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BOY SCOUTS-IDAHO SHERIFF
N. Idaho sheriff's office drops Boy Scouts charter
(Information in the following story is from: Coeur d'Alene Press, http://www.cdapress.com)
COEUR D'ALENE, Idaho (AP) — A charter the Kootenai County Sheriff's Office in northern Idaho had with Boy Scout troop 911 has expired following the Boy Scouts of America opening its ranks to gay scouts.
Kootenai County Sheriff Ben Wolfinger last spring said he would be compelled to drop the charter because the organization is promoting a lifestyle that's against Idaho law.
The Coeur d'Alene Press reports the charter the sheriff's office had with the troop expired at the end of 2013.
Tim McCandless, CEO of Boy Scouts of America-Inland Northwest Council, says Northwest Backcountry Rescue is now chartering the troop.
He says the troop is as strong as it has ever been with 22 active scouts and 15 volunteer adults.
A dispatcher told The Associated Press on Sunday that Wolfinger was unavailable.
WIRELESS CONTRACT
Lawmakers alter Wi-Fi options for schools
(Information in the following story is from: The Spokesman-Review, http://www.spokesman.com)
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lawmakers on the Legislature's joint budget committee say Idaho school districts that opted not to join a statewide contract for high school Wi-Fi services should qualify for state funding for their own Wi-Fi networks.
The Spokesman-Review reports that the Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee also on Friday gave districts that joined the contract the choice to withdraw and also get state funding for their own Wi-Fi networks.
The vote was 15-5.
The state is planning to conduct a service audit to see what services are being provided where and for what cost.
The Education Department says 203 Idaho schools signed up for Education Networks of America Wi-Fi, part of a five-year contract that public schools chief Tom Luna hopes will boost classroom use of technology.
JOB SEEKER HELP
Southwest Idaho job seekers can get help
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Department of Labor has received $2.4 million in federal money to help southwestern Idaho job seekers.
The agency says the money is for paid re-employment assistance, training or other benefits.
The agency announced Thursday that it's holding one-hour information meetings on Friday at seven of its offices in the region.
Those who attend can find out if they qualify for the program.
The money from the Workforce Investment Act is intended to help the long-term unemployed, veterans and eligible spouses, displaced workers and low-income adults.
The money is especially intended to help those 50 and older, and young people ages 16 to 21.
WOLF FUND
Lawmaker: Money crunch will dent wolf killing fund
(Information in the following story is from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com)
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The co-chair of the state's budget committee says a bill asking for $2 million to kill Idaho wolves likely won't get half that much money.
Republican Rep. Maxine Bell of Jerome says the money is instead needed to pay for the Idaho Education Network broadband program.
Bell co-chairs the Joint Finance Appropriations Committee.
Legal wrangling over a contract the state awarded for an education broadband project has cut off federal funds for the program.
Bell tells The Times-News in a story on Sunday that lawmakers have flexibility when it comes to killing wolves but they don't with the Idaho Education Network.
She says the fund to kill wolves will probably get about $400,000.
Even if the proposed wolf control bill becomes law, the committee Bell co-chairs would determine the final funding amount.
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