K-12 Funding Formula Fails To Find Favor
Idaho’s attempt to reconfigure how schools receive their money is being met with concern by educators, lawmakers and taxpayers. Under the current proposal by the legislature’s education committee, as many as 17 school districts would be receiving less funding in future years.
The proposal would repeal Idaho’s 25-year-old attendance-based funding formula in favor of an enrollment-based model. Under the new formula, the state would provide a base level of funding ($4,236 per student in the latest proposal) that would follow students.
“Everyone agrees the current decades-old funding formula is antiquated,” Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking said. “Rep. John McCrostie and I are excited to collaborate with all the stakeholders to ensure we have a new student-centered formula that works for all students in Idaho. Just moving from Average Daily Attendance (ADA) funding to enrollment-based funding is going to require an additional $60 million. The key is to fund the new formula so there are not winners and losers.”
Longer Clinic Hours For Long Weekend
St. Luke’s Wood River will offer expanded walk-in clinic hours in Ketchum over President’s Day weekend. The walk-in clinic will be Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 16 and 17, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 100 Hospital Drive, Suite 201, in Ketchum. The clinic is located in the Physician Office Annex next to St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center. No appointment is necessary.
To receive the most appropriate medical care, it’s important to know the difference between “urgency” and “emergency.” For illnesses or injuries that require immediate attention, but are not life-threatening, call your doctor or go to a walk-in clinic. If you can’t get in immediately to see your primary care doctor, don’t have a doctor, or are visiting from out of town, you can walk in for medical care and avoid a trip to the emergency department.
Construction Work To Begin On US-26 in Lincoln County
Initial work will commence this week on a multifaceted construction project on US-26 in Lincoln County. The project will cover the area from Ohlinger Road west of Shoshone to the junction of US-93.
The majority of work on this project will take place in the spring and include curb ramp improvements to comply with Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Storm sewer upgrades, and restoration of approximately five miles of US-26, will also occur.
Reduced speeds will be in place throughout various portions of the project. Drivers should be prepared for short delays and watch for flaggers and pilot cars during working hours.
The general contractor is Idaho Materials and Construction, of Twin Falls.
Anti Sex Trafficking and Child Safety Bill
Clears First Hurdle
Rep. Melissa Wintrow (Boise District 19) has introduced a bill aimed at aligning marriage laws with existing statutory rape laws to ensure there are no loopholes to the age of consent. The Judiciary, Rules & Administration Committee voted to move the bill forward to a full hearing before the committee.
The law would require minors to get written consent of a parent or legal guardian, permission from the court, and be appropriately mature and self-sufficient to enter into a marriage contract. For the first time, the law sets the floor of marriage to 16 in order to reduce the chance of coercing children. Wintrow expressed concern for how current law ignores some of the predatory individuals who force young children into marriage.
“This issue was first brought to my attention while I was working on the Human Trafficking Subcommittee through the Idaho Criminal Justice Commission.” Rep. Wintrow explained. “This bill would ensure those statutory rape laws take care of our children in every instance.”
Court Says Medicaid Expansion Is Constitutional
Idaho’s Supreme Court ruled today that Medicaid Expansion in the Gem State is indeed constitutional, dismissing a case brought by the Idaho Freedom Foundation. The IFF argued that Proposition 2 violated the separation of powers between federal and state governments.
“We applaud today’s decision by the court and look forward to seeing Medicaid Expansion implemented in Idaho the way the voters chose,” said Emily Strizich, co-founder of Reclaim Idaho, which led the signature drive to get Proposition 2 on the November 2018 ballot. Proposition 2, which brought Medicaid Expansion to Idaho, passed last November with 61 percent of the statewide vote.
Vaping Prevention Classes For Parents And Teachers
South Central Public Health District is helping parents and teachers with a new class focusing on the latest research on vaping, the history of these devices, and the risks e-cigarettes bring our youth.
“We are trying to help educate parents and teachers about the newest devices, what chemicals are in them, and how dangerous they may be,” said Cody Orchard, SCPHD health education specialist. “We want to give parents the right tools to protect their kids.”
A recent survey from the Food and Drug Administration shows 3.6 million middle and high school students are now using e-cigarettes in the United States. This is an increase of more than 1.5 million students since last year.
Classes are free and open to anyone over the age of 18 years old. They will be held Tuesday, March 15 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Campus located at 1050 Fox Acres Road in Hailey.
First Responders Mental Health Bill Moves Forward
Legislation to extend Workers’ Compensation benefits to Idaho first responders suffering from psychological injuries is heading to the Senate floor. Senate Bill 1028, sponsored by House Democratic Leader Mat Erpelding, has passed through the Senate Committee on Commerce and Human Resources unanimously.
“Most of us will never understand the trauma and stress that police, fire and EMTs go through every day,” Rep. Erpelding said. “We owe it to the men and women on the front lines to fix this issue in the Workers’ Compensation rules.”
Under current law, Idaho first responders are not covered for psychological injuries unless there is an accompanying physical injury. This poses a potential danger to their safety since research has shown that the rate of suicide attempts by emergency medical services personnel is 10 times higher than the general population.
