Idaho allows carriers

to reinstate insurance plans

BOISE - Idaho will let insurance carriers reinstate coverage for thousands of people who were due to have policies canceled under President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.

Gov. C.L. (Butch) Otter said Tuesday he's asked insurance carriers to consider reinstating coverage for individuals and small businesses.

But Otter said he won't require it because he's "not going to tell them how to run their business."

Amid criticism last month over canceled policies, President Obama said he'd allow insurance companies to keep selling old plans to people for another year - even if the coverage didn't meet requirements of his 2010 health law.

Across the nation, states are coming to different conclusions about whether to follow Obama's lead.

For instance, in Washington, regulators declined to allow policies to be renewed for another year.

Search resumes in Idaho for plane, passengers

BOISE - Search crews are back to work combing the central Idaho backcountry on ground and by air for a small plane that lost contact with air traffic controllers two days ago.

State and local search teams set out Monday to look for a single-engine Beech Bonanza near the tiny town of Yellow Pine, just outside the border of the Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness.

The plane was carrying five family members and flying from Baker City, Ore., to Butte, Mont. The pilot reported engine trouble Sunday afternoon and requested coordinates for a backcountry air strip near Yellow Pine.

More than 20 searchers on all-terrain vehicles fanned out Monday and focused on a mountain ridge near the landing strip. But heavy snow and clouds hampered the search by air.

Lake Stevens officer files claim with city

LAKE STEVENS, Wash. - A Lake Stevens police officer who was involved in a civil rights lawsuit that cost the city $100,000 filed a claim against the city, saying officials mishandled the lawsuit and damaged his reputation.

Steve Warbis said he has been inaccurately portrayed as a rogue cop.

City Administrator Jan Berg told The Daily Herald the city disputes the allegations and will defend itself.

The city paid the $100,000 to settle a lawsuit that accused Warbis and a fellow officer of misconduct in a June 2011 arrest. An internal investigation found that Warbis did not violate any laws.

Santa hat helps Bellingham police catch suspect

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Police say a car prowler suspect in Bellingham nearly got away by boarding a bus.

The Bellingham Herald reported the 18-year-old suspect made it easy for officers to spot him last weekend by wearing a red and white Santa hat.

North Cascades Highway closes for winter

TWISP, Wash. - The North Cascades Highway has closed for the winter.

It was temporarily closed Sunday by heavy snow and high winds. The Transportation Department assessed conditions Tuesday and decided not to try to reopen the highway this year.

A 37-mile stretch of Highway 20 across the North Cascades is closed every winter by heavy snow and avalanches. The highway reopened on April 16 after being closed last year on Nov. 20.

Man charged with robbing newspaper carrier

BILLINGS, Mont. - A Billings man is charged with attacking a newspaper carrier, leaving him with cracked ribs, a punctured lung and a fractured cheek.

The Billings Gazette reported 18-year-old Perris Juwan Mansfield was charged with felony robbery Monday in Yellowstone County Justice Court. His bail was set at $30,000.

Prosecutors said Mansfield and another teen attacked a 35-year-old man delivering newspapers for The Billings Gazette on Nov. 16.

Charging documents say the two approached the carrier and asked him for money. When he said he didn't have any, the two punched him in the face, kicked him when he fell to the ground and took his wallet.

A witness saw the victim on the ground and he and another person took him to the hospital. An officer says the victim's eyes were almost swollen shut.

Associated Press