Samantha Wright

The Spokesman Review based in Spokane, Washington finds itself in the middle of a lawsuit. A judge ruled Tuesday that the newspaper, which serves Idaho, must turn over any information identifying an anonymous commenter on one of the newspaper’s blogs. That’s after the person wrote a disparaging comment about the chairwoman of the Kootenai County Republican Party.  The GOP chair has since brought a libel suit.  Gary Graham is the editor of the paper.  He says the case began in February.

The paper has two weeks to decide whether to turn over information or appeal the ruling. 

UPDATE 4:10 PM: The Boise County Sheriff issued a voluntary evacuation notice for people living in the Clear Creek subdivision.  That’s because the  Avalene fire is burning about a mile away from homes.  The subdivision is off Highway 21 about halfway between Boise and Idaho City.

David Olson, a spokesman for Boise National Forest, says the fire has burned 250 acres so far and is not contained.

The Bureau of Land Management and a slew of other agencies are restricting campfires and smoking in South Central Idaho.  Stage One Fire Restrictions start Monday. 

After weeks of sunny, warm weather, it finally rained today in parts of southern Idaho. Bill Wojcik is a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Boise.  “Well this morning we had the rain falling as far west as Jerome and Twin Falls and at this time it extends all the way back to Idaho Falls and probably even into the western part of Wyoming.”

The 4th of July week is a busy time for fireworks retailers and firefighters.  But the day after the holiday is the busiest day of the year for the Idaho Humane Society, when it comes to stray animals.  Loud noises, smoke, and confusion can send pets running far from home. 

Two weeks ago, we told you that 50 kids jumped into a pool in Eagle to take part in what organizers hoped would be the world’s largest swim lesson.  They joined thousands of others around the world, to try and beat the old Guinness Book record of 19,322, set last year. 

Before the event, the Idaho swimmers were confident they would succeed.

The U-S Supreme Court’s decision to uphold universal health care has triggered a lot of reaction from politicians and analysts.  Idaho was one of the first states to join the lawsuit to strike down the law.  

Ted Epperly has been involved in the debate over health care, testifying before Congress and speaking across the country about the need for reform measures.  The Boise-based family physician served as the President of the American Academy of Family Physicians and met with President Obama six times to offer his views about health care. 

Health insurance companies are also among those reacting to today’s decision from the U.S. Supreme Court upholding a majority of the federal health care law. 

Blue Cross of Idaho is the largest private insurer in the state, covering 720,000 people in Idaho.  Karen Early is a spokeswoman for the not-for-profit company.  She says now that most of the Affordable Care Act has been upheld, it’s time for Idaho to create its own insurance exchange. 

It may seem pretty innocent to send a quick text while you’re on the road but for 18 - year old Cassandra Kerfoot, that decision cost her her life three years ago. Her mother Liz Catherman hopes a new ban on texting while driving that takes effect this Sunday in Idaho will help prevent this from happening to others.

A hardware store owner from Mountain Home is already getting to work in his new role as chairman of the Idaho Republican Party.  Barry Peterson was elected Saturday during the GOP convention in Twin Falls.  He takes over for Norm Semanko, who’s stepping down.

The five baby kestrels born in a nest box at the World Center for Birds of Prey in Boise have grown up and are beginning to leave their cradle. 

The wild wolf puppy from the Ketchum area is on his way to a new home in Virginia.  The pup was taken from the wild last month by out-of-town campers who thought it was a domestic dog.  The underweight and frightened animal ended up at Zoo Boise for care and treatment. 

State Controller Donna Jones is getting better. That’s the word from her staff and Idaho Governor Butch Otter.

Jones, who's 73 - years - old was injured in a one-car rollover May 25th. She broke her neck and was taken to Saint Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in critical condition for surgery. Now Jones has been moved to a rehab facility and is receiving daily therapy.

Members of Idaho’s state legislative budget committee are on a fact- finding tour of locations in north central Idaho this week.

The delegation is making the rounds in places like Moscow and Orofino, with the intent being to better understanding issues and budget requests that will come up in the next legislative session.

Thursday morning, 72 children and adults will jump in a pool in Eagle to try and help break the Guinness record for the world’s largest swimming lesson.  The old record, set last year, was 20-thousand swimmers.