March 17, 2019 Times-News

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Teach for America eyes Idaho expansion

THE BIG STORY

JULIE WOOTTON-GREENER

jwootton@magicvalley.com

PAT SUTPHIN, TIMES-NEWS

Douglas Miceli displays equipment Feb. 28 at Stotz Equipment in Twin Falls.

AGRICULTURE IN THE MODERN AGE I How technology is transforming the farming industry

daho’s economy has long been driven by the agriculture industry. While farming remains the Gem State’s driving force, technology is transforming its daily operations.

Innovations including robotic arms used to milk cows, soil moisture probes to measure temperature and water content, drone technology to monitor crops and GPS tractors to track position in the field are among the trademarks of the new era.

Along with enhancements in the field, interactive software is another popular tool.

Farmers can access online apps from their personal phones and handheld devices to remotely monitor their crops and livestock, identify plants and detect pests, track irrigation and even find mates for their cows on “Tudder,” a contemporary livestock matchmaking forum.

Reporters Mychel Matthews, Julie Wootton-Greener and Heather Kennison explored

the Magic Valley’s agricultural programs and companies and met with some local experts for this overview of agriculture in the area.

What emerged is a glimpse into modern farmers’ lives and fields. Times are changing, but core crops like potatoes, sugar beets, corn, alfalfa and barley remain staples. The shift to more technology-driven management is a welcome one for many farmers.

TWIN FALLS — Teach for America wants to extend its Idaho reach outside of the Treasure Valley, but it’s unknown yet whether that could include Magic Valley schools.

The national nonprofit, which trains people to work in low-income rural and urban schools, started serving Idaho in 2015 and now has 40 teachers in seven communities, all within the Treasure Valley. Plus, more than 60 alumni are teaching across the state.

The topic of future expansion came up when the organization’s Idaho executive director, Tony Ashton, presented in early February to the state legislature’s House Education Committee.

The nonprofit is trying to figure out which Idaho communities are interested in partnering with the organization and where there are opportunities to work alongside community groups, Ashton said Monday.

Preliminary conversations with school districts are underway, Ashton said. The goal is to expand to a new community during the 2020-21 school year as a long-term commitment.

Two to three years ago, the Jerome School District reached out and had a preliminary conversation with Teach for America, Ashton said. The nonprofit has also talked with the Twin Falls School District, he said.

Twin Falls School District Superintendent Brady Dickinson was among a handful of south-central Idaho superintendents who attended a meeting recently with Teach for America to get more information, school

See Big Story on page E1.

Please see TEACH, Page A10

Sex ed bill draws heated debate, but its potential impact remains vague SAMI EDGE

IdahoEdNews.org

BOISE — With weeks left in the 2019 legislative session, one question senators have to decide is whether or not to take up a bill to create a more restrictive policy for sex education in Idaho schools.

House Bill 120, sponsored by Republican Idaho Falls Rep. Barbara Ehardt, would require parents to sign their permission before their children receive any sort of “instruction or presentation regarding sexuality” or sex education in school.

To be clear, Idaho parents can already decide whether or not their children receive this instruction. The current law requires schools that teach sex ed to give parents an opportunity to opt out of the lessons.

This new bill would flip that process, making Idaho one of only a handful of states in the nation to require parental permission for sex education, instead of allowing parental excusal.

The bill’s supporters say the new requirement would ensure parents have control over what their kids are learning. But opponents worry that the bill’s vague language and the opt-in process would be a burden on schools and could create additional barriers to sex education for at-risk youth.

The legislation has passed Idaho’s House of Representatives on a party line-vote — 56 Republicans voting for it, and 14 Democrats against.

If the Senate and governor also approve, what would that mean for Idaho students?

If you do one thing: Portland-based pianist John Nilsen will perform at 2 p.m. at the Jerome United Methodist Church, 211 S. Buchanan St. Donation is suggested. $4

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What ‘sex education’ do Idaho students receive?

State law leaves it up to school districts to decide whether or not to teach sex education.

The State Department of Education has a set of health content standards that students are supposed to learn, which include some topics such as sexually transmitted disease awareness and “healthy relationships and sexuality.”

The standards stress “encouragement of abstinence from sexual activity,” and “factual, medically accurate, and objective” information at all levels of education.

School districts “need to teach to

IDAHOEDNEWS.ORG

Rep. Barbara Ehardt discusses her opt-in sex education bill in Please see SEX ED, Page A10 the Idaho House of Representatives.

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TF woman killed in crash TIMES-NEWS

‌ ENDELL — A Twin W Falls woman died in a crash on Idaho Highway 46 near Wendell on Saturday after another driver fell asleep at the wheel and hit her vehicle, Idaho State Police said.

Daniel Cruz Ortiz, 21, of Wendell, was driving south about 2 miles north of Wendell at 6:37 a.m. in a 2009 Dodge 1500 pick-up when he fell asleep, crossed the center line and collided head-on with a 2001 Chevrolet Blazer

driven by Jessie Otton, 26, of Twin Falls, ISP said in a Saturday evening statement.

Otton died at the scene, ISP said. Her juvenile passenger was flown to St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Boise. Everyone in the crash was wearing seat belts.

Idaho 46 was blocked for about 2 1/2 hours. ISP was assisted by the Gooding County Sheriff’s Office, Wendell Fire Department, and the Idaho Transportation Department.

STORK REPORT St. Luke’s Jerome‌

Leeland Khole Rallison, son of Trinittina Johnson and Courtney Rallison of Jerome, was born March 6, 2019.

St. Luke’s Magic Valley‌

MacKinnlee Hope Jean Thomas, daughter of Kimberley Marie Truscott and Malachi Nathaniel Thomas of Twin Falls, was born March 7, 2019.

Kazley Ann-Marie Benavidez, daughter of Destiny Ann Hoffman and Kyler Paul Benavidez of Twin Falls, was born March 7, 2019.

Colt Waylon-Dean Green, son of Kristina Lynn and Daniel James Green of Burley, was born March 7, 2019.

LeiLani Daleyza Trujillo, daughter of Cindy Perez and Pablo Trujillo-Ayon of Wendell, was born March 8, 2019.

Jex Thorson Mace, son of Katrina Larene and Mark Allen Mace of Burley, was born March 9, 2019.

