Idaho

Fentanyl testing strips are illegal in Idaho, but House Bill 441 seeks to change that – East Idaho News

Published

2 years ago

February 16, 2024

Fentanyl testing strips are illegal in Idaho, but House Bill 441 seeks to change that – East Idaho News

BOISE (Idaho Capital Sun) — A bill making its way through the Idaho Legislature would legalize the use of fentanyl testing strips.

Fentanyl testing strips are legal in most states, but under Idaho law, they are considered paraphernalia. Rep. Marco Erickson, R-Idaho Falls, and House Minority Leader Ilana Rubel, D-Boise, have teamed up to change that through House Bill 441.

In a House Health and Welfare Committee hearing Thursday morning, the cosponsors said the bill would declassify fentanyl testing strips as paraphernalia. The bill, they said, would act as a step to prevent fentanyl overdoses in Idaho — where 49% of overdose deaths in 2022 involved fentanyl, or 188 deaths out of 381 drug overdoses.

“This will be just very helpful for people to be able to cheaply and easily make sure they aren’t being inadvertently poisoned by fentanyl,” Rubel said.

Fentanyl testing strips are endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which considers the strips a low-cost way to prevent drug users from overdosing by detecting the presence of fentanyl in different kinds of drugs and drug forms.

Erickson, who has worked in drug treatment and prevention, said Idaho is one of six states where the testing strips are criminalized. And yet, fentanyl strips can be ordered online through websites like Amazon, he said.

Committee members heard from two university students and a representative from the ACLU of Idaho during Thursday’s hearing, all of whom testified in support of the bill.

Caden Stone, the government relations officer for the Associated Students of Boise State University, began his testimony by recalling his time as a high school student at Lake City High School in Coeur d’Alene, when one of his 15-year-old classmates died from a fentanyl overdose.

“Now I understand folks’ reservations about decriminalizing opioid testing strips,” he said. “But the reality of the matter is (overdoses are) happening. We must use testing strips to avoid every unavoidable death that we can. We’ve been taking action on campus as student leaders. Lives are being saved, and we want you to join us.”

Members of the committee voted to send House Bill 441 to the House floor with a recommendation that it pass.

This is at least the second bill this year in which Idaho legislators have made it clear that addressing fentanyl overdoses is a priority. Also on Thursday, the Idaho Senate in a 28-7 vote passed House Bill 406, which would require mandatory minimum sentences for fentanyl traffickers. After passing both chambers, House Bill 406 is now headed to Gov. Brad Little for final consideration.

=htmlentities(get_the_title())?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=get_permalink()?>%0D%0A%0D%0A=htmlentities(‘For more stories like this one, be sure to visit https://www.eastidahonews.com/ for all of the latest news, community events and more.’)?>&subject=Check%20out%20this%20story%20from%20EastIdahoNews” class=”fa-stack jDialog”>

Source link

Idaho

Future USS Idaho nuclear submarine received by the Navy, dubbed ‘Gem of the Fleet’

Published

9 hours ago

December 16, 2025

Press Room

Future USS Idaho nuclear submarine received by the Navy, dubbed ‘Gem of the Fleet’

GROTON, Connecticut — Last week, the future USS Idaho nuclear submarine was delivered to the U.S. Navy at its facility in Groton, Connecticut.

The nuclear-powered submarine is set to be commissioned in spring 2026, sailing the world for the next 30 years.

Before it commissions this upcoming spring, the USS IDAHO crew will undergo training and mission exercises.

Virginia-class submarine program manager Captain Mike Hollenbach comments on how driven Idaho is in the military space.

“Idaho represents the hard work and tenacity of shipbuilders, industry partners and Navy personnel to deliver the best undersea warfighting platform to the fleet.”

The future Idaho submarine will be the fifth Navy ship to be named for the state of Idaho. The first one, a wooden-hulled storeship, was commissioned in 1866.

Source link

Idaho

Two bus drivers, four students hospitalized after school buses crash head-on in Idaho

Published

21 hours ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Two bus drivers, four students hospitalized after school buses crash head-on in Idaho

PAUL, Idaho (KUTV) — Two bus drivers and four students were transported to hospitals in various conditions after a head-on collision between two school buses in southern Idaho.

Officials with the Idaho State Police said they responded to a crash near Paul in Minidoka County early Monday morning, extricating a driver from a bus.

Both drivers were airlifted to a hospital, and four injured students were transported by ambulance or car to local hospitals for treatment. Police believe the students’ injuries are not life-threatening.

MORE | School Bus Crashes:

Two bus drivers and four students were transported to hospitals in various conditions after a head-on collision between two school buses in southern Idaho. (Credit: Idaho State Police)

Police said the crash occurred just before 6:15 a.m. on State Highway 25. There were a total of 17 students on the two buses, all of whom have been reunited with their families.

Officials did not release information on where the students attend school.

The crash comes just days after two school buses were hit by a pickup truck in central Utah, sending 18 people to the hospital and resulting in the death of the truck driver.

The majority of the Wasatch Academy students in the Utah crash have since returned from the hospital, according to school officials.

Utah officials believe the three-vehicle crash may have been caused by fatigued driving. The cause of the Idaho crash is still under investigation.

BE THE FIRST TO COMMENT

___

Source link

Idaho

Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 4 on Dec. 14, 2025

Published

1 day ago

December 15, 2025

Press Room

Looking to win big? The Idaho Lottery offers several games if you think it’s your lucky day.

Lottery players in Idaho can chose from popular national games like the Powerball and Mega Millions, which are available in the vast majority of states. Other games include Lotto America, Lucky For Life, 5 Star Draw, Idaho Cash, Pick 3 and Pick 4.

Big lottery wins around the U.S. include a lucky lottery ticketholder in California who won a $1.27 billion Mega Millions jackpot in December 2024. See more big winners here. And if you do end up cashing a jackpot, here’s what experts say to do first.

Here’s a look at Sunday, Dec. 14, 2025 results for each game:

Winning Pick 3 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

Day: 5-5-0

Night: 9-4-3

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

Day: 0-6-7-4

Night: 3-3-2-6

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lucky For Life numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

08-23-32-33-34, Lucky Ball: 15

Check Lucky For Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Idaho Cash numbers from Dec. 14 drawing

07-15-19-25-35

Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.

Winning lottery numbers are sponsored by Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network.

Where can you buy lottery tickets?

Tickets can be purchased in person at gas stations, convenience stores and grocery stores. Some airport terminals may also sell lottery tickets.

You can also order tickets online through Jackpocket, the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network, in these U.S. states and territories: Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Idaho, Maine, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Puerto Rico, Washington D.C., and West Virginia. The Jackpocket app allows you to pick your lottery game and numbers, place your order, see your ticket and collect your winnings all using your phone or home computer.

Jackpocket is the official digital lottery courier of the USA TODAY Network. Gannett may earn revenue for audience referrals to Jackpocket services. GAMBLING PROBLEM? CALL 1-800-GAMBLER, Call 877-8-HOPENY/text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 18+ (19+ in NE, 21+ in AZ). Physically present where Jackpocket operates. Jackpocket is not affiliated with any State Lottery. Eligibility Restrictions apply. Void where prohibited. Terms: jackpocket.com/tos.

This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.

Source link