Idaho
Idaho Legislature declares Sine Die, closing an eventful session – Local News 8
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Noncustodial parents in Idaho with U.S. passports who are significantly behind on child support payments will soon find that their passports have been revoked.
The U.S. Department of State announced on May 8 that it will begin revoking passports of noncustodial parents who owe more than $100,000 in past-due child support, using its authority under Section 452(k) of the Social Security Act. Starting June 1, passport revocations will be implemented for those owing more than $75,000.
The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare immediately started implementing the new policy, which was effective nationwide on May 8. Idaho Child Support Services is currently monitoring 150 noncustodial parents who are more than $100,000 behind on child support payments. At this time, the program does not know how many non-custodial parents have passports who also are behind in their child support payments.
“This is an exciting step in helping children thrive in Idaho because they have the full support of their parents,” said DHW Director Juliet Charron. “This will allow us to make sure parents are providing the court-ordered support their children need and are entitled to.”
Idaho Child Support Services provides a variety of services depending on the family’s needs. The program can establish paternity, establish or modify an order for financial and medical support, receive and distribute child support payments, and take enforcement actions when necessary.
Previously, the program had several options to enforce the collection of unpaid child support including:
- Withholding support payments from income
- Reporting debts to credit bureaus
- Garnishing bank accounts and assets
- Suspending Idaho driver’s hunting, fishing, and occupational licenses
- Filing liens
- Denying passports before they are issued
Revoking current U.S. passports is now added to that list.
Parents who have their passport revoked should address any questions to the State Department contact listed in their revocation letter. After they pay their debt, they will be able to apply for a new passport. Parents who have already applied for a passport should pay their debt immediately to ensure the application process continues. Those who are traveling out of the country and receive notification that their passport has been revoked should contact Idaho Child Support Services to pay the debt. They will then need to contact the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate for passport application procedures. They are only eligible for a limited-validity passport for direct return to the United States until repayment of the debt has been verified.
Idaho
Unknown man stole dead teen’s identity 25 years ago to obtain $300K in government aid, Idaho jury finds
POCATELLO, Idaho — A federal jury has convicted a man of wire fraud, theft of government funds, and aggravated identity theft after prosecutors revealed he spent more than two decades posing as a California teenager who died in 1977.
Following a three-day trial before David C. Nye, jurors found the defendant, whose real identity remains unknown, guilty Thursday on multiple charges, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho.
The defendant assumed the identity of Carlos Ramon Obregon, who was born in Los Angeles in 1963 and killed in a drive-by shooting at age 14, according to evidence presented at trial.
In 2000, 23 years after Obregon’s death, the defendant requested a replacement Social Security card using Obregon’s personal information. Obregon’s mother later testified the man is not her son and that she had never met him.
Prosecutors said the defendant used Obregon’s identity to collect approximately $283,000 in government benefits over more than 20 years. That includes $177,000 in Supplemental Security Income payments, $91,000 in Medicaid funds, $12,000 in SNAP benefits and $3,200 in COVID-19 Economic Impact Payments.
The defendant also obtained government-issued documents using Obregon’s identity, including a U.S. passport in 2012 that he used to travel to Mexico, and multiple Idaho identification cards. A 2024 passport renewal attempt was denied.
Investigators from multiple agencies contributed to the case as the U.S. Department of Justice expands its work through the newly formed National Fraud Enforcement Division.
Report by EastIdahoNews.com staff
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — Along the Boise River, thousands of people float, fish, and spend time outdoors every summer. But behind the scenes, volunteers are working year-round to help keep the water clean and healthy.
Idaho Rivers United is highlighting the work being done through its Boise River Stewards program, which gives community members the opportunity to participate in trash cleanup events and perform water quality testing along the river.
“So we’ve got the Boise River Stewards program, which gives people an opportunity to volunteer to come for trash cleanup events and to perform water quality tests on the Boise River,” said Dave Womack, communications director at Idaho Rivers United. “Last year alone, we picked up 3,800 pounds of trash from the Greenbelt.”
Volunteers say they find all kinds of debris during cleanup efforts.
“We find everything. We find bike parts, old mattresses, traffic cones, there’s really no limit to the number of items that you can find,” says Womack
From small debris to large waste left behind, organizers say volunteers help remove a significant amount of trash from along the Boise River every year while also helping monitor the health of the water through testing efforts.
“We’ve gotten out there and done water quality tests,” said Madeleine Shapiro, a longtime volunteer.
Organizers say anyone can get involved, whether it’s helping during cleanup events, learning about water testing, or becoming more aware of how everyday actions impact the river.
“I recreate almost every single day, either fishing, sitting by the river, or floating when it’s float time,” Shapiro says. “So, I feel like it’s my responsibility to keep it clean and keep it nice, too. That’s all of our role as recreators and as community members in Boise.”
The Boise River remains a major part of life in the Treasure Valley, and volunteers say protecting it takes ongoing care from the community. Through cleanup efforts and water quality testing, organizers hope more people realize that even small actions can help keep the river healthy for future generations.
To volunteer, you can go to idahorivers.org
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