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Coeur d'Alene regulates kratom products
Under 21 prohibited from purchase, product cannot exceed set chemical levels
Coeur d’Alene City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a new ordinance requiring kratom providers within city limits to obtain permitting to sell the product, which is generally used either as an energy booster, mood lifter, pain reliever and remedy for the symptoms of quitting opioids, according to the Mayo Clinic.
More data centers, then more energy resources, needed
Expected influx of tech sector, data centers prompts calls for natural gas, renewables
Bracing for a Pacific Northwest influx of data centers and the tech sector over a short-term period, a power planner is calling for more infrastructural needs to meet future electricity demand.
Fueling frugality: North Idaho consumers, grocers, contractors feeling record diesel costs
North Idaho consumers, grocers, contractors feeling record diesel costs
Trisha Miles pushed a shopping cart full of groceries, a small child leading the way in a toy car, toward her vehicle. It sat in a busy Super 1 Foods parking lot in Hayden on Friday. Diesel prices just hit an all-time high this past week in Idaho, according to motor club AAA. The cost per gallon has now increased from about $3.82 last year to over $6.
Reflections on Sept. 11
Today marks 25th anniversary of American tragedy
Sept. 11, 2001, is forever ingrained in history books as one of America’s greatest tragedies. But Julia Byrum said it’s important to remember tragedies. The young Coeur d’Alene resident wasn’t alive that fateful day. Instead, she learned much of what she knows about it in school.
Diners bite into Longest Table potluck
Hosted by United Way North Idaho, event is region's first
That smells delicious. Flocks of people descended upon City Park in Coeur d’Alene on Wednesday evening for a massive community potluck. Called The Longest Table, host United Way of North Idaho invited everyone to provide and enjoy an array of their favorite dishes in a communal setting.
Local and state educators talk school funding
Top 25 for academic efficiency. Dead last in spending per pupil. This was just one point about Idaho’s education system that local and state educators tackled during a Tuesday morning breakfast at Coeur d’Alene Resort. Tuesday is also, coincidentally, the first day of school.
Region sees increase in drownings, data shows
This year has seen eight boat crashes in Kootenai County
Lakes and rivers in Kootenai and Spokane counties have seen a rise in drownings. According to data gleaned from water rescue teams in Spokane and Kootenai counties, fatal drownings increased from six in 2025 to 11 so far in 2026. Of those drownings, nine bodies were recovered and two are still missing.
Resignations accepted
Dr. Thomas Fletcher named Panhandle Health interim director
Following nearly a two-hour executive session amid the special meeting, Dr. Thomas Fletcher, a Board of Health representative from Bonner County, was named the district’s interim director. Meanwhile, the district has not named new head HR and financial positions.
PHD officials submit resignations
Board of Health hosts special meeting today
Three area health officials seek to resign from their positions. At a special meeting called for Thursday, the Panhandle Health District Board of Health will decide whether to accept the proposed resignations of its district director, human resources specialist and financial officer.
No go on 1% tax hike reduction
City passes $154.83 million budget
No dice for Coeur d’Alene property owners hoping to pay less in taxes. On Tuesday, City Councilmember Christie Wood's proposal to slash 1% from a proposed 7% property tax hike for fiscal year 2027 failed.
Coeur Terre 2 passes
City finds proposal adheres to standards, requirements
Following more than five hours of presentations, public comments and deliberation regarding elements of a project that would turn a large section of western Coeur d’Alene into a major subdivision, city officials passed the Coeur Terre 2 subdivision on Monday evening. The vote passed 5-1, with council member Christie Wood voting against and Mayor Dan Gookin abstaining.
License plate readers spark debate
Coeur d’Alene Police chief addresses concerns over technology
Surveillance concerns are afoot. City officials in Coeur d’Alene were last week publicly questioned on the use of automated license plate reader devices, such as Flock cameras.
New Ironman contract nears finish line
Negotiations between city, organizers slated for Tuesday
Coeur d’Alene City Council, World Triathlon Corporation and North Idaho Sports Commission are slated to finalize a three-year contract on Tuesday to keep half-Ironman contests in the city through 2029.
