Bloglander

HERE

Last week, we published an in-depth story on how tough it is to find mental health care in rural Idaho. But there was one bright spot. The growth of telemedicine, a way to conduct psychiatry, dermatology, and even assist with surgery from a distance. But as reporter Betsy Russell shows, the recent sanction of a doctor for prescribing an antibiotic using telemedicine threatens the practice. (SR)

As buildings go, 28 isn’t very old. But Spokane’s overcrowded county jail is already falling apart. (SR)

Meanwhile, in Kootenai County, there’s consideration of asking a private company to build a new jail. (AP)

The market for stolen copper wire is still hopping, apparently, in Post Falls. Someone stole $1,800 worth from a  Post Falls asphalt company recently. (AP)

Spokane County judge ruled that, no, Mayor David Condon can’t expand its exempt positions to include firefighters. (Inlander)

THERE
As we learned last week, withered old white men, for all their grizzled charm, still possess the power of flagrant racism. (AV Club)

The United States bumped up its sanctions against Russia, for that whole Ukraine thing. (NYT)

Gun rights activists hate gun control so much, they even hate controlled guns. (NYT)

Rep. Michael Grimm of New York, the same chap who charmingly threatened to throw a reporter over a balcony, faces a 20-count indictment for “fraud, perjury, and obstruction.” (Washington Post)

The Vox is doing one of the best jobs clearly covering education issues right now. Their latest covers who the Obama administration is trying to regulate to improve the most important part of teaching: The teaching. (The Vox)

GRAB BAG

Watch last night’s Last Week Tonight, with John Oliver, today. (YouTube)