Turns out that Mark Felt, the well-hidden source who helped Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein break the Watergate story, was also a Twin Falls native and UI grad. Not many people left on campus to share fraternity party stories, though.

Also coming up on Page One:

The City Council is expected to call on Mayor West to resign tonight. Also, we've got a transcript of the mayor's interview on "The Today Show" this morning, and we're working on getting it on the Web site.

Sheriff Mark Sterk addressed concerns about the delays in releasing the file of Deputy David Hahn, previously rumored to have been destroyed.

Proposed federal cuts could drain almost a half-million dollars for adult literacy programs in the region.

The Boundary County School District's levy election is today - the outcome will determine whether the school will face budget cuts or huge budget cuts.

President Bush answered questions about the war, Social Security and a potential Supreme Court vacancy, among other things.

Four letters. Starts with 'O'. An interjection used to express sudden dismay or implied apology.

That's not one of the clues that was missing from Sunday' New York Times crossword puzzle, but it would be appropriate. Some of the clues were omitted because of an editing error, and we've heard from more than a few readers about it. Features editor Pia Hansen is tracking down the cause, and we'll probably re-run the puzzle in its entirety sometime this week.

Tom Lutey played a little fast and loose with the Ten Commandment in Sunday's Exit 289, but we aren't aware of any complaints so far. Valley editor Jeff Jordan said one reader called and expressed concern the piece unfairly maligned University Village residents.

Reporter Kevin Graman has been fielding a lot of questions from readers about his Escape from Poverty series, and is planning to address them in a separate piece in the future.

Why did we run a photo of Jim West with a story about about the release of records relating to David Hahn's suicide? West is mentioned only tangentially in the story, and was not identified in any of the records. However, Robert Galliher has accused both West and Hahn of sexual abuse during the same period, when the two were both sheriff's deputies and Boy Scout leaders.

Mayor West was on "The Today Show" this morning - we've got highlights and a link to the interview on NBC's Web site. We tried to get the video for our own site, but NBC said no, which is understandable. We're working on a transcript to post up later, and reporter Bill Morlin is peering through the cracks - is it just us, or are you wondering why the mayor has chosen to go national to defend himself?

Also today, Sheriff Mark Sterk is hosting his quarterly media meeting, and the question of delays fulfilling records requests (see the Hahn story for details) is bound to come up. The City Council is expected to vote on a resolution tonight asking Mayor West to resign, and we'll be there.

... because of Memorial Day. Here are some of the stories we're working on for tomorrow:

-Kootenai County is renaming Veterans Memorial Plaza for former commissioner Ronald Rankin, who died in October. Reporter Thomas Clouse is at today's dedication.

-Washington has the third highest wireless taxes in the country, and Richard Roesler will take a look at those nickels and dimes at the bottom of your cell phone bill. Wireless companies say the state is using communications taxes as an undercover way to boost revenue, and that the old rotary-dial tax structure isn't a good fit for today's competitive market.

-A Spokane doctor is among the pioneers of robotic surgery, which creates smaller incisions, resulting in less pain and scarring for patients. Surgeons from throughout the region are coming to Sacred Heart to learn how to use the technology.

Tomorrow is Memorial Day, and we'll have a Tom Lutey story looking back at the history of a cemetery in Hillyard, just off Market Street, that holds the remains of Civil War veterans and other soldiers. The memorial has been chronically abused, by everyone from grave robbers to dirt bikers.

We'll also have a report from the 24-Hour Mountain Bike Race, a relay that started Saturday and wraps up today in Riverside State Park. The race is described as sort of a cross between Bloomsday and the Iditarod.

From Idaho, we'll be talking about the debate over federal money sent to the state for handicap-accessible voting machines. Elections officials are happy for the funding, but wonder whether the millions could be spent more efficiently on upgrades that would help more people year-round, instead of just on voting days.

And education reporter Rob McDonald has a look at the latest demographic data from the Spokane School District. Online producer Gina Boysun spent some quality time with a scanner, so you can download 7.8 Mb PDF of the data.

Tomorrow's newspaper will lead with a story about documents relating to the Jim West investigation that have just been obtained by reporters Bill Morlin and Karen Dorn Steele. Stay tuned for details. Meanwhile, we also will have a story about a city hall protest. (An early version has been posted on the web.)

The "centerpiece" story/photo package on Page 1 will be about Wesley and Blaine Highbarger, two teens whose mother died in a car accident and father died of colon cancer in February. Both boys seem to have inherited colon problems, and are facing a tough future.

We'll have a story about the showdown coming between the Roman Catholic Diocese and victims of pedophile priests. (Here's an early version of that story.)

Idaho readers will see a story about proposed changes to the Amber Alert system. When Shasta and Dylan Groene disappeared, the Amber Alert was delayed several hours.

Off the wire: there's a story about a nuclear conference that ended with no plans to slow the spread of weapons; and an intriguing story about two men found in a remote location in the Philippines who might be Japanese soldiers from World War II.

This story likely won't make the Page 1 lineup, but raised a few eyebrows: it seems that dozens of men who've used Viagra and other impotence drugs have become blind. Fill in your own headline.

Finally, because this is a holiday weekend, we won't have regular news meetings on Monday, but we'll try to update the column.

How did reporter Tom Clouse find the story about the bearded lady stalker? He saw detective Stephanie Barkley at the police station and asked if she was working on any "WFEU" stories. (Clouse says "WFEU" is Barkley's code for things are that "weird for even us.") In fact, at the time she was filing paperwork in the above-mentioned story.

A key element of the story about the fatal car-bus crash was mentioned in the subhead, but not until near the end of the story -- that there were no kids on the bus at the time of the accident. That's the first thing parents want to know, which was pointed out by a staffer who lives in the area.

