Most papers lead this morning with stories of wolf delisting, a 13-year saga that has brought back one of the most emblematic species of the West. The road ahead is not clear with battles looming in court and in the field.
A bill that opens up testimony at CAFO hearings at the county level is headed to the full Senate, but could get tied up in the House again. Tamarack troubles continue. Schools Chief pitches his modified teacher merit pay plan. And it was, in fact, an earthquake felt across southern Idaho yesterday.
And in case you have not picked up Unda’ yet, the John Birch Society is still kickin’… in Friday’s Newsrack…
Wolves delisted. Management could be handed over to the state next month. Animal rightists worried about numbers while haters clamber for tags. Steve Nadeau, Idaho Fish and Game: “Adaptive management is how we will approach the whole wolf management issue.” Barker and Philips in the Statesman. Three states plan for fall hunts. AP in the Press Tribune. About 300 Idaho tags could be offered. Ridler, AP in the Press Tribune. “It’s really no surprise if someone says, ‘I saw three wolves in Marble Creek.” Kramer in the Spokesman Review.
CAFO testimony limit lifted. In Senate committee, at least. Passed Senate last year, but never got House hearing. Bill would remove 1 mile limitation on testimony at local CAFO hearings. Dairy industry not opposing it, but suggests it may prefer state process for dairy siting. Shifrin, AP in the Argus Observer. Siddoway: “Do you just let the meeting run all the rest of the evening and into the next morning and just keep going until everybody has said everything they want to say or do you somehow limit it?” Hopkins in the Times-News.
Committee approves iSTARS lite. Scaled down teacher pay plan still draws teacher union ire. But still, Sen. Goedde: “I can assure you that Mr. (Jim) Shackelford (IEA) and I have been joined at the hip for the last 10 days.” Goins in the Shoshone Press.
Moyle, Labrador try to stop Eagle from buying water company without a vote. City wants downtown residents to pay for a water company. Bill would curtail such uses of Local Improvement Districts with a 2/3 majority vote. Lamay in the Statesman.
Room for improvement in public health emergency response. CDC says Idaho has done better on flu drills, but still lacks regiment for bioterror or communications breakdown. Boone, AP in the Argus Observer.
House committee passes abuse victim anonymity bill. To allow domestic violence victims a secret address. Druzin in the Statesman.
EQ Q&A. Lucky Peak is not going to fail. Cursing technology. Wells, Nevada shook. Kreller in the Statesman. Cool intensity map here.
Novak says GOP up the creek. Conservative columnist tells Ada County Republicans that the party is not in a good position for the presidential race, but he likes McCain. Stewart in the Statesman.
Doe sues Nampa Scouts, LDS Church for 1960’s sex abuse. Atty Kelly Clark: “Based on my experience I would expect to find a long, ugly, broken trail of child abuse. I’m conscious of where we are and I would say that these both are rightly respected institutions, but the fact is in the 1960s and 1970s they were not doing their job.” Scouts: Recognize, resist, report. Boone, AP in the Argus Observer. Statesman, other media held story until suit was filed. Roberts in the Statesman.
And now, layoffs at Tamarack. And promises to find the money. CEO Jean-Pierre Boespflug: “It could be busier here.” Another one-source Statesman story. Dey, in the Statesman. Bloggy critiques: Puff pieces in the BW Beat. Ping Pong at Pride Depot.
