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U of I Researchers get $120K Grant to Research use of Artificial Intelligence in Crop Production
MOSCOW - The University of Idaho Center for Intelligent Industrial Robotics is improving organic and sustainable crop production using artificial intelligence, bolstered by a $120,000 grant. The Idaho Global Entrepreneurial Mission (IGEM) grant will support the testing, deployment and improvement of artificially intelligent systems currently being tested across the U.S....
Fire Crews Achieve Full Containment of Wildfire West of Clarkston
CLARKSTON - Officials say the Nisqually John fire, west of Clarkston along the Snake River, was held to 1,221 acres and is now fully contained. The fire began on Friday morning about 6 miles downriver from Chief Timothy Park. With moderate temperatures and higher relative humidity, fire behavior moderated into...
Idaho Mental Health Providers Worry pay Could Lapse Amid Medicaid Contractor Change
Some Idaho mental health providers worry their payments could be delayed as Idaho switches to a new Medicaid mental health contractor. Magellan of Idaho is set to take over managing mental health benefits for around 400,000 Idahoans on Medicaid on July 1, when it takes over the contract for the Idaho Behavioral Health Plan, or IBHP.
Idaho GOP Expands Abortion Stance, Calls for 'Excuse-Only' Absentee Voting
The Idaho Republican Party has adopted its platform changes for the next two years at its state convention in Coeur d’Alene, including expanding its anti-abortion stance, calling for an end to no-excuse absentee voting, and advocating for an end to all government funding and programs not required by the constitution.
Surgeon General Calls for Warning Labels on Social Media Sites
The U.S. Surgeon General announced Monday that he will push for warning labels on all social media platforms, stating that they may harm teens' mental health. "The mental health crisis among young people is an emergency -- and social media has emerged as an important contributor," Dr. Vivek Murthy wrote in an essay published Monday in the New York Times. "Adolescents who spend more than three hours a day on social media face double the risk of anxiety and depression symptoms, and the average daily use in this age group, as of the summer of 2023, was 4.8 hours. Additionally, nearly half of adolescents say social media makes them feel worse about their bodies."
Father’s Day originated in Spokane in 1910
SPOKANE - Did you know a Spokane resident created Father’s Day in America? The daughter of a widower was responsible for making this special day a national holiday. According to the City of Spokane, Sonora Smart Dodd, a local resident, initiated the tradition. Dodd, raised by a widower, was inspired by Mother’s Day sermons at Central Methodist Church. She sought to honor fathers like her own, William Smart, a Civil War veteran who single-handedly raised Sonora and her five brothers after his wife's death during childbirth.
Fire West of Clarkston Expected to be 100% Contained by Sunday Evening
CLARKSTON - Officials say the Nisqually John fire, west of Clarkston along the Snake River, has been held to 1,221 acres. The fire began on Friday morning about 6 miles downriver from Chief Timothy Park. Officials say wildland crews are expected to achieve 100% containment of the fire on Sunday....
State Resources Mobilized to Fight Trio of Eastern Washington Fires
WALLA WALLA - State fire assistance has mobilized in support of local firefighters working to contain three eastern Washington fires. All three of the fires were first reported Saturday afternoon. The Beam Road Fire is located near Zillah and Sunnyside. The Camas Road Fire is located near Wapato. Washington State...
Dorothy Moon reelected as chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party
Idaho Republican Party Chairwoman Dorothy Moon was reelected to a second two-year term at North Idaho College during the final day of the 2024 Republican State Convention. On Saturday, the Idaho Republican Party Secretary Maria Nate announced that Moon, who lives outside of Stanley, defeated challenger Mary Souza. Souza, of Coeur d’Alene, is a former member of the Idaho Senate who announced her campaign for party chairperson last week.
Man charged with assault in middle of I-90 is wanted for murder in Honduras
ELLENSBURG - The Seattle man accused of recklessly stopping another pickup behind him on Interstate 90 and beating one of its passengers in the middle of the freeway until he was unconscious is a gang member wanted for murder in Honduras. Steven A. Charvarria Portillo, 24, was charged with second-degree...
State Board sets new minimum instructional days. What that means for four-day districts
Originally published June 12 on IdahoEdNews.org.The State Board of Education on Wednesday voted to set minimum instructional days for K-12 public schools. But the change is unlikely to significantly affect school calendars, including for districts on four-day weeks. The decision satisfies a provision in the jumbled House Bill 521 and...
Washington man Sentenced for Trespassing Near Dangerous Geyser in Yellowstone National Park
A Washington man was sentenced to seven days in jail for trespassing in a closed thermal area near the most dangerous geyser in Yellowstone National Park to take a photo, the park said Thursday. Viktor Pyshniuk, 21 of Lynwood, Washington, after his jail sentence will have two years of unsupervised...
WA Voters Want More Child Care Investments, new Poll Finds
Washington voters want more money invested in child care and support more taxes on wealthy people and businesses to pay for it. And, in a poll released Thursday, 87% of those surveyed said child care and early education will be priorities for them when casting ballots this November. A coalition...
Wildfire West of Clarkston Estimated at 1150 Acres, 0% Contained
CLARKSTON - The Nisqually John Fire, reported around 8:30 a.m. on Friday, is located approximately 7 miles southwest of Colton in Whitman County, along the Snake River. Officials said Saturday morning that scattered showers and higher relative humidity will help reduce fire behavior. However, winds are forecasted for 25 to 30 m.p.h. with gusts of 35 to 40 m.p.h. throughout Saturday, which has the potential for another day of rapid fire spread. As of late Friday, fire progression had reportedly stopped, and the fire was partially lined with fire retardant. Additional crews will be arriving throughout the day Saturday, according to officials.
Grizzly Bear Mistakenly Shot and Killed by Hunter in North Idaho
COEUR D'ALENE - Officials say a north Idaho hunter shot and killed a subadult male grizzly bear that he mistook for a black bear. The National Park Service defines subadult bears as those who are just learning to live on their own, away from their mother’s protection. The bear...
Washington Working to Distribute $32 Million in State Funds to aid Asylum Seekers
Washington officials are working to distribute around $32 million in state funding this year to aid asylum-seekers, as hundreds of migrants live in tents in the Seattle area. Of the $25 million allocated to the Office of Refugee and Immigrant Assistance, $20 million will go to community organizations to create a statewide network to deliver coordinated support to migrants and asylum-seekers.
State Sends Resources to Assist as Crews Fighting Wildfire West of Clarkston
CLARKSTON – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Nisqually Fire located in Whitman County, west of Clarkston. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on...
State Fire Mobilization authorized for the Nisqually Fire
CLARKSTON – State fire assistance has been mobilized under the Washington State Fire Services Resource Mobilization Plan in support of local firefighters working to contain the Nisqually Fire located in Whitman County, near the city of Clarkston. Washington State Patrol Chief John Batiste authorized the mobilization of state firefighting resources on June 14, 2024, at 1:30 p.m. at the request of Fire Chief Jay Reisenauer, Whitman County Fire District 14.
Seattle mayor announces $10 million mental health investment strategy
(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell is directing an initial $2 million toward violence prevention efforts in an executive order as part of a new strategy aimed at supporting youth mental health and safety. The use of the newly announced funds were guided by the city’s Innovation...
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