Get Sandpoint and northern Idaho news and information from our town’s leading sources. Featuring news links from the Sandpoint Reader, other media and the Sandpoint Online Newsroom. Check the archives of Sandpoint Magazine, read features from local columnists, and more.

Current news from local and regional media, including the Sandpoint Reader, Spokesman-Review and the Sandpoint Online Newsroom

December 1 

Build Back Better

What's in it for Idaho?

Is Idaho Prepared?

Idaho Murderer's Plea

Wants to Avoid Death Penalty

November 30

Redoubt real estate in Idaho

Local realtor sells safe-havens

What it may take

Jury trials suspended due to Covid

Another rise in infection rates

November 29

Fat biking and Nordic skiing

Trails open in Sandpoint

Children staying in hotel rooms

Local mountains fighting warmer temps

Schweitzer closed through Dec. 3

November 26

Idaho unemployment at 2.8%

Among best in nation

CDA river ranger dist. fire salvage

LPOIC derby standings unchanged

Derby ends Sunday

November 24

A nuclear reactor in Idaho

Experimental reactor in S. Idaho

"Innovation Classrooms"

Wasden announces re-election bid

AG seeking sixth term

November 23

US to release 50M barrels of oil

To help with gas prices

Americans will still need test

Protesting court mask policy

Protest at Bonner Co. Courthouse

November 22

S. Idaho deactivates Crisis Care

Northern Idaho keeps C.S.C. in place

Registration ends Dec. 17

New mental health scholarships

Aim to encourage growth in the field

November 16

Widespread outages follow storm

BPA loses transmission circuit

Rep. Dixon votes yes, Rep. Scott no

Senate backs statement on mandate

Formalizes Legislature's opposition

November 15

Clagstone land division challenged

Project 7B appeals county decision

As panel introduces all 29 new bills

Study focuses on Indigenous women

Go missing more than Indigenous men

November 11

Sheriff, county clash over ice rink

Wheeler disputes plan for 4 acres

Amtrak improvements net $66 billion

Idaho deaths 20% higher than average

Data: Higher toll mainly due to Covid

November 9

Rognstad running for governor

Mayor seeks 'traditional Idaho'

Tamarack 'strongly disputes' findings

Boise rent prices decline sharply

Added inventory may be factor

November 8

City denies Litehouse zoning change

Company looking at contingency plans

Daughter alive inside car in IPNF

Region preps for kids' vaccinations

Expected to be available soon

November 3

Aispuro, Welker, Dick win city seats

Local Option Tax gets thumbs-down

Voters approve ballot measure on issue

Idaho Covid hospitalizations decline

Lowest number since late August

November 2

Election Day info: What to know

Polls open until 8 p.m. Tuesday

Due to aggressive customer behavior

Plan would end supplemental levies

Lawmaker proposes sales tax instead

November 1

Idaho insurance exchange now open

Two new insurers to choose from

Zero visibility next to Silverwood

Exbabylon named top INW workspot

Headquartered in Pend Oreille County

October 28

NIC coach named interim president

Sebaaly said he's 'excited, humbled'