Out of fairness, the story about Mayor West's attorneys was at the top of Page 1, even though they simply stated that they will build a defense and didn't give any details or answer any questions. For a lead story, it was particularly lacking in substance. However, explained managing editor Gary Graham, "Readers expect us to be giving Mr. West and his cadre of attorneys ample opportunities to talk, and we're obligated to bend over backwards to let them explain."

Susan Drumheller's story about searching for clues in the Idaho homicide was very thorough, and Jesse Tinsley's photo from the air was discussed at length. Tinsley graciously invited an Associated Press photographer to join him on a plane ride over the landfill. We are a member of the AP cooperative, and cooperate with their staff whenever we can. But in this case there was concern that "going out of our way" like we did meant that our own photo didn't get to our web site as soon as it might have otherwise.

John Stucke's story about the diocese bankruptcy was really difficult to explain ahead of time (see yesterday afternoon's convoluted description). But, as usual, Stucke explained the complicated mess in a clear, straightforward manner. We're thinking about collecting all of the nearly daily diocese developments in an online column, to make it easier to follow in one location.

For tomorrow, we've got a story about a group of "regular citizens" protesting against Mayor West outside of city hall this morning.

We are expecting another exclusive investigative piece on the mayor for tomorrow's paper. Sorry for being secretive, but we don't want to tip off the competition to our latest "scoop."

Also today, the diocese is holding a press conference at 3 p.m. to lay out its legal strategy; bidding is due to end at 5 p.m. on a life insurance subsidiary of the bankrupt Metropolitan Mortgage; and we'll have an update from Wenatchee on the governor's election trial.

Attorneys for Mayor Jim West responded today to a deposition given by one of the men who alleges the mayor molested him about 25 years ago. It was an opportunity for West's side of the story to be told, so we're planning to give the story top play on the front page.

One wild card, though, is the news that a U.S. helicopter was shot down in Iraq. If there are multiple fatalities, that could push the story to the top of the page. Meanwhile, Iraqi troops and U.S. soldiers will attempt to blockade roads leading into and out of Iraq, then sweep through the capital.

In Idaho, law enforcement officers sifted through the Kootenai County landfill looking for clues in the homicide of three Wolf Lodge Bay residents and the disappearance of two children. DNA results show that no blood from the missing children was present at the homicide scene.

Also locally, two plaintiff's attorneys in the diocese bankruptcy says the diocese vastly overstated the number of potential sex abuse victims who might file lawsuits. That affected the structure of the creditor's committee and could color the outcome of the bankruptcy.

One story that didn't make the cut for Page 1 will lead the Region section. A federal judge ruled today that the plan for balancing the needs of salmon against hydroelectric dams violates the Endangered Species Act. The Bush administration had issued a biological opinion that dams are a part of the ecosystem and cannot be removed. The judge rejected that idea.

In sports, a Cougar football player was sentenced to 75 days in jail; the Mariners are playing today; and columnist John Blanchette writes about an Eastern Washington University runner who has overcome great odds to become a top competitor in the steeplechase.

The big question this morning was on the front-page West story, wondering whether the way it was played suggested to readers that the allegations were new. The new news was that Rob Galliher's deposition was released by a Spokane County attorney; we'd reported on the details of his allegations in the very first story on the investigation. There was a bit of concern during the meeting that we didn't tie those two things together explicitly enough.

On a related note: We have Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers coming in today for an online chat about the West story. An invitation has also been extended to West's lawyer to have someone come in for a similar chat.

Second question, on a lighter note: Did we give short shrift to "American Idol" fans? The original plan (as mentioned in yesterday's post) was to have something on the front-page (in the rail, that column down the left side) talking about last night's finale, but apparently that got left out. Personally, I don't watch the "Idol" and I never have, but something like 78 billion people do every week, so it was definitely news.

And one last minor comment touched on the front-page story on GOP moderates, which maybe could have used an "Analysis" label.

For tomorrow, we'll be covering the continuing investigation into the Idaho triple murder. Law enforcement plans to search the landfill today. We'll be following the lawsuit over the Washington state governer's election, of course, but reporter Jim Camden informs us that things are moving verrrrry slowwwwwwwly. The In Life section plans a story on Jerry Bruckheimer's total dominance of next season's TV schedule, and tomorrow's Seven hits on summer music festivals, starting with Sasquatch (Pixies ... Modest Mouse ... Bloc Party ... Arcade Fire ... anyone got a spare ticket?).

Another related note: See this post from Russ Lipton, one of our reader-bloggers, on thoughts that emerged after he attended a news meeting yesterday.

It's often difficult to determine which story will be the "lead" story on Page 1, especially when there's another in a continuing series of stories.

For tomorrow, editors decided that the ongoing Iraq coverage will get the top spot. More than 1,000 U.S. troops mounted a new offensive in Iraq.

The ongoing coverage of Mayor Jim West will result in two stories: alleged victim Rob Galliher's court deposition is released publicly; and the Spokane Area Economic Development Council joined other business organizations in calling for West's resignation.

Two other local stories are related to a national issue: Some Spokane parents have paid to store their babies' umbilical cord blood in the hopes that the stem cells there can cure their children should they develop leukemia or other diseases; and Spokane County's director of developmental disabilities and mental health programs has resigned because he has Parkinson's disease and he wants to spend his time advocating for stem-cell research.

Also for Page 1: Fault lines in the Republican coalition are threatening the party's fabled unity, forcing it to choose between a potentially bruising purge of independent-minded dissidents or a new way of governing that accommodates their views on such issues as judges and Social Security.

A Page 1 spot will be devoted to promoting the "7" cover, coming Friday, which will be about summer music festivals.

The results of "American Idol" will be revealed tonight, and also will get a Page 1 mention.

A national story that won't make Page 1 is this: "The hulking, gas-guzzling sport utility vehicle, bane of environmentalists and of drivers caught behind it, is starting to fade from the American road."

