Inland Journal/On the Record

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December 23, 2002 John Vlahovich reports on tonight's Spokane City Council hearing on whether the city should deed the title for the Opera House and Convention Center facilities to the Public Facilities District, as part of the Convention Center expansion project. Doug Nadvornick talks to Donna Hanson from Catholic Charities about raising money for poor people during the holiday season. We play the audio portion of a videotape by Catholic Bishop William Skylstad, in which the bishop tells parishioners of the work done to address clergy sexual abuse in the diocese.

December 20, 2002 Doug Nadvornick talks with a Spokane home care worker about her union approving a contract with the state that includes a pay raise. The contract must be funded first by the legislature. Doug Nadvornick talks with eastern Washington Northwest Power Planning Council member Tom Karier about the council's reaction to a Bonneville Power Administration proposal to reduce the amount of money the power agency spends for fish and wildlife mitigation programs. Correspondent Jyl Hoyt tells us about work done in Hells Canyon to restore Rocky Mountain Bighorn Sheep populations.

December 19, 2002 Steve Jackson reports on the issues responsible for closures of Inland Northwest timber mills. Tom Banse reports on the reaction by lovers of Washington state parks to the governor's proposal to close more parks to save money. John Vlahovich tours the site of a proposed new downtown Spokane music club.

December 18, 2002 Doug Nadvornick talks to Spokane County Library District Director Mike Wirt about eliminating "reciprocity fees" imposed by the Spokane county and city libraries. We'll hear reaction to Governor Gary Locke's proposed budget for the state of Washington. And we talk with WSU Education Professor Emeritus Donald Orlich about his strong opposition to the WASL, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning.

December 17, 2002 John Vlahovich reports on the Spokane City Council passing the 2003 city budget. Doug Nadvornick talks with Washington Transportation Department Secretary Doug MacDonald about finding funding for roads after the failure of Referendum 51.

December 16, 2002 John Vlahovich reports on a new agreement between the federal government and state of Washington, governing the movement of nuclear waste off of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation. Doug Nadvornick talks with eastern Washington's Northwest Power Planning Council member, Tom Karier, about power forecasts for this winter and the next few years. Tom Banse reports weather forecasters in Seattle wish for new doppler radar stations to help them more accurately forecast weather.

December 13, 2002 We hear a little from Spokane-area legislators about the upcoming legislative session. Doug Nadvornick talks with Bob Williams from the Evergreen Freedom Foundation, an Olympia public policy group, about his praise for the governor's approach in budgeting for the next biennium. We talk with Scott Morris from Avista Corporation about creating a state economic development strategy. Morris chairs the state's Economic Development Commission.

December 12, 2002 John Vlahovich reports the Spokane Public Facilities District has approached the Spokane City Council for its blessing in selling bonds to expand the convention center. Steve Jackson reports the state of Idaho has declined to declare a moratorium on new water rights for water from the Spokane-Rathdrum Prairie Aquifer. Doug Nadvornick talks with WSU-Spokane Professor Brian Gates about a new study that warns people with congestive heart failure about taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Doug Nadvornick talks with author John Lockhart about Lockhart's new book about gay men who are growing older.

December 11, 2002 We present excerpts from Spokane Public Radio's March 2002 forum about diabetes.

December 10, 2002 Doug Nadvornick talks with Spokane Associate School Superintendent Mark Anderson about the next proposed school levy and about the concept of levy equalization. Doug talks with Stacy Vesneske from the Spokane School District about the different types of teacher certification. Doug talks with WSU-Spokane Criminal Justice Professor Michael Smith about research he's been doing for law enforcement agencies. Tom Banse reports on efforts to get more state money to help addicted gamblers in Washington.

December 9, 2002 Spokane teachers vote this week whether to take a day off from school in January to rally against funding cuts for public schools. Doug Nadvornick talks with Spokane Education Association President Maureen Ramos, Spokane Superintendent Brian Benzel and Washington Education Association President Charles Hasse about the decision teachers have to make. Also, Doug interviews Ferris High School teacher Jeff Halstead about the rigorous process of becoming a nationally-certified teacher.

December 6, 2002 Doug Nadvornick talks with Denver mining economist Douglas Silver (on the final day of the Northwest Mining Association convention in Spokane) about the price of gold, government regulation of mining and the public perception of mining. John Vlahovich reports the Spokane City Council and Mayor pledged money for a new health care program for poor people without insurance. Doug interviews folksinger/storyteller (and former Spokane resident) Utah Phillips about his music and his attempts to create a peace center in his new hometown, Nevada City, California.

