Idaho
Idaho Senate takes up bill to jail trans people for using public bathrooms
An Idaho bill that could make it a crime for transgender people to use restrooms aligned with their gender identity is now before the state Senate, advancing one of the most punitive bathroom proposals in the country.
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House Bill 752, already approved by the Idaho House in a 54β15 vote, was taken up this week by the Senate, where Republicans hold a 29β6 majority. If enacted, the measure would require people to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and similar facilities based on their sex assigned at birth in both government buildings and private businesses open to the public.
Related: Idaho Republicans pass bill making it a felony for transgender people to use public bathrooms
Related: Idaho Republicans pass House bill forcing doctors to out transgender kids
The penalties escalate quickly. A first violation would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. A second offense within five years could be charged as a felony, carrying a prison sentence of up to five years.
βThe Legislature has a fundamental duty to protect the bodily privacy and safety of Idaho citizens,β Sen. Ben Toews, the billβs sponsor, said in a Monday committee hearing, according to the Idaho Capital Sun. βHouse Bill 752 provides a clear, proactive tool to secure sex-separated private spaces in our state, while accommodating common-sense realities.β
Supporters of the measure have called the bill necessary as a matter of safety and privacy in sex-segregated spaces. But opponents of the legislation, including civil liberties groups, some lawmakers, and law enforcement voices, say the proposal creates an enforcement problem that risks turning suspicion into probable cause.
Related: Thousands of paper hearts flood Idaho capital as lawmakers pass anti-LGBTQ+ bills
Related: Idaho Republicans are trying to strip localities of nondiscrimination ordinances that protect LGBTQ+ people
Transgender people are warning that bills like this put them in danger of being assaulted. For example, the boyfriend or husband may see a transgender man following their girlfriend into a restroom, because the trans man has to use restrooms according to his sex assigned at birth, and could confront them.
In committee testimony, transgender Idahoans described how that could unfold. Nikson Matthews, a transgender man, told lawmakers that someone who recognizes or suspects he is trans could call police, prompting officers to respond to what would otherwise appear to be βa bearded man using the menβs bathroom.β If an officer decides he violated the law, Matthews said, βI could go to jail for up to a year for peeing, washing my hands, or even being in the bathroom.β
Related: Idaho Republicans pass bill making it a felony for transgender people to use public bathrooms
The alternative, he said, could be worse. Being forced into womenβs facilities, Matthews warned, risks confrontation or violence. βEvery single day when Iβm out in public, I have to decide,β he said. βDo I feel like going to jail today, or do I feel like being attacked?β
BOISE, Idaho (Idaho Capital Sun) β Day use access fees at all Idaho state parks will be waived for Idaho residents on July 4 as part of a celebration of Americaβs 250th anniversary, Gov. Brad Little announced Friday, as reported by the Idaho Capital Sun.
βAs we prepare to mark 250 years of American independence, there is no better way to celebrate than by getting outside with our loved ones and enjoying the freedoms and natural treasures that deο¬ne our great nation,β Little said Friday. βIdahoβs state parks showcase the very best of our state, and we are proud to welcome families, friends and visitors to explore them free of charge during this special occasion.β
While day use fees for Idaho residents will be waived, normal camping and reservation fees will apply, officials said.
Idaho has 28 state parks, which offer a variety of recreational and outdoor activities including hiking, horseback riding, skiing, bird watching, rock climbing, fishing, boating, swimming, bicycling and more.
State officials with the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation are in the process of unveiling improvements and enhancements at several state parks, including Lucky Peak State Park outside of Boise, which recently opened a new dog beach and accessible kayak launch on the Boise River.
Other state parks include Bruneau Dunes State Park and Observatory, Harriman State Park, Bear Lake State Park and City of Rocks National Reserve, which is a national reserve and state park that attracts climbers from all over the world to its dramatic granite rock spires.
Little said the July 4 fee waiver is a part of a larger effort to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence being signed in 1776.
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We’re lucky to live in a place as safe as the Treasure Valley. Despite our growth, one of the things that makes our area so special is the way that we look out for one another–for our neighbors! That’s a principle that seems to have held on as Boise has boomed.
Despite low crime rates, there seems to always be one incident or so that makes us scratch our heads.
A recent string of fraud incidents in the Treasure Valley area is one of those.
Nampa Police initially warned the public of this because cases of fraud began to ‘mushroom’. Then, it took an interesting turn–people that HAD their credit cards were being ‘taken to the bank’, so to speak.
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In a statement originally released on April 30th by the Nampa Police Department, officials advised the following:Β
We are not sure how the suspects are gaining access to the victimβs credit cards. There is a growing fraud scheme, βghost tappingβ, that scammers are using to access victimsβ credit cards. This is possibly occurring in these instances. βGhost tappingβ uses stolen credit card details in Apple Pay or Google Pay, then remotely relays the tap signal over the internet to a βmuleβ at a store, allowing them to make high-value purchases that appear completely legitimate. (Weβll share more information on ghost tapping in a later public service announcement that will also suggest ways to protect yourself.) The app used by these criminals obscures the actual credit card number, making it harder for investigators to link a victim to a particular crime. Keep in mind that victims still have their physical credit cards while suspects use the stolen card information to make purchases, which also affects how victims are alerted. So far, local investigators have not been able to identify a common theme among the victims (e.g., a specific bank, a website they visited, a gas pump they used, etc.) in the fraud cases we are investigating.
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The investigation spans far and wide.
Authorities say that some suspects are in custody, others are being contacted, and others are still at large.
Now, a week later, the police are back to reaching out to the public–this time,Β urging people to check their bank accounts.
Nampa Police say that they have caught onto a pattern– there are fraudulent charges at Albertson’s to purchase gift cards, at Costco to purchase Apple products, and at Best Buy, also for Apple products.
Check those bank statements!
Inside The Arrest of 3 Venezuelan Fraudsters
What on earth was happening in Eagle this week?
Gallery Credit: Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM
It’s Not Hard To See Why This Idaho Police Photoshoot Is Going Viral
The Jerome Police Department is going viral thanks to Twin Falls photographer, Layton Henderson. Once you see the hilarious photos, you’ll see why!
Gallery Credit: Chris Cardenas
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