DESPOTS: Rodkey right on the money

Dr. Rodkey’s letter in the Wednesday, June 20, Opinion page was well written and a needed observation. If I might expand on the thought, Thomas Jefferson in speaking of limited government said 173 despots would surely be as oppressive as one — little will it avail us that they are chosen by “elective despotism.” With the compendium of federal regulations now up to 81,405 pages, “Private sector regulatory compliance” is costing $1.752 trillion or 11.9 percent of the GNP. We need a much smaller federal government.

Idaho's broadbandinfrastructure challenge

My Turn

The Idaho Legislature is facing a number of critical issues it will need to address in the next legislative session. But while topics such as Medicaid expansion and transportation funding grab all the headlines, they should not overshadow one of the most critical challenges facing our state today - access to broadband.

Dow Jones closes above 19,000 for first time

COEUR d'ALENE — When the Dow Jones Industrial Average first hit 17,000 on July 3, 2014, Les Atchley told a Coeur d'Alene Press reporter he expected it to hit 100,000 someday.

PENSIONS: Key piece of puzzle

Your recent article on teacher pensions regrettably omitted one fact that I’m sure failed to register with your readers. How about a very large THANK YOU to the Idaho taxpayers that allow PERSI to earn its high marks? The contribution percentage paid by all the government taxing districts (to include police, fire, county and state employees, politicians, to name a few) into PERSI comes on the backs of every taxpayer in the state.

Medical expo coming to Cd'A

COEUR d’ALENE — Twenty-three companies creating cutting-edge technology in the health care sector will take part in the inaugural Medical Advancement Expo here Oct. 6-7. The expo will be hosted by Northwest Specialty Hospital.

Forecast is mostly sunny, but…

At 73, economist John Mitchell has the spunk of a kid.

Movers and shakers

SCOTUS wraps up term with big bang

The travel ban isn’t the only Supreme Court decision making national waves. Wednesday brought a tidal turn in union law, overturning decades-old precedent and which could result in an exodus of public employees from, and their payments to, government-service unions. More than a third of public employees are unionized, compared with just 6.5 percent of private sector counterparts, according to a January Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

Jobless rate goes up first time in 8 years

POST FALLS — How you feel about Kootenai County's job market heading into the holiday season probably depends on which side of the hiring table you’re sitting.

Prepping for a land board battle

Attempts to nullify federal health care law wrong approach, Wasden says

COEUR d'ALENE - In the 2012 Legislature, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden predicts one hot issue will be the state Land Board and a lingering philosophical perception by some that it's competing with the private sector by owning a Boise self-storage business.

Graves announces run for Cd'A City Council

COEUR d'ALENE - Local businessman Adam Graves announced his candidacy for Coeur d'Alene City Council on Tuesday.

Juncker warns of contagion

BERLIN (AP) - Contagion from the Greek debt crisis could spread to at least five other European countries - including Belgium or even Italy - if it is not cautiously managed, the head of the eurozone group warned Saturday.

Frequent dissenter seeks second term as city councilman

Bob Hafferman often finds himself on the losing side of Kalispell City Council votes.

Paving, black carbon and wolves

Originally, the Interlocal Agreements for the North Fork were signed to provide a process for local residents and the general public where they would air their concerns and grievances with the local, state and federal agencies. After only a year or two, the Interlocal was expanded from one meeting per year to two so the agencies could bring their concerns to the private sector.

Rural states are losers in new FCC Internet regulation

Montana is just beginning to see the makings of a legitimate technology sector in our state. It’s not just in Bozeman and Missoula — the potential for technology startups exists anywhere in the state with a decent Internet connection.

Chambers ask that Glacier Park reopen June 1

The Associated Chambers of the Flathead Valley are asking Gov. Steve Bullock, the National Park Service and Montana’s congressional delegation to reopen Glacier National Park on June 1.

New US rules to protect animal farmers expected soon

The Biden administration plans to issue a new rule to protect the rights of farmers who raise cows, chickens and hogs against the country's largest meat processors as part of a plan to encourage more competition in the agriculture sector.

Surveys show Chinese economy growing but at modest pace

Surveys of Chinese factory managers show a mixed outlook for the world's No. 2 economy, with growth steady but not picking up much steam. The official purchasing managers index compiled by the China Federation of Logistics and Purchasing remained at 49.5 in June on a scale up to 100, where 50 marks the cut off for expansion.

Newsom cheers Kaiser $25M pledge to California housing fund

OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) — Calling California's homeless crisis a public health issue, hospital giant Kaiser Permanente on Friday pledged $25 million to a new state fund aimed at getting people off the streets.

Grant Co. October unemployment lowest in three decades

MOSES LAKE — While the month-to-month figures go up and down, unemployment rates in Grant County in October were some of the lowest seen in more than 30 years, according to information from the Washington Department of Employment Security.