Lillian Belle Kreft, daughter of Danielle Kreft

and Tyler James David Kreft of Filer, was born March 9, 2019.

Huxon William Ciocca, son of Erica Bryce Ciocca and Russell Paul Ciocca of Jerome, was born March 10, 2019.

Gabriel Von Webb, son of Rebecca Kari and Colten D. Webb of Twin Falls, was born March 10, 2019.

Karson Devon Allen, son of Cassie Jane Mills and Jason Reed Allen of Twin Falls, was born March 10, 2019.

Hadley Lynne Wight, daughter of Jamie Lynne and Riley Jay Wight of Kimberly, was born March 11, 2019.

Saphyire Autumn Kinard, daughter of Amber Dianne Carter and Joshua Paul Kinard of Twin Falls, was born March 11, 2019.

Rayden Jay Wakley, son of Rebecca Anne and Kevin Ben Wakley of Twin Falls, was born March 12, 2019.

Emilia Beatriz Nelsen, daughter of Velia Nelsen and Matthew Frederick Nelsen of Jerome, was born March 13, 2019.

Check out all the latest rental listings in the valley at

BLM to extend seasonal motorized travel closure TIMES-NEWS

‌ WIN FALLS — The BuT reau of Land Management Burley Field Office has announced it will extend the South Hills area seasonal road closure, which began on Jan. 15, until driving conditions improve. Wet weather throughout February and early March has saturated roadbeds, making the roads highly susceptible to rutting and other kinds of damage.

Roads including Dry

Creek, Cherry Spring, North Cottonwood Creek and Indian Springs will remain closed until at least March 22. The closure for Indian Springs begins 1 1/2 miles south of Foothills Road. Signs are posted in the area to notify the public of the road closures, as well as any two-tracks or trails tied to these roads.

“The wet weather we experienced in February and early March will be great for

habitat and watershed conditions this spring,” Burley Field Manager Ken Crane said in a statement. “However, the road conditions are just not ready for regular travel yet. The 10-day weather forecast indicates a drying and warming trend which should improve conditions and allow us to lift the closure by March 22.”

The closure applies to all motorized vehicles except those specifically

authorized to access the area. Motorized travel authorization is provided for search and rescue operations, emergency medical services, law enforcement personnel and administratively approved actions such as livestock grazing, access to private lands and resource monitoring or research studies.

For more information, call Dennis Thompson at 208-677-6600.

Twin Falls kindergarten registration approaches TIMES-NEWS

‌ WIN FALLS — Twin T Falls School District kindergarten registration for the 2019-2020 school year will begin April 15. Parents can register in the school offices: Bickel — 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Harrison — 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. or by appointment Lincoln — 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Morningside — 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Oregon Trail — 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Perrine — 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Pillar Falls — 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Rock Creek — 8:15 a.m. to 2:45 p.m.

Sawtooth — 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Call your neighborhood school for more information or to determine which school your child will be attending.

The Twin Falls School District now has online

registration, so you can fill out all forms needed to enroll your kindergartner at tfsd.org/parents/enrolling-your-student. Attendance zone maps can be found there as well. Many schools want you to do this before you visit the school; call your neighborhood school to see what they prefer.

Students must be five years of age on or before Sept. 1 to register. You will need to provide your child’s original birth certificate and proof of immunizations and residency: current utility bill, rental agreement, house sales agreement, etc.

Check with your school to see if your child needs to be present during the registration process to do a pre-kindergarten screening.

The phone numbers and kindergarten open house times for each school are listed below: Bickel — 208-7334116 — 3:30 to 4:30 p.m.,

PAT SUTPHIN, TIMES-NEWS FILE PHOTO

Students in Tammy Petersen’s afternoon kindergarten class point to their table number on the first day of school in August 2017 at Sawtooth Elementary School in Twin Falls.

April 22 Harrison — 208-7334229 — 5 to 6 p.m., May 8 Lincoln — 208-7331321 — 4:30 to 5 p.m., April 18 Morningside — 208733-6507 — 3:15 to 4 p.m., April 18 Oregon Trail — 208733-8480 — 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., April 18

Perrine — 208-7334288 — 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., April 23 Pillar Falls — 208-7327570 — 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., April 18 Rock Creek — 208732-7565 — 3:30 to 4:30 p.m., April 17 Sawtooth — 208-7338454 — 9 to 9:30 a.m., April 25

TWIN FALLS COUNTY MOST WANTED ‌Name: JUAN ANTONIO LIMON D a t e of birth: 09/19/1972 Sex: Male Height: 5’3” We i g h t : 160 H a i r : Limon Brown Eyes: Green Race: Hispanic Wanted for: 7 counts LEWD CONDUCT WITH A MINOR UNDER SIXTEEN BOND: $1,000,000 The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office is asking that anyone having infor-

mation, please call Crime Stoppers at 208-343-COPS where you can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Web tips can be made at www.343cops.com or download P3 Tips on your mobile phone.

Updated: March 17, 2019.

The Twin Falls County Sheriff’s Office is asking that anyone having information, please call 735-1911 or Crime Stoppers at 732-5387 where you can remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward. Web tips can be made at www.343cops.com Or download P3 Tips on your mobile phone.

SNOW PACK ‌Today’s Median Salmon 117% Big Wood 131% Little Wood 139% Big Lost 125% Little Lost 112% Henrys Fork/Teton 125% Upper Snake Basin 113% Goose Creek 115% Salmon Falls 113% Today’s median peak compares water content with what is normally seen on this day.

As of Mar 16.

Want to subscribe? Call 866-948-6397 or visit us online at www.magicvalley.com/subscribenow Didn’t receive your paper today? Call 866-948-6397 or visit us online at www.magicvalley.com/subscriberservices Have a news tip? Call 208-735-3264 Interested in advertising? Call 208-733-0931 EDITOR Alison Smith 208-735-3255 alison.smith@magicvalley.com PUBLISHER Kevin Kampman 208-735-3345 kevin.kampman@magicvalley.com NEWSROOM News Tips 208-735-3264 Letters to the editor 208-735-3255 letters@magicvalley.com Obituaries 208-735-3324

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Idaho state lawmaker charged with tax evasion in Texas ‌POST FALLS (AP)— The lawyer representing a firstterm Idaho state lawmaker charged with tax evasion questioned the motivations of federal prosecutors.

