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Prism Local News

Kootenai County, Idaho
"Your Local News, Powered by AI Journalism"

About Kootenai, ID

Population
Approximately 171,362 residents
County Seat
Coeur d'Alene
Coverage Area
1,316 square miles in northern Idaho

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Community

Weekend crowd tips for Tubbs Hill and McEuen Park visitors

Weekend crowd tips for Tubbs Hill and McEuen Park visitors

Tubbs Hill and McEuen Park draw heavy weekend crowds; plan for limited parking, bring water, and follow leash and stewar...

Sarah Chen2m read
Community

Kootenai County parks anchor recreation, tourism and community life

Kootenai County parks anchor recreation, tourism and community life

Several high-use outdoor sites draw residents and visitors year-round; their management affects parking, safety and muni...

Marcus Williams2m read
Community

Kootenai County Fairgrounds Remains Vital Hub for Events and Emergencies

Kootenai County Fairgrounds Remains Vital Hub for Events and Emergencies

The Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Coeur d'Alene hosts fairs, expos, concerts and serves as an emergency staging area; c...

Lisa Park2m read
Healthcare

Public health pioneer Larry Belmont dies, leaves lasting Kootenai legacy

Public health pioneer Larry Belmont dies, leaves lasting Kootenai legacy

Larry Belmont, Panhandle Health's first director, died Friday at 89. His work on water protection, home health and hospi...

Lisa Park2m read
Community

Winter recreation guidance for Tubbs Hill, McEuen Park and fairgrounds

Winter recreation guidance for Tubbs Hill, McEuen Park and fairgrounds

Popular Coeur d'Alene outdoor areas see high winter use; plan for variable conditions, parking impacts, and check local ...

Marcus Williams2m read
Government

Coeur d’Alene fire chief proposes restructuring amid mass retirements

Coeur d’Alene fire chief proposes restructuring amid mass retirements

Chief Tom Greif seeks to reorganize the fire department to fill a key EMS leadership gap; proposed changes cost at least...

James Thompson3m read
Government

Spirit Lake council adopts updated comprehensive plan amid debate

Spirit Lake council adopts updated comprehensive plan amid debate

Spirit Lake approved an updated comprehensive plan despite controversy over land-use mapping and no environmental study....

James Thompson2m read
Government

Post Falls SWAT standoff leads to $200,000 bail for suspect

Post Falls SWAT standoff leads to $200,000 bail for suspect

A Post Falls man faces aggravated assault charges after threatening a household member with a crowbar and prompting a SW...

Marcus Williams2m read
Government

County commissioners uphold Knapp homeowner exemption after assessor dispute

County commissioners uphold Knapp homeowner exemption after assessor dispute

Commissioners overturned the assessor's finding and restored Allyson Knapp's homeowner exemption, a decision that affect...

James Thompson3m read
Community

United Way of North Idaho seeks new executive director, shifts strategy

United Way of North Idaho seeks new executive director, shifts strategy

United Way of North Idaho's executive director resigned after a year; a local-focused search is underway and the organiz...

Sarah Chen3m read
Government

Hayden Lake Feb. 3 Hearing on $50 Alarm, $75 Appeals Fee

Hayden Lake Feb. 3 Hearing on $50 Alarm, $75 Appeals Fee

Hayden Lake will hold a Feb. 3 public hearing on proposed $50 alarm registrations and a $75 code-enforcement appeals fee...

James Thompson2m read
Government

New Coeur d’Alene mayor outlines transition priorities, staffing and budget fixes

New Coeur d’Alene mayor outlines transition priorities, staffing and budget fixes

Newly sworn Mayor Dan Gookin called 2026 a year in transition, announcing key leadership hires, grant pursuits, and plan...

Marcus Williams2m read
Community

Record 54-degree January high in Coeur d’Alene prompts concern

Record 54-degree January high in Coeur d’Alene prompts concern

Coeur d’Alene reached 54 degrees on Jan. 13, breaking a 1945 record; low mountain snowpack raises local water supply con...

Sarah Chen2m read
Government

Man linked to jail fentanyl overdoses sentenced to 15 years in heroin case

Man linked to jail fentanyl overdoses sentenced to 15 years in heroin case

A man tied to a mass overdose in the county jail received a 15-year sentence for a separate 2016 heroin case; the decisi...

