Published Works
Protest Reveals Political Divide in Bonners Ferry
BONNERS FERRY, Idaho — At a peaceful but politically polarized Saturday protest on the Bonners Ferry Bridge, local demonstrators clashed symbolically with armed counter-protesters in Confederate regalia.
The “No Kings” assembly — part of a national anti-authoritarian protest movement — featured handmade signs and slogans likening President Donald Trump to a dictator.
Tension rose when a small group of armed counter-protesters arrived and made two slow passes through the crowd, holding flags but refusing to acknowledge or respond to comments from "No Kings" protesters.
Mountain Goat, or Cash Cow?
CLARK FORK, Idaho — In 2024, travelers from 18 states — as far north as Edmonton, as far east as Florida, and as far south as Hawaii — visited a remote North Idaho town of just 600 residents.
The attraction linking widespread tourists to Clark Fork: Scotchman Peak, a trail to one of the highpoints of the Cabinet Mountains, and the home to many mountain goats.
Idaho Press Club Best Education Report of 2024
North Idaho Schools Are Most Dependent on Local Dollars, Least Capable of Passing Levies
BOUNDARY COUNTY, Idaho — Of the 25 supplemental school levies on the ballot in November statewide, only three failed, all in North Idaho.
Boundary County, West Bonner County, and Lakeland were the only school districts to see their levies fail. Boundary County’s levy would have had the lowest tax burden among the 25, at no added cost to taxpayers. West Bonner’s levy, at $23 per $100,000 of property, had the second-lowest burden.
All three rank in the top 20 Idaho school districts most reliant on supplemental levies.
Region Braces for Trade War Fallout
BOUNDARY COUNTY, Idaho — As the peak tourism season approaches, Boundary County businesses have already started to feel the impact of Canadian shoppers staying home in recent months.
“We’re seeing a sharp decline in Canadian traffic,” said Tom Turpin, CEO of the Kootenai Tribal Development Corporation. “The Canadian market is huge for us, and for a lot of businesses in town.”
February saw the first dip in Canadian travelers through North Idaho ports of entry since COVID-19.
Local Prosecutor Urges Victims of Sexual Violence to Contact Police, Not W&L
LEXINGTON, Va. — The commonwealth’s attorney for Rockbridge County and Lexington said he wants victims of sexual assault at Washington and Lee University to seek help from police and prosecutors who can investigate and file criminal charges.
“You will be met with compassionate and understanding professionals who want what is best for you as much as we want to bring your offender to justice,” Jared Moon wrote in an email, responding to questions from the Rockbridge Report. “No charges will be initiated unless you agree. We will stand by your side and do all within our power to see that justice is done.”
Rep. Sanchez Wants to Share the Wealth
TAOS, N.M. — State Rep. Joseph Sanchez (D-Alcalde) took his tax revenue sharing plan to Taos yesterday and said he is expanding his effort for support to other municipalities.
Appearing before the Taos County Commission, Sanchez said gross tax receipts (GTR) received by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), estimated at $136 million in 2022, needs to be equitably distributed to surrounding counties whose residents make up a major portion of the lab’s employees.
Retail Chains Come to Town
BONNERS FERRY, Idaho The newly opened O’Reilly Auto Parts and Tractor Supply Co. bring product overlap with existing businesses, but owners agree that the corporate chains will enhance the local economy.
“Any time you get a big conglomerate, people can distrust it, especially in a small town,” said Tractor Supply Co. manager Dave Harmon. “But we put taxes back into the area, we hire people from the area, we donate to the area, and we keep customers here. Instead of other businesses recommending customers to North 40 in Sandpoint, they’re recommending to us.”
Blue Lake RV Resort Liable for Clover Fire
NAPLES, Idaho — A 30-acre wildfire that scorched multiple properties and caused millions of dollars in damage was ignited by a campground worker disposing of firepit ash, according to Idaho Department of Lands officials.
On July 13, a groundskeeper at Blue Lake RV Resort was traveling from campsite to campsite collecting ash in a metal garbage can to be dumped, said Rodney Weeks, Idaho Department of Lands fire investigation program manager. When the can was set down, heat from the bottom caused grass underneath to ignite, and strong winds quickly carried the fire to nearby properties.
Local Man Faces Murder Charges
NATURAL BRIDGE, Va. — Stormie Markland told her sisters that her ex-boyfriend wanted to give their relationship another shot, to “be a family again.”
But her sisters, Wendy Coerver and Breezy Markland, said in interviews that they warned her against reconciling with Leland Johnson. The sisters said they became more alarmed in mid-March, when Johnson told Markland that weekend would probably be the last time their 7-year-old son would ever see him.
“I took that as a red flag,” said Coerver, 41, the older sister. “I told her not to let the little boy go.”
'We're Turning One Spigot On and Another Off'
BONNERS FERRY, Idaho – At a Saturday town hall, North Idaho lawmakers voiced their concerns over state lawmakers’ rush to secure short-term political wins through tax cuts, funding shifts, and program overhauls — moves they say lack a long-term strategy for Idaho’s future stability and growth.
Discussion at the Bonners Ferry Visitors Center began with Idaho House Bill 40, a steep 0.395% income tax cut law signed March 6.