Northwest briefs

U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers

says she will run for fourth term

SPOKANE - Republican U.S. Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers said she will seek re-election to a fourth term from Washington's 5th Congressional District.

McMorris Rodgers said in Spokane Wednesday that major issues include the federal debt, which must be cut by spending less.

McMorris Rodgers is the vice-chairwomen of the House Republican Conference, considered the party's fourth-highest leadership position. She is the highest-ranking GOP woman.

Deputy won't face charges

in dog shooting case

MERIDIAN, Idaho - Prosecutors have decided not to file charges against an Ada County deputy who shot and killed a dog last month, or against the owners of the dog that ran out into the street, frightening the off-duty deputy.

The Boise City Attorney's office is contracted to handle misdemeanor cases for the Meridian Police Department. Chief Deputy City Attorney Steve Rutherford said the deputy had a right to defend himself against the 80-pound Queensland Heeler.

He also declined to cite the dog's owner under unlicensed dog and off-leash charges, saying such citations are usually filed in an attempt to get people to comply with the law. He said the owners probably already received that message.

Idaho Women's Network faces closure

BOISE - The director of the Idaho Women's Network said the nonprofit has to make up $40,000 in lost grant funding to avoid closure in three months.

Donna Wade said national groups such as the Social Justice Foundation have cut off funding to the organization as they face their own financial struggles in the economic downturn.

The 22-year-old Idaho nonprofit advocates and organizes grassroots efforts on policies that affect women and families. The group has lobbied on bills aimed at equal pay for women and day care licensing, among others.

Lynn Hoffmann directs the Idaho Nonprofit Center and said that while many groups suffered funding losses in the past year, a survey of 200 of these organizations found 44 percent still managed to increase programs in 2009.

Developers take case to high court

COEUR d'ALENE - A Las Vegas development firm that wants to build a gated community and golf course on Lake Coeur d'Alene is appealing the denial of the project to the Idaho Supreme Court.

An attorney for Kirk-Hughes Development told justices Tuesday the Kootenai County commissioners' repeated denial of Chateau de Loire was the result of arbitrary decision-making and put public opinion ahead of zoning rules.

Attorney Robert Freilich argued that there had been many unreasonable decisions throughout the consideration of Chateau de Loire, which was first proposed in 2005.

The proposed development was to include fewer than 500 residential units on 500 acres, along with retail space, a golf course, fish ponds, amphitheater, athletic center, fire station and trails.

Commissioners argued that the development didn't fit with the area's rural nature.

Carnation man shoots intruder

CARNATION, Wash. - A homeowner in his 70s shot a man who broke into his house about 5:45 a.m. Wednesday in a rural area near Carnation.

King County sheriff's spokesman John Urquhart said the 35-year-old suspect was airlifted to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle and is under guard.

Urquhart said the homeowner was treated at a local hospital for a bump on the head. The homeowner had been awakened by sounds of a break-in, fought with the intruder, got a gun and shot him in an arm and a leg.

Luna cancels statewide tests

for coming school year

IDAHO FALLS - The state superintendent of public instruction has canceled two statewide tests for the upcoming school year.

Tom Luna said Tuesday the Direct Writing Assessment and the Direct Math Assessment will not be administered during the 2010-11 school year. Not administering and scoring the exams will save the Department of Education about $250,000, the Post Register reported.

Associated Press