Idaho
Gov. Little signs $14M childcare bill to expand access across Idaho
BOISE, Idaho — “On 14 today of April hour of 3:12 this bill becomes law,” said Governor Brad Little
Senate Bill 1206 invests about $14 million for state childcare to help families alleviate the costs of childcare services.
“This bill is the latest in our effort to support families and ensure they have quality, affordable childcare options. Addressing childcare access has long been a priority of mine.”
This money will expand home-based centers, community childcare programs, after-school care, and early learning initiatives, along with professional development for childcare providers.
“The model that we’ll be using as a department is working with the providers, working with our business community and really looking for sustainable solutions that will increase supply throughout our state,” said Alex Adams, director of the Idaho Health and Welfare Department.
The bill signing took place at Beginning Years Childcare Center, where Lindsay Shaffer is the director.
She started her career as a teacher before becoming director and has seen firsthand the need for more childcare options.
Shaffer said, “quality childcare is expensive, and it’s been out of reach for a lot of families, so this is really going to help centers and early learning centers instead of just having to stay home.”
That’s the hope with SB 1206, more learning centers for families. Gov. Little says the problem is driven by supply and demand, and with this bill, around 6,000 slots will open for families in need of childcare services.
“Improving childcare access for Idaho families will continue to be a high priority because it’s important to parents, it’s important to businesses, and it’s important to employers.”
Now that SB 1206 has been signed, it will go into effect this July.
BLACKFOOT — A large contingent of Blackfoot Police officers has cordoned off an area near the Taco Bell on Parkway Drive in Blackfoot.
Police responded around 5 p.m., according to multiple witnesses who contacted EastIdahoNews.com.
EastIdahoNews.com has reached out to Blackfoot Police for details.
We will update this story as we learn more.
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MISSOULA, Mont. — An Idaho Falls angler is back in the Idaho record books after landing a record-setting lake trout at Payette Lake.
Idaho Fish and Game said Dylan Smith caught and released a 43.25-inch lake trout on May 2, setting a new state catch-and-release record for the species. The fish surpassed the previous record of 42 inches.
The catch marks Smith’s second appearance in Idaho’s record books. He previously held the state catch-and-release lake trout record after landing a trophy fish in 2018 before that mark was later broken.
According to Fish and Game, Payette Lake has become one of Idaho’s premier lake trout fisheries thanks to years of management efforts aimed at improving both lake trout and kokanee populations.
Pride Month looks different this June along Boise’s Harrison Boulevard, where a long-standing tradition of hanging Pride flags on lamp posts has been put on hold after a new state law restricted which flags can be flown on government property.
For several years, Pride flags lined lamp posts along Harrison Boulevard in Boise’s North End neighborhood. But Idaho House Bill 561, signed by Gov. Brad Little in March, restricts which flags can be flown on government property, including the City of Boise’s Harrison lamp posts.
In response, a group of neighbors formed Pride North End and launched a distribution effort to help residents show support from their own front yards. The group has been making Pride flags and yard signs available to people who want to display them at home.
“I thought that I would…be a personal example of ‘yes, this is what I do.’ This is what I believe in,” said Edna Schochat, a North End resident.
Pride North End has already distributed more than 900-yard signs and 250 flags. The group’s original donation goal was around $2,000 to order 100 flags and 200 yard signs, but it has exceeded that GoFundMe goal, reaching $10,000 worth of donations.
The group plans to continue holding public flag and sign distributions through the end of the month.
“We cannot just say something without doing something that proves that we mean what we say,” Schochat said.
Pride North End said any leftover funds after materials are distributed will go to local LGBTQ+ nonprofits. A link to the group’s GoFundMe can be found here.
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