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HOMESTYLE DIRECT-LAWSUIT
Idaho company denies bilking Medicaid
(Information in the following story is from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com)
KIMBERLY, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho home-meal delivery service denies allegations it overbilled Medicaid by nearly $900,000.
The Times-News reports that attorneys for Kimberly-based Homestyle Direct filed a response to the federal lawsuit on Feb. 19.
The attorneys say Homestyle Direct owners Robert and Mariann Griffith delivered home meals to dead or hospitalized clients, but they only did so because they were unaware of changes in the status of the clients. The response says the company adjusted billing and gave credit for the delivered meals.
The lawsuit filed Jan. 6 in U.S. District Court in Boise contends the company from January 2007 to February 2011 overbilled Medicaid by about $888,000. The lawsuit seeks triple damages and penalties.
The lawsuit also contends the business sent desserts that didn't meet nutritional requirements for Medicaid reimbursement; falsified shipping dates for meals billed to Medicaid; and billed for unnecessary or ineligible meals.
The company says it billed Medicaid for desserts, but it says Idaho Medicaid officials told the company the billing was within Medicaid rules.
TRIBAL POLICE
Tribal police given more authority in Idaho
(Information in the following story is from: Lewiston Tribune, http://www.lmtribune.com)
LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — Tribal police officers on the Nez Perce Reservation in northern Idaho starting April 1 will have the ability to ticket anyone violating federal law on the reservation.
The Lewiston Tribune reports that U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson sent letters late last month to five northern Idaho county sheriffs bordering the Nez Perce Reservation informing them of the change.
The letter announced that U.S. Magistrate Judge Candy Dale had approved a Central Violations Bureau docket giving tribal officers authority to ticket non-tribal members for crimes limited to misdemeanors and petty offenses.
Those crimes include such things as drug possession, unlawful timber harvest and trespassing on tribal lands. Traffic laws aren't included.
ARMED ROBBERY-DNA
Police: DNA leads to arrest of armed robber
(Information in the following story is from: Lewiston Tribune, http://www.lmtribune.com)
LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — Authorities in northern Idaho say DNA on a cigarette butt and a ski mask found along the escape route links an Orofino man to an armed robbery at an Orofino motel.
The Lewiston Tribune reports that 47-year-old Christopher Jennings on Friday was charged in Clearwater County Magistrate Court with eight felonies.
Orofino Police Chief Jeff Wilson says officers on Dec. 21 followed tracks in the snow starting at the back door of the motel and found the mask.
Police say the tracks led to where Jennings had parked his car, and stuck in the snow and ice was a cigarette butt.
Police say that during the robbery Jennings threatened multiple times to shoot the motel's night shift employee, putting a gun to her head, forehead and chin.
LACROSSE COACH-ARREST
Boise State lacrosse club coach arrested in park
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The co-head coach of the men's lacrosse club at Boise State University has been dismissed after police say he tried to entice a minor for a sexual encounter.
The Meridian Police Department says 50-year-old Paul Rocchio was taken into custody Friday morning in Settlers Park in Meridian.
He faces a charge of felony enticing of children over the internet.
Lacrosse is a club sport at Boise State.
Police say Rocchio went to the park believing he was meeting a person under the age of 16 to engage in sex.
Police say they started investigating last month when Rocchio started an online conversation with someone he thought was a minor but turned out to be an undercover police officer.
Rocchio is being held in the Ada County Jail.
BOISE ST-AIR FORCE
Air Force tops Boise State in overtime 64-61
COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — Max Yon scored seven of his 11 points in overtime to lift Air Force over Boise State 64-61 on Saturday.
Yon's jumper with 50 seconds left in overtime put Air Force up 61-58. He then made a steal and took it for a layup, was fouled, and made the extra to seal the victory.
Kamryn Williams led Air Force with 22 points and 13 rebounds.
The Falcons led 30-23 at intermission, but Boise State came back and tied the game at 53 on a pair of Ryan Watkins free throws with 1:57 left. After Tre' Coggins missed a 3-pointer and Yon missed a jumper, Coggins fouled Anthony Drmic at the defensive end and Drmic made both free throws to put BSU up two.
But a foul on Thomas Bropleh put Yon at the line, and he made both to send the game to overtime.
YOUTH CONSERVATION PROGRAM
National parks looking for conservation recruits
(Information in the following story is from: Casper (Wyo.) Star-Tribune, http://www.trib.com)
CASPER, Wyo. (AP) — Grand Teton and Yellowstone national parks are looking for teens to take part in this year's Youth Conservation Program.
The Casper Star-Tribune reports the Grand Teton program for high school students between the ages of 16 and 19 will begin June 16 and end Aug. 21. The Yellowstone program is for participants between the ages of 15 and 18. It offers two, monthlong sessions — one from June 8 to July 9, and the other from July 13 to Aug. 13.
The deadline to apply for the Yellowstone program is March 9. Applications for the Grand Teton program are due March 14.
Both programs pay their participants.
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