Fast Five: Judy Gardner
The 3Cs newest former president
Meet Judy Gardner, who just ended as president of the Cancer and Communities Charities organization in Coeur d'Alene.
Empty lot? Fill it with new development
Residential, commercial building proposed for East Sherman Avenue
No, there won’t be any new cafes or wine bars. Instead, it looks like some new retail shops, office suites and apartment units could fill an empty lot near downtown.
Project restores Coeur d’Alene church ‘to physical glory’
Project restores Coeur d’Alene church ‘to physical glory’
St. Luke’s Episcopal is more than just a church. “It’s a living organism that breathes, grows and changes,” said Lisa Nunlist, a St. Luke’s congregation member since 1979. “We always respect its history.”
They go high, city goes low
Effort continues to reduce downtown Coeur d’Alene building height limits
How high a building gets could reach new lows. On Tuesday, members of a working group tasked with reviewing construction policies agreed on a proposal that, if eventually passed by city council, revises building height limits in certain sections of downtown’s core.
SEPT NIBJ: The cure for Idaho’s physician shortage? Medical residency expansion
Kootenai Health is always busy. Over the past 12 months, its primary care clinics served 42,622 patients. The 10 northern counties of Idaho, including locations in Washington and Libby, Montana, have also averaged 275 transfers to Kootenai Health every month.
North Idaho Fairgoers sport shear mullet style at contest
North Idaho Fairgoers sport shear mullet style at contest
Business up front, party in the back. The mullet-style haircut was in full effect Saturday in Coeur d’Alene as North Idaho State fairgoers went head-to-head and hair to hair in a good ol’ fashion best mullet contest.
Panel talks North Idaho housing solutions
There isn’t just one single thing killing housing affordability, according to local developer Noah Stam. “It’s the accumulation of costs, delays, decisions,” he said. “Land is expensive, labor is expensive, materials are expensive, interest is expensive.” In Coeur d’Alene on Thursday, Stam joined a panel of politicians addressing affordable housing issues in North Idaho. Fellow panelists were Post Falls Mayor Randy Westlund, Kootenai County Commissioner Bruce Mattare and Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene.
Cd'A favors job holds, vehicle replacement delays
7% property tax increase still on the table
To balance a forecasted budget deficit, Coeur d’Alene city officials on Tuesday approved delaying certain hires and capital requests. They will, however, add a new building inspector and allocate extra funds for an infrastructure project. “This is what is means to live within your means,” Mayor Dan Gookin said.
Appeal submitted against major development
Special hearing set for Aug. 31 on Coeur Terre 2
An abuse of administrative discretion. Violating design and improvement standards. Locking in a structural capacity cliff and unmitigated safety hazards. These are just some accusations listed in an official appeal of the Coeur d’Alene Planning and Zoning Commission’s decision to approve a preliminary plat for a new subdivision. Called Coeur Terre 2, the major development includes construction of 284 single-family and 36 multifamily lots on the western edge of the city.
‘Explosion’ ignites Saturday’s house fire calls
Veronica Musall couldn’t tell if she was dreaming. It was 4 a.m. Saturday, and an explosion suddenly woke her up. Her newly wed husband by her side, she decided to look out her bedroom window. “I just saw an orange glow over everything,” she said. “And I just knew immediately something wasn’t right.” There were two fires reported early Saturday morning, according to the Coeur d’Alene Police Department.
Coeur d’Alene group provides over $15,000 in scholarships
Sometimes, all it takes is a loving touch of wisdom and effort. At the Coeur d’Alene Public Golf Club on Thursday, Aug.13, at least five local women were named recipients of $2,000 scholarships. The scholarships come from a local chapter of the Philanthropic Education Organization Sisterhood, an organization of women who provide educational assistance to fellow women worldwide.
Free Wi-Fi improvements made at McEuen Park
Providing free internet access in Coeur d’Alene is like a walk in the park. More specifically, a walk in McEuen Park. The 22.5-acre public space, which has provided Wi-Fi coverage since its $20 million grand reopening in 2014, recently received improvements to its free internet services, making it faster, stronger and more reliable.
