Here is the latest Idaho news from The Associated Press at 9:40 p.m. MDT

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.

BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Department of Defense wants to build a prototype advanced mobile nuclear microreactor at the Idaho National Laboratory in eastern Idaho, saying they are needed to ensure the military’s energy supply. The microreactor would be capable of producing one to 10 megawatts. A megawatt can power from about 400 to 900 homes, depending on energy consumption that is dependent on such things as air conditioning. The department says it wants to reduce reliance on local electric grids, which are highly vulnerable to prolonged outages from a variety of threats. Plans are underway for developing an environmental impact statement.

Copyright © The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Related topics