The Spokesman Review reports Republican Rep.

John O. Green was indicted last year for conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government dating back to 2005 or 2006 in Texas when he acted as an attorney.

Prosecutors say the alleged scheme allowed Green’s clients to direct

their profits into a trust account used by lawyers, which Green controlled “in order to evade paying their federal income taxes.”

Green’s lawyer Michael Minns said Green was charged only after he began his campaign for office

in Idaho yet won election even after the allegations surfaced.

Green in 2004 was barred from practicing law for five years in Texas’ Eastern District for a “recklessly false” statement.

Auditors: Nevada appears to be shorted on pot tax revenue ‌LAS VEGAS (AP) — Nevada legislative auditors report that poor bookkeeping processes a lack of oversight of the legal marijuana industry suggest the state is losing potential tax revenue.

The Las Vegas Re-

view-Journal reports that auditors found that data from many cultivators’ and dispensaries’ tax returns didn’t match with inventory tracking data.

The audit report said that means the Department of Taxation isn’t able to verify

the businesses’ tax returns and that those “did not always appear to be correct.”

According to the audit report, the state collected about $70 million of marijuana excise taxes during the 2018 fiscal year and that a sampling of returns

suggested “a potential unpaid tax liability of over $500,000” during a sixmonth period.

Tax Department Director Melanie Young said the department plans to make changes recommended by auditors.

Oregon man sentenced to 20 years for sexually abusing teens ‌PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) — Prosecutors say an Oregon man was sentenced to 20 years in prison for sexually abusing five teenage girls and using compromising images to blackmail them into additional sexual acts.

The Oregonian/OregonLive reports 24-yearold Reachana Chan was sentenced Thursday and barred from contacting minors or using the internet, a computer or smartphones.

He also must register as

a sex offender.

Washington County prosecutors say the Beaverton man had lied about his age when through social media he contacted girls, who were between the ages of 12 and 16.

Prosecutors say he took

photos and videos of the teens. He also used a knife to threaten one victim, forcing her into sexual acts.

Prosecutors say Chan forced the girl to meet him again and repeated the attack.

ATV protest ride leader turned lawmaker told to pay up ‌SALT LAKE CITY (AP) — Now that former San Juan County commissioner Phil Lyman is getting a government stipend as a state lawmaker, federal prosecutors want him to speed up paying off the $96,000 in damage caused by an illegal ATV protest ride he led through a pristine southeastern canyon in 2014.

Federal prosecutors said in a new court filing that Lyman has a “heightened moral obligation” because he receives taxpayer money, the Deseret News reported .

Lyman became a state representative this year and received about $12,300 at the beginning of the session.

RICK BOWMER‌

In this Jan. 28, 2019, photo, Rep. Phil Lyman, right, R-Blanding, is sworn in at the start of the Utah State Legislature, at the Utah State Capitol, in Salt Lake City.

Prosecutors want him to pay $500 a month, up from $100. That would pay off the $90,000 he still owes by 2034, prosecutors said.

“Lyman receives income from the people to whom he owes restitution, and it would be an injustice to the public if Lyman were to fail

to repay his debt,” assistant U.S. attorney Allison J.P. Moon wrote.

The restitution was imposed by a judge in 2015 who sentenced Lyman to 10 days in jail and three years of probation after a jury that year found Lyman guilty of misdemeanor illegal use of ATVs and conspiracy.

Lyman declined comment about the court filing.

Lyman became a cause celebre in a movement challenging federal management of Western public lands when he organized an ATV ride through a canyon closed to vehicles that is home to Native American cliff dwellings.

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Times-News

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | A3

LEGISLATURE WEEK IN REVIEW

Teacher salaries, road repair, gun bills GRETEL KAUFFMAN

gkauffman@magicvalley.com‌

‌BOISE — The 10th week of the Legislative session wrapped up Friday. Here are a few of the local highlights: A bill to extend worker’s compensation to first responders suffering from psychological injuries was signed into law by Gov. Brad Little.

The Legislature passed a bill that would raise starting teacher pay in Idaho to $40,000 over two years.

A bill that would have shifted roughly $17 million of a dedicated fund each year from state police to roadwork died in the Senate by one vote. The bill was sponsored by Sen. Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson.

A bill from Rep. Christy Zito, R-Hammett, that would let 18- to 21-year-olds carry a con-

cealed handgun without a permit within city limits passed the House on a party line vote.

A bill that would restrict access to firearms for people convicted of sexual battery of a 16 or 17 year old also passed the House on a closer vote: 37-31-2.

A bill that would ban the use of exploding targets on state land during the designated wildfire season passed out of the Senate State Affairs Committee. The bill is sponsored by Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum.

The Senate State Affairs Committee voted to hold a bill that would make it more difficult to put voter initiatives on the ballot.

A bill that would legalize hemp in Idaho passed out of the House Agricultural Affairs Committee.

Police: Boise man met girl online to sexually abuse her RUTH BROWN

Idaho Statesman‌

Police ‌ arrested a 23-year-old Boise man Thursday on suspicion of 16 felony charges regarding a case of child sex abuse.

Cameron Gamel was booked into the Ada County Jail after police said he enticed a child over the internet, took photos of her and sexually abused her.

The Boise Police Department was made aware of a lewd conduct with a child report on Wednesday involving Gamel and a female victim under the age of 16, according to a police news release.

The suspect initially contacted the victim on March 9, police said, and evidence showed that over the next few days, Gamel met up with the victim in person, took several inap-

propriate pictures of her and electronically shared those pictures.

The suspect is also accused of having inappropriate sexual contact with the victim.

Following further investigation, Gamel was arrested and booked into jail on five felony charges of lewd conduct with a minor under 16, nine felony charges of distributing sexually exploitative material of a child and two felony probation violations.

Online court records show Gamel was on probation for felony possession of a controlled substance with the intent to deliver and felony grand theft.

This investigation is ongoing and detectives believe there could be additional victims.

Wyoming coal producer had $718M loss in 2018 ‌GILLETTE, Wyo. (AP) — A year-end financial report indicates a Wyoming coal producer could be 30 days away from declaring bankruptcy following a $718 million loss and a failure to renegotiate with creditors.