Including $600,000 for Gov. Little

ISP had flagged alleged mall shooter

Suspected of illegal gun possession

October 27

Bonner County approves ice rink

Will be located near fairgrounds

Positivity rates nearly double state's

Suspect in Boise mall shooting dies

Victims include security officer

October 26

Two die in Boise mall shooting

Suspect in critical condition

Addressing Covid rules, ethics complaint

School zone speeds lowered to 15

In effect weekdays from 7:30 to 3:30

October 25

Couple treks Idaho Centennial Trail

Raises funds for local mental health

Scheduled Oct. 25-29, Nov. 15-19

Legislature talks wildfire budget

IDL seeks 28% rise in spending

October 21

Parks plan tweaked after comments

Includes more green space, access

Despite recent decline in Covid cases

Universities report enrollment gains

Nearly erases 2020 pandemic losses

October 20

Idaho likely past Covid delta peak

Hospitalization rates are declining

Spokane station could face FCC fines

Rainy weather is heading our way

Panhandle could see nearly 2 inches

October 19

Man sentenced in assault, theft cases

Gervasi to serve minimum 5 years

City is holding series of workshops

Lakeshore construction underway

ITD predicts 'minimal' driving impact

October 15

LPOSD raises pay for substitutes

Federal dollars help fund program

Lopez-Burbano missing since Oct. 3

Rare grizzly confirmed in CdA forest

More common in Selkirks, Cabinets

October 12

School districts join class action suit

Against e-cigarette company JUUL

KH: Too soon to say if virus peaked

Columbia Bank announces merger

Enters agreement with Umpqua Bank

October 11

More N. Idaho waterways hit by algae

11 this year, compared to 3 last year

Projects connects I-90, Highway 95

CF Driftyard access to be closed

Due to habitat restoration work

October 7

25-acre rezone approved by P&Z

Would allow multi-family housing

Prescribed burning north of Athol

Little has raised nearly $500,000

For still-unannounced campaign

October 6

Public comments belie 'indoctrination' claim

Records for McGeachin task force released

Lt. gov. issued vaccine mandate

Snow (yep, snow!) in 7-day forecast

Climatologist expects early winter

October 5

Ponderay mulls skating rink purchase

Council agrees to 'tip-toe' into project

Follows Biden OK on passenger flights

Lookout Pass preps for expansion

Plans to double ski area acreage

October 4

County finishes manual ballot recount

8 more Trump votes, 1 more for Biden

Madison Meadows OK'd by P&Z

Priest Lake development moves forward

Neighbors share concerns about wetlands

September 30

Panida seeks board members, volunteers

Applications are now being accepted

Affects 7,000 acres in Bonner County

City holds park projects workshops

Would be funded by 7-year LOT tax

September 29

Bonner County explains 2022 budget

Commissioners approve $62.4 million

119 in Panhandle hospitalized with virus

Washington plastic bag ban to begin

Starting Friday, bring your own or pay

September 28

Another La Niña winter likely in NW

Forecasts predict 10-25% more snow

Gets OK to utilize Rescue Plan funds

Idaho lawmakers block debt debate

Join Senate GOP on broad bill issue

September 27

Idaho H&W: Pfizer boosters available

Eligibility requirements are in place

Land prices cause problems for efforts

North Idaho's color could peak early

Mann: Drought may affect fall foliage

September 23

Where are all the workers, part II

Housing fuels local worker shortage

MacLennan terminated without cause

Hunter's remains found 53 years later

Found by hunter in Idaho mountains

September 22

Inslee to Idaho: Stop clogging hospitals

Governor criticizes Little and the GOP

Little aims to blunt latest Covid surge

Forbes article touts new Humbird

Hotel part of Schweitzer's master plan

September 21

Border stays closed to Canadians

Restrictions in place until Oct. 21

Sept. 22 in the Sandpoint library

GOP warns of vaccine mandate suit

Idaho officials write letter to Biden

September 20

Panida hires new managing director

Knowlton comes from N. Idaho Fair

How factors affected labor pool

Mill to become cryptocurrency mine

Ponderay Newsprint shut in 2020

September 14

Man charged with murder in Clark Fork

70-year-old found unresponsive in car

Agent sees house prices leveling out

Anger, protests mark Biden's Idaho visit

Over 1,000 gather near Boise fire center

September 13

Sagle man dies in Highway 200 crash

Shields killed after truck hit rock wall

'Their crisis' is 'our problem'

Elkins Resort celebrates 90 years

Still in family after patriarch's passing

COVID-19 coronavirus resources. Current information, announcements and links to local resources for Sandpoint-area efforts to contain the spread of the infectious coronavirus. Click to the COVID-19 coronavirus page.

Be an informed voter. The Election Central page provides a voter’s handbook for upcoming elections, with links to information about the candidates and issues voters will see on the ballot come election day.

Link up to local bloggers:

• Dirt & Denim. Holly and Mr. Denim write on gardening, DIY, and life in general.
  
• Hike North Idaho. Love to read about, and share, stories of hiking in North Idaho? Then this adventure blog's for you!
  
• Slight Detour. Sandpoint native and former SHS English teacher Marianne Love writes daily about life around here.
  
• Sparkling Vintage Life. Jennifer Lamont Leo on preserving the past, and “grace notes” for 21st century life.
• Brian's Bike Buzz. He rides bikes, dreams about bikes, and blogs about biking in Sandpoint and afield.
  
• I Love. I Live. I Ride. Sandpoint's Danielle lives on a 5th generation family ranch, but still has time to blog!
  
• Keokee Blog. Company highlights, SEO, social media and marketing tips, Wordpress tutorials and resources.
  
• Mountain Architect. John Hendricks blogs on projects, trends and more.
  
• As The Lake Churns. About Priest Lake, the land, people and happenings.
  
• Writing North Idaho. A web retreat for writers in the North Idaho Panhandle.

Get an eyeful of Sandpoint at this ongoing photo diary of our area. If you're a shutterbug, enter your own shots for fame and prizes. Click to see the digital album.

 

If you like Sandpoint, you’ll love Sandpoint Magazine. This color glossy magazine has been published twice a year since 1990. Read the current issue and check the Sandpoint Magazine archive – more than 500 stories online.

 

Ben Stein: The American Spectator

Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist and lawyer who lives in Beverly Hills, Calif., and Sandpoint. He writes "Ben Stein's Diary" for every issue of The American Spectator - and often writes about Sandpoint. View his webpage for links to his essays at Spectator.org.

Assignment America:Sandpoint, ID
New York Times writes about Sandpoint in their Assignment America series. "Sandpoint, Idaho, hugging the edge of Lake Pend Oreille, is bucking a major demographic trend: In an era when many rural places are bleeding out, this one is holding its own."

Year-round destination ski resort
USA Today lists seven awesome ski resorts that offer year-round fun, and Schweitzer is one of them! Explore mountain bike trails, running trails, huckleberry picking, disc golf and horseback riding in the summer and of course skiing and snowboarding in the winter!

The 10 best lake towns in North America
USA Today names Sandpoint as one of the 10 best lake towns in North America, saying "You’ll need an afternoon nap in a lakeside hammock after joining in a beach volleyball game or heading out on the water for paddling, sailing, Jet Skiing or wakeboarding." We all know that to be true!

