Idaho
Idaho Legislature’s budget committee conducts orientation for new members • Idaho Capital Sun
The Idaho Legislature’s new-look budget committee conducted an orientation Tuesday at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise to help new members prepare for the upcoming legislative session.
Rather than debating budgets, the meeting served as a sort of orientation for the nine new legislators who will serve on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee during the 2025 legislative session.
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, or JFAC for short, is a powerful legislative committee that meets daily during the legislative session to set all of the budgets for every state agency and department.
Although the committee’s two co-chairs – Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, and Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, are retaining their chairmanships, there are multiple changes coming to the committee for the 2025 legislative session.
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Nine of the 20 JFAC members did not serve on the committee during the 2024 legislative session, due to a combination of factors including legislators who lost re-election bids this year, and legislators who were reassigned to other committees for the upcoming legislative session.
JFAC did not consider any budget proposals or vote on any budgets Tuesday.
The 2025 legislative session kicks off Jan. 6. JFAC members plan to conduct their first meeting of the year Jan. 7.
Co-chairwoman Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls
Vice chairman Jim Woodward, R-Sagle Vice Chairman Steven Miller, R-Fairfield
Sen. Kevin Cook, R-Idaho Falls
Sen. Carl J. Bjerke, R-Coeur d’Alene
Sen. Phil Hart, R-Kellogg *
Sen. Cindy Carlson, R-Riggins * Sen. Glenneda Zuiderveld, R-Twin Falls *
Sen. Codi Galloway, R-Meridian *
Sen. Janie Ward-Engelking, D-Boise
Sen. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise *
Rep. Rod Furniss, R-Rigby Rep. Clay Handy, R-Burley
Rep. James Petzke, R-Meridian
Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle Rep. Brandon Mitchell, R-Moscow *
Rep. Elaine Price, R-Coeur d’Alene * Rep. Sonia Galaviz, D-Boise *
* = did not serve on JFAC during 2024 legislative session
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2025 Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee members
Co-chairman Scott Grow, R-Eagle
Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello *
Idaho
Fire damages sheds, power lines near W. Idaho Ave in Ontario
ONTARIO, Oregon — A fire in a lot near W. Idaho Ave and South Oregon Street in Ontario has visibly damaged sheds and power lines.
Idaho News 6 arrived at the scene Sunday morning at around 12 p.m., finding nearby sheds across a fence line scorched, but standing. Power lines appeared to be damaged in the blaze.
No fire, police, or EMS were still on scene, and there were no surrounding road closures.
Idaho News 6 has reached out to officials and is awaiting additional information.
Idaho
Volunteers camp out to take part in the Succor Creek Clean-Up in the Owyhees
ADRIAN, Oregon — The Friends of the Owyhee organized a clean-up in Malheur County in Oregon, and volunteers came out to pick up trash and get rid of abandoned campers.
“We had two abandoned RV’S and a camper that were abandoned out on public lands,” said Tim Davis, who runs the Friends of the Owyhee. “They were sitting there for upwards of a year, and it is really clear that it is hard to get rid of these.”
WATCH| Check out the video to see volunteers demolish a camper—
Volunteers camp out for the Succor Creek Clean-Up in the Owyhees
Davis worked with the local sheriff’s office and the BLM to remove the campers, but he found it difficult because there was no place to take these recreational vehicles. The Gambler 500, an off-road group, brought out some people to demolish a camper with an excavator.
“That is awesome to see the turnout with the army of volunteers we have today,” said Brian Arndt of the Gambler 500 group. “We are going to be able to get the camper all in the dumpster, get it cleaned down to the frame, and then everything that can be recycled will be recycled.”
Volunteers camped out on Succor Creek Road on Friday night so they could get an early start on Saturday. Many volunteers will camp out again on Saturday night and finish the clean-up on Sunday.
“Malheur is the 12th largest county in the United States, and it’s 74 percent public land,” said Davis. “We have very few resources with the BLM; they are understaffed, they have one rec planner right now, so us, as public land owners, should be able to step up and keep this place clean.”
Lela Blizzard works as the lone recreational planner for the Vail District of the BLM, who says most sites have signs that say pack it in and pack it out. She says the BLM really needs the cooperation of the public because of how large it is, and she was happy to see how many volunteers showed up.
“I just want to tell them thank you because I know they are taking time out of their weekend to come out here to help us make sure the land continues to look nice for everyone who comes out to enjoy it,” said Blizzard.
Griz Ward is one of the volunteers, and he enjoyed camping out, but he also would like to see people pick up after themselves. When it comes to outdoor recreation, it is so important to be part of the solution and not part of the problem.
“If you come out here and play in the area, be respectful,” said Ward. “Pack it in and pack it out, leave no trace and do the right thing, or frankly, stay home.”
The Succor Creek Clean-Up also received a lot of support from the Treasure Valley, as they got donations from the Ontario Sanitation Service with the dumpsters, Tates Rents with the excavator, and United with porta-potties for the campsite.
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Idaho
No Kings movement brings statewide protests to Idaho this weekend
IDAHO — ‘No Kings 3’ protests will take place throughout Idaho on March 28, including in Boise and Twin Falls.
According to the Idaho 50501 Facebook page, there will be speakers & musicians playing at protests across the Treasure Valley.
Protests will take place in Boise, Caldwell, Nampa, Mountain Home, Twin Falls, and other Idaho cities.
NoKings.org
On March 28, Neighborhood Reporters Allie Triepke & Lorien Nettleton will bring coverage of the Boise & Twin Falls protests on Idaho News 6 at 10.
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