December 5, 2002 A focus on mining issues as the Northwest Mining Association holds its annual convention in Spokane. Doug Nadvornick talks with Mining Engineer Floyd Varley about measuring and preventing heat stress in miners. Doug talks with Elaine Cullen from the Spokane Research Lab about her documentary, chronicling the 1972 Sunshine Mine fire in north Idaho that killed 91 men. Steve Jackson reports on criticism by a north Idaho clean air group for the state's smoke management plan, designed to limit the environmental and health effects of grass field burning.

December 3, 2002 We'll hear about recommendations for changing Washington's tax structure. Doug Nadvornick talks with Bill Gates, Senior, the co-chair of the Washington State Tax Structure Study Committee. John Vlahovich presents excerpts from today's news conference. Doug talks with the Director of Education of the Children's Museum of Spokane about the museum's celebrations this month of holidays from several countries. (Do you know about Mid-Winter Horn Blowing Day?)

December 2, 2002 John Vlahovich reports about the new budget passed by the Spokane County Commissioners, and about disagreements on spending for economic development. Doug Nadvornick talks with Washington state Representative Jeff Gombosky about protecting Spokane's interests in the legislature. Doug talks with University of Washington researcher Marieka Klawitter about a study of the people who use the state's job training and subsidized child care programs to get off of welfare. Steve Jackson reports the insurance company for several north Idaho grass growers doesn't want to pay damages that could be awarded in a field burning-related lawsuit.

Nov. 27, 2002 The upcoming levy and bond issue proposed by the Spokane School District. We'll hear excerpts from a school board meeting where district administrators explain the two measures. John Vlahovich reports Spokane Transit decides not to immediately cut bus service as a result of shrinking revenue. We look at the status of AIDS patients in Spokane County as World AIDS Day approaches (12/1).

Nov. 26, 2002 John Vlahovich reports on Avista's plans to donate its high-speed fiber optic data network to local colleges and universities. Doug Nadvornick talks with members of the Spokane Alliance, a church and labor-based organization that's working on several public issues-related projects. Doug talks with developer Rob Brewster about new, emerging leadership in Spokane.

Nov. 25, 2002 Steve Jackson reports on the sale of Spokane's Boeing plant. Successes in Washington's WorkFirst welfare-to-work program. We'll talk with two graduates of a warehouse training program at the Second Harvest Food Bank. We'll talk with the personnel director of Trans System, a Spokane trucking firm that has hired more than 240 WorkFirst recipients during the last few years. John Vlahovich reports on the city of Spokane's clean bill of financial health from the state Auditor's office.

Nov. 22, 2002 Doug Nadvornick talks with Clay Malinak, the director of Spokane Community College's new Biotechnology Academy, which will start classes in January in the basement of the downtown Holley Mason building. Steve Jackson explores how forest health bills may fare in the new Republican-controlled Congress. Doug talks with Mike Carridge from the Smithsonian Institution about the Smithsonian's travelling exhibit, which opens today at the Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture.

Nov. 21, 2002 The Presidents of Washington State University and the University of Washington talk about increasing higher education funding. Doug Nadvornick talks with Washington state School Superintendent Terry Bergeson about changes she proposes for the WASL. And John Vlahovich talks with three unsuccessful political candidates to hear their thoughts about running for office for the first time.

Nov. 20, 2002 The lack of health care access for poor people. Dan Baumgarten from Spokane's Health Improvement Partnership talks about the reasons for increasing health care costs and reduced access. Dr. Sam Selinger from the Spokane County Medical Society tells us about the society's new "Project Access" program, aimed at making affordable care more available to poor people. Ken Bryan from the company "Spokane Health" talks about "USelect", a new "consumer-driven" health insurance program now marketed in Spokane.

Nov. 19, 2002 Spokane native Ryan Crocker, a former U.S. Ambassador to Syria, Kuwait and Lebanon, talks about the current issues in the Middle East. John Vlahovich reports on an open house where city of Spokane officials explained their annexation plans to West Plains residents. Doug Nadvornick talks with Spokane Regional Chamber of Commerce CEO Rich Hadley about creating the official Combined Statistical Area of Spokane and Kootenai Counties.

