Idaho
Local prosecutor pushing university to expand law school to eastern Idaho – East Idaho News
IDAHO FALLS — A local prosecutor is calling on the University of Idaho to expand its law school to the Idaho Falls campus.
Bonneville County Prosecutor Randy Neal submitted a letter to the University of Idaho President Scott Green and the University of Idaho Dean of the College of Law Aviva Abramovsky on Saturday, addressing the lack of opportunities for eastern Idahoans to pursue law and asking school leaders to consider adding a law school to eastern Idaho.
“Over the past few years, the legal profession has seen a critical shortfall in lawyers to meet the needs of the state of Idaho,” writes Neal in the letter. “The public sector has been especially hit hard. We have had to significantly increase salaries and still struggle to recover from having less than half of our authorized attorney positions filled.”
In a news release, Neal notes an interest in law degrees in eastern Idaho, but many cannot move out of the area.
“There are people in this area who want to attend law school, but they cannot leave the area for years to accomplish the goal,” writes Neal. “The University of Idaho has shown that distance learning can expand opportunities to attend law school in a place other than just the Moscow campus.”
The University of Idaho has two campuses for the law school in Moscow and Boise. Neal says he hopes the university will consider using the Idaho Falls extension campus as a place for a future law school.
“Here in Idaho Falls, the University of Idaho has underutilized facilities. I believe there would also be a substantial cadre of adjunct resources available from the local legal community,” writes Neal. “With the COVID accommodations a few years ago and the success of the Boise campus, the U of I College of Law has become much more adept at distance learning.”
Neal also told the university leaders that members of his staff are hoping to start working toward a law degree but says it would hurt the prosecutor’s office to lose them.
“In my own office, I have five administrative staff members who are eager to attend law school,” say Neal. “We want to support their progression, but they would have to leave the area for years in order to attain such a goal. This would further affect us negatively.”
Neal said there are many ways to help this idea become a reality.
“With every ounce of urgency, I implore the University to explore eastern Idaho options for a part-time law school opportunity in our area,” writes Neal. “This need not be the same type of grand undertaking seen in Boise and could take in a class every three years as opposed to every year, for example.”
Read the entire letter here.
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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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