North Idaho is no brave new world • Obama already tackling tough issues — like the BCS • Schweitzer sees white • Northwest wine scene on display • Nuke setback in Elmore County • Economy bad for puppies

North Idaho is no brave new world

In its efforts to assure all books on required reading lists are approved by the school board before use in district classrooms, the Coeur d'Alene School District couldn't agree on Aldous Huxley's "Brave New World" on Monday. (Note: this really isn't a news story from 1953.)

"I find, from my own level, it is extremely repetitious and it drives in the sexuality issues and other civilization's issues to almost ad nauseam and I find its balance is extremely lacking," said trustee Vern Newby.

With four out of five board members present, the Coeur d’Alene Press says the vote was split 2-2 resulting in a decision to consider the book again at the December board meeting when the board anticipates full attendance.

The novel portrays a dystopian society of the future in which everything, from politics to human reproduction, is engineered to eliminate human discomfort.

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Obama already tackling tough issues — like the BCS

President-elect Barack Obama was already tackling the tough issues even before his win on Tuesday night. He told CBS Radio on Monday night that he would make a college football playoff "one of my legislative priorities" as president.

He was kidding, of course, but a Newsday columnist picked up on the comment and brought up again the Congressmen (including Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson) who had co-sponsored a bill to investigate whether the BCS illegally restricts trade.

The column points out Simpson's comment after hearings on the matter: "I've got constituents who say, 'What the hell are you doing?'"

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Schweitzer sees white

Brundage and Bogus Basin already received early season snow, but Schweitzer Mountain Resort in North Idaho reported a total of 10 inches of snow after a dump earlier this week.

"It's quite a winter wonderland," Jennifer Ekstrom, communications manager at the mountain, told the Spokesman-Review.

The North Idaho resort is shooting to open on Thanksgiving.

"We're geared up to open whenever the snowpack allows us to open," Ekstrom said.

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Northwest wine scene on display

The 30th annual Tri-Cities Wine Festival is underway right now, with judging of 330 wines entered from wineries in Washington, Oregon, Idaho and British Columbia.

The oldest wine festival in Washington state is a testament to the underrated northwest wine scene.

The festival goes on until Friday, with a public tasting on Saturday night in Pasco.

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Nuke setback in Elmore County

The Elmore County Planning and Zoning Commission Tuesday night voted against rezoning for a proposed nuclear power plant.

The rezone would affect 1,400 acres of farmland. The application now moves to the county commissioners, who may hold their own hearings before making a final decision.

P&Z commissioner Alan Sobtzak told the Times-News the proposed plant did not line up with the county's 2004 comprehensive plan.

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Economy bad for puppies

Idaho Falls Animal Shelter employees arrived at work Wednesday morning to find six puppies less than 10 days old abandoned on the shelter's steps.

"They were just left in a box in our drop box," Irene Brown, the city's animal services supervisor, told the Post-Register.

The number of people dropping off unwanted puppies, kittens or pets at the shelter has increased the past few months, Brown said, but most of the babies they get have at least been weaned.

That mirrors a statewide trend according to Lisa Kauffman, state director for the Humane Society, who blames the increase on the poor economy.

Read more on the story at the Post-Register's Web site. (Subscription required)