Nov. 18, 2002 Excerpts from a news conference about a new report that grades health care in America at the end of life. John Vlahovich reports on a legal settlement between the state of Washington and Qwest Communications. Steve Jackson reports on an Environmental Protection Agency study of elevated heavy metals levels in the Upper Columbia River.

Nov. 15, 2002 Spokane Catholic Bishop William Skylstad reports he and his colleagues have adopted final rules for dealing with sexual abuse by priests. We also hear reaction from local clergy abuse victims. John Vlahovich reports on plans for creating a new science center at the north end of Riverfront Park. And we hear excerpts from Washington state School Superintendent Terry Bergeson's "State of Education" address in Spokane.

Nov. 14, 2002 Closing the "school achievement" gap. We'll hear speakers from the Washington State School Directors' Association meeting in Spokane. Steve Jackson reports on a program that helps low-income drivers repair or replace their cars that don't meet emissions standards.

Nov. 13, 2002 We talk with four Spokane residents who went to Fort Benning, Georgia to protest the Department of Defense's School of the Americas, where Latin American soldiers are trained. The protestors say graduates of the school kill civilians in their home countries. Doug Nadvornick talks with Don Fotheringham from the John Birch Society about the society's opposition to potential U.S. military action in Iraq.

Nov. 12, 2002 A documentary about new advances in treating strokes, or "brain attacks". Doug Nadvornick goes to Sacred Heart Medical Center to learn about the hospital's "Stroke Team" and about a new procedure that doctors use to put a clot-busting drug directly into a stroke patient's brain.

Nov. 11, 2002 John Vlahovich reports on five Spokane City Councilmembers' reactions to Mayor John Powers' proposed 2003 city budget. Steve Jackson reports on concerns by an Inland Northwest conservation group that the Forest Service is failing to enforce laws governing the use of off-road vehicles on federal land. Doug Nadvornick talks with the editor of a new newspaper for homeless people in Spokane.

Nov. 8, 2002 Doug Nadvornick talks with Spokane Mayor John Powers about Powers' proposed 2002 city budget. Marty Demarest interviews William Strauss, the co-founder of "The Capitol Steps", a musical satire group that will play in Spokane October 11.

Nov. 7, 2002 Doug Nadvornick visits Washington State University's Health Sciences Building in Spokane, where thousands of square feet of new laboratory space is nearly filled by university researchers. He talks with the two newest researchers, Drs. Lisa Shaffer and Bassem Bejjani, who recently came to Spokane from the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. Spokane developer Rob Brewster talks about the upcoming Launchpad v4.0 event at the Davenport Hotel.

Nov. 6, 2002 Post-election odds and ends. Doug Nadvornick talks with Stevens County Library District trustee Walt Kloefkorn about a failed attempt to abolish the district. Steve Jackson has Coeur d'Alene Tribal reaction to the passage of an Indian gaming initiative in Idaho. Tom Banse looks at efforts to expand gaming in Washington. Doug Nadvornick talks with Idaho Democratic Party chair Carolyn Boyce about gains her party made in the state legislature. John Vlahovich reports home care workers in Washington stand to get a big raise, if the legislature will go along. Doug Nadvornick talks with someone from the Washington Governor's office about rewarding employees for making government more efficient.

Nov. 5, 2002 Doug Nadvornick visits Eastern Washington University's Student Union Building, where the Associated Press set up phones and computers to take election results from counties in 16 states. John Vlahovich reports on how a new eight-million-dollar grant will help the Spokane high tech firm Itronix. Steve Jackson reports on efforts to identify PCB contamination in the Spokane River. Jeff Rice continues his "Off the Trail" series by exploring desert areas in southern Idaho where sagebrush is vanishing.

Nov. 1, 2002 John Vlahovich talks with representatives from the Port of Walla Walla and 1000 Friends of Washington about Washington Referendum 51. Ruby DeLuna from KUOW in Seattle reports on the confusion some voters have about Referendum 53. Jeff Rice looks at how old abandoned caves in Eastern Oregon serve as homes for certain bat species.

Oct. 31, 2002 Doug Nadvornick, John Vlahovich and Steve Jackson offer profiles of five contested Spokane legislative races. We look at these races: Jeff Gombosky-Ryan Leonard and Alex Wood-Jeff Knox (Third District House); Jim West-Laurie Dolan (Sixth District Senate); John Ahern-Sheila Collins and Brad Benson-Tony Bamonte (Sixth District House).

