they convene Wednesday. Meanwhile, the college’s former attorney has cautioned NIC leadership that doubling down on recent decisions will result in “cataclysmic damage to the institution.”

Wind chill watch today

Dangerous, below-zero wind chills are possible today, according to an advisory from the National Weather Service. A wind chill watch is in effect from late Tuesday through late Thursday, affecting portions of North Idaho, including Athol, Bonners Ferry, Coeur d’Alene, Hayden, Post Falls, Sandpoint and Worley. The Spokane area will also be affected. Frigid arctic air will come from the north, bringing wind chills as low as 35 below.

NIC’s future uncertain if accreditation is lost

If North Idaho College loses accreditation, two things are certain: credits earned won’t be transferable and students won’t be eligible for federal financial aid. Beyond that, the path is foggy.

Swayne sues North Idaho College

After trustees placed him on administrative leave last week, NIC President Nick Swayne is suing the college and asking to be reinstated.

NIC employees vote no confidence in board

Groups call for NIC president to be reinstated

North Idaho College faculty and staff issued votes of no confidence in the board of trustees this week. Separate resolutions passed by both bodies contend that the board is failing to support the college’s mission and call for NIC President Nick Swayne to be immediately restored to his role after trustees placed him on administrative leave last week.

Lyons responds to Macomber's claims

Longtime NIC lawyer says he met his ethical obligations

The former attorney for North Idaho College is pushing back against accusations leveled against him by Art Macomber, the college's new legal counsel.

State’s control limited at NIC

Next trustee meeting rescheduled

Though state-level leaders are closely watching the chaos at North Idaho College, they have limited control over the college’s operations. “It is unfortunate to see the college experiencing turmoil amid an ongoing investigation into its accreditation — which would significantly impact current NIC students, businesses and the entire region if lost,” Madison Hardy, Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s press secretary, said in a statement Wednesday. Comments from Little’s office came after three fiery meetings of the NIC board of trustees held last week.

North Idaho College investigating false alarms

Cd'A City Council members say citizens at meeting did not feel heard

Only one of two fire alarms that sounded Saturday during a chaotic meeting of the North Idaho College board of trustees was intentional, officials said Monday. NIC chief communications officer Laura Rumpler confirmed that an unidentified person intentionally pulled the first alarm, while the second alarm was sounded by mistake when an employee tried to reset it. The college is investigating the intentional alarm. Rumpler could not confirm Monday whether a suspect had been identified or if security footage showed the event.

Sebaaly turns down NIC trustees

Students pass vote of no confidence in board

NIC trustees announced during a special meeting Saturday that Michael Sebaaly — who served as interim president of the college for roughly 10 months, until President Nick Swayne was hired last summer — had declined their offer to return to serve as acting president.

Community reacts to North Idaho College turmoil

Community members on and off the North Idaho College campus are responding to two fiery meetings of the board of trustees this week. A divided board voted Thursday to place President Nick Swayne on administrative leave and invite former wrestling coach and interim president Michael Sebaaly to replace him.

NIC board places president on administrative leave, will ask Sebaaly to return as president

The North Idaho College board of trustees voted Thursday to place President Nick Swayne on immediate administrative leave and ask Michael Sebaaly, the former interim president, to return as acting president.

Man convicted after armed standoff

A jury convicted a man last week who was shot by police after an hours-long, armed standoff near an elementary school earlier this year. Robert J. Green, 40, of Dalton Gardens, was convicted of three counts of aggravated assault on police with a deadly weapon and one count of threatening violence upon school grounds. The jury acquitted Green of unlawful discharge of a firearm at a vehicle.

NIC board meeting raises questions

Trustees had not met, but deliberations may have occurred

When the North Idaho College Board of Trustees convened Monday night, one trustee arrived with copies of a resolution to hire a new attorney and a fee agreement related to that hiring.

Kootenai Health trustees contemplate nonprofit conversion

Kootenai Health trustees met Tuesday to discuss whether the hospital district should transition from being government-owned to a nonprofit organization. The group examined a white paper published last week by Kootenai Health, which outlines the benefits, drawbacks and considerations for transition to a 501(c)3. The white paper is available at KH.org/501c3.

New NIC board elects McKenzie chair, hires Macomber

North Idaho College trustees voted 3-2 Monday night to select a new board chairman, hire a new college attorney on the spot and freeze the hiring for new and vacant positions within the president’s cabinet.