No charges against mother in fatal fire

The mother of a 13-month-old girl killed in a July fire won’t be charged in her daughter’s death, the Kootenai County prosecutor’s office said Thursday.

Coeur d’Alene police asked prosecutors to charge 26-year-old Megan Longoria Pahl with involuntary manslaughter, but Chief Deputy Prosecutor Rick Baughman said there is “insufficient evidence to prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt.”

The child, Kylla Pahl, was sleeping on the couch, alone in the family’s home when a candle started the blaze. Baughman said in a letter to investigators that Kylla was left on the couch asleep while Longoria stepped into the backyard and, about 10-15 minutes later, smoke was seen pouring from the house.

Some witnesses reported seeing Longoria, an admitted meth user, and a man emerging from a van in the yard. Baughman said that while there was “slightly conflicting” information, police reports indicate Longoria was showing the vehicle to the man, who was a prospective buyer.

– Taryn Brodwater

BOISE

Nearly $1 million spent on 1st District race

Three national groups have spent nearly $1 million on independent campaigning in Idaho’s 1st District congressional race since Oct. 1 to defeat Democrat Larry Grant – more than three times as much as the two major-party candidates combined spent during the same period.

According to reports filed with the Federal Election Commission, independent expenditures in the race in October totaled $957,513 – all either to attack Grant or boost Republican Bill Sali.

The National Republican Congressional Committee has spent $498,510 since Oct. 1 against Grant or for Sali.

The Club for Growth, which spent half a million dollars against Sali’s opponents in the GOP primary, has spent $442,481 in the 1st District since Oct. 1, with $539 of that going to support Sali, and all the rest – $441,942 – to attack Grant.

The National Right to Life PAC also spent $16,122 in October on an independent campaign for Sali.

During October, Sali reported raising $140,447 for his own campaign, while Grant reported raising $168,398. Sali spent $123,457 during the first three weeks of the month, while Grant spent $156,271.

– Betsy Z. Russell

Inland Northwest

Snow levels will rise through weekend

Thursday’s snow flurries lasted several hours before turning to sleet and eventually rain. According to the National Weather Service, snow levels started rising Thursday night and will continue to do so throughout the weekend.

In Athol, a winter storm advisory is in effect through 10 a.m. today because of significant amounts of sleet and freezing rain.

The Coeur d’Alene area will be mostly cloudy with a 50 percent chance of rain and highs in the lower 50s. Snow is predicted only high in the mountains this weekend, according to the agency.

– Jody Lawrence-Turner