Finally, a West Valley softball coach has been cleared of criminal allegations that he was having a sexual relationship with a student. The original story about the allegations did appear on Page 1. Why not run this story on Page 1? It was considered, but there's a significant difference between being cleared of criminal charges and being exonerated of all questionable activity.

Editors were divided on whether today's story about Blackbeard's sunken ship was "trivial" or interesting to the point of wanting more detail. Every day, we try to keep at least one Page 1 story from "jumping" to an inside page. What that means, typically, is that a story, like this one, is boiled down to a few paragraphs. For some, that was still too much.

The headline "Cuts in child services restored," was criticized for being too strongly worded. The story indicated only that the state would spend enough money as needed to ensure the "health, safety and well-being" of children. But it said nothing about restoring cuts.

There was some discussion about whether it's appropriate to label Mayor Jim West as "embattled." While there was no argument that the term seems to apply right now, it could be considered both a "loaded" word and a cliche.

The photo report in today's paper was strong. Noted in particular were Christopher Anderson's photo of East Valley baseball players; Brian Plonka's photo of "beagle beauties"; Jed Conklin's photo of a mother moose and its baby; and Tom Davenport's photo from the candlelight vigil for the Idaho triple-homicide victims. They are shown below, for your viewing pleasure:

For tomorrow, there will be a local story about stem cell programs; another story about accusations against Jim West; and a story about how proposed federal cuts to adult literacy programs would drain money from local programs.

And if you want to know more about those bear sculptures that are being plopped down on sidewalks in downtown, stay tuned...

So far, editor Steve Smith has chatted with readers twice about the investigation of Mayor Jim West, on May 9 and again on May 15.

We extended an invitation to Mayor West to answer your questions directly on our site and haven't heard back from him.

Meanwhile, city council member Cherie Rodgers has agreed to answer reader questions about why she thinks West should resign. That chat will take place Thursday from 1-2 p.m. (You can submit questions ahead of time.)

Our desire is to give readers as much information as possible, and from different perspectives. We'd like to get the mayor to take questions directly from readers, but also are extending an invitation to one of his attorneys to participate in a live chat.

The mayor did participate in a live chat on this site when he was running for office, and seemed to appreciate the opportunity to have such direct, unfiltered contact with citizens. We look forward to hearing from a member of his team.

If no one from the mayor's camp agrees to participate in a chat, we still plan to go ahead with the Rodgers chat, even though we won't be able to offer a balancing perspective.

That's a tough call. But we don't want to turn down one willing participant solely because we can't find someone qualified to represent the opposing point of view. You can imagine how easily we'd be manipulated if we let other folks make those kinds of decisions for us.

The top headline in tomorrow's newspaper will be about the latest developments out of City Hall regarding the controversy surrounding Mayor Jim West.

The other two most important local stories are: The state of Washington will spend "as much money as needed" in coming weeks to ensure the health, safety and well-being of children; and the latest developments in the Idaho triple-murder case.

National/international stories planned for Page 1 tomorrow include: a story about the Senate filibuster deal; the House voting to east limits on stem cell research; and a roundup of news out of Iraq -- 14 Americans have died in just three days.

Also up for Page 1 consideration are two very different stories: how breast cancer patients are less likely to have relapses if they exercise regularly; and explorers think they've found the sunken ship of Blackbeard the pirate off the North Carolina coast.

The business page will have a story about two St. Maries sawmills getting multimillion-dollar upgrades.

The InLife section will have a story about what to do with rhubarb.

And in sports, there will be stories about the Mariners and the NBA playoffs, plus a feature about Andre Agassi.

10 a.m. news meeting, Tuesday May 24:

Discussion of this morning's paper was very brief.
Brian Plonka's main photograph of Mayor Jim West raised a couple of eyebrows: "It was interesting," one editor said.

Features editor Pia Hansen, a native of Denmark, brought a full page from a Sunday Paper there that had a story that included a large picture of West. The story itself was more about hypocrisy, which the Danes find to be a trademark of American politics. I don't suspect too many people would disagree with that.

On a technical note, use of the word "murder" in the headline on today's Idaho killings story, "More agents join murder case" is incorrect. Murder is correct after someone is convicted. Homicide or killing would have been better choices.

Coming up today:

If you're wondering why there's no Daily Briefing blog today, it's because half of the Web team (that's two out of four) is at a multimedia conference in Berkeley. Actually, Ken Sands was just here for the day to give a presentation on exploiting the attributes of the Web (including blogs), but I'll be here all week learning about the future of journalism.

Meanwhile, posts will be a bit sporadic, so please bear with us. We'll back back in full force after Memorial Day.

4:30 p.m. news meeting, Friday May 20:

We're not sure what to do at this hour with the photo of Saddam in his underwear that appeared in several tabloids today. It's up to the designer and photo editor, we'll see what they come up with.

Also on Page One tomorrow:

-More developments in the triple homicide near Coeur d'Alene. Investigators are closing down the crime scene, and there's still no sign of the missing children. A tip that they may have been spotted near Bonners Ferry didn't pan out.

-Mayor Jim West attended a prayer breakfast this morning, and reportedly got a warm reception. Also, the Spokane U.S. Attorney's Office has been removed from the investigation, and the Western District's Mark Bartlett will be in charge.

10 a.m. news meeting, Friday May 20:

"Victims bludgeoned" didn't sit well with a lot of people this morning. It's not very informative, and sets a tone that's sort of, well, cold. Writing headlines, however, is hard work, and things are complicated by the departure of three copy editors (including myself) from the desk in recent weeks. I'm sure the desk could have come up with a better headline if they had the time.

What about the breakout boxes with the Hanford and shooting stories? They're intended to provide readers with a quick glance at the facts of the story, but they also repeat information from the headlines. Is there a better way to use these elements?

