Idaho Lieutenant Governor Jim Risch (pictured left) has elected to not engage in an Idaho Public Television debate between U.S. Senate candidates later this month. The Republican reportedly doesn’t like the format, which would allow for direct exchanges between the candidates that he fears could become negative. Instead, Risch has agreed to appear on a separate debate May 14th sponsored by Boise television station KTVB and other media. That debate will be taped, then broadcast on several outlets statewide. In that format, candidates will not be allowed to address each other directly. It’s the second consecutive election where Risch has opted out of the live public TV debate, which has been a staple of Idaho politics for four decades. In 2006, Risch balked at a live matchup with Democrat Larry LaRocco. Idaho Public TV, the League of Women Voters and the Idaho Press Club say Risch’s refusal undermines healthy political discourse.
(AP)

Spokane, Washington has been chosen to host the 2010 U.S. Figure Skating Championships. The event, held annually since 1914, is the nation’s highest regarded amateur skating event. National champions will be crowned in 12 events and organizers say the city expects to host the largest media contingency ever. The championships, to be held at the 10,500-seat Spokane Arena is the final event prior to the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. The championships are scheduled for January 14-24, 2010 with senior-level men’s and pairs events the first weekend, and senior-level ladies and ice dancing the second weekend.

Idaho U.S. Senate candidate Larry LaRocco (pictured left) says somebody broke into his Boise campaign headquarters but didn’t appear to have stolen anything. LaRocco staffers say the former congressman filed a police report, though thousands of dollars worth of equipment, including computers appeared to be intact. Damage to the office door has been estimated at about $200. Bob Stout, campaign manager for the Democratic candidate, says he won’t know if this was a politically motivated intrusion at least until after the Boise police conclude their investigation. Stout added that it’s unknown if the intruders inspected campaign documents or computer files. LaRocco was in Idaho Falls at the time of the break-in.
(AP)

The state of Washington is participating in a national training exercise aimed at coordinating local, state and federal agencies in the event of terrorism or a natural disaster. In a scenario conducted Mondayh through Fort Lewis, agencies must adapt to a chemical plant explosion near the Alaskan Way Viaduct in Seattle that kills first responders. The National Level Exercise began last Thursday and concludes next week. Two other scenarios include a deadly tanker crash in Whatcom County and a toxic release at the Umatilla Chemical Depot in northeast Oregon. Officials with the Washington State Emergency Management Division say the state has activated its emergency operations center as part of the exercise. Participants include the National Guard, FEMA, and Homeland Security.
(AP)

An effort to put the decision of wolf management before Idaho voters in November has failed.

A Twin Falls-based hunters group had hoped to put an initiative on the ballot that would have taken away management from the Idaho Department of Fish and Game and required the federal government to remove wolves “by any means necessary.” However, if it would have passed, federal and state authorities agreed it would have returned control to the federal government and, subsequently, return the wolves to endangered species protections.

Still, initiative supporters contend the current management plan won’t kill enough wolves, which will mean increasingly lower elk populations.

Just under 46,000 valid signatures were needed to qualify the measure for the general election ballot, but half of the 50,000 signatures were thrown out because they came from people who were not registered to vote. Organizers plan to bring the issue back for the 2010 election.

A delegation of 16 Idaho companies led by Gov. Butch Otter returned from a week-long trade mission to Mexico with verbal sales commitments of more than $1 million, trial orders with some of Mexico’s largest companies and a host of new contacts for future sales.

A significant part of the governor’s schedule focused on meetings with large Mexican companies in the food processing and distribution business including Wal-Mart Mexico, the bread and tortilla manufacturer Gruma, and snack food manufacturer BARCEL.

In addition to meetings with Mexican companies, Otter met with Mexican officials to discuss bilateral trade relations, including what the governor called unjustified trade restrictions against fresh potatoes, and the prospects of expanding market access beyond the 26-kilometer border zone.

Mexico has long been one of Idaho’s top 10 export markets and is the state’s second-largest export market for agricultural products. Last year, Idaho companies sent nearly $137 million in products to Mexico, an increase of 5 percent from the previous year.

Federal officials have issued their final court-ordered plans for making Columbia Basin hydroelectric dams safe for endangered salmon.

NOAA Fisheries concluded on Moday that without any changes, the dams will jeopardize the survival of 13 threatened and endangered species of salmon and steelhead - but that they can thrive with additional help. Those measures include modifications to the dams themselves, changes in dam operations, hauling young salmon around some of the dams, expanded and improved hatchery operations, predator control and improvements to river habitat.

It will be up to a U.S. District Judge in Portland to decide whether the plans – known as biological opinions – meet the demands of the Endangered Species Act.

(AP)

The rape and murder trial is underway in Olympia for a man who jumped into the Snake River to avoid capture by Idaho authorities.

“Cowboy” Mike Braae is accused of strangling a 44-year-old woman nearly seven years ago in Lacey. A separate Braae trial in Yakima in 2006 ended in a mistrial when a Yelm woman who had been shot in the head was unable to testify because of her brain injury.

Braae, 48, is already serving an assault sentence in Idaho where he was arrested in July of 2001 after shooting at officers and jumping into the Snake River.

Braae has a history of attempted escapes - in 1997, he escaped from the Thurston County Jail while serving time for a drug conviction. He’s being held at the state prison in Shelton and transported with extra security for his trial in Olympia.

(AP)