It all started when a pickup truck crashed into a van carrying 15 passengers; six of whom died. The remaining victims were taken to the hospital, and two of them have now been discharged.

The Mexican Consulate in Boise contacted state authorities to identify the crash victims, and Mexico’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a statement Tuesday confirming the passengers of the van were Mexican citizens.

They were here as temporary agricultural workers on H-2A visas and were on their way to work that morning.

The Mexican Ministry of Foreign Affairs extended their condolences to the families of those who died in the crash, and said “the protection of Mexican nationals abroad is a foreign policy priority. Especially those in vulnerable situations like H-2A agricultural workers in the United States of America”.

The Mexican government wants to ensure the victims are guaranteed fair recognition and protection of their rights.

The Consulate will help transfer the deceased back to Mexico so their loved ones can grieve. It will also continue working with Idaho State Police and labor authorities as the investigation into the crash continues.

It doesn’t need to be far from home.  Just away from home for a few days.  Somewhere that I can buy or brew hot coffee.  A shower is optional but would be great if I was staying beyond a couple of days.  A Yeti cooler is preferred.  An Igloo will do.  Somewhere that wouldn’t require me to cook every meal.  Something secure.  I don’t want to be in a tent in the outback waiting to become the main course for a grizzly.

A little civilization would be appreciated.  Just don’t interrupt me when napping or reading.  Unless you’re a woman between 18 and 65 years old.

A hotel room would be comfortable, but not required.

I’ve crunched some locations in my head.  The backcountry is out.  Even the hills south of Twin Falls are a little too isolated.  There’s too much congestion in Salt Lake City or Boise.  Yosemite National Park is too far away for a short break.

My thoughts have settled on somewhere like Pine, Idaho, and Anderson Ranch Reservoir.  There are people around if you want some human contact.  There are places to eat.  If you want to drive into town for a few supplies, Fairfield is close.

It seems like just yesterday I made my last visit to the reservoir.  It was Independence Day, 2020.  During the COVID era.  I recall I didn’t see anyone masked, or constantly wiping their hands with sanitizer.

A few months later, I spent an autumn week in Oregon.  I couldn’t get my room cleaned, the restaurants were closed and everyone was afraid of being within six feet of a fellow human being.  That’s the difference between a weekend at liberty and a week in a police state.

The Salmon School District in remote Central Idaho will finally get a new school.

After decades in which voters rejected every bond the district asked for, the community on Tuesday approved a $20 million bond to build a new pre-K-through-8 school with a resounding 72% support.

The election comes after the Idaho Statesman and ProPublica reported last year on how children across the state were learning in schools with freezing classrooms, leaking roofs and discolored water. Salmon was one of the most poignant examples — in the last two decades, the district failed to pass around a dozen bonds to replace its dilapidated schools. Idaho is one of just two states that require support from two-thirds of voters to pass a bond.

At Salmon’s Pioneer Elementary, the plumbing is failing, the floors are uneven and pose tripping hazards, and sewage sometimes backs up into a corner of the kitchen. Parts of the building aren’t accessible for students with disabilities. The foundation is crumbling.

Unable to pass a bond or to find other ways to fix these problems, the district turned to a state program created in 2006. It was one of only two districts ever to do so. But a state panel decided that Salmon’s problems — though bad enough to pose safety hazards — did not warrant a new school, only new roofs and seismic reinforcements. After that process, the district ultimately decided to close its middle school, which now sits abandoned beside the elementary school, surrounded by a razor-wire fence.

When the Statesman and ProPublica visited the elementary school last year, reporters saw many of the same problems the school had said it had about a decade ago, when it first applied for help from the state.

Over the past several months, a group called the Salmon Schools Needs Assessment Committee has been active on social media to provide information about the bond and share the challenges that the elementary school faces. In a Facebook post Wednesday, the committee said it was “overcome with gratitude and excitement.”

Jill Patton, the principal of the elementary school, said she is “deeply thankful” that the community came together to support the district’s schools. She praised the grassroots initiative spearheaded by the assessment committee.

The effort “involved a remarkable group that dedicated countless hours to understanding community concerns and identifying preferred solutions,” she said in an email. “They meticulously developed a plan that the community could rally behind.”

Since 2006, the news organizations reported, fewer than half of all Idaho school bonds have passed, but that 80% of them would have passed if a simple majority were required.

Idaho lawmakers considered a proposal that would have started the process to lower the vote threshold needed to pass a school bond, but the effort did not move forward during the legislative session.

Legislators did approve $2 billion in funding over a decade to repair and replace schools. The measure was signed by Republican Gov. Brad Little, who cited the investigation and called school funding “priority No. 1” in his State of the State address in January.