Oct. 30, 2002 Doug Nadvornick talks with Washington Fifth District U.S. Representative George Nethercutt about his candidacy for a fifth term. Olympia Correspondent Tom Banse looks at the major contributors to Washington legislative races. Steve Jackson has a short sound montage from last Saturday's peace march in downtown Spokane.

Oct. 29, 2002 Excerpts from a Gonzaga Law School debate that featured Washington Supreme Court candidates Jim Johnson and Mary Fairhurst.

Oct. 28, 2002 A profile of the five Spokane County races on the November 5 ballot. Doug Nadvornick reports on the County Commission and County Clerk's races. John Vlahovich looks at the County Assessor and County Auditor's races. Steve Jackson reports on the Treasurer's race.

Oct. 25, 2002 Doug Nadvornick talks with Rusty Nelson from the Peace and Justice Action League about Spokane's march against war (10/26). A talk with Gonzaga University Religious Studies Professor Pat McCormick about a GU faculty letter that criticizes Bush Administration policy toward Iraq. Steve Jackson talks with Jim DiPeso from Republicans for Environmental Protection, who encourages his party to go back to its roots on environmental and energy issues.

Oct. 24, 2002 Doug Nadvornick talks with Michael Ross and Molly Harding, members of a support group for victims of sexual abuse by priests. Ross and Harding are pressuring the Spokane Catholic diocese to become more open about how it handles complaints of abuse by priests.

Oct. 23, 2002 Doug Nadvornick interviews Spokane Catholic Bishop William Skylstad about how the church is handling child sexual abuse allegations against priests.

Oct. 22, 2002 Steve Jackson talks with Washington Sixth District Legislative candidates Brad Benson and Tony Bamonte. Doug Nadvornick reports on a debate between Idaho First Congressional District candidates Butch Otter, Betty Richardson and Steve Gothard.

Oct. 21, 2002 John Vlahovich talks with Washington Sixth District Legislative candidates John Ahern and Sheila Collins. Doug Nadvornick reports on a debate between Idaho gubernatorial candidates Dirk Kempthorne and Jerry Brady.

Oct. 18, 2002 John Vlahovich talks with Washington Third District Legislative candidates Alex Wood and Jeff Knox. Tom Banse reports on the unusual alliance between Washington Governor Gary Locke and former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton in campaigning for Referendum 51.

Oct. 17, 2002 Steve Jackson, John Vlahovich and Doug Nadvornick report on the six referenda and initiatives (five state issues, one Spokane county issue) on Washington's general election ballot.

Oct. 16, 2002 Doug Nadvornick interviews Spokane County District Court judge candidates Greg Tripp and Jim Reierson. He also talks with Spokane County Bar Association President Laurie Connolly about the bar's upcoming evaluation of the judicial candidates.

Oct. 15, 2002 Doug Nadvornick interviews Spokane County District Court judge candidates John Rodgers and Patti Connolly Walker. He also talks with Washington State University-Spokane Criminal Justice Professor David Brody about a new study that evaluates the performances of 18 judges in Washington.

Oct. 14, 2002 Doug Nadvornick interviews Spokane County Commission candidates Phil Harris and Louise Chadez. Harris, a Republican, is seeking a third term. John Vlahovich reports on the opening of the new Inland Northwest Blood Center.

Oct. 11, 2002 Doug Nadvornick takes us on a tour of Ridgeview School in Spokane, one of the schools scheduled to be replaced by the Spokane School District within the next six years. He also presents voices from a recent meeting where the district's long-term facilities plan was presented. Doug also talks with Spokane County Clerk Tom Fallquist, who is running for a sixth term, and his Democratic opponent, Barbara Lampert. Steve Jackson reports on efforts to build a plant in Spokane County that would turn agricultural products into biodiesel fuel for vehicles.

Oct. 10, 2002 Doug Nadvornick interviews Washington Fifth District Congressional candidate Rob Chase, a Libertarian. He also talks with Idaho Libertarian Party chairman Ted Dunlap about the growing number of Libertarian candidates on state and county ballots.

Oct. 9, 2002 Doug Nadvornick interviews Washington Sixth Legislative District State Senate candidates Jim West (the Republican incumbent) and Laurie Dolan.

Oct. 8, 2002 Doug Nadvornick interviews Bart Haggin, the Democratic candidate for Washington's Fifth Congressional District seat. Haggin is challenging four-term incumbent George Nethercutt. Doug also talks with Spokane Public Radio chief engineer Jerry Olson and general manager Dick Kunkel about the progress made in improving KSFC's signal.