One of 24 'coolest towns'
Matador Network names Sandpoint as one of the nation's coolest towns, saying we have "almost too many" scenic byways and mountain ranges for one town. That’s how we like it!

Schweitzer big on powder, light on parties
Seattle Times writer reviews Schweitzer Mountain Resort: "On a midweek, balmy spring day with no lift lines and still decent snow, I swooped down the empty slopes and paused to revel in the views. It was a taste of skier heaven." See the full story, "Schweitzer ski resort: Big on powder, light on parties."

Setting is 'second to none'
Writer extols the many virtues of our region in Travel Destination: Scenic Sandpoint in The Columbus Dispatch on June 22, 2014. "The forte of the town, whose oldest buildings date only to the early 20th century, lies not in its architecture but in its natural beauty."

Picture-Perfect Mountain Town
Sandpoint was rated as one of "10 Picture-Perfect Mountain Towns" by USA Today on Nov. 28, 2013. "... This little township is a vibrant, happening haven in the wilds of northern Idaho."

Idaho's Hippest Mountain Town
Sandpoint's a ski town that's also "urbane and cultured" says a November 2013 story, "Idaho's Hippest Mountain Town" in Men's Journal. "As tempted as you'll be to linger in town, the majestic Selkirk Mountains ... exert a gravitational pull."

Sandpoint's an American eCity
Seems there are both brains and beauty around here: Sandpoint was named the 2013 Idaho eCity, an award by Google to recognize the strongest online business community in each state.

We've got 'famed tree skiing'
Sandpoint ranks as one of the "Top 10 Emerging Ski Towns" according to National Geographic Adventure ... "for those seeking the famed tree skiing of the Selkirks without the trip to Canada."

Schweitzer one of '10 Best Mountains You've Never Skied'
Ski Magazine touts Schweitzer as one of the '10 Best Mountains You've Never Skied' in its November 2012 issue. Tons of snow, awesome terrain, no crowds and cold beer rate northern Idaho ski resort on enviable list.

Sandpoint a lakeside destination
The Missoulian highlights Sandpoint as a lakeside destination in light of Rand McNally's 'Best of the Road' Most Beautiful Small Town award bestowed on our little mountain-and-lake berg, in a July 24, 2012, feature story.

Sandpoint a 'prettiest winter town'
Travel & Leisure magazine ranks Sandpoint among the nation's dozen "prettiest winter towns" in a March 2, 2012, feature.

Schweitzer an 'underrated' resort
CNN/Travel in a Feb. 24, 2012, feature lists Schweitzer Mountain Resort as one of 7 Underrated Ski Resorts, noting that it's unlikely you'll wait more than five minutes in the lift line.

A 'Best Old House Town'
Our town's many vintage residential homes caught the eye of This Old House, which in February 2012 named Sandpoint a "Best Old House Neighborhood 2012." Read about it at This Old House.

'No. 1 Ski Town in USA'
That's what Rand McNally called Sandpoint when it named the country's "Top Seven Ski Towns" in a January 17, 2012, roundup of the best mountain towns. Sandpoint won the top rating over the likes of Lake Tahoe, Park City, Mammoth and Jackson.

'Most Beautiful Town in USA'
So say USA Today and Rand McNally, which sent traveling teams to towns around the nation to determine the five best small towns in America. Sandpoint grabbed "Most Beautiful Town" honors from among an initial 600+ nominees. Read the CdA Press article.

We're a railroading attraction
Sandpoint's famous as "The Funnel" for railroads in the northern tier states, as USA Today writes in its Aug. 4, 2010, story "Idaho town draws railfans from around world."

Who says you can't have it all?
Sandpoint's a good destination for second home buyers, says USA Today in its April 16, 2010, story, "Having it all in Sandpoint."

Leading the transition movement
New York Times writes in-depth article on the Sandpoint Transition Initiative in its story "The End is Near! (Yay!)" (registration required) published in April 2009.

We're a 'market to watch'
Mountain Living Magazine says Sandpoint is one of 5 "mountain markets to watch." Click to see its September 2008 market appraisal, What Market Slump? (pdf format)

An 'idyllic adventure haven'
National Geographic Adventure Magazine touts the local character of "quiet Sandpoint," while newcomers rave about the town's strong sense of community. Click to read the August 2008 story Idaho's Last Stand.

A top-15 travel destination
"I was smitten with this lakefront town from the moment I saw it," says USA Today travel writer Laura Bly in naming Sandpoint a top U.S. destination. Read the entire May 25, 2007, story: Summer Vacations: 15 unforgettable trips.

We've got the goods in fall
The New York Times features Sandpoint and Lake Pend Oreille in a guide for "leaf lovers" published Oct. 6, 2006. Click to read the full story: Fall Foliage; Bright Leaves, Big Country.

Click for more National Press

 

Our Hot Issues section is currently devoted to COVID-19 coronavirus resources. Current information, announcements and links to local resources for Sandpoint-area efforts to contain the spread of the infectious coronavirus. Click to the COVID-19 coronavirus page.