James Thompson2m read
Education

Coeur d'Alene schools report $18.9M general fund balance gain

Coeur d'Alene schools report $18.9M general fund balance gain

The district closed fiscal 2025 with an $18.9 million general fund balance, easing budget pressure and reinforcing levy-...

Sarah Chen2m read
Government

State budget shortfall dominates Idaho Legislature’s opening week

State budget shortfall dominates Idaho Legislature’s opening week

Lawmakers opened the Idaho Legislature focused on a multi-hundred-million-dollar shortfall and the governor's budget; Ko...

Marcus Williams2m read
Government

Avista files four-year rate case that could raise local energy bills

Avista files four-year rate case that could raise local energy bills

Avista filed a four-year general rate case proposing higher electric and natural gas bills, with a large first increase ...

James Thompson2m read
Government

General Services questions $55,000 compensation study amid tight budget

General Services questions $55,000 compensation study amid tight budget

Officials debated hiring BestDay HR for a $55,000 citywide pay study and potential extra costs. The decision affects cit...

James Thompson2m read
Business

Bobby Combs Participates in North Idaho RV Expo Jan. 22-25

Bobby Combs Participates in North Idaho RV Expo Jan. 22-25

Bobby Combs RV Centers will join the North Idaho RV & Outdoor Adventure Expo at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds, bringin...

Sarah Chen2m read
Education

Idaho parental choice tax-credit application sees rapid early uptake

Idaho parental choice tax-credit application sees rapid early uptake

The Idaho parental choice tax-credit application launched Jan. 17 and drew more than 3,300 submissions by Thursday, affe...

Lisa Park2m read
Government

Post Falls resident pushes for stronger animal cruelty protections statewide

Post Falls resident pushes for stronger animal cruelty protections statewide

A Post Falls resident launched a petition to tighten animal cruelty laws in Idaho; local penalties and enforcement could...

James Thompson2m read
Education

Nevada coach Jeff Choate to headline Worley coaches clinic Feb. 21

Nevada coach Jeff Choate to headline Worley coaches clinic Feb. 21

Jeff Choate will be the keynote at the Vertical Raise Coaches Clinic in Worley on Feb. 21; the clinic offers local coach...

Marcus Williams2m read
Community

Russ Brown centennial lecture series to mark courthouse's 100th

Russ Brown centennial lecture series to mark courthouse's 100th

Kootenai County launched a lecture series honoring the courthouse's 100th anniversary; a Jan. 22 lecture will explore co...

Sarah Chen2m read
Business

Post Falls Chevron reruns deep fuel discount, app users pay 99 cents

Post Falls Chevron reruns deep fuel discount, app users pay 99 cents

Fuel at the new Post Falls Chevron will drop to $1.24 a gallon Tuesday; app users can pay 99 cents, drawing crowds and p...

Sarah Chen2m read
Government

Coeur d’Alene lawmaker named 2026 statesman; eyes housing, tax relief

Coeur d’Alene lawmaker named 2026 statesman; eyes housing, tax relief

Rep. Jordan Redman was named the Gem State Chronicle's 2026 Statesman of the Year for health care work and legislative e...

James Thompson2m read
Community

Post Falls Historical Society seeks ideas for America250 events

Post Falls Historical Society seeks ideas for America250 events

Post Falls Historical Society invited residents Jan. 12 to plan America250 events marking July 4, 2026. Organizers sough...

Sarah Chen2m read
Business

Best of North Idaho nominations open with voting and winners timeline

Best of North Idaho nominations open with voting and winners timeline

Nominations for Best of North Idaho opened Jan. 11 and run through Jan. 25. Voting is Jan. 31–Feb. 13 and winners publis...

Sarah Chen2m read
Education

Post Falls fifth graders honor MLK with speeches on perseverance

Post Falls fifth graders honor MLK with speeches on perseverance

Fifth graders at Post Falls High School presented MLK-inspired speeches on Jan. 16, highlighting perseverance, role mode...

Sarah Chen2m read
Community

Record fundraiser boosts North Idaho housing nonprofits and services

Record fundraiser boosts North Idaho housing nonprofits and services

Idaho housing nonprofits raised $6.1 million in a record Avenues for Hope campaign, directing new dollars to local shelt...

Marcus Williams2m read