Festival of Hearts celebrates, supports Boundary Community Hospital

The Fry Healthcare Foundation is inviting the community to join in the fun of the annual Festival of Hearts on Saturday, Feb.15, 2025, at the Kootenai River Inn.

Local firefighters aid in L.A. wildfire battle

Paradise Valley firefighters returned safely to Boundary County Jan. 28 after two weeks in California fighting the most destructive wildfires to ever hit Los Angeles County.

Local rescue dog to undergo critical surgery

A local Search and Rescue dog is set to undergo surgery Friday after a grass seed made its way into his lungs and causing a serious infection.

This week in History - Jan. 30, 2025

Local history in Boundary County, from Naples to Porthill, and from Bonners Ferry to Moyie Springs.

Bonners Ferry hosts Junior Olympic Idaho Rifle Championships

The Kootenai Valley Rifle Club hosted the Idaho State Junior Olympic Rifle Championship in Bonners Ferry Jan. 18. 19 shooters from the Bonners Ferry (KV), Sandpoint, and Coeur d’Alene (CdA) clubs along with Little Explorers 4H from Boise and the AJROTC from Walla Walla, Wash. high school were represented.

PREP WRESTLING: Therrien finishes fifth at Othello Lady Huskies Tournament

PREP WRESTLING: Therrien finishes fifth at Othello Lady Huskies Tournament

The impact of wildfires

Can affect big game for decades, negatively and positively, and here's why

“Fire resets the ecological clock,” Fish and Game’s Salmon Region Wildlife Biologist Sean Schroff said. “Idaho is a diverse state, and the timetable at which a site recovers is dependent on the habitat type, and that timetable also changes as you travel across the state.”

After much debate, bill to prohibit DEI policies at Idaho colleges moves forward

Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene, presented the proposed legislation, which was a slightly altered version of a draft he presented on Jan. 9.

Vouchers and refundable tax credits: Comparing Ada and Butte counties

From the moonscape of Butte County to the meandering Boise River in Ada, there is plenty to see across the Gem State. When we talk about school vouchers (including educational savings accounts and refundable tax credits), the differences extend beyond the scenery.

Construction workers rescued from Moyie Springs sewer lagoon

Public works officials and first responders rescued a local pair Thursday, Jan. 23, from a Moyie Mill sewer lagoon filled with toxic gas.

Legals for January, 30 2025

PREP WRESTLING: Brown, Therrien win brackets at Hellgate Girls Invitational

PREP WRESTLING: Brown, Therrien win brackets at Hellgate Girls Invitational

Legals for January, 23 2025

School district to rerun levy, battle state’s school choice initiative

Boundary County School District trustees approved rerunning the failed November levy again in the upcoming May election, along with over $2 million in budget cuts if it does not pass.

Banff's World Tour making stop in region

Come celebrate the outdoors at this year’s Banff Centre Mountain Film Festival World Tour, which will be making a stop at the Panida Theater this weekend. The annual tour, again presented by Mountain Fever Productions, will be shown for three nights at Sandpoint’s Panida Theater beginning Friday, Jan.17, Saturday, Jan. 18, and Sunday, Jan. 19. Shows on Friday and Saturday will begin at 7 p.m., and at 6 p.m. on Sunday.

U.S. will keep protecting Rocky Mountain grizzly bears

Gov. Little critical of decision, calls for Fish and Game to find 'rationale' behind it

Federal officials also said they will reclassify the grizzly’s status so that ranchers would be able to shoot bears that are killing livestock. Officials will end protections for the animals in states where they’re no longer found, including California, Colorado, New Mexico and Oregon. The fearsome bruins have been protected as a threatened species across the lower 48 states since 1975. Officials during President-elect Donald Trump’s first term sought to eliminate those protections, but were blocked in court.

Legislators host trio of town hall talks

Sauter, Woodward address concerns, issues

Education, Medicaid expansion and the initiative process were among the top discussion points at a trio of Saturday town halls held by a pair of District 1 legislators. With just the first week of the session under legislators' collective belt, Idaho House 1A Rep. Mark Sauter and Idaho Sen. Jim Woodward told the several dozen people gathered at the Sandpoint town hall that education was shaping up to be a big issue during the 2025 legislative session.

Senior center connects community, seniors

2024 was an adventurous year for the Senior Hospitality Center. The center had several changes in administration and has acquired new board members. “We have a great team to go into 2025 with,” Linda Lederhos, center chief executive director, said.

This week in History - Jan. 16, 2025

Local history in Boundary County, from Naples to Porthill, and from Bonners Ferry to Moyie Springs.

Bonners Ferry expands rental market with new duplexes

As the nation’s housing costs continue rising, Boundary County remains relatively stable.

Affordable new duplexes have hit the market in Bonners Ferry, adding to the area’s growing list of renter-friendly developments, as much of Idaho faces inflated housing costs.