Rob McDonald's story about North Central science teacher Randy James would have been a perfect opportunity for video. We've recently equipped photographer Colin Mulvany with a video camera, and we're still learning how to take advantage of this resource. Here's a sample of his work on another story (requires high-speed connection).

Speaking of Colin, what a great shot he got of Mt. Spokane High School's Angel Urann sliding into third base. The Web doesn't do justice - pick up the print edition and take a look.

Coming up today:

-Mayor West attended the annual leadership prayer breakfast this morning.

-We'll continue following the investigation of the triple homicide near Coeur d'Alene. Looks like officers are wrapping things up at the scene - still no sign of the missing kids.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

--Mayor Jim West is back to work. (Mike Prager)

--A verdict was issued in the Hanford downwinders case. Two of the six "bellwether" plaintiffs will get damages totalling $545,000. On one hand, that's not much for someone fighting thyroid cancer. On the other hand, it is the first time anyone's succeeded in getting a judgment from the facility. (Jim Camden / Karen Dorn Steele)

--More updates on the triple homicide near Coeur d'Alene. Still no sign of the missing kids. (staff)

--Iraq is putting the heat on Syria to stop the flow of insurgents into the country. (wire)

10 a.m. news meeting, Thursday, May 19:

Unbelievable.

A convicted felon asks a judge to let him out of jail for a week so he can get married, and promises to return. The judge lets him go, and - surprise! - he doesn't come back.

Unbelievable.

Did this story belong on Page One? There's certainly a lot of outrage factor, but then again, what would we send inside to make room for it?

Yes, today's Page One photo was shot right here in Washington, though it looked like it could have been in the pampas of South America. Change on the open range by Richard Roesler is a fascinating look at the state's minimum wage law.

Some readers' Home section may have wound up inside their Voice section - Steve Smith will put a call in to circulation to clear it up.

A verdict has been reached in the Hanford downwinders' case, and we're working as fast as we can to get the information up on our Web site.

The Groene family is planning a press conference today to talk about the triple homicide and disappearance of two kids near Coeur d'Alene. We've got a lot on our plates, but we'll try to stay on top of everything.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

--As we speak, police are talking with Robert Roy Lutner, the "person of interest" in the triple homicide east of Coeur d'Alene. We're also talking with family of the victims to see how they're coping with the tragedy. (staff)

--The SkyFest air show won't be flying this year. Reporter Kevin Graman will fill us in on the details.

--Olympia reporter Richard Roesler will explain what happens when Chilean sheep herders get mixed up in Washington's minimum wage law.

--The grenade that someone tossed at President Bush in the former Soviet republic of Georgia was a live one, which contradicts an initial report saying the president's life was never in danger.

--Good news for the Cougs (and the Eagles): Research shows that teams wearing red are more likely to win.

10 a.m. news meeting, Wednesday May 18:

That was the review from the 12-year-old son of one of our editors on our Mount St. Helens special section. The section also stirred up memories for staffers who were around in the 1980s, particularly of Bob Rose, "a colorful character in his own way," for whom bulletproof glass was once installed on the newsroom door. Rose's narrative style was ahead of its time 25 years ago.

Those who remember our run-in with North Idaho law enforcement earlier this year will surely appreciate the difficulty we're having getting information from the Kootenai County Sheriff's Department. Deputies are looking for a "person of interest" in the disappearance of two young children from the scene of a triple homicide in Coeur d'Alene. We were unable to get our hands on a photo of Robert Roy Lutner last night - a photo that appeared on KHQ last night and in the Coeur d'Alene Press this morning. The irony is that in a press conference yesterday, Sheriff Rocky Watson told reporters that the media is often instrumental in helping track down leads and suspects - a task that becomes a challenge without photos of the people who are being sought. A third attempt to get the photo succeeded this morning, and we posted it on our Web site right away.

The Oregonian was nice enough to provide us with the stunning photo of Mount St. Helens you saw on today's front page. We tried to get one of our own, but the weather had other ideas.

If you had trouble understanding today's story about a man's $1 million claim against the city regarding a questionable rape report, you weren't alone. The details were meticulously researched, but there wasn't much to explain why the story should be important to readers.

Political reporter Jim Camden felt we could have done more with the Senate highway bill to see what's in it for Spokane.

Here's what we're working on for tomorrow:

--A case before the state Supreme Court could have broad implications for the way some workers are compensated.

--The 2005 SkyFest air show has been cancelled.

--We're still waiting for a verdict in the Hanford downwinders trial. Stay tuned.

4:30 p.m. news meeting, Tuesday, May 17th

The Spokane City Council decided to hire back eight firefighters, and some felt the story should be played as prominently as those announcing layoffs. We have a strong lineup, and the story may wind up running inside. It's up to the night team to iron out the details.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

--Mount St. Helens is coming back to life - biologically, that is - 25 years after the devastating eruption that made the mountain a household name. (Jim Camden)

--More coverage of the triple homicide in Coeur d'Alene. (staff)

--Were two women really raped by a man impersonating a police officer? Reporter Jonathan Brunt is trying to find out.

--Defying veto threats from President Bush, the Senate approved a $295 billion highway bill today. (wire)

--The Country Music Association Awards are tonight - we'll have the results.

10 a.m news meeting, Tuesday, May 17:

We got to see a copy of our Mount St. Helens special section today - a reproduction of our May 18, 1980 paper. It seems like a simple idea, but a lot of work went into scanning images and text and preparing them for our modern press. You may find a few more typos than we had in 1980 - blame the powerful, but not flawless, scanning software for that.

Reporter Cynthia Taggart, perhaps best known for her "Close to Home" features, scrambled last night to pick up the Coeur d'Alene triple homicide before deadline last night.

