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From Ian

In North Idaho, in Bonner County, a bill to designate 14,000 acres of public land as a protected federal wilderness area was voted down. Environmental groups had their hopes up when the Spokesman-Review reported the proposal holding an early lead in absentee ballot voting. By mid-day Wednesday, however, the vote turned the other way, with rejection votes leading by 841 out of 10,503.

In December 2016, Idaho Senator Jim Risch introduced the bill to designate public land located on the Idaho-Montana border protecting the area from road building, mining, motorized recreation, or other development. The proposal was viewed as widely popular by environmental groups and received support from several public officials, businesses and trade groups. However, current Bonner County Commissioner Dan McDonald, in a May 9th Spokesman-Review article, stated, “One of the fallacies that have been repeated over and over again … is that the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness project had overwhelming support in Bonner County.”

IN other news
The ongoing fight over the Millennium Bulk coal terminal in Longview, WA intensified last week when six Western states filed a joint amicus brief supporting Lighthouse Resources, the developer of the proposed terminal, in its federal lawsuit against the State of Washington. The suit was filed in January after the Department of Ecology denied a key water quality permit last September, alleging the State’s denial violates the U.S. Constitution’s Commerce Clause.

From Judith
Autumn Reed, president of the Spokane NOW chapter, joined about 20 other local citizens at Monday evening’s Spokane City Council meeting to support Councilwoman Kate Burke who has criticized the council about its handling of allegations of sexual harassment and assault against an employee of a local nonprofit. The nonprofit contracts with the city for services.

Burke raised the allegations during a meeting in April, according to reports in the Spokesman-Review newspaper.

Burke reportedly called the man a “sexual predator,” which was met by cease-and-desist demands from two local law firms representing the nonprofit and its employee.

City Councilwoman Karen Stratton, who is related to the nonprofit employee, told the council she is “tired and increasingly resentful” of accusations that some council members don’t support women or victims of sexual violence, reports read.

Stratton told council members that the employee had voluntarily resigned his position as the instructor with the nonprofit, the firm hired legal representation and took immediate action to investigate. No evidence was found against him, according to Stratton.

In our next story, consumer interest groups and state and federal agencies are launching a tour today (Wednesday) across Washington state to offer tips on how people can protect their digital identities. Eric Teggethoff reports.

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