The American Lung Association has cut ties with its Northwest chapter, saying the affiliate veered away from its mission and sold its multimillion-dollar Seattle headquarters.

The national charity has sent a cease-and-desist letter to the American Lung Association of the Northwest, which represents the organization in Idaho, Washington and Alaska. The letter demanded that the regional affiliate stop using the American Lung Association name, turn over its financial assets and take steps to get the building back.

The association gave the Northwest affiliate notice in mid-September that it was in violation of several of the organization’s policies. If those issues weren’t fixed in 30 days, it said it would cut ties with the affiliate, which has been operating since 1906.

The sides spent two days in mediation in Washington, D.C., last week, but failed to reach agreement. The alleged policy violations included that the Northwest affiliate had tried to change its mission statement and forbid its staff members from speaking with national staff, hindering day-to-day operations of both organizations.

Also, without permission, the regional affiliate’s chief executive set up a separate corporation called the Pacific Northwest Lung Cancer Foundation. Real estate records show that in August, the Northwest affiliate transferred its $3.2 million Seattle headquarters to the new lung foundation for $10. (AP)

A mid-October trade mission to Hong Kong, Macau, Vietnam and Taiwan is expected to result in initial sales of more than $3.7 million in the coming year for Idaho businesses.

Additional sales also are expected from the 12-day trip, which Gov. Butch Otter led as part of his Project 60 effort to expand Idaho’s economy. Several of the 16 Idaho companies and industry associations that participated have not yet quantified their results.

Industries represented included agriculture commodities, processed food, cold chain management solutions, mining and mining equipment, transportation equipment, forest products, and health and personal care products.

Hong Kong and Taiwan are among Idaho’s top 10 export markets. Macau, which is a Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China, has a rapidly growing gaming and tourism sector which provides unique opportunities for Idaho food producers.

In 2007 Idaho exports to the five markets totaled more than $480 million.

An Idaho inmate being housed at an Oklahoma prison has been charged with second-degree murder in the death of an inmate from Canyon County.

Dean Wight, 31, was charged last week in Beckham County District Court in Oklahoma. A correctional officer found David Drashner, 51, lying on the floor of his cell at the North Fork Correctional Facility in Sayre, Okla., in June. Court records show Drashner died from internal bleeding after injury to his skull.

Drashner was convicted two years ago in Canyon County of felony driving under the influence. Wight was being held on burglary, robbery, aggravated battery and grand theft convictions in Bannock and Bingham counties.

Both were in Oklahoma as part of a program to ease Idaho’s overcrowded prisons. (AP)

Idaho U.S. Rep. Bill Sali is angry over a campaign flier mailed by the Idaho Democratic Party throughout the 1st Congressional District that shows the Social Security numbers of Sali and his wife.
The personal financial information appeared on documents detailing the Republican’s struggles to pay debts dating back to the 1980s.
Campaign aides for Sali, who is running against Democratic challenger Walt Minnick, called on state Democratic leaders to apologize for putting Sali’s family at risk of identity theft.
Wayne Hoffman, Sali’s campaign spokesman, says “The stunt the Democrats have pulled on Bill and Terry Sali is the most despicable thing I’ve ever seen.”
Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Jim Hansen retorted, “He’s a public figure. If he was going to be upset, he probably should have paid off his bills and his taxes.” (AP)

Federal Election Commission regulators are scrutinizing whether Idaho Republican U.S. Rep. Bill Sali followed campaign disclosure laws before the May 27 primary that require congressional candidates to disclose large contributions within 48 hours after they receive them.
His rival, Democrat Walt Minnick, received a similar request for information earlier this year.
Minnick campaign staffers said Wednesday they had satisfied the FEC’s demands.
Sali aides said they are in the process of rectifying the matter with the agency, too.
Among the contributions the FEC says Sali may not have reported appropriately are donations from political action committees affiliated with energy companies Halliburton Co., Marathon Oil Co., Exxon Mobile Corp. and Williams Cos., for $1,000 each.
Jonathan Parker, Sali’s campaign manager, says he’s already found documentation showing that at least 1 of the contributions in question - $1,000 from the National Association of Wheat Growers Political Action Committee - was disclosed properly. (AP)

An official with the Idaho Department of Fish and Game says the agency is providing information to help the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service come up with a plan to give management of wolves back to the state.
Deputy Director Jim Unsworth says the state believes it’s time to remove federal protections for gray wolves in Idaho.
Idaho was managing the wolves until earlier this month when a federal judge in Missoula signed an order reinstating federal protections for the predators in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service on Friday announced a new plan to end federal protections for gray wolves in Montana and Idaho while leaving them in place in Wyoming.
Unsworth says Idaho’s plan was previously approved and that it likely won’t change significantly. The new delisting plan is now open for public comment through November 28.
More information on the plan and comment period is available on the Fish and Wildlife Service’s website at www.fws.gov. (AP)

The Lewis-Clark State volleyball team climbed one spot in this week’s NAIA Top-25 National Poll. The 23-1 Warriors moved up to 10th after sweeping both Montana State-Northern and the University of Great Falls last week at home. LC was the only Frontier Conference team in the poll.
The Warriors play their final regular season home match Friday against Westminster College at 7pm PDT. The match will also serve as Senior Night and the team’s four seniors will be honored.
In a special Halloween promotion, all children who attend the match wearing a costume will receive free candy.

Meanwhile, the LCSC Cross Country teams each slipped one spot in the national polls. Despite winning its own invitational race last week, the Warrior men fell to #11, while the women’s team, who finished second at last week’s event dropped to 13th.
Both teams return to action November 8th when LC hosts the Frontier Conference Championship races.

Idaho Republican U.S. Senate candidate Jim Risch, the target of intense pressure from rivals to explain why he never served in the military, says an ulcer doomed his plan to enlist in the U.S. Army.
Risch explained his failed bid to fight during the Vietnam War during a Senate debate at the Meridian Chamber of Commerce Tuesday.
Risch said he initiated the enlistment process but was denied by military officials because of an ongoing problem with an ulcer. Instead, Risch says he later entered public service by taking a job as a deputy prosecutor in Ada County.
During the race, Risch has been badgered by Democratic candidate Larry LaRocco and Independent Rex Rammell to explain why he didn’t serve in the armed forces.
LaRocco is the only veteran in the race to replace outgoing Republican Senator Larry Craig. (AP)