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BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's congressional delegation wants the U.S. Department of Energy to prepare spent nuclear fuel for trucking out of eastern Idaho ahead of a 2035 deadline. The two Republican senators and two Republican representatives in a letter sent Wednesday say the department could be readying the spent fuel for placement in protective trucking containers. A 1995 agreement following a series of federal lawsuits requires the Energy Department to remove most of the spent fuel and other nuclear waste from the site that includes the Idaho National Laboratory. However, the U.S. has no long-term storage facility to receive spent fuel or nuclear waste stored at 80 sites in 35 states.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Another 31,000 Idaho residents filed for unemployment benefits last week as the state's economy shed thousands of jobs for the third consecutive week. The Idaho Department of Labor said Thursday that nearly 78,000 people have filed claims since mid-March. Republican Gov. Brad Little issued an emergency declaration on March 13 because of the coronavirus and followed with a statewide stay-at-home order on March 25. Workers of all ages are being affected, with hard-hit sectors including accommodations, food services, health care and construction. Idaho has more than 1,230 virus cases and 18 deaths.
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — They are two disasters that require opposite responses: To save lives and reduce the spread of COVID-19, people are being told to remain isolated. But in a wildfire, thousands of firefighters will be summoned to work in close quarters for weeks. That’s requiring the U.S. Forest Service and others to change strategies. In light of the “unprecedented challenge” of the pandemic, Forest Service Chief Victoria Christiansen says resources will be used only when there is a reasonable expectation of success in protecting life and critical property and infrastructure. Wildfires have already broken out in Texas and Florida, and agencies are scrambling to finish plans for a new approach.
CODY, Wyo. (AP) — The superintendent of Yellowstone National Park says it likely won’t reopen until May or later, delaying the start of its traditional summer season for millions of tourists because of the coronavirus outbreak. Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Park have been closed since March 24 because of the virus. The parks closed while they were mostly inaccessible because of lingering snow. The virus has complicated the usual pattern of reopening gates, visitor centers, stores, restaurants and lodges between April and early June. Yellowstone Superintendent Cam Sholly said he intends to listen to health officers and elected officials in deciding when to reopen Yellowstone.
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