Road projects upset some motorists; officials explain why they’re needed
Road projects upset some motorists; officials explain why they’re needed
If you haven’t noticed, it’s construction season in northern Idaho. Whether it’s Interstate 90, neighborhoods in Coeur d’Alene or Post Falls or even the Silver Valley countryside, motorists often struggle to avoid delays, detours or complete road closures marked by orange traffic cones.
In a world of wildfires, logging can improve forest health
In a world of wildfires, logging can improve forest health
Smoke from Spokane wildfires temporarily cleared Tuesday, giving way to a bluebird morning. Greg Mason, surrounded by luscious mountains near Twin Lakes, maneuvered a giant hydraulic clamp to the base of a white fir. Amid a symphony of grinding steel and a plume of kicked-up dust, Mason, who’d been working since 3 a.m., used this tank-like piece of heavy forestry equipment called a feller buncher to rip the large evergreen conifer out of the earth like a toothpick.
Fatal crashes down in Kootenai County
State sees rise in traffic deaths
Fatal crashes over the past three years in Kootenai County are trending downward, according to the Idaho Transportation Department. On Thursday, ITD released its annual statewide crash report for the year 2025. Data from this report show fatal crashes within Kootenai County decreased from 17 in 2023 to 13 in 2025. Total crashes in the county also decreased from 2,294 in 2023 to 2,237 in 2024 before increasing again to 2,329 in 2025.
Widmyer: Using reserves is not ‘permanent solution'
Former mayor troubled by city's budget woes
Pulling from reserves while delaying projects and job positions are only temporary solutions to shoring up millions of dollars in budget shortfalls, according to former Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer. “The problem with that is, that’s not a permanent solution,” Widmyer told the Coeur d’Alene Press last week. “That’s just one-time money. In the budget, you can't fix an ongoing issue with one-time money.”
City greenlights traffic signal project
Aiming to mitigate traffic delays and, more importantly, the risk of danger on the north end, the city’s general services/public works subcommittee on Monday greenlighted an effort to either improve or add traffic signals at multiple intersections along Ramsey Road.
Little outlines state's efforts to help with Spokane wildfires
Little outlines state's efforts to help with Spokane wildfires
Flanked by a collection of Smokey Bear pictures inside the Coeur d’Alene Interagency Fire Cache on Friday, Idaho Gov. Brad Little had one simple message for the state of Washington and its current battle with devastating wildfires: “To our neighbors in Washington,” he said, “Idaho stands with you.”
CDA considering deficit reduction plan
Some jobs may not be filled
As Coeur d’Alene stares down nearly a $3.1 million budget for the upcoming fiscal year, city officials spent time Tuesday entertaining ideas on how to soften the blow. Finance Director Katie Ebner pitched an idea that would slash about $1.16 million from the projected shortfall.
City Council says 'No' to data centers
Coeur d’Alene city leaders have a hard message for data centers looking to build too big, too fast within city limits. “The answer is no,” City Councilmember Dan English said.
Air quality expected to improve by weekend
Warm settling above cold is why air quality in the Coeur d’Alene area fluctuates from not so great in the morning to slightly better throughout the daytime, according to the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality. This trend is expected to continue until Friday, State DEQ Airshed Coordinator Emily Flores said.
Post Falls mayor opposes 'surveillance state'
Says city won't use Flock cameras
Recent public outcry and a recent SCOTUS decision prompted Post Falls Mayor Randy Westlund to release a statement condemning governmental mass surveillance and construction of citizen movement databases on Friday.
Building permit fees could rise
It might become more spendy for contractors seeking to build, reconstruct or renovate in Coeur d’Alene. The city is slated to host an Aug. 4 hearing for a proposal to make at least 40 fee increases in multiple departments. One of those proposed increases includes charging more in building permit fees.
New Cd'A city administrator stresses ‘impact of leadership’
Ask Michael Dominguez how snowboarding’s start in the 1980s affected ski resorts. There’s a good chance the former ski instructor will articulate every possible facet: mountainside wear and tear, increased user risk and cost concerns due to heightened liability and insurance assessments. The new city administrator for Coeur d’Alene doesn’t miss a beat.
