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April 30, 2011

Well Done!

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: , — Bill @ 11:54 am

This morning’s Coeur d’Alene Press had a My Turn column by Jeff Connaway.  It was titled McEuen:  Seeking a different solution.  Rather than being an aimless, pointless rant, it was a reasoned and reasonable commentary about the City’s and Team McEuen’s handling of proposed renovations to McEuen Field.  Not only that, Mr. Connaway offered equally reasonable and reasoned suggestions for a mid-course correction by the City.

There was only one downside to Mr. Connaway’s commentary:  In the view of the Editorial Board of the Coeur d’Alene Press, it is only worth a penny (see Press editorial appearing Friday, September 3, 2010).

As for the City’s methodology to bamboozle and stampede the people into supporting a questionable project, one need only remember that it worked before.  In August 2009 the North Idaho College Board of Trustees and the NIC Foundation, with the full and complete cooperation and encouragement from  the City, foisted the DeArmond Mill site $10.4 million purchase on the people with similar glowing terms and bright, slick drawings.

Free Speech or Corrupt Influence?

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: — Bill @ 7:20 am

On April 29, 2011, the Associated Press (AP) carried a story headlined Rammell trial delayed pending new investigation.  According to the story, the defendant scheduled to go on trial for a misdemeanor fish and game violation was handing out leaflets on the courthouse steps prior to the commencement of his trial.  Defendant Rammell allegedly gave prospective jurors in his trial a leaflet containing “…information pulled from a website operated by the Fully Informed Jury Association.”  The exact contents of the leaflet were not reported in the AP story.   The story also states, ” ‘Handing out (fliers to jurors) is potentially a crime, but we will treat that like any other case,’ Pickett told the Post-Register. ”  (The story does not further identify who “Pickett” is, but Bruce Pickett is the name of the Bonneville County Prosecuting Attorney.)

What do you think?  Was the defendant exercising a free speech right or trying to corruptly influence his jury?

What, if anything, is missing from the news story that would have helped you form a better informed opinion?

What, if anything, was included in the story that could be considered biased reporting?

April 29, 2011

Interesting Time

Filed under: Probable Cause — Bill @ 8:13 am

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The cover story of the April 28, 2011, edition of Time online asks the question Is the FBI Up to the Job 10 Years After 9/11?

The story’s title  suggests its focus is on the FBI’s counterterrorism role, but in fact it is as much a study of the leadership style of Director Robert Mueller (shown left) who will retire in September.

The story does contain interesting information about the backpack bomb investigation in Spokane.

April 28, 2011

2009 Election Update

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: , — Bill @ 9:38 am

The Wednesday, April 27, 2011, edition of the Coeur d’Alene Press ran an article headlined “Illegal voter hit with fine.”  The article was by Press staff writer Tom Hasslinger.  It began on page C1 and then concluded on page C6.  It did not appear online, so I cannot link to it directly.    There is more information available in the public record that will clarify and elaborate on Wednesday’s Press article.   (more…)

April 27, 2011

Urban Renewal Town Hall Meeting

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: , , — Bill @ 9:03 am

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The Lake City Senior Center meeting room was nearly full for last night’s town hall meeting to inform the public about Idaho’s urban renewal law application by the City’s urban renewal agency, the Lake City Development Corporation.

The meeting was reported in this morning’s Coeur d’Alene Press article headlined Citizens talk urban renewal.

Here are some photos from last night’s meeting.  (Mouse click on each photo to enlarge it.) (more…)

April 26, 2011

Town Hall Meeting Tonight!

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: , , — Bill @ 7:14 am

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There is a town hall meeting tonight beginning at 6 p.m. at the Lake City Senior Center, 1916 North Lakewood Drive, Coeur d’Alene. The purpose of the meeting is to better inform the public about Idaho’s urban renewal efforts.  (Mouse-click on the image to enlarge it.)

Today’s Coeur d’Alene Press ran an article in which Coeur d’Alene’s urban renewal agency executive director Tony Berns said he opposed mandatory voter approval for LCDC debt obligations. Berns’ reason for opposing voter involvement? “He predicted that there would be low voter turnout and that most voters would be ill-informed,” according to the article.

LCDC Executive Director Tony Berns’ low opinion of local voters is not shared by the speakers on the schedule for tonight’s meeting.  The speakers’ goal is to inform the public so we can decide for ourselves if and how urban renewal programs can best benefit our state and community.

April 24, 2011

Police Presence?

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: , , — Bill @ 7:19 am

It was such a beautiful day Saturday that on our way home from the Save McEuen Field from Sandi rally, we stopped at City Park. The nearby parking lots were full or nearly so, the basketball courts were full, there were people walking and biking and also sunning on the beach. And Boopsie’s Bunker, the $55,000 public safety building purchased with your dollars to create a “police presence” for increased public safety on a day like this was …  (more…)

April 23, 2011

Photos From Today’s “Save McEuen Field” Event

Filed under: Probable Cause — Tags: , , — Bill @ 8:33 pm

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Today was the day for folks to gather at McEuen Field, eat some hot dogs, and sign petitions to stop the City’s effort to change McEuen Field to McRuined Field.

Lots of people, lots of fun, and a beautiful day at McEuen Field.

Here are a few photos from the event.  There are no photos of the ballfields and boat launch being “underutilized” as the City claims, because they were all full of ballplayers, spectators, and boaters!  (more…)

Darn That Pesky Idaho Law…

Filed under: Probable Cause — Bill @ 8:23 am

Today’s Coeur d’Alene Press is running an Associated Press article headlined Couple top county in Supreme Court.  The case that was the subject of the article was Stafford v. Kootenai County.  It is a dispute over a Kootenai County ordinance.

The article did not name the First District Court Judge whose decision the Supreme Court vacated. The judge who failed to read and understand Idaho law and who heard the case without any jurisdiction was Judge John T. Mitchell.

As Chief Justice Eismann tersely noted, “Because there is no statute granting judicial review of administrative proceedings enforcing a zoning ordinance, we vacate the decision of the district court…”

Judge Mitchell wasted the District Court’s and the Supreme Court’s time, the Staffords’ time and money, and Kootenai County taxpayers’ money because he failed to read and understand Idaho law.

April 21, 2011

Bits & Pieces

Filed under: The City's Pulse — mary @ 3:09 pm

Mary Souza’s Newsletter

We’re back from our trip to help bury my father-in-law and honor his memory.  It was a poignant but bonding journey for our family.  Thank you for all the emails and cards, we deeply appreciate your condolences.

It’s now time for some changes in my focus and in this newsletter.  I’m launching into a new challenge, unrelated to community events, so the format of my newsletter will change to more of a “clearing house” concept.  I will offer bullet-points on local issues with as many links as possible so you can click and get more information if a certain topic grabs your interest.  (more…)

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