Photos sometimes dictate placement of stories, but in the case of the West Valley coach accused of having sexual relations with a student, we bumped the photo inside and placed the story in the lead position on the Region cover. The story in many ways parallels that of Ferris High teacher Sayeed X, and should be played similarly on the page.

Lead of the day goes to Amy Cannata's streetcar story. Will this project ever see the light of day?

Coming up today:

-We're following the Amber Alert out of Idaho, and we'll fill in the details online as they come in.

-Reporter Mike Prager is following up with the City Council on last night's action, or lack thereof.

-Coeur d'Alene voters will decide on a $14.6 million school levy today.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

--A crowd is expected at City Hall tonight to push the council to take a stand on the accusations surrounding Mayor Jim West. Also, the council is expected to vote on a leave of absence for West - technically, he's on vacation right now, and the vote could put Council President Dennis Hession in charge instead of Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch.

--A feasibility study has found that a streetcar could work in downtown Spokane - we'll give you the details on where and how it might operate.

--Yesterday was the deadline for public comments to the Idaho Department of Agriculture on whether there is an "economically viable alternative" to field burning. We'll see what people have to say.

--Newsweek has retracted an article claiming interrogators had desecrated the Quran at Guantanamo Bay. The reports sparked deadly protests in Afghanistan, and Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld warns "people need to be very careful about what they say."

--More violence in Iraq today leaves at least 24 dead.

--A showdown over the use of the filibuster to block judicial nominees is expected in Congress tomorrow.

Note: The editor of the Philadelphia Inquirer is Amanda Bennett, not Amanda Smith. I promise to take better notes in the future.
-- Ken Paulman

10 a.m. news meeting, Monday, May 16:

The New York Times is doing a series on class in America that will no doubt be driving interest nationwide. We learned a lesson about the agenda-setting power of big national papers when we showed up in the Times last weekend.

Steve Smith was on CNN's "Reliable Sources" on Sunday, only to be pre-empted by a live interview with Condoleezza Rice. What viewers would have seen was Philadelphia Inquirer editor Amanda Smith acknowledging that her paper does in fact allow deception, in rare instances, as a matter of policy. It was Amanda Smith, you may recall, who said in an Editor and Publisher article: "I don't permit deception; I would not allow it."

Smith (Steve, not Amanda) said the tide seems to be turning regarding industry criticism over our use of a computer forensic expert to verify Jim West's online activity.

Our coverage of West is no longer dominating newsroom conversations or the front page, but that doesn't mean we're backing off. We'll continue to follow the story aggressively and let you know what we find out.

It's a small world after all: Idaho bureau editor Tom Green says his mom once took a class from 98-year-old attorney Kathleen Taft, profiled in Sunday's IN Life section.

Here's what we're working on today:

-Reporter Mike Prager will be at tonight's city council meeting, where people are expected to turn out to pressure the council to take a stand on the controversy surrounding Mayor West.

-They're counting ballots for the advisory vote over Sandpoint's building height ordinance - we'll let you know what happens.

-The Supreme Court struck down bans on interstate wine sales today, sure to be a boost for Washington's fast-growing industry.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

-Fairchild Air Force Base survives the latest round of base closures, but will lose nearly 200 workers. We'll take a look at the impact. (Jim Camden)

-Mayor Jim West is losing support among business leaders. Reporter Kevin Graman writes about the national attention the West story has generated.

-Ferry County's hiring of a retired biologist to write a wildlife report has raised a state court battle over the meaning of "best available science" as it pertains to wildlife protection. (Richard Roesler)

-Seven University of Idaho graduates will be the first to get degrees in a new program -- Virtual Design and Technology -- which trains animators and video game designers. (Shawn Vestal)

10 a.m. news meeting, Friday, May 13:

Boy, did we ever go out on a limb with the Fairchild headline. We had a good story that reflected the overall sense that the base would be spared from the Pentagon's closure list, but the headline was a bit too bold. Turns out we were right, but if we hadn't been, it would have been an embarrassment on par with "Dewey defeats Truman." We're not in the business of predicting the future.

Our Jim West story did a good job of pinning down what role the state will play in upcoming investigations.

We'll continue covering the local impact of realignment at Fairchild and elsewhere in the region.

Governor Gregoire is in town to sign a series of bills, and we'll try to get reaction from her on the West scandal and base closures.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

-Attorney General Rob McKenna says the state will wait for the FBI to complete its review before investigating Jim West. Also, three state staffers who were close to the mayor will not be participating in any investigation. (Staff)

-The Pentagon is expected to announce base closures tomorrow morning, but reporter Jim Camden is working on getting ahold of the list tonight. We'll let you know right away if Fairchild or Mountain Home will be on the list.

-Ann Prideaux quietly celebrated her 50th year as a court reporter. The 70-year-old says she's still having fun and has no interest in retirement. (John Craig)

-Car bombings in Iraq today have killed 21 people and injured 90.

-The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has taken the unusual step of advancing John Bolton's nomination to be U.N. ambassador to the Senate without recommendation.

-A decision will be made later on the sixth story - Washington Rep. Dave Reichert chivalrously got on one knee to return the shoe that Re. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) lost when the Capitol was evacuated yesterday. Also, the federal government is likely to recommend flu shots for all Americans within five years.

Busy, busy day.

The new "Home" section debuted today. Features editor Pia Hansen has heard from about 10 readers already who like the section. Editors agreed that they like the content and design. Elements of that design will spread to the rest of the paper, which is scheduled for a redesign this year. Writer Cheryl-Anne Millsap was given credit for producing much of the content of the new section.

For the first time in a week, the Jim West investigation did not dominate the front page. Because the mayor is taking time off, it's given reporters a chance to regroup and investigate tips, which continue to be received from readers.

