KAYE THORNBRUGH

Staff Writer

Kaye Thornbrugh is a second-generation Kootenai County resident who has been with the Coeur d’Alene Press for six years. She primarily covers Kootenai County’s government, as well as law enforcement, the legal system and North Idaho College.

Recent Stories

June 11, 2024 1:20 a.m.

Poorman named magistrate judge

Tristan Poorman is the newest magistrate judge for the First Judicial District, filling the vacancy created by Judge Ross Pittman’s appointment to the Kootenai County District Court bench.

September 30, 2022 1 a.m.

Kootenai County will fund lake water analysis

Kootenai County commissioners voted Wednesday to commit $50,000 to a project analyzing lake water samples for trace and toxic metals. Bill Brooks and Chris Fillios voted to provide the funds, which will come from the fiscal year 2022 community support budget. Leslie Duncan was not present for the meeting.

August 24, 2022 1:07 a.m.

Blood supply plummets

With the local blood supply depleted by almost half since the start of summer, and only a day’s worth of O-positive blood available, donations are more important than ever. “We’re in an emergency shortage,” said Jennifer Hawkins, regional director of Vitalant Northwest. “We’re seeing numbers we’ve never seen before.” Vitalant is a nonprofit organization that provides donated blood to more than 40 hospitals throughout the Inland Northwest, including Kootenai Health. The number of regular donors has plummeted in the last decade, from about 100,000 to around 23,000. More than 200 donors a day are needed to maintain a five-day blood supply in the region.