The Gillette News Record reports that Cloud Peak Energy in its financial report Friday says its reclamation bond holders are demanding more collateral, and it can’t make interest payments on

its more than $350 million of debt.

Robert Godby, professor at the University of Wyoming’s Department of Economics and Finance, says the Gillette-based company will likely file for bankruptcy if it’s unable to find credit in the next 30 days.

According to the report, the company has about $407 million of reclamation bonds backed by nearly $26 million of letters of credit.

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PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. LUKE’S WOOD RIVER MEDICAL CENTER‌

St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center in Ketchum is pictured.

St. Luke’s Wood River approved as Level IV Trauma Center TIMES-NEWS

‌ ETCHUM — St. Luke’s K Wood River Medical Center was approved Tuesday as a Level IV Trauma Center, the hospital announced.

The hospital in Ketchum received the designation by the Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency Center, it said in a statement Wednesday.

It demonstrates “the hospital’s ability to provide advanced trauma life support and seamless transfer of patients to a higher-level trauma center when specialized care is needed.”

Of the St. Luke’s Wood River’s approximately 9,000

emergency department cases each year, 29 percent are due to trauma.

“St. Luke’s Wood River Medical Center has demonstrated their commitment to providing excellent trauma care for their community; this has been highlighted by their designation as an Idaho Time Sensitive Emergency System — Level IV Trauma Center,” system program manager Melissa Ball said in a statement.

“The enormous amount of support and dedication from the staff, administrators and EMS providers was evident during the onsite

survey, and truly enhances the quality of care provided to trauma patients in the Wood River Valley.”

St. Luke’s Wood River began its push nearly a year ago to seek trauma designation and included an onsite survey in February by evaluators.

The Time Sensitive Emergency System was approved and funded by the Idaho Legislature in 2014 to address three of the top five causes of death in Idaho: trauma, stroke and heart attack.

Idaho recognizes five trauma level designations.

The higher-level facilities, I and II, treat more complex patients.

Idaho doesn’t have any level I trauma centers, which are characterized by teaching programs for medical residents and ongoing research, but there are three Level II trauma centers: Saint Alphonsus in southwestern Idaho, Kootenai Health in Coeur d’Alene and Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center in Idaho Falls.

St. Luke’s Magic Valley Medical Center was recently designated a Level III and St. Luke’s McCall a Level IV.

NEWS

A4 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

Hamilton students holds mock graduation ceremony for ill mom PERRY BACKUS

Ravalli Republic‌

‌HAMILTON, Mont. — Susan Matthews always dreamed of the day that she would see her daughter, Claire, in a cap and gown receiving her high school diploma.

“It’s always been her goal to see me graduate,” Claire Matthews said.

Claire was in her mother’s sixth-grade science class the year that Susan was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer.

“We had a lot of substitute teachers that year because she had so many surgeries,” Claire said.

“We also had a couch in the back in the room for when she needed to lie down.

“Looking back and thinking about all those 12-year-old sixth-graders who are notorious for being wild, I remember their kindness toward my mom,” she said. “Everyone would be like Ms. Matthews needs to lie down and for about 10 minutes everyone would be perfectly quiet while doing their work. Then she would pop up and we would continue on doing our lesson.

“She was able to do all the fun projects with us, the slime, the rockets,” Claire said. “She knew how to make science fun.”

On Wednesday, Claire saw that same kindness again when some of those very same students took the time to don their caps and gowns during a mock graduation ceremony at the Discovery Care Centre in Hamilton, where her mother is currently in hospice care.

“At Christmas time, we found out that my mom’s cancer was much worse that what we originally thought it was,” Claire said.

The cancer had spread.

“She was in a lot of pain around Christmas,” Claire said. “We learned that it had spread to her bones, spine, scapula, liver and in her blood. The tumors were everywhere. She chose not to go through with chemotherapy.

“She declined a lot faster that we had originally expected,” she

PERRY BACKUS‌

With her diploma in hand, Claire Matthews smiles at her mother, Susan, during a mock graduation that was held Wednesday, March 15, 2019 at the Discovery Care Centre in Hamilton, Mont. More than 30 Hamilton High School seniors attended the event. said. “Me and my mom have lived alone for a while, so it’s been a tough transition.”

Claire knew that her mother wanted to see her graduate, but the doctors said that she isn’t expected to live that long.

“That was about two weeks ago,” she said. “Even if she were still somehow to be alive in June, she would be completely incapacitated. She wouldn’t even know that I was graduating. Time was not on our side.”

Her friend, DeeDee Rogers, decided something had to be done.

“One night, my grandma came into my room because we had been talking about Claire’s situation for a long time,” Rogers said.

“We were trying to find a way to make all this easier on her.”

Her grandmother asked if it might be possible for Claire to graduate early.

“I told her I didn’t think that would be possible because we have to have all our credits before we graduate,” she said. “But maybe we could do a mock graduation just for her mom.”

That next morning, Rogers set that idea in motion by going directly to the school’s counselor and the principal. That happened last week.

“DeeDee had a calling to do something for her friend, Claire, and Susan,” said Hamilton High School Principal Dan Kimzey.

She approached school counselor, Ellen Ryter, and the two went to work to make it happen, Kimzey said.

“It’s impressive to see a high school student accomplish that much in a week,” Kimzey said.

On Wednesday night, close to 40 high school seniors gathered in their caps and gowns at the Discovery Care Centre and, to the sounds of the traditional graduation Pomp and Circumstance March, were presented with the folders that would hold their diplomas in June.

“It’s been overwhelming getting to this point because we all wanted it to be really special for Claire,” Rogers said. “Everyone deserves to be able to graduate in front of their family. It’s a special moment. Claire has been through so much. More than anything, she deserves that.”

The Hamilton High seniors had

just received their graduation caps and gowns on the day Rogers told Claire about her idea.

“I burst into tears,” Claire said.

“I knew how super important it was for Mom to see me in my cap and gown. I asked her if It would be all rright if I came in with them on, but I didn’t realize how big this was going to be. I thought it was just going to be me and a few friends.”

But once the word about the mock graduation spread, the two young women were surprised by how many of their classmates felt like they needed to be there. They ended up having to cap the numbers because of the space available at Discovery Care Centre.

Those who couldn’t come signed a Class of 2019 graduation poster that now hangs in Susan’s room.

