Lewis-Clark State College has temporarily pulled its request to purchase the residential portion of Clearwater Hall.

LCSC President Dene Thomas says school officials decided to withdraw the proposal from this week’s State Board of Education’s agenda because of concerns over the current downturn in the economy and housing markets. Thomas expects the plan to be sent back to the developer to square away some issues before being resubmitted to board members.

Developer-owner College Town Development of Idaho had initially wanted the school to buy the entire four-story building made up of three floors of dorm rooms and the ground level of retail space. However, the parties had reportedly agreed on a $3.7 million deal for just the three residential floors.

A new study ranks Idaho 34th in the nation when it comes to the range between the health of children who are poor and those who are better off financially.

According to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, which conducted the study, 25 percent of Idaho kids living in poverty are not as healthy as they could be, compared to just 4.5 percent of those in families with higher incomes.

The study defined poor as living below the 2008 federal poverty level of an annual income of $21,200 for a family of four - affluent families were those with annual incomes at least 400 percent above the poverty level, or $84,800 for a family of four.

Researchers concluded that families with higher incomes are more likely to have at least one parent who exercises; better nutrition and better housing in safe neighborhoods with access to recreational opportunities; and child care, health insurance and transportation.

The study also looked at how infant deaths were affected by the education level of mothers, comparing those with less than a high school education to moms who had at least 16 years of schooling. Idaho ranked 6th best in that category.  (Idaho Statesman)

The Washington state Attorney General’s Office has ruled that the King County Superior Court does not have jurisdiction in a lawsuit filed against the Building Industry Association of Washington and possibly Republican gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi.

Coming two days after documents were released that appeared to tie Rossi to a fundraising campaign the attorney general said was illegal, Thursday’s announcement could possibly relieve Rossi of being deposed in the final weeks of a close race, as ballots will soon be mailed to voters.

A letter issued by the AG’s office says the lawsuit filed on behalf of two former state Supreme Court justices, who are incumbent Governor Christine Gregoire supporters, could not be subject to a citizen’s suit in King County.

At the heart of the suit was the apparent fundraising on behalf of Rossi by ChangePAC, the political action committee of the BIAW, which has spent more than $2 million this election cycle, and still has $700,000 on hand.

Thursday’s ruling appears to allow the BIAW to continue campaigning for Rossi, and frees the candidate from the discomfort of being deposed so close to the Nov. 4 election. (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

A Twin Falls man has pleaded guilty to first-degree murder in the slaying of a man whose body was found last September in a steel barrel stored in an apartment garage.
Cameron Watts was scheduled to go on trial at the end of the month in the death of 18-year-old Dale Miller. But Twin Falls County Prosecutor Grant Loebs says Watts pleaded guilty Tuesday to first-degree murder during an unscheduled court hearing.
In exchange for the plea, prosecutors intend to recommend a sentence of 20 years to life for Watts. Sentencing is scheduled for December.
Watts is the second Magic Valley man charged in Miller’s death.
In July, John McElhiney, 32, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder, but has since asked to withdraw his plea and has been appointed a new attorney. (AP)

The former executive director of the Ketchum Community Development Corp. has been extradited to California where he faces charges from a burglary 11 years ago.
Gary Rapport, 50, resigned from the position July 8, the same day he was arrested on a California warrant.
Blaine County officials say Rapport was removed from the county jail last week by authorities from Orange County, California.
Rapport is accused of second-degree burglary for stealing several thousand dollars from his former employer. The arrest warrant was issued in 2002 when Rapport allegedly failed to appear for a court hearing.
Rapport began working for the economic development group in May, but resigned after the criminal allegations first surfaced in media reports. (AP)

The conductor of a train that killed a northern Idaho man last year is suing the railroad company and the Idaho Transportation Department for negligence that he says contributed to the accident.
Gabriel Giraud says the train crossing where 61-year-old Gary Gibson was struck by the locomotive and killed instantly did not meet industry or federal standards.
An investigator with the California law firm of Hildebrand, McLeod and Nelson Inc., says the railroad crossing has no flashing lights or audible alarms to warn motorists.
The Boise attorney representing Giraud during the lawsuit says the 24-year-old has not returned to work at the Union Pacific Railroad since the accident and suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. (AP)

There will be plenty of options for high school football fans this weekend. In the Whitepine League: Prairie, the league’s only unbeaten team will try to keep sole possession of first place when the Pirates host Genesee in Cottonwood; Lapwai travels to Kendrick; Lewis County hosts Troy in Nezperce; Timberline travels to Potlatch; and Clearwater Valley is home with Deary.
In the Long Pin Conference: Defending state champion and undefeated Salmon River plays host to Greenleaf in Riggins.
Intermountain League leader Orofino heads north to face St. Maries.
In the Central Idaho League: Kamiah hosts Grangeville in the first of two meetings this season with live coverage on AM 1230 KORT.
On the Palouse: Pullman is home to face Medical Lake, while Colfax travels to meet Liberty.
In the LC Valley: Dayton is at Asotin; Clarkston hosts Riverside; and undefeated Lewiston opens league play at Bengal field against Coeur d’Alene.

The Washington State football team travels to Corvallis for a Pac-10 game against Oregon State. The Cougars are 1-5 overall and are winless in three conference games so far. The Beavers are 2-3 overall and are 1-1 in the Pac-10, with their one win over then top-ranked USC.
Game time is set for 3:30pm PDT Saturday at Reser Stadium with live television coverage on Fox Sports Net Northwest.