There was some discussion about whether the story about Morning Star Boys Ranch should have been on Page 1. The longtime director said no reports have been found to suggest that Mayor Jim West and a former sheriff's deputy "checked out" boys for day outings and camping trips in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

Editors wondered whether we might be playing into the hands of critics by not giving the story more prominent display: "Because we've been so forceful, critics will look for us to publicly report something that disputes what we've previously reported."

But reporters said the event had the feel of a public relations stunt. Rev. Joe Weitensteiner took no questions from the media. And upon further questioning, staff admitted that records from the time might not have reflected every such contact.

More reporting is expected on the Morning Star angle to this story.

For tomorrow:

We are tracking three pieces of new information on the West case that could develop into a story or stories.

But, for sure, we will report that state Attorney General Rob McKenna has opened an investigation, to be led by the Washington State Patrol, in conjunction with the FBI and the Justice Department, to determine if Mayor West used computers to entice underage boys into having sexual relationships with him. That would be a felony criminal investigation.

We're also preparing for the possibility that the base closures list will be announced this afternoon by the Pentagon. The fate of Fairchild Air Force Base -- the largest employer in the area -- is at stake. This is potentially the biggest news of the day.

In Idaho, we're trying to determine whether the Kootenai County Commission has standing to challenge the BNSF refueling depot permit, and why the Coeur d'Alene Tribe changed tribal chairmen.

In the Spokane Valley, a girl who was hit by a car yesterday has died.

The InLife section will be about the final "Star Trek" TV episode, while the cover of "7" is about the new Star Wars movie.

In business, the last Friday small business profile will be published. Starting next week, small business coverage will move to Wednesday in a different format.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

-City attorney Mike Connelly is asking for state and federal help investigating allegations of misconduct against Mayor Jim West. Also, the director of Morning Star Boys Ranch denies reports that West and David Hahn "checked out" boys for day outings and camping trips in the 1970s and '80s.

-In an unexpected move, the defense has rested in the Hanford downwinders case.

-The Coeur d'Alene tribe finally has a piece of lakefront property.

-More violence in Iraq today - more than 400 people have been killed in the last two weeks.

-Hype over the new "Star Wars" installment is already at light speed.

Did the Jim West story sell newspapers?

Initially, yes. Single copy sales for Thursday and Friday were up 3,000 each day. However, editor Steve Smith anticipates interest will drop off sharply as people grow weary of reading the details of the allegations. "This is a story that will actually depress sales," he said.

A story in the New York Times (registration required) over the weekend has caused a spike in national media interest – the city is "crawling" with reporters from major print and television outlets. These journalists, Smith said, will undoubtedly uncover angles to the story that we haven’t thought of.

The response from gay and lesbian activists has been generally positive, Smith said. For many, West’s strident opposition to gay rights while concealing his own sexuality is a bigger issue than allegations of official misconduct.

Our headlines will tone down as our investigation turns to West’s tenure in the legislature. We will continue to exercise all due diligence in substantiating allegations that come to our attention. Chasing down and verifying tips is a lengthy and arduous process, and it’s impossible to speculate when we might go to print with new information.

We’ll recap the story on Sunday and are planning to return to business as usual on Monday. Of course, that can all change depending on what develops. We’re expected to find out today who will be leading the independent investigation into the mayor’s alleged misconduct.

"Violent storm, lightning skip over Spokane" read a headline in our Idaho Region section this morning. Rest assured that the storm skipped Coeur d’Alene as well. When stories are shared between editions, we make an effort to change the headlines accordingly – looks like we dropped the ball on this one.

Nothing but praise for Tom Lutey’s story on a mother and son reunited. This touching and well-written piece was a welcome breath of fresh air.

We’re one week away from the 25th anniversary of the Mount St. Helens eruption.

Also today:
-We’ll look at how some local businesses are preparing for the impending drought.
-Olympia reporter Richard Roesler says it will be a light year for citizen initiatives.
-Reporter Shawn Vestal will be at a ceremony commemorating the sale of Camp Larson to the Coeur d’Alene Tribe.

Here are links to other media reports on the Jim West case:

Wednesday, May 11

SFGate(San Francisco Chronicle web site): The tormented Republican mayor of Spokane might have molested young boys. Boys like, well, Mark Morford

Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune: Casper newsman ran against embattled mayor

Seattle Weekly: The Wild, Wild West

Tuesday, May 10

KOMO-TV (Seattle): Ken Schram Commentary: Where's The State Investigation?

Editor & Publisher: Spokane Probe: Other Editors Say They Forbid Undercover Operations

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Spokane Mayor: Not because he's gay

Monday, May 9

National Public Radio: Paper Reveals Private Side of Spokane Mayor

Sunday, May 8

New York Times: A Mayor's Secret Life Jolts a Northwest City

Seattle Times: West must resign as Spokane mayor

Associated Press: Mayor embroiled in sex scandal was known as a tough customer

The Oregonian: Spokane paper crosses line, but readers approve

Tacoma News Tribune: Solid Spokane story didn’t need subterfuge to spice it up

Saturday, May 7

KOMO-TV: Local Man Says Mayor In Sex Scandal Hit On Him

Seattle Times: Spokane Mayor West's public and private lives contrast

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Internet privacy is limited in this state, experts say

Friday, May 6

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: In the Northwest: Dark characters have peopled prim Spokane's past

Tacoma News Tribune: West’s hypocrisy could be most damning revelation

Seattle Times: Sex-abuse claims set off "earthquake" in Spokane

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Gay sex scandal rocks Spokane

Seattle Post-Intelligencer: Did Spokane paper act properly?