Police labor group seeks raises
Negotiations continue with city
The Coeur d’Alene Police Officers Association, which represents over 100 members, requested multiple cost-of-living adjustments on Thursday for a newly proposed three-year contract to begin Oct. 1, 2026, and end Sept. 30, 2029. This includes a 5% market adjustment for 2026-2027, another 4.5% adjustment for 2027-2028, and a final 4% adjustment for 2028-2029.
Art, eats and street beats take over Coeur d'Alene this weekend
Art, eats and street beats take over Coeur d'Alene this weekend
Upcoming bevies of mouth-watering foods, artwork, live music and more are expected to draw tens of thousands of visitors to downtown Coeur d’Alene this weekend. The city’s 34th annual Street Fair, slated for Friday through Sunday, includes more than 250 vendors and spans seven blocks in the downtown area. Organizers of the three-day festival, which also includes face painting, henna tattoos and clothing vendors, anticipate attracting at least 60,000 people to the area between Friday and Sunday.
Study: Cd'A workers well paid
Nearly 30 city jobs earn wages 'above market rate’
The rates at which the city of Coeur d’Alene pays its employees fare well compared with similar communities, a new study shows. David Jeppson, co-founder of Boise-based software and consulting company BestDayHR, recently conducted a classification and compensation study to see how Coeur d’Alene stacks up pay-wise against its neighbors.
Coeur d’Alene projects budget deficit
Finance director says city may need to raise property taxes
Coeur d’Alene city officials and department heads might be heading into the next fiscal year operating with a deficit of about $3.1 million. To brace for the upcoming shortfall, City Finance Director Katie Ebner said Monday that the city would need to increase the residential property tax rate by $7.84 per month in fiscal year 2027.
Couple’s IMAX camera filmed ‘The Odyssey'
This wasn’t an ordinary trip to an afternoon matinee. On Friday, Marty and Barb Mueller went to see “The Odyssey” in Spokane. Just so happens, however, the Coeur d’Alene residents built the very IMAX camera Christopher Nolan used to film his epic motion picture starring Matt Damon.
Kootenai County cyberattack triggers public notifications
A cyberattack that potentially impacted personal information of Kootenai County residents, including Social Security, individual taxpayer identification and drivers’ license numbers, prompted county officials on Wednesday to notify those who were affected.
Coeur d’Alene’s rapid growth prompts city fee increase proposal
The city encountered a 35.6% population increase between 2010 and 2024, according to nonpartisan civic database USA Facts. This far exceeds the U.S. population growth of 9.9% during the same period.
Hayden couple opens cycling museum in residence
Museums come in all sizes. For diehard cyclist Michael Ackley, 78, he operates a small museum out of his suburban Hayden home. Items like international cycling race banners, cycling jerseys, and several pictures of him posing with famous cyclists and cycling commentators like Eddy Merckx and Phil Liggett adorn the interior of a shed behind his house.
Shock test: Coeur d’Alene Police to receive new Tasers, ballistic helmets
Out with the old, in with the new. Coeur d’Alene Police officers are receiving new Tasers and ballistic helmets.
Transitional shelter hungry for kitchen improvements to receive federal grant funds
Even a little can go a long way. For St. Vincent de Paul North Idaho in Coeur d’Alene, it plans to use a modest $3,799.89 in federal grant funds to replace aging kitchen cabinets at its Women and Children’s Emergency Transitional Shelter.
Heartwarming stories, priceless floats abound at Rathdrum parade
Hundreds of people lined both sides of Main Street to observe Rathdrum’s Saturday parade, themed “All American Summer.” Parade floats cruised down Main Street. American flags fluttered. Jacinta Raymond looked on with a wide smile.
Locals nab top honors in Coeur d’Alene swim race
Taking on a 1.3-mile swim through Lake Coeur d’Alene’s choppy waters on Saturday morning, two locals ended up finishing the third-annual Kroc Masters Open Water Swim competition ahead of the pack.
Enjoy an ‘All American Summer’ at Rathdrum Days
Grand marshal is Parks and Recreation Director Eric Singer
Today marks the beginning of Rathdrum Days, an annual mid-July festival that stretches back to the 1950s. This weekend’s festivities include live music, the Main Street parade, the always-so-beautiful car show, and more.