Oct. 7, 2002 Doug Nadvornick interviews Democrat Jeff Gombosky and Republican Ryan Leonard, the two candidates for a House seat in Washington's Third Legislative District. Gombosky has held the seat for six years. Also, Doug Nadvornick reports on an effort by the Spokane Alliance to reach out to people in low-income neighborhoods. The organization, made up of churches, labor unions and civic groups, doorbelled in four poor neighborhoods last Saturday to make people aware of subsidized health insurance programs and the federal Earned Income Tax Credit.

Sept. 26, 2002 a debate between two Gonzaga University professors about whether the U.S. should get involved in war with Iraq. The speakers are Philosophy Professor Tom Jeannot (speaking against war) and Biology Professor Hugh Lefcort (speaking for).

Sept. 19, 2002 "Spokane City Forum" featuring Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture Director Bruce Eldridge, talking about the direction in which museums are heading.

Sept. 12, 2002 looks at several Spokane County election races that will be decided on Primary Election Day, September 17. It also features a conversation with Whitworth College Professor Jim Waller about why people join regimes that use mass murder as a tool.
Sept. 5, 2002 Wednesday night, the Mayor and others trumpeted what they've accomplished since the One Spokane Summit at the end of May. On this On the Record, we hear some of what they said and spend some time with the summit's keynote speaker, architect and industrial designer William McDonough.

June 27, 2002 John Vlahovich's report about the controversy over what to do with the Salty's Restaurant site, just above the Spokane Falls. We also have reports about exposing Native American high school students to the nursing profession, a visit to a wildland firefighter training session and an interview with a Seattle Fire Lieutenant/author about his novel about firefighting.

June 20, 2002 Doug Nadvornick's interview with Kim Pearman-Gillman, the city of Spokane's Economic Development Advisor, about what happens now after the One Spokane Summit. We also talked with Josh Silverstein, a young Spokane man, about the year of schooling he recently finished in Israel.

June 13, 2002 an interview with a Spokane man who was recently deported from Israel for trying to get food to people trapped by Israeli soldiers in the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. Also, John Vlahovich reports on a new mission for an old Spokane school. And Steve Jackson reports on attempts to save private songbird habitat in the Little Spokane River valley.
Gonzaga Prep grads a 29-minute panel discussion (co-hosted by Robert Herold and Doug Nadvornick) with six recent Gonzaga Prep grads about why they're leaving Spokane to attend college.

June 6, 2002 a 29-minute sound montage of our One Spokane Summit coverage. Click here for audio of Bill McDonough's Key Note Address given at the summit.

May 16, 2002 a program about the Convention Center expansion issue on next Tuesday's Spokane County ballot.

May 9, 2002 two stories about measures that will be on Spokane County's May 21st ballot: Spokane Valley Incorporation (John Vlahovich) and Convention Center Expansion (Doug Nadvornick). We also talk with North Central High School Principal Mike McGuire about major restructuring within the school to make it a better place to learn.

May 2, 2002 Doug Nadvornick reports on communication between organ donors and recipients and Steve Jackson tells about a plan in Congress to revise the federal Roadless Plan for national forests.

Apr. 25, 2002 a sound collage from the Community Congress on Race Relations. We also look at Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, a rare degenerative brain disorder that killed Dudley Moore. And we present a conversation with the director of the "Consumer Jungle", a website designed to teach young people about consumer issues.

Apr. 18, 2002 an evaluation of Spokane's Community Congress on Race Relations, with Gonzaga University Associate Vice President for Diversity, Raymond Reyes, and a conversation with the director of Gonzaga's Institute for Action Against Hate. Also, John Vlahovich has a report about the depth of the city of Spokane's fiscal trouble and Jyl Hoyt from Boise State Radio profiles Idaho author Mary Clearman Blew.

Apr. 11, 2002 a look at budget questions in District 81; the debate about developing McEuen Field in downtown Coeur d'Alene; the debate about a new Washington state rule aimed at protecting endangered fish habitat and an interview with a Marquette University theology professor about sexual issues and the Catholic Church.

