Enjoying the end-of-summer weather?  Gearing up for the Fall elections?  Planning to attend the TEA PARTY RALLY on Thursday, Constitution Day?

All kinds of action for a late summer week:  Candidates announcing bids for city elections, the jail bond coming forward again and the cities and county revealing their budget proposals.

Any comments, questions or ideas?

Nice to have a rainy day.  Any thoughts, comments, questions as we start into another weekend?

My relatives in Seattle say they are melting and I’m sure folks around here will be flocking to the lakes, Art on the Green and the Street Fair downtown.  Any thoughts, questions or comments on this first weekend of August?

A new week ahead.  Are you following the Press series about the salaries of top public officials in our area’s cities, school districts and county?  Think it’s a good idea to publish them?  What positive outcomes can you foresee, if any?

Other topics, questions, comments?

Is the economy coming back?  Are there signs of recovery?  Here’s what the CdA Press had to say this morning:

“In Coeur d’Alene, the total value of building permits in May 2009 declined to $6.6 million, compared to almost $27 million in May 2008. The biggest drop came in the commercial sector, with only $277,230 in permits issued in May 2009, compared to more than $22 million in May 2008.”

They go on to detail a tiny rise in residential starts, but is that in response to demand or in advance anticipation of some sort of recovery?

What are your thoughts on the future of our local economy?  Any other comments, questions or ideas?

Sen. Mike Jorgenson

State Senator Mike Jorgenson has been pushing immigration reform at our state’s level, without much success, during the last few years. He’s speaking about his plan tomorrow at 7am in the Shore Lounge at the Resort.  Sen. Jorgenson says Idaho spends  up to $200 million spent annually on illegal immigrants. The Press has the story today, you can read it here.  What do you think Idaho should do?  Any other ideas, comments or questions?

It’s a busy weekend ahead with Ironman and Father’s Day.     Any comments, questions or ideas?

It’s coming up this week. Will you get up early to see the swimmers?

Any comments, questions or ideas on this or other topics?

It was inspiring to watch Roger Federer win the French Open for the first time this morning.  He’s been in the finals the last four years in a row but has never won this event until today. The Swiss-born Federer has now tied Pete Sampras’ top record of 14 Grand Slam wins.  His tenacity and personal motivation to pick himself up after each defeat and continue the pursuit of his goal make him a great role model.

Any thoughts on this cool and cloudy Sunday?