The citizen redistricting commission convened this morning, took care of some brief business, and then went at recess until 11 a.m. "The negotiations are continuing," said GOP Commissioner Lou Esposito. "We're still, we're making progress. Commissioner Finman and Commisioner Kane continue to do their great work." Commissioners Lorna Finman, a Republican, and Julie Kane, a Democrat, the only women on the six-member panel, offered over the weekend to mediate among the feuding males on the evenly split bipartisan commission; that's continuing now. Asked if he thinks the commission will settle on legislative and congressional plans by today's 5 p.m. deadline, Esposito said, "At this juncture, I think we will. I think we will come to an agreement."

Kane said, "I think it's definitely possible - I've always thought it was possible." She and Finman have been working on legislative district lines for North Idaho, along with mediating other talks. "I think we're getting to the point where we may be able to agree to North Idaho first, and then move on to the other parts of the state." Asked if she thought it was worth it for the commission to meet through the holiday weekend, Kane said, "I think so - in the grand scheme of things, I think a deadline helps."