“When I started planning this out, I wanted to bring in everyone who has known Claire and had Ms. Matthews in sixth grade,” Rogers said. “We’ve all been in school together for years and we’re really close. I thought it was important that we all share this moment with Claire.

“I think we all need a little support sometimes,” she said. “My main priority was making her happy because this is a special moment in a person’s life and we should be celebrating it. I thought it was important that we spend this time together.”

Claire said her mother taught in most of the Bitterroot Valley schools during her career, as well as stints in Japan and England.

“My mom knows almost all the educators in this building,” she said. “I think that it will be a nice farewell. They have supported us for the past seven years. To have it all come together at the end like this is really nice. I guarantee there will be many tears.”

And there was.

“It went a lot better than I imagined it would,” Rogers said Thursday. “It was really lovely.

I’m so glad that Claire had a good time.”

Investigators seek help in solving starter of WY forest fire ‌JACKSON, Wyo. (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service is seeking help in its investigation into who started a destructive fire in western Wyoming last year.

The Jackson Hole News & Guide reports that the

Roosevelt Fire near Bondurant burned down more structures than any other wildfire in Wyoming history. It was started Sept.

14 or 15, the opening weekend of rifle season for deer hunting in the Wyoming

Range.

Investigators determined the fire originated from an abandoned warming fire in the upper reaches of the Hoback River drainage. The fire ignited about three miles

west of the Upper Hoback Trailhead on a steep timbered slope above the trail on the south side of the canyon.

It’s believed the fire starter may have used the location as a resting place.

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NEWS

TIMES-NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019 |

A5

St. Patrick’s Day parade

Young girls from Stinker Station throw green taffy to parade watchers on Saturday.

KEVIN BRADSHAW FREELANCE PHOTOS TIMES-NEWS

Members of the Shriners Bob Nelson (left), George the monkey, and Laird Stone wave to parade goers in back of a convertible on Saturday.

LEFT: The beginning of the St. Patrick’s Day parade is led by the non profit group”Children’s Museum of the Magic Valley.” RIGHT: Nikki Sandau hands a strand of beads to a little girl along the parade route on main street on Saturday.

IT MAY SEEM LIKE YOU FAILED ON YOUR RELAPSING MS TREATMENT. If other treatments have failed you, learn about another option. Hear experts discuss an infusion treatment relapsing MS.

EVENT TITLE: Evaluating Your Relapsing MS

WHERE: Elevation 486 195 River Vista Place Twin Falls, ID 83301

WHEN; April 4th, 2019 at 6:45pm

SPEAKER(S): Nicole Lauwers, Billings, MT

Please RSVP so we can reserve your seat.

Use event code PEP-12812 Visit RMStreatmentevent.com or call 1.877.895.1136

A young girl from a local dance school performs at the St. Patrick’s Day parade for watchers on Saturday in Twin Falls.

This special event is for people with relapsing MS and their Care Partners to learn about an infusion treatment option. You’ll also hear from an RMS patient.

Copyright ©2018. All rights reserved.

Xavier Charter Schools

Young kids enjoy the ride during the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in downtown on Saturday.

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NEWS

A6 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

With treaty set to expire, will there be rough waters ahead?

ERIC BARKER

The Lewiston Tribune‌

‌LEWISTON — The way dams and storage reservoirs on the Columbia River and its tributaries are managed could change dramatically in a short five years if negotiators from the United States and Canada don’t strike a deal.

At issue is the Columbia River Treaty, a transboundary agreement that has governed flood risk management and hydropower production for more than five decades. The treaty is evergreen, meaning it doesn’t have an end date unless either nation decides to sever the agreement following a 10-year notice. Neither side has given that notice, but both are engaged in talks led by the U.S. State Department and Global Affairs Canada aimed at updating the treaty, The Lewiston Tribune reports.

Under the current terms, the way flood risk is managed changes dramatically in 2024, and that could affect Idaho water. Right now, three huge storage reservoirs in Canada and one in Montana do much of the heavy lifting when it comes to reducing flood risk in places like Portland and Vancouver, Wash.

The treaty was precipitated in part by the 1948 Vanport Flood near Portland, Ore., that killed 15 people and displaced more than 18,000 who lived in a low-lying development.

The dams are managed jointly by the U.S. and Canada, and the treaty dictates that reservoirs behind Mica, Arrow and Duncan dams in British Columbia are drafted to hold back more than 15 million acre-feet of water during spring floods.

The water captured by the dams is released later in the year, and Canada is compensated for 50 percent of the released water’s potential hydropower production as it moves downstream through U.S. dams.

treaty changed to reflect that actual value of the Canadian water.

“It’s one of those aspects of the treaty that really calls out for modernization,” said Scott Corwin, executive director of the Public Power Council at Portland. “The assumptions that went into the formula that created the downstream power-benefit sharing have become outdated over time. It’s a lot of power off the federal side of the system that is sent to Canada, and it’s a lot of value to ratepayers of the U.S. that we think should accrue to citizens.”

Flood control

Canada’s checklist

Starting in 2024, the Canadian dams will no longer be obligated to provide downstream flood control protection unless the United States first demonstrates it has done all it can to reduce flood risk by capturing spring flows in its reservoirs. Once that happens, the U.S. can “call upon” Canada to capture water behind its dams.

Under such a scenario, reservoirs in the U.S. would likely be drawn down much lower than they are now prior to spring runoff, threatening the potential for them to refill. And it’s not clear which U.S. dams would have to participate.

The U.S. believes its large storage dams named in the treaty — Libby, Hungry Horse and Kerr in Montana; Dworshak, Brownlee and Albeni Falls in Idaho; Grand Coulee in Washington and John Day Dam in Oregon — would have to be tapped to provide additional flood control. Canada interprets the treaty to say all dams on the Columbia River and its tributaries south of the border would have to play a bigger role in flood control. Under that scenario, dozens of other dams and reservoirs would be involved. For example, dams that provide local flood control or capture water for summer irrigation may have to help in systemwide flood control.

Nor do the two sides agree on what constitutes a flood large enough for the U.S. to “call upon” Canada for help. The U.S. side believes flows projected to reach 450,000 cubic feet per second at The Dalles Dam in Oregon would meet the requirement. Canada believes projected flows would have to reach 600,000 cubic feet per second.

