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FILER DOG SHOOTING
Idaho officer who shot dog is back on patrol
(Information in the following story is from: The Times-News, http://www.magicvalley.com)
TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — The southern Idaho police officer who sparked outrage after shooting and killing a dog is back on the job.
The Twin Falls Times-News reports Tarek Hassani returned to his regular patrol shift on Saturday.
Hassani had been on administrative leave since Feb. 11.
Some residents in the small town of Filer have called for the officer to be fired, but an investigation found the shooting was justified.
Hassani was responding to a report of dogs running loose Feb. 8 when the shooting happened.
A dashboard camera shows two dogs barking and lunging toward the officer.
In the video, he kicks at a 7-year-old black Labrador named Hooch before shooting it.
Filer officials have scheduled an eight-hour training session on how police should deal with aggressive dogs for May 3.
TRUCKS DESTROYED
Fire destroys trucks at construction site
(Information in the following story is from: KBOI-TV, http://www.kboi2.com)
STAR, Idaho (AP) — Authorities in southwest Idaho are trying to determine what caused an overnight fire that destroyed three trucks at a construction site in Star.
KBOI-TV reports that firefighters responded to the site at about 11:45 p.m. Monday.
Authorities say the fire appears to have started after an explosion, with the flames jumping from one truck to two others parked nearby.
No injuries have been reported, and no damage estimate has been given.
HORSE-CAR COLLISION
Driver OK after collision with horse in SW Idaho
(Information in the following story is from: KBOI-TV, http://www.kboi2.com)
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Authorities in southwest Idaho say the driver of a vehicle is OK after colliding with a horse but the horse has died.
Police tell KBOI-TV the collision occurred about 4:30 a.m. Tuesday on Karcher Road between Lake Avenue and Midway Road.
Police say the road in Canyon County was closed for about an hour in both directions.
TRAPPING-LYNX
Suit planned to stop incidental trapping of lynx
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Three environmental groups plan to file a federal lawsuit if Idaho doesn't address incidental trapping of federally protected Canada lynx.
The groups sent a letter Monday to Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter as well as Idaho Department of Fish Game officials. The state has 60 days to respond.
Western Watersheds Project, the Center for Biological Diversity and Friends of the Clearwater contend that Idaho is violating the Endangered Species Act by allowing recreational trapping for bobcats that has led to the capture of three lynx in the last two years.
The groups say one was killed and two others were released.
The groups say the state needs a special permit from federal officials to continue the trapping.
State officials didn't return a call Tuesday from The Associated Press.
TEACHER SUPPORT
School district concludes hearing on teacher's job
BLACKFOOT, Idaho (AP) — The Snake River School District after two days of public testimony adding up to about 14 hours must now decide whether to renew the contract of a longtime biology teacher.
About 150 people attended the six-hour hearing Monday concerning the future employment of longtime biology teacher Elaine Asmus.
The hearing was carried over from a Friday hearing that went eight hours. Both hearings ended after 11 p.m.
Officials previously opted not to renew Asmus' contract, but a due process hearing is required.
Meanwhile, some former students have rallied behind Asmus, a teacher in the district for 28 years.
The case is highly unusual because a formal complaint was filed against Asmus by another teacher who also is the wife of the superintendent of the eastern Idaho school district.
DRUG COURT PROGRAM
N. Idaho court designated a mentor court
(Information in the following story is from: KLEW-TV, http://www.klewtv.com/)
LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — The Nez Perce County Adult Drug Court in northern Idaho has been designated a mentor court for other courts around the nation.
KLEW-TV reports in a story on Monday that the court is one of only 10 in the country to be recognized as a mentor court.
Carson Fox of the National Association of Drug Court Professionals says the designation means the court has the opportunity to teach other courts methods to get good results.
Drug courts are designed to help non-violent offenders who are struggling with drug abuse get back to a law abiding life.
BISON HAZING
Yellowstone bison hazing begins in Montana
BOZEMAN, Mont. (AP) — Montana officials have begun hazing bison back into Yellowstone National Park to make way for livestock.
The bison leave the park during winter in search of lower-elevation grazing, and are forced back each spring to keep them from spreading diseases to cattle.
The Bozeman Daily Chronicle reports officials from the Montana departments of livestock and fish, wildlife and parks already have made a few trips into the area north of the park, pushing back 100 or more bison each time.
The conservation group Alliance for the Wild Rockies says helicopter hazing of bison began Saturday. The group is suing to bar the use of helicopters, saying they harass and displace threatened grizzly bears.
The case is pending with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
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