Doctors group questions North Idaho’s racist past

BOISE – North Idaho’s reputation as a haven for white supremacists, deserved or not, likely won’t be an impediment for a doctors group booking a conference here in 2015.

The Coeur d’Alene Press reported the Western Orthopaedic Association has recommended selecting Coeur d’Alene for its summer conference in two years.

Its president, Dr. Ellen Raney, drew attention with an April 5 letter to Coeur d’Alene Mayor Sandi Bloem asking about local efforts to promote diversity amid concerns Coeur d’Alene wouldn’t be tolerant enough.

Raney said subsequent conversations with groups including the Kootenai County Task Force on Human Relations have allayed her fears.