The value of water

The flood control regime isn’t the only difference negotiators are trying to bridge. The treaty gives Canada the right to half of the hydropower that can be produced in the U.S. by the water the Canadian dams hold back and then ultimately release — known as the Canadian entitlement.

Depending on market prices, the power can be worth $150 million to $300 million per year. Those power payments, plus 30 years of hydropower purchased by U.S. companies at the onset of the treaty, paid for the construction of the dams in Canada.

But the U.S. believes the formula that decides the power value of Canadian water is outdated.

Because the formula doesn’t account for things like how much of the Canadian water is spilled at U.S. dams to improve fish passage, American hydropower interests say the power payments sent to Canada are as much as 10 times what they are actually worth. U.S. interests want the

NICHOLAS K. GERANIOS‌

FILE—In this June 1, 2011 file photo, water is released through the outlet tubes at Grand Coulee Dam, Wash., on the Columbia River.

Canadians also have identified issues they want to solve in negotiations. The dams have dramatically altered local ecosystems and inundated communities and valuable bottomland behind the dams. The Canadians think they should be compensated for that.

When Canadian dams are drawn down, water levels fluctuate dramatically, disrupting recreation, fish and wildlife habitat and exposing huge mud flats that can produce dust storms. The construction of Washington’s Grand Coulee Dam prior to the treaty, which Canada did not object to at the time, blocked salmon that once returned to British Columbia rivers, harming Canada’s First Nations. They want fish passage and salmon reintroduction to be considered. The Canadians also say their dams allowed lucrative floodplain development around Portland. They would like compensation for that service.

The Canadian government wants to retain the post-2024 flood control regime that alleviates pressure on its dams and reservoirs. They also want more say in the way Libby Dam in Montana is managed. The dam backs up the Kootenay River more than 40 miles into Canada and creates Lake Koocanusa. (The river is spelled Kootenai in the U.S. and Kootenay in Canada.)

Negotiations

Talks between the two countries began last May. Those talks are centered on the future of flood control, hydropower generation and ecosystem function, which would be a new aim of the treaty.

Several years before negotiations began, the U.S. held domestic talks involving Northwest states, 15 American Indian tribes in the Columbia Basin and hydropower and agricultural interests, to develop goals for treaty modernization.

The tribes on both sides of the border wanted a seat at the negotiating table, but the countries chose to exclude them in favor of small teams.

“The tribes were left out of that conversation in the original treaty,” said Scott Hauser, executive director of the Upper Snake River Tribes Foundation.

“We feel it’s absolutely imperative they are part of it this time.”

At the outset, the U.S. is seeking two big goals. First, it wants to avoid the 2024 change in flood control regime. Next, it wants to update the way the Canadian entitlement is calculated. The U.S. also wants ecosystem functions be incorporated in river management. The region spends hundreds of millions of dollars annually in efforts to mitigate effects of the dams on threatened and endangered salmon and

TED S. WARREN‌

FILE—This Feb. 14, 2018 photo shows the Vantage Bridge, which carries Interstate Highway 90 across the Columbia River near Vantage, Wash., at dusk. The way dams and storage reservoirs on the Columbia River and its tributaries are managed could change dramatically in a short five years if negotiators from the United States and Canada don’t strike a deal. steelhead.

Idaho’s Sen. Jim Risch sits in a power position as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. If the two countries reach an agreement, the updated treaty must be ratified by the Senate. It’s up to Risch to introduce the new treaty if and when it’s complete.

Risch told the Tribune he intends to flex his legislative muscle.

“The chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee decides if it’s going to be heard or not,” he said. “So it’s going to be a good deal for Idaho, or it’s going to be no deal at all.”

He insists the treaty should only cover flood control and hydropower production. If it includes ecosystem function or anything that might threaten Idaho’s sovereignty over its water, Risch said he won’t let the treaty be debated. In fact, he said adding ecosystem function is dead on arrival. That means no more flows for fish and no reintroduction of salmon in places they aren’t now.

“It’s not going to happen,” he said. “The third one (ecosystem function) is not in there now, and it’s not going to be added. The reason I say that is I believe we would — I think almost certainly — end up on the short end of the stick.

He said he has a chummy relationship with President Donald J. Trump and has spoken to him about the treaty. Risch also has constituents in Idaho urging him to use his position to exclude ecosystem functions. The Idaho Legislature passed a nonbinding House Joint Memorial in 2014 saying an updated treaty must protect state sovereignty over water.

A group of more than 20 water users, from public power companies like Clearwater Power and Idaho County Light to southern Idaho irrigators and navigation interests like the Port of Lewiston, want the updated treaty to exclude ecosystem function.

“It just creates another piece of red tape, another legal hurdle to operate the system,” said Paul Arrington, executive director of the Idaho Water Users Association. “Both countries have laws and regulations to deal with these issues, and it should re-

main as such.”

Even others who want ecosystem function added said they agree with Risch on the need to protect Idaho’s water. For example, the Nez Perce Tribe, the state of Idaho and the federal government are parties to the Nez Perce Agreement that helped settle hundreds of water rights disputes in the state. Part of that agreement calls for the state to send 427,000 acre-feet of upper Snake River water downstream each year to help migrating salmon and steelhead.

“I share his concerns on Idaho’s water,” said Jaime Pinkham, executive director of the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission and a member of the Nez Perce Tribe. “Years ago I was part of the (Snake River Basin Adjudication.) We worked long and hard with a diversity of interests to bring some peace to the issue.

I am as sensitive as he is in protecting the agreement.”

Pinkham said that doesn’t mean ecosystem function shouldn’t be on the table. He said the talks could still produce provisions to improve conditions for fish in the basin that are beneficial to both sides. He cites the recent agreement between states, tribes and the federal government that will spill more water at Snake and Columbia river dams yet allow hydropower production part of the time as an example of creative solutions that are possible.

“Those are great solutions that help the energy sector and help fish, and if we can find the same kind of creative options in the Columbia River Treaty I want us to stay open to that,” Pinkham said.

Canada’s cards

Canada might seem to be in a position of power. The U.S. wants to maintain the current flood control regime and yet pay its neighbor less for the water it holds during spring runoff.

