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NEZ PERCE-MINING LAWSUIT
Mining company wants Idaho tribe's lawsuit put on hold
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A Canadian company hoping to mine for gold in central Idaho is asking that a lawsuit filed by the Nez Perce Tribe wanting the site cleaned up be put on hold.
British Columbia-based Midas Gold on Wednesday says in court documents that its plan for the area about 40 miles east of McCall, where it has never mined, will clean up pollution from past mining companies if it's allowed to proceed.
The tribe filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in August, saying Midas Gold is illegally allowing arsenic, cyanide and mercury to remain in the area where the tribe has had hunting and fishing rights since an 1855 treaty with the U.S.
Midas Gold in the past decade has acquired existing mining claims in the area and is seeking approval from U.S. agencies to start work.
SPOKANE-POWER OUTAGES
Fewer than 1,000 people still waiting for power after storm
(Information from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com)
SPOKANE, Wash. (AP) — Employees of the Spokane region's largest utility have restored power to about 30,000 homes since Tuesday night's surprise snow storm that snapped power lines.
Just under 1,000 Avista customers were still waiting for electricity as of Thursday evening.
Night time temperatures in the Spokane area were dipping into the 20s this week.
The Spokesman-Review reported the storm downed trees and branches and did most of its damage on individual homes, making the power restoration process longer.
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STEER SAVED
Idaho steer who charmed neighbors saved from slaughter
(Information from: Coeur d'Alene Press, http://www.cdapress.com)
POST FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A 1,000-pound (450-kilogram) steer named Carlos who charmed area residents in northern Idaho has avoided a trip to the slaughterhouse after neighbors raised money to buy him.
The Coeur d'Alene Press reports in a story on Wednesday that neighbors of Bill Guy's farm in west Post Falls raised $1,100 to purchase the well-known steer following a "Save Carlos" campaign.
Campaign organizer Alisha Kreissig says 4-year-old Carlos comes when called, enjoys being petted and loves apples, lettuce and most of all the grass clippings from lawns.
Carlos is one of three steers raised by Guy, with the others already sold for slaughter.
Carlos will remain living at Guy's farm as part of the deal with additional money from the "Save Carlos" fund paying for hay for Carlos.
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LAND BOARD-REINVESTMENT
Idaho has enough money to buy 130,000 acres of timberland
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — If Idaho spent the remaining $150 million of the estimated $240 million it's getting from the sale of residential properties and commercial real estate, state officials could buy another 130,000 acres (53,000 hectares) of timberland.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little and Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, both Republicans, and a financial expert took in that information Thursday as part of subcommittee examining options for the Idaho Land Board.
The five-member Land Board oversees about 3,800 square miles (9,800 square kilometers) of land and is constitutionally mandated to get the greatest return over the long run.
But spending the money to buy more land is fraught with politics because private entities have complained about unfair competition from the state.
The board has already spent $50 million buying 36,000 acres (15,000 hectares) of timberland while another $46 million has gone into the stock market.
YELLOWSTONE PASS CLOSES
Snow closes Yellowstone road earlier than expected
YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK, Wyo. (AP) — Snowfall has closed a road in Yellowstone National Park for the season.
Snow, wind and ice prompted park officials to close the road over Dunraven Pass on Tuesday. The route from Tower Fall to Canyon Junction has remained closed ever since.
Park officials hadn't planned to close the road until this coming Tuesday but announced Friday they will keep the road closed until next spring.
Other roads in the park will remain open until Nov. 4, weather permitting. The route from the North Entrance to the Northeast Entrance remains open year-round.
Yellowstone opens to snowmobiles each year in mid-December.
FROZEN CROPS
Potato, onion, sweet corn farmers rush amid early freeze
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An early deep freeze has Idaho potato and onion farmers rushing to harvest crops or hoping the buried vegetables will survive the frozen nights this week.
Travis Blacker with the Idaho Potato Commission says an estimated 15% to 20% of Idaho's potato crop remained in the ground Wednesday. The Idaho Department of Agriculture says onion growers are in similar straits and working overtime to finish the harvest. Other crops at risk include sweet corn and dry beans.
Blacker says harvesting during freezing temperatures can hurt the quality of the potatoes, and rushing can lead to accidents.
National Weather Service meteorologist Bill Wojcik says a low pressure system from Canada is causing the high winds, low temperatures and snow. He says Boise's temperatures were about 20 degrees below average on Wednesday.
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