Kuna Woman Denies Sex, Serving Alcohol to Minors
(KUNA, ID) – A Kuna woman has denied charges that she served alcohol to minors, as well as allegations that she had sexual contact with at least eight high school students. 35-year-old Courtney Reschke allegedly gave alcohol to some friends of her oldest child late last year, then had inappropriate contact with the teens. She [...]
Melba Woman Charged With Murder
(MELBA, ID) – A Melba woman faces murder charges for allegedly killing a man she met at a bar last week. 34-year-old Nicole Kirtley is accused of killing 59-year-old George Richardson at his rural Nampa home Feb. 7, then dumping Richardson ‘s vehicle into the Snake River . Kirtley was being questioned by detectives when [...]
Anti-Abortion Measure Passes House Vote
(BOISE, ID) – A tax break sought by a pro-life pregnancy center in Boise passed a House vote Tuesday. Anti-abortion activist Brandi Swindell sought the measure after Stanton Health Care was forced to pay tens of thousands in back taxes. Supporters say it’s a good public policy, though opponents argue that seeking tax exemptions on [...]
Flu Deaths Continue to Rise in Idaho
(BOISE, ID) – The number of flu-related deaths across the state has now reached 15 this season. Health officials say two-thirds of those deaths have occurred in the Boise area since Oct. 1. Only two, however, have been reported in eastern Idaho. Though authorities say the illnesses can often be prevented through widely-available vaccines, some [...]
AAA of Idaho: Ban Cell Phones for Drivers Under 18
(BOISE, ID) – AAA of Idaho is asking the state to consider a cell phone ban for all drivers under the age of 18. Texting while driving is illegal for anyone, but Idaho drivers can still talk on their cell phones. Officials say teens are overrepresented in the fatal crashes as well as accidents with [...]
School Fees Lawsuit Delayed
(BOISE) – A state lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of public school sports and activity fees has been delayed. 4th District Judge Lynn Norton moved the latest hearing to March 13 following a motion from the state to dismiss the lawsuit. Former Nampa school superintendent Russell Joki contends that the fees for extracurricular activities violate Idaho’s [...]
State Launches Transparency Website
(BOISE) – Gov. Butch Otter and state Controller Brandon Woolf have announced the creation of a new website promoting government transparency. Officials say they wanted to make it easier for citizens to find details about government finances at the state level. Idaho is the latest of several states implementing similar programs. Woolf says the information [...]
Pocatello Man Pleads Guilty to Wife’s Murder
(POCATELLO) – A Pocatello man has pleaded guilty to the May 2011 death of his estranged wife. Michael Lane Sparks faces a second-degree murder charge for killing Judith Rachel Johnson. Sparks will have a minimum 20-year fixed sentence as part of the plea agreement. Police say Johnson was bludgeoned to death with a rifle and [...]
Missing Woman’s Car Found
(POCATELLO) – The car of a missing Pocatello woman was found Wednesday night. Investigators say a white Honda Accord belonging to 23-year-old Angelea Schultz was found in the west parking lot of the Pine Ridge Mall outside Sears. Schultz was last seen at the home of her boyfriend Sunday night, and didn’t bring any overnight [...]
State Lawmakers Conduct Mandatory Ethics Training
(BOISE) – All 105 Idaho legislators underwent an afternoon of ethics training in the Capitol Wednesday. House Speaker Scott Bedke made attendance mandatory after a number of recent high-profile moral lapses involving state lawmakers. Leaders hoped to send a strong message to actively promote a culture of civility among members of both parties. Senate President [...]
Rigby Boy Featured on Ellen Show
(RIBGY) – It was a wish his mother said would probably never come true. Seven-year-old Tayt Andersen of Rigby wanted to go on a date with his “girlfriend,” Ellen DeGeneres, to Disneyland. It was a rare request, but Tayt is a rare, and very special, little boy. Initially not expected to live past three months [...]
Man Pleads Guilty to Vehicular Manslaughter
(BLACKFOOT) – A Blackfoot man has pleaded guilty to a felony charge of vehicular manslaughter. Kenny Carl Struhs, 42, crashed into a motorcycle last August, killing 36-year-old Brent Hansen of Blackfoot and injuring Hansen’s six-year-old daughter. Struhs was also charged with leaving the scene of the accident, but that charge was dropped as part of [...]
BLM Signing Up Firefighters For 2013 Season
(IDAHO FALLS) – The BLM’s Idaho Falls Fire and Aviation Program is seeking applicants for firefighting positions for the 2013 season. Applicants must be at least 18 years old by their first day on the job, have a high school diploma or GED, be a U.S. citizen and have a strong work ethic. Applications for [...]
Otter Calls For Elimination of Property Tax
(BOISE) – Gov. Butch Otter called for the end of personal property taxes in his State of the State address at the Capitol Monday. Under the plan, the state would reimburse lost funding for local governments and allow them to generate their own new taxes. Otter said that it would give more flexibility to county [...]
Unemployed Receive Extended Benefits
(BOISE) – More than 6,000 Idahoans who recently lost unemployment benefits will now have their payouts extended. In spite of not passing a budget in more than three years, Congress has voted to extend federal jobless benefits through 2013. Eligibility requirements will remain the same as they were in 2012. State benefits will also continue [...]
Inmates Suing Alcohol Companies for Causing Their Illegal Behavior
(BOISE) – Five inmates at the Idaho State Correctional Institution have filed a lawsuit against several beer and wine companies. The prisoners allege that because alcohol played a factor in their crimes, Anheuser-Busch and Miller Brewing Company, among others, are liable for their misbehavior. They claim the companies don’t sufficiently warn consumers about the addictive [...]
Fee Hikes Expected for Some Solar Power Users
(BOISE) – A proposal from Idaho Power could undercut the investments some residents have made in solar panels. Last month the utility announced that it would quit paying some solar panel owners who generate excess power. They also plan to increase the rates of solar panel users who tap into the Idaho Power grid. Officials [...]
Boise State to Remain in Mountain West
(BOISE) – Boise State football will remain in the Mountain West Conference. The team had originally planned to join the Big East Conference this fall, but after several high-profile teams left the conference, Boise State began to reconsider. As part of the agreement to remain in the Mountain West, the conference will not maintain exclusive [...]
Suicide Leading Cause of Gun Deaths in Idaho
(BOISE) – Suicides are the leading cause of gun deaths in Idaho, according to a new report released by the Department of Health and Welfare. In 2010, nearly 200 Idahoans died from gun-related deaths, of which 183 were suicides. Authorities say that’s abnormally high, considering Idaho has the sixth highest suicide rate in the nation. [...]
Clinicians Concerned About Future of Mental Health Services
(IDAHO FALLS) – The current fiscal cliff debate is leaving area mental health clinicians concerned about the future of their patients. KIDK reports unless the sustainable growth rate is overridden in the next three days, physicians will see an average 27 percent cut to their Medicaid reimbursements. Officials say it could easily put several clinics [...]