But Canada may have difficulty fully flexing its muscle. Jim Heffernan, a policy analyst at the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, said Canada also wants to protect its own downstream communities from flood, which may require it to hold back much of the spring flows even before the U.S. asks it to. In addition, he said Canada’s hydropower system was constructed to

operate on the regime in place for more than 50 years. That means the country would likely have to run the system in much the same way it does now to maximize its power production.

“Because of the way they built their system, they have to operate it the way they do now,” Heffernan said. “To hurt us they have to hurt themselves.”

Canada also benefits from the water spilled at U.S. dams to help salmon. Heffernan said both sockeye and spring chinook returning to the Okanogan River in Canada have improved because of fish-friendly management of U.S. dams. If salmon were reintroduced above Grand Coulee and Chief Joseph dams so they could recolonize rivers in British Columbia, Heffernan said those runs, too, would benefit from spill at U.S. dams.

“Sockeye salmon and spring chinook returning to the Okanogan watershed in Canada are currently benefiting from changes we made to the system for U.S. stocks,” he said. “That is a really important point, because they gloss over that.”

A chance to restore balance Many see a moral reason to include ecosystem function. John Osborn, an environmental activist and physician at Vashon Island, Wash., said the treaty negotiations are a chance to right wrongs to American Indian tribes and Canadian First Nations — and to the environment. He said negotations should address fish passage and salmon reintroduction, climate change, reconnecting rivers to their flood plains and better sharing the benefits and burdens of the dams and reservoirs.

“We are truly blessed to live on one of the most remarkable river systems in the world,” Osborn said. “I think it asks us to look at what has happened in really the short amount of time since Lewis and Clark — the profound changes that have benefited some, perhaps many, but come at wrenching costs — and we find a way to bring balance back to the system, and we build reserves.

That is going to be absolutely critical in the time of climate change.”

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NEWS

Times-News

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | A7

A bill would change process to leave Medicaid expansion off ballot AUDREY DUTTON AND

MCKENNA KING AND MIKE SHARPIdaho Statesman‌

‌A bill in the Idaho Legislature would change the referendum process so much that Medicaid expansion never would have ended up on the ballot in Idaho, based on a KIVI 6 On Your Side and Idaho Statesman analysis.

The bill put forward by Sen. C. Scott Grow, a Republican from Eagle, would make it considerably more difficult for Idahoans to get an initiative on the ballot. The bill is now being held in a Senate committee.

Proponents say that it should be harder to put issues before voters and that support should be gathered from nearly every corner of Idaho before that happens.

Opponents of the bill say the changes will make initiatives too costly for average Idahoans, and they question its timing: in the wake of a Medicaid expansion ballot initiative that 61 percent of voters approved. That measure, Proposition 2, changed the law to allow low-income childless adults to get health insurance through

Medicaid, although the Republi- election day, voters in almost evcan-led Legislature has yet to act. ery district in the state approved the measure.

HOW WOULD S1159 HAVE Under Grow’s bill, Proposition 2 would have qualified for the ballot AFFECTED MEDICAID in just 10 districts — 22 short of EXPANSION? the proposed standard.

Under current law for getting a “We are certain that our camreferendum on the ballot, Idahoans paign would not have succeeded are required to obtain signatures under the proposed rules,” said from 6 percent of the voters in 18 Luke Mayville, co-founder of legislative districts, within the 18 Reclaim Idaho, which led the months leading up to an election. campaign to add Prop 2 to the Grow’s bill would change those ballot. “We met the signature guidelines, requiring signatures threshold with only a few days from 10 percent of the voter pop- left before our deadline. Had the ulation in 32 districts, within 180 threshold been much higher, we days. would have needed to collect tens The Senate State Affairs Com- of thousands of signatures in the mittee on Friday heard public tes- final weeks of the campaign; it timony that was overwhelmingly would’ve been impossible.” against the bill and voted to hold it Some opponents of Grow’s protemporarily. The Senate majority posal believe it’s a reaction by Releader said after the hearing that publicans, many of whom remain it’s “likely” the bill will return this opposed to Medicaid expansion, legislative session, the Statesman to the campaign’s success.

“There is no doubt that this is a reported Friday.

Medicaid expansion — the first punitive bill, designed to retaliate initiative to pass in Idaho in the against a successful ballot meapast six years — qualified for the sure that people didn’t agree with ballot in 21 districts, which was in the Legislature,” said Rep. Mat three more than necessary. On Erpelding, a Democrat from Boise.

REPUBLICAN LEADER: IT’S NOT REVENGE FOR PROP 2 The leader of the Senate claims otherwise.

Sen. Brent Hill, of Rexburg, said Grow’s bill did not come about because Medicaid expansion passed.

“The timing is very unfortunate in my mind,” Hill said. “This is something that’s been talked about for the last several years.”

The last time stricter regulations were put in place was in 2013, after Idaho voters repealed the state superintendent’s unpopular education reform laws.

DEMOCRAT: ONLY THE RICH COULD DO BALLOT INITIATIVES Opponents of the latest proposal argue that it’s too strict and would require 92 percent of the districts to have 10 percent of signatures.

“The argument that it’s easier to get volunteers now is flat not true. You can’t sign people up on

the internet,” said Erpelding.

Erpelding said it’s already arduous for grass-roots organizers to get a referendum on the ballot.

He described knocking on doors in Canyon County and getting just a small number of signatures.

“This way, you make it so only millionaires and billionaires can get an initiative, because they would be the ones that have the money and the infrastructure to hire the people to get the signatures,” Erpelding said.

Countered Hill: “It should be a difficult process. Nobody wants to make it so easy that we’re just gonna have all these different things to vote on.”

It’s not as if there are endless referendums getting on ballots, though. The process is already difficult, with just two statewide initiatives going to a vote since 2013, and both of those came last year.

Petitions have been filed to start the process for three ballot measures in the next election.

One of those? An initiative to repeal Grow’s bill, should it pass in this legislative session.

Boise couple’s crosswalk deaths spark call to action Restored WWII-era boxcar meant for Dallas Holocaust Museum KATY MOELLER

Idaho Statesman‌

‌Bob Goar was an 89-year-old Air Force veteran and retired newspaper typesetter who didn’t let neuropathy in his feet stop him from getting out for daily walks when the weather was nice.

