News Digest
Wednesday, January 30, 2008 12:59 PM PST
IDAHO - Obama coming to Idaho to campaign
BOISE (AP) — Democratic presidential hopeful Sen. Barack Obama is coming to Boise on Saturday for a public appearance, campaign officials said.
The visit is just three days before the Super Tuesday caucuses in Idaho and 23 other states. Obama, who opened his second Idaho office in Pocatello earlier this month, is in a tight race for the Democratic presidential nomination with New York Sen. Hillary Clinton and former North Carolina Sen. John Edwards.
Obama spokeswoman Shannon Gilson said more information would be released after the details of the visit are finalized. But John Foster, the executive director of the Idaho Democratic Party, said Obama’s appearance would be open to the public.
Idaho officials might cut more trees on state land
BOISE (AP) — Timber harvest on state-owned lands in Idaho will likely increase due to concerns that insect infestations, diseases and forest fires are on the rise because of a warming climate, state officials say.
The Idaho Department of Lands this week started computer modeling the effects of increased harvest rates of the more than 1 million acres of forested land owned by the state.
THE NATION
FBI says 14 companies under investigation for possible fraud with subprime loans
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Tuesday said it is investigating 14 companies for possible fraud or insider trading violations in connection with loans made to risky borrowers, and investments spun off of those loans. Agency officials did not identify the companies under investigation but said the wide-ranging probe, which began in spring 2007, involves companies across the industry, from mortgage lenders to financial firms that bundle home loans into securities sold to investors.
The FBI is working in conjunction with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Neil Power, chief of the FBI’s economic crimes unit in Washington, said during a briefing with reporters.