STEM Money Headed To Valley Schools
Six schools and one library in the Wood River and Magic valleys have been awarded STEM education grants to nurture science, technology, engineering and mathematics programs here. In total, $53,000 will be doled out to Buhl Middle School, Heritage Academy (Jerome), South Hills Middle School (Twin Falls), West Minico Middle School (Paul), Bellevue Elementary School, Ernest Hemingway STEAM School (Ketchum) and Gooding Public Library.
The grants will fund creative science, technology, engineering, mathematics and computer-science programs that are hands-on or project-based. The grant dollars will fulfill everything from 3D-printing initiatives, cybersecurity exercises, robotics and drone programs, and stop-motion animation classes to BrickLAB design challenges, aquaponics and meteorological projects, and STEM-related field trips to state parks.
I-86 Bridge Replacements Begin This Week
Work is slated to begin this week on three bridge replacements spanning the Raft River in Cassia County. The Idaho Transportation Department will replace both eastbound and westbound Interstate 86 bridges as well as the adjacent Baseline Road bridge. Approximately one mile of interstate will also be reconstructed.
The current I-86 bridges, built in the 1960s, have exceeded their life expectancy. The new structures will be both taller and wider—accommodating two 12-foot lanes in each direction on the interstate. Portions of the roadway will also be raised to accommodate the new height of the bridges. Traffic on this section of I-86 will be reduced to one lane through the work zone and motorists may encounter minor delays. Drivers should expect reduced speeds throughout the project and watch for crews during working hours.
Construction on the project is expected to be completed within a year. The general contractor is Western Construction, Inc., of Boise.
Fairfield Woman Arrested For Sexual Contact With A Prisoner
On Feb. 2, Blaine County Sheriff’s deputies arrested Jodi L. Petty, 48, of Fairfield, following a two-month investigation for sexual contact with an inmate. Petty was arrested on four felony counts of sexual contact with the Blaine County Detention Center inmate and was released on a $25,000 bond. She will be arraigned Feb. 25.
Petty was employed as a kitchen worker by Summit Food Services, a company that provides food services to the prison. Inmates are provided to assist food service employees with food preparation and cleanup. While assisting, these inmates are supervised by the Summit kitchen staff. Video surveillance and on-duty deputies watched inmate and employee behavior and noticed suspicious interactions between Petty and a male inmate.
Petty’s security clearance to work inside the Detention Center was revoked and the inmate was removed from kitchen duties. Petty is no longer employed by Summit Food Services.
Buhl Man Arrested For Felony Child Enticement
Jacobo Ramirez-Aguilar, 26, of Buhl, was arrested on a warrant for felony child enticement via the Internet.
Ramirez-Aguilar was taken into custody without incident in Buhl by detectives from the Blaine County Sheriff’s Office and the Idaho State Police and booked into the Twin Falls County Detention Center. The bond on the warrant was $50,000. Ramirez-Aguilar will be set for a future hearing in Blaine County after his initial arraignment in Twin Falls.
The investigation discovered Ramirez-Aguilar began messaging a 14-year-old girl living in Blaine County in December 2018. Ramirez-Aguilar was allegedly asking the girl to engage in sexual acts with him. The messages were discovered by her parents and quickly turned over to authorities.
Blaine County Sheriff Steve Harkins would like to remind parents that if they have children with social media accounts, it is very important to monitor and be involved in their online activity.
“Nationwide, we see many cases that evolve just like this one,” said Harkins. “Remaining vigilant to online predators is essential for the safety of our children.”
Open Call For 3D Art On Fourth Street In Ketchum
The City of Ketchum invites experienced artists to apply for Ketchum’s outdoor summer sculpture exhibition called “Art on Fourth.” The selected three-dimensional artwork will be featured in the heart of downtown Ketchum along the Fourth Street Heritage Corridor from June through October 2019.
Selected artists will receive a $2,500 stipend for the exhibition of their work. The deadline for submission is April 1, 2019. Artists may enter up to 10 sculptures for consideration. The call for artists, which provides detailed information on the submission process, can be found at www.ketchumidaho.org/arts. The call is open to all artists, regardless of their state of residence. Local artists are encouraged to apply.
In its 12th year, Art on Fourth has become an exciting part of the city’s summer attractions, presenting artwork by diverse artists ranging from locals to those of national standing.
Calling All Wood River Valley Artists:
7th Annual Studio Tour Wants You
Professional visual artists who work and live in the Wood River Valley are invited to apply online at wrvstudiotour.org for the open studio tour taking place Aug. 17 and 18.
Submissions can be made starting today through March 29. Early-bird registration is $150. A procrastinator’s special registration fee is $250 and runs April 1–12.
The Wood River Valley Studio Tour is one of the largest open studio events in the state and draws thousands of visitors each year. Bringing together artists from around the Valley, who open their studios to the public for a weekend every summer, the event creates a welcoming environment for the public to explore fine art and craftsmanship through the eyes of the artists.
“Developing that sense of community of artists to elevate each other, share and support—that positivity is exciting,” said Suzanne Hazlett, tour co-founder and artist.
For more information, visit wrvstudiotour.org or email at info@wrvstudiotour.org.
