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AMERICA PROTESTS-NORTHWEST
Inslee orders statewide Guard activation following unrest
SEATTLE (AP) — Washington Gov. Jay Inslee late Sunday ordered a statewide activation of the National Guard following vandalism and theft in stores and shopping malls in multiple cities after protests over the killing of George Floyd. Inslee had previously authorized 400 troops for Seattle and 200 troops for Bellevue. On Saturday night people smashed downtown Seattle store fronts and stole items from many businesses, tossing mannequins into the street. On Sunday there were thefts in stores and shopping malls in Bellevue, Spokane, Tukwila and Renton. Portland, Oregon, also again saw large rallies, and police used tear gas to disperse crowds.
ENDANGERED WOLVES-INVESTIGATIONS
Advocates question investigations used to target wolves
TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — An ongoing analysis by an environmental group is raising questions about investigations into livestock kills by Mexican gray wolves. The results of the investigations are used to compensate ranchers and target problem wolves in Arizona and New Mexico. The Idaho-based group Western Watersheds Project has documented significant oddities, errors or conflicting details in more than two-thirds of the 117 investigations it reviewed from 2019. The group's deputy director tells the Arizona Daily Star that numerous cases were confirmed wolf kills based just on “logical leaps” and what she described as a stunning lack of evidence.
YELLOWSTONE TOUR COMPANIES
Competitors working together as Yellowstone preps to reopen
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Companies that usually compete to take tourists through Yellowstone National Park are working together this year to create an operating plan that takes into account preventing the spread of the coronavirus. Under the plan the tour companies will only be accepting groups of people that are already traveling together and they will ask people if they are suffering any symptoms of illness and take temperatures. Hand sanitizer will always be available and equipment will be sanitized frequently. Andrea Saari is a co-owner of Big Sky Adventures and Tours. She says this year it just made sense for the companies to work together and make a common plan so people feel safe.
EXCHANGE-GRIZZLY CROWDS
Volunteer to help with crowds at Wyoming grizzly sightings
JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — Crowds of naive tourists have made for an occasionally dicey situation when grizzly bears appear near the highway over western Wyoming's Togwotee Pass. Bridger-Teton National Forest officials hope to improve safety by bringing on a volunteer to patrol the area this summer. Dale Barker will wear an official uniform and drive an official vehicle and forest officials say they'll be glad to have his help. A grizzly bear people call Felicia is a popular target of wildlife watchers. She and a male grizzly were recently spotted on the pass. Felicia appeared with two cubs in 2019 but only one of them is with her this year.
VIRUS OUTBREAK-IDAHO
Latinos increasingly affected by COVID-19 in rural Idaho
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — New data shows a recent spike in coronavirus cases has hit Latinos in rural Idaho, an already disproportionately affected community that makes up a third of the state’s cases where the race is known. The Idaho Statesman reported that data collected from all seven Idaho public health districts has shown a majority of the people who have contracted the coronavirus in multiple Magic Valley counties are Latino. Lincoln County had the highest percentage in the Magic Valley region, with Latinos making up 78% of the county’s 33 COVID-19 cases. The data says outbreaks in food processing plants may be driving the increasing cases.
AP-ID-VIRUS OUTBREAK-IDAHO-LAWSUIT
Idaho newspaper plans lawsuit over COVID-19 records denial
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A southwestern Idaho newspaper says it will file a lawsuit against the state Department of Health and Welfare if the agency doesn't turn over the names of long-term care facilities in the state with confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 among residents and staff. The Idaho Statesman on Friday, through its attorney, sent a letter to the agency contending the information should be made available under Idaho's Public Records Act. The newspaper requested the information in a public records request earlier this month. But the agency denied the request, saying it failed to meet the requirements of the public records law.
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