Seattle Times: Newspaper's ruse raises issue of journalistic ethics

Rocky Mountain News:Important ethical issue

The Advocate.com: Paper publishes excerpts from Spokane mayor's Gay.com chats

Columbia Journalism Review: Steve Smith on Exposing a Mayor

The Olympian: Ex-Capitol leader in sex scandal

Thursday, May 5

Associated Press: After years of rumors, politicians react to West bombshell

Editor & Publisher: After 3-Year Probe, Spokane Paper Alleges Sex Abuse by Mayor

Editor & Publisher: Spokane Paper Hired Expert to Monitor Mayor Online

Editor Steve Smith will answer more reader questions in a live online discussion scheduled for next Tuesday, from 3-5 p.m. Submit your questions ahead of time.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

-Updates on Jim West, including a profile on Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch, who spoke today at a ceremony commemorating the late Mike Cmos. We'll also look at how City Hall is coping in the mayor's absence. (Bill Morlin / Karen Dorn Steele / Mike Prager / Amy Cannata)

-After 40 years, a mother is reunited with the son she gave up for adoption. (Tom Lutey)

-The Secret Service is investigating whether a grenade was lobbed at President Bush in Georgia. (wire)

-U.S. forces continue to push toward the Syrian border while battling insurgents.

Steve Smith admitted that we were not prepared for what he termed the "national media circus" surrounding the Jim West story. The more substantial allegations -- specifically, abuse of power -- are being overlooked in favor of more sordid elements.

We don't have the staff to address all of the media inquiries, but we'll selectively talk to reputable outlets about the story itself and the ethical issue of whether it was appropriate to use a computer expert to verify the mayor's online activity.

An overflow of staffers was present at the meeting, and Smith took the opportunity to ask for comments or suggestions. We might take a look at the avenues of recourse the city has against the mayor, and whether there are weaknesses in the city charter. Also, Mayor West was instrumental in bringing the 2007 figure skating championships to Spokane -- will the scandal impact the event?

For today's coverage, we're looking at:
-A profile of Deputy Mayor Jack Lynch
-Whether any city initiatives are on hold as a result of the allegations
-How resignation might affect the mayor's pension and health care coverage.

We're also planning a follow-up on the ruling allowing BNSF to reopen its refueling depot.

On a happier note, three centenarians are celebrating their birthdays in the Valley today.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

-A judge has ruled the BNSF refueling depot can reopen, but Kootenai County says it has the authority to delay the opening. (James Hagengruber)

-Two men say Jim West offered them positions with the city after meeting the mayor on an online chat site. In other developments, the mayor says he will step aside for a few weeks. (Bill Morlin/Karen Dorn Steele/Mike Prager)

-Reporter Shawn Vestal will look at the conflicts between politicians' private and public lives.

-In Iraq, the U.S. has launched a strike near the Syrian border targeting terrorist leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi. (wire)

-Traffic jams are getting worse - and not just in major cities. (wire)

Sunday's centerpiece photo of Jim West at the golf course raised some questions about whether we were stalking the mayor. One of our news editors received a tip that West was out golfing, and a photographer responded. The photographer could have run out onto the course and gotten into West's face, but instead chose to maintain a respectful distance, capturing an image that reflects the sense of isolation the mayor must be feeling right now.

The newspaper has a policy against "piling on," which is difficult to define amid a story of this magnitude. One editor was concerned that Doug Clark's column, while well-written and appropriate in tone, might have been one West article too many. Managing Editor Gary Graham said that Clark's high-profile voice and frequent writings about West justified the column.

The "Freakonomics" story appeared twice in Sunday's paper - on the business cover and inside the IN Life section. Wire stories appear on multiple services, and sometimes multiple times, making duplication a difficult error to avoid.

Also:
-James Hagengruber is covering the BNSF case in Coeur d'Alene.
-We'll have more updates on the Jim West story, including a look at the conflict between West's private life and public proclamations.
-Vandals hit some East Valley school buses, causing school to start late.

Coming up on Page One tomorrow:

-More coverage of Mayor West: The city has announced an investigation into the mayor's online activity, and we'll hear from another alleged victim of David Hahn.

-Just in time for Mother's Day, Jamie Tobias Neely gets reaction from local moms about the mayor's involvement with teenagers.

-Insurgents strike again in Iraq, and are demanding Australia withdraw their troops. At least 270 people have been killed in the latest wave of attacks.

-A court ruling means you'll be able to record programs off of digital TV.

The Jim West story is getting a lot of attention - all of the local news stations except KHQ have contacted us, and the Seattle Times and P-I had reporters in town yesterday. Word is the New York Times is parachuting in over the weekend.

Our decision to use an undercover computer expert to engage West online has been a topic of discussion among ethicists and others. Editor Steve Smith has been vigorously defending the decision. "In the end, there's no other way," he said. One alternative - confronting West directly - would have compromised our ability to confirm his online activity. Another - using one of our sources to chat with West online - would have been even more ethically suspect, Smith said.

The ethical questions seem to be confined largely to academic and journalism circles, and aren't coming from readers so far.

Our coverage continues today - the mayor is scheduled to unveil signposts commemorating our sister city ties this morning. We'll also look at the psychology of sexual abuse.

Also - the Washington Supreme Court may rule on a petition to reconsider Spokane lawyer Uche Umuolo's suspension.

Job markets are looking up, but college graduates are burdened with mountains of debt. Reporter Shawn Vestel will see how they're coping.

The web site is seeing about 100 pageviews a minute today on the Jim West package. That's very high traffic for S-R.com. There is a substantial amount of information online that's not been in the paper, including audio, transcripts and other materials. See it here.

Editor Steve Smith has spent much of the day granting interviews with media and trade publications about this story.

For the paper tomorrow:

Several follow-up stories to the Jim West issue:
--City hall reaction
--Official reaction
--Business reaction
--A story on ethics
--A story on an FBI investigation.

In other news, Jim Hagengruber is writing about the Bush administration tossing out protections for roadless national forests.

Internationally, Tony Blair is re-elected prime minister in Great Britain; and 26 dead in Iraq in continued violence today.

