Flood watch broadened

Waterways are rising faster than weather experts predicted in North Idaho and Eastern Washington, putting nearly 100 homes in danger of flooding and prompting a flood watch warning. Most of the Inland Northwest was under a flood watch Thursday as temperatures reached into the mid-80s and mountain snow melted, the National Weather Service said.
Flood-level watch: National Weather Service prediction map

Auditing firm hired to review Empire Health sale

Washington state officials have hired a large auditing firm to ensure the $156 million sale of Empire Health Services is fair.
Previous coverage: Empire Health Services sale

Weather making jump to summer

Clear, cool nights coupled with warm, sunny days will continue through at least Monday. Tonight's low should hit 49 in Spokane and 46 in Coeur d'Alene, followed by a sunny Friday with a high near 84 in both cities. "We are skipping spring this year," Washington State Patrol trooper Jeff Sevigney said.
Highway information: Idaho | Washington | Montana | Oregon
Weather: Washington | Idaho
Check Spokane area: traffic cameras

Stewart to host KSPS series

Human rights activist Tony Stewart is leaving North Idaho College but continuing his conversations on human rights, humanities and other hot-button issues as a producer and host for a new series of KSPS public television shows.
Discuss: Huckleberries Online

Raw sewage seeps into Hayden Lake

Up to 11,000 gallons of raw sewage may have spilled into Hayden Lake near Cooper’s Bay this week because of a plugged pipe, perhaps from residents flushing diapers and baby wipes, according to the regional sewer district.

Raceway could reopen this summer

The run-down raceway purchased by Spokane County likely can reopen this year, with some paint, elbow grease and safety improvements. That’s the initial conclusion of three consultants hired by the county to determine what work can be done quickly – and at what cost – to allow an opening later this summer.
Previous coverage: Racetrack auction

Spokane Valley lawyer disbarred

A Spokane businessman, attorney and West Valley School Board member has been disbarred for emptying the trust accounts set up by his grandfather for the education of his nieces, nephews and his own three children. Robert N. Dompier, 53, took over $47,000 from the accounts in what investigators believe was an effort to rescue his failing real estate investments.
Documents: Stipulation to disbar | Disbarment order (PDFs)

Update: St. Maries wolf meeting moved

A meeting at 7 p.m. tonight in St. Maries on proposed Idaho wolf-hunting rules has been moved to a larger location. The meeting will take place at the Eagles Lodge at 707 Main St.

Slideshow: Today in pictures

Chinese rescuers haul an earthquake victim up a rubble-strewn hillside. A fire started by a ruptured oil pipeline sends thick smoke into the sky outside Lagos, Nigeria. And couples hoist a modified California flag after the state's Supreme Court overturns a voter-approved ban on same-sex marriages. View a slideshow of these images and more.
Related slideshows: The central China earthquake | Wednesday | Tuesday | Monday

From Boise, advice on police oversight

An independent ombudsman fielding citizens' complaints helps "bridge the divide" between local police and community members, the Spokane City Council was told Thursday by Boise ombudsman Pierce Murphy.
Audio: Listen to excerpts from this meeting

UI president stepping down

BOISE — University of Idaho President Tim White has been named the chancellor of the University of California at Riverside. The University of California Regents made the appointment today. They also approved a pay package for White, but details of the deal were not immediately disclosed.

Duncan mental evaluation raises new questions

The latest development in the Joseph Duncan sentencing raises a major question: What happens to the case against the confessed killer if psychological evaluations find he’s mentally incompetent?
• Previous coverage: Joseph Duncan
• Discuss: Eye on Boise blog

Inland Power wants to go green

Inland Power & Light Co. will shoot for LEED Gold – the second-highest level of sustainability certification awarded by the U.S. Green Building Council – for a new headquarters building it’s constructing on the West Plains.
Track regional development: Here's the Dirt blog

California's top court overturns gay marriage ban

SAN FRANCISCO — In a monumental victory for the gay rights movement, the California Supreme Court overturned a voter-approved ban on gay marriage today in a ruling that would allow same-sex couples in the nation’s biggest state to tie the knot.
Related: How states handle gay marriage laws
Discuss: Huckleberries Online

 Raceway tour may have broken meetings laws
 Region braces amid flood warnings
 Money pouring in to state and local campaigns
 Doug Clark: Jail questions that need answering
 No room for stray cats at many shelters
 Injured biker stranded for days
 Report: Moscow gunman taunted officer

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Huckleberries' Best of the INorthwest: May 15
Inland NW news and commentary, updated each weekday.

Spokane Naval Trophy comes to Spokane

The Spokane Naval Trophy – listed first among the historical collections at the U.S. Naval Center, the Navy’s central history office in Washington, D.C. – is returning to Spokane on the occasion of its centennial. It will be on display for the public Monday through Friday at the Navy Operational Support Center.

Eugster attorney hopeful

OLYMPIA – No stranger to the state Supreme Court, Spokane attorney Steve Eugster on Thursday found himself in an unaccustomed place: on the sidelines.

» Man disbarred for draining funds

» Sewage leak at Hayden Lake

» Auditor will examine Empire Health assets

» Rivers rising fast; many will top flood stage

» Jail officials see more inmate violence

Court lifts gay marriage ban

SAN FRANCISCO – The California Supreme Court struck down the state's ban on same-sex marriage Thursday in a broadly worded decision that would invalidate virtually any law that discriminates on the basis of sexual orientation.

» China quake toll expected to hit 50,000

» McCain sees Iraq pullout by end of his first term

Time to break the ice

KITCHENER, Ontario – Trevor Glass and David Rutherford are hoping to make the most of a rare second chance.

» Spurs force Game 7

» Teton tops Tigers in opener

Cabela's targets real estate market

For decades, outdoorsmen have turned to Cabela's catalogs for hunting and fishing supplies in hopes of landing trophy game. Now they can set their sights on prize tracts of Inland Northwest recreational property.

» Markets rise on better economic news

» UPS climbs aboard Big Brown bandwagon

Parsons' project

Dave Parsons has been building homes for clients for 28 years through his business, Parsons Construction Inc.

» Sorry – Order on the Court is probably taken

Tenacity paying off

The miners whose photographs appear in Ray Chapman's "History of Idaho's Silver Valley" do not smile easily for the camera. Their work clothes are gritty, their faces dusty and weary. The mines themselves don't look any prettier.

» Children underplayed

» End doesn't justify torture

All of today's news