J.K. Rowling, author of the “Harry Potter” book series, acknowledges that her success with the books has put her in an “incredibly privileged position,” allowing her to “use my power for good not evil.” ​ Rowling started writing “Harry Potter” six months before her mother, Anne Rowling, passed away from multiple sclerosis (MS). One of her greatest regrets was that she didn’t share her writing with her mother; keeping her work secret “is one of my greatest sadnesses.” Her mot

Prayer. We hear stories of how it can transform and impact lives. It is powerful. In today’s world where violence seems to be a daily occurrence, there are people who are using the power of prayer to support those who put their lives on the line each day to protect us – our law enforcement officers. ​ Adopt-A-Cop is an organization whose goal is to provide support to law enforcement officers through prayer and notes of encouragement. Families and individuals pray for a specif

On the morning of my first day at work I couldn’t feel my hands. It was not because of nerves or excitement, but the frigid air that hovered around zero degrees Fahrenheit. Darlene Arviso, an elderly Navajo woman, chuckled from the driver’s seat as she saw me rubbing my hands next to her. “The desert isn’t just hot. It’s tough year ‘round,” she said. We were driving through Northern New Mexico, just outside of a town called Thoreau on the Navajo Reservation. White snow sat on

A revolutionary concept of generating energy from solar panels on our roadways – called smart highways – is coming to Sandpoint thanks to local innovators, Scott and Julie Brusaw, the husband and wife team behind Solar Roadways. Their company is installing their first public prototype for testing in town. ​ The exciting concept involves installing photovoltaic solar panels in our transportation corridors that would generate power for electric cars and virtually all of nearby

Success in schools. Many think it depends strictly upon the quality of the teachers and curriculum. But did you know that statistics report that a student’s potential increases by as much as seven percent when their environment is properly ventilated, has adequate lighting and good acoustics? ​ While the students in Lake Pend Oreille School District (LPOSD) have shown improvement in test scores in recent years, the facilities in which they are learning have continued to deter

“An investment in knowledge pays the best interest.” - Benjamin Franklin ​ High school graduation marks the beginning of a whole new life chapter for students. For 18 years most have lived in a family setting and had many of their needs taken care of. Now they are embarking on new adventures and suddenly find themselves independent; whether it is college, the military or starting a career, they are about to experience a whole new world. And while it is an exciting time in lif