Mar. 28, 2002 Steve Jackson reports on the debate over relicensing the Box Canyon Dam in Pend Oreille County; Doug Nadvornick interviews Elouise Cobell, the lead plaintiff in a case that could change how the federal government manages Indian trust lands; a rebroadcast of the documentary about plans for a Spokane River Gorge Park; and John Vlahovich reports on how the new "Centers and Corridors" planning concept might change the way a few Spokane neighborhoods look.

Mar. 14, 2002 Steve Jackson's piece about this week's hearing in Coeur d'Alene on the latest proposal to pull large amounts of water from the aquifer to power a power plant on the Rathdrum Prairie. Doug Nadvornick reports on two groups trying to save themselves from state budget cuts in Washington: home health care workers and nursing homes. John Vlahovich reports on the city of Spokane's response to Tuesday's failure of the $50 million streets bond issue.

Mar. 7, 2002 Doug Nadvornick's feature about teen sexuality in Spokane County (teen pregnancy rates are down, sexually-transmitted disease rates are up); an interview about population issues with Werner Fornos of the Population Institute; and a short feature about music and healing at Sacred Heart Medical Center.

Feb 28, 2002 excerpts from Mayor John Powers' press conference this week announcing a May 28-29 One Spokane summit on poverty. It also features a commentary on combating poverty by Bart Haggin. And it has a John Vlahovich story about progress that's been made in creating a new Davenport Arts District.

Feb 19, 2002 Steve Jackson's report about "charter forests", which aims to improve the health of and reduce the divisive debate about projects on national forestland. We also talk with author Paul Loeb about why people do or don't get involved in their communities. And, we take a couple of minutes to remember the recently deceased folk singer Dave Van Ronk.

Feb 14, 2002 Doug Nadvornick's documentary looking at the issue of the energy company Cogentrix, its proposal to pump seven million gallons of water a day from the aquifer and the organized opposition to that.

Feb 12, 2002 A February 5, 2002 panel discussion at Spokane City Hall on Welfare Reform.

Feb 7, 2002 a look at next week's hearings in Coeur d'Alene about whether a North Carolina company should be allowed to pull seven million gallons of water from the aquifer each day to cool its natural gas-fired power plant. Also, bridge repair projects planned in the city of Spokane and we find out about one of Spokane's most difficult public health issues for children, bad teeth.

Feb 5, 2002 an hour-long re-run from December, 2000. Doug Nadvornick's look at local folks who work with homeless people. It features a trip with mental health outreach workers who go out and check up on homeless folks and an interview with Bob Peeler from Spokane Neighborhood Action Programs, a man considered by some to be the area's homeless guru.

Jan. 31, 2002 a conversation about Avista offering wind power to the customers willing to pay for it; excerpts about the growth in interest in wind power (from a Clean Energy Conference last year in Spokane) and John Valahovich's story about an agreement to expand a landfill on the West Plains.

Jan. 29, 2002 a report from John Valahovich about the streets bond issue that will go on the Spokane city ballot on March 12, Doug Nadvornick looks at how the Spokane School District is reassessing its concept of middle schools and Steve Jackson's report about a new concept, "carbon credits", to offset the emission of greenhouse gases.

Jan. 22, 2002 an interview with Congressman George Nethercutt about whether government should help Enron employees who have lost most of the value of their retirement plans because of the company's bankruptcy; also, John Vlahovich reports on people migrating to downtown Spokane to live; correspondent Julie Titone reports on a new development that could give Post Falls a downtown area; my short report about the efforts by Thin Air Community Radio to get a low-power FM frequency in Spokane.

Jan. 15, 2002 an interview about a newly-released assessment of children's health in Spokane, excerpts from Spokane Mayor John Powers' "State of the City" address last week and an interview with new Coeur d'Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem.

Jan. 10, 2002 a new call for a ban on grass field burning in Idaho reported by Steve Jackson, Spokane Police Chief Roger Bragdon commenting on a recent series of shootings involving his officers reported by John Valahovich and a report about training Spokane Police officers to deal with mentally ill people by Doug Nadvornick.

Jan. 8, 2002 a conversation about new Washington Department of Health-produced media ads with strong anti-tobacco messages. Guest: state Health Department Secretary Mary Selecky. Also, excerpts from a speech by Cogentrix Vice President Jeff Freeman, a company that wants to build another natural gas-fired plant on the Rathdrum Prairie.

Jan. 4, 2002 a conversation about how work is done in state legislatures. Guests: former Idaho State Senator Barbara Chamberlain and Eastern Washington University Government Professor and lobbyist George Durrie.