Finally, former WSU football star Mark Fields announced that he will miss the upcoming NFL season because he has suffered from a cancer relapse.

"None of us feels good about the nature of what we’re reporting."

This quote from editor Steve Smith best sums up the atmosphere in the newsroom this morning. Most of us are still overwhelmed by the gravity of what appeared on our front page this morning. Public reaction was somewhat delayed – a few angry phone calls early in the morning, including a couple of subscription cancellations, but Smith reported that the feedback he’s been receiving has been overwhelmingly positive.

This story is not a cause for celebration. We’re experiencing the same shock that many of our readers are feeling right now.

Smith praised the effort that went into preparing the story for publication. The newsroom brass, as well as attorney Duane Swinton, were on hand until late into the night, making sure there were no holes in our coverage. The copy desk and Web team worked even later.

The story continues to develop. Mayor West is expected to issue a statement sometime today, and we’ll be out gathering reaction from city officials as well as the public.

Also on the table today:

- Thomas Clouse’s investigation of the paperwork errors that allowed criminal suspects back on the street was put on hold for a day, but should be in tomorrow’s paper.

- Another popular North Idaho event is in danger of extinction: This year’s Lost in the ’50s car show in Sandpoint could be the last.

Coming up for Page One tomorrow:

-Cops reporter Thomas Clouse has been following up on the paperwork error that led to the release of a burglary suspect now accused of molesting two girls. Apparently, this wasn't an isolated case.

-A petition drive is being launched for an initiative repealing the gas tax increase recently passed to help fix state roads. (Richard Roesler)

-We've caught wind of a new luxury development in North Idaho. (Becky Kramer)

-Coeur d'Alene's annual Fred Murphy Days parade has been cancelled this year. (Taryn Brodwater)

-Pakistani commandos capture al Qaeda's No. 3 operative. (wire)

Tom Sowa's persistence paid off in getting the story on airport exec John Morrison's departure.

Sen. Patty Murray is in town to meet with constituents. Jim Camden will be at her meeting with our editorial board.

Evidently there's a problem with gawkers at the site of last week's standoff in Spokane Valley, including a break-in.

Idaho prison officials are giving tours of the tent compounds they use to ease overcrowding. Boise reporter Betsy Z. Russell will fill us in.

Top stories for Page One:

-Iraq's first democratically elected government was sworn in today as violence continues. (wire) Story

-The Coeur d'Alene Tribe is scrambling to reverse the decline of cutthroat trout. (James Hagengruber)

-Farm and business groups are suing to overturn the "emergency clause" used to bypass the citizen initiative requiring a two-thirds majority in the Washington Legislature to raise taxes. (Richard Roesler)

-Christian evangelist Beth Moore is coming to town on Friday. (Virginia de Leon)

-Iran says it's determined to pursue advance nuclear technology and eager to show the work is only for peaceful purposes. (wire)

-Almost 10 years after an accident left him mostly mute and unaware, a firefighter sudddenly comes to his senses and talks with his family. (wire)

Glen Douglas, a veteran of WWII, Korea and Vietnam and subject of a May 2004 story by Kevin Graman, sat in on our morning meeting today. Glen shared his thoughts on the proposal to rename Veterans Memorial Arena, saying "They ought to take it apart and give every brick back to the veterans."

More questions than answers in the governor's race challenge – Jim Camden was on hand this morning to provide some insight. One of the issues the court must deal with is whether a felon who is in court to admit to committing another crime (voting as a felon) can be relied upon to be truthful about who they voted for, assuming all of the people on the list are actually felons. Or were felons at the time they voted (apparently, one voter claims to have mailed an absentee ballot on his way to plead guilty to a felony, making him a felon on election day even though he technically wasn’t a felon when he cast his ballot). This thing doesn’t appear to be ending anytime soon, and we’re looking into having a live online chat with Jim to help clear up any confusion.

Did the story on Charles Robert Kyle deserve the lead position on Page One? A tough headline count made it difficult to communicate the story’s importance.

Coming up today:

- The Coeur d’Alene City Council will discuss a proposal to enact a moratorium on downtown building until a study has been done on whether to limit building heights.
- We’ll help clear up confusion on the Millwood/Valley Fire ballots.
- Some folks in Olympia are challenging the "emergency clauses" the legislature used this session. If they succeed, the simple majority authorized for tax increases could be overturned, possibly forcing an special session to resolve budget issues.

Here are the stories we've got lined up for Page One tomorrow:

-The Spokane County Prosecutor's office failed to file the paperwork on a Spokane Valley man - who is now accused of molesting two girls - that would have jailed him for two recent burglary investigations. (Thomas Clouse)

-No sign of resolution so far as the BNSF Railway seeks to reopen the Hauser refueling depot. (James Hagengruber)

-The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear an Idaho field-burning case. (AP) Story

-23 more killed in Iraq (wire)
Story

-Condoleezza Rice: "I don't think there should be any doubt about our ability to deter whatever the North Koreans are up to." (wire)

-Senate negotiators have accepted a House plan to require states to verify the citizenship of driver's license applicants (AP)

Discussion led off with our decision not to publish the Bloomsday results this year. Some were concerned that a television report may have created confusion as to where the results can be found – the Inlander is planning a special section, and the results will also be posted on the Bloomsday Web site.

Growth and development were the other big stories over the weekend – and will be for years to come.

There was some concern over whether we put enough pressure on the USCIS for Sunday’s story on pastor Paul Cross. Story

On tap for today:

– Reporter Jim Camden is in Wenatchee covering the Republicans’ challenge to the governor’s race results.
– Reporter James Hagengruber is at the BNSF case in Coeur d’Alene. A judge may decide today whether to allow the Rathdrum refueling depot to open.
– A Lakeside High student is tackling issues of faith and ethics in her own magazine.
– We’ll also take a look at students taking another shot at the WASL.