His walking companion was his partner in life for the past six decades: 87-year-old wife Florence, a 6-foot great-grandma with many stories to tell about playing basketball.

Bob used a walker to steady himself, and Florence held on to Bob’s arm.

“They enjoyed going out on a walk before dinner,” said their daughter, Donna Walker, in a phone interview from her home in Colorado this week.

That’s what Walker thinks they were doing on the afternoon of Feb. 27, when they were struck by an SUV as they were crossing North Milwaukee Street at the intersection with West Northview Street.

The couple were fatally injured less than a quarter-mile from the home they lived in for 46 years, and where they raised two daughters.

Florence died the day of the crash, and Bob died nine days later.

“He died of his injuries,” Walker said. “But I would imagine his heart was broken, and he didn’t want to live without his Florence.”

Boise police interviewed multiple witnesses — even tracking one down through security video from a nearby WinCo — and they are working to complete the crash reconstruction, a police spokeswoman told the Statesman. It’s unclear when the police report will be ready for prosecutors to review for possible charges against the driver.

The death of the Goars has left many in the community heartbroken, and looking for ways that pedestrian safety in general can be improved.

The Idaho Walk Bike Alliance has been studying the intersection where the crash occurred to see what, if anything, can be done to help reduce the likelihood of future incidents, and they’re asking local leaders to become more vocal and visible on the issue of pedestrian safety. They’re planning an event to bring together families of crash victims and concerned members of the community.

“To me, a walkable city is the lowest-hanging fruit of how to define a livable city,” said Chris Danley, a member of the group and co-owner of a business that does planning and policy work to promote healthy living. “Let’s make it safer.”

PROBLEM INTERSECTION?

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A 20-year look at the history of crashes at Milwaukee and Northview shows that there were 46 crashes at that intersection, according to Idaho Transportation Department data from 1998 to 2017.

That’s about two to three crashes a year.

No one died in any of those, and none involved pedestrians, though two involved bicycles. One crash resulted in serious injuries, but that was a single-vehicle crash involving alcohol, according to ITD. The intersection has never been flagged as a safety concern, a spokeswoman for the Ada County Highway District told the Statesman.

Since March 2015, the traffic

SHARON GRIGSBY

The Dallas Morning News‌

SUBMITTED PHOTO‌

Florence and Bob Goar at home in 2017. signal on eastbound Northview has had a flashing yellow arrow option at certain times of day for vehicles turning left, or south, on Milwaukee — the turn made by the SUV that hit the Goars. Police have not said what color the light was at the time of the crash.

The flashing yellow is called a permissive left turn, which allows drivers to turn when there are breaks in oncoming traffic and when the crosswalk is clear.

What’s notable is that there are a few times a day when the flashing yellow arrow at that light does not operate, and there is only a green arrow, or protected turn.

That means drivers turning have the right of way.

The flashing yellow arrow does not operate at school arrival/departure times: 8:35 a.m.9:20 a.m., 2:30 p.m.-3:15 p.m. and 3:40 p.m.-4:15 p.m., according to ACHD. That’s a traffic safety feature that could benefit the elderly and others, as it does schoolchildren — if the walker could activate a switch to make sure there is no yellow turn, said Don Kostelec, a board member for Idaho Walk Bike Alliance.

The crash occurred at about 5 p.m., an hour and a half before sunset.

“Had they [the Goars] been doing this same walk 45 minutes or so earlier, then they would have been protected,” Kostelec said.

“Life shouldn’t depend on what time of day someone decides to walk.”

MORE TIME TO CROSS

Those who have lived in Boise for a decade or more know that the Goars were not the first elderly couple to be killed in a city crosswalk: Mary and Tom Woychick, both in their late 70s, were hit on ParkCenter Boulevard on Aug. 19, 2009, as they walked home from morning Mass.

The driver who hit the Woychicks was convicted by a jury of two counts of misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter and sentenced to 8 months in jail.

The Goars’ deaths came on the heels of two bad years for pedestrian deaths in Ada County: five in 2017 and seven in 2018.

Also troubling is that the number of pedestrian crash victims with incapacitating injuries doubled from 20 in 2016 to 43 in 2017.

Those are injuries that prevent a person from walking, driving and doing other normal activities.

Idahoans older than 65 are overrepresented in fatal pedestrian crashes, according to Kostelec’s review of 19 years of crash data (1997 to 2015). Seniors are about 8 percent of pedestrian crash victims but 24 percent of fatal crash victims, he said.

He believes some intersections could be made safer by adding a new feature that allows those who move more slowly to get a few extra seconds to cross the street.

Another idea: New York, Seattle, Los Angeles and other cities have been adding signals that give pedestrians a “head start.” In New York that means showing a walk sign for 7 to 11 seconds before a turning car traffic gets a green light. The National Association of City Transportation Officials says that’s one of the best ways to reduce crashes and save lives, according to The New York Times.

“Over the years, several traffic studies have shown that when pedestrians are allowed to go first, there are fewer crashes,” The Times reported.

Those head-start signals already exist in Ada County, but ACHD traffic engineer Josh Saak estimated that there are just 10 to 15. Two examples are at Capitol and Idaho streets, and Broadway and Front streets.

“Those are on a case-by-case basis, where we have a high number of pedestrians,” Saak said.

FUNERALS INSTEAD OF CELEBRATION The Goars had two children, five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren (and a fifth on the way). Their family had planned to gather in Boise this summer to celebrate their 61st wedding anniversary.

Instead, a memorial service for both was held at a local funeral home last Saturday. About 70 to 80 people attended.

The couple have been cremated and will be buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver. A service at the cemetery will honor Bob’s military service: four years in the Navy and then 20 years in the Air Force. He worked in security.

“The military was so important to our parents,” Walker said.

So was their faith. They were Lutherans.

“They were very strong Christians,” Walker said.

Her father did ministry with death row inmates, and he visited veterans in the state home to be sure they were getting the support they needed. Her mother was active in the church.

Walker said she hopes that whoever picked up her father’s baseball hat from the crash scene will return it to the family. It was Bob’s favorite hat, she said. It’s a black and says “Korea-Vietnam veteran” on the front.

Walker said she is glad she talked to her mom on the phone the day of the crash and got to tell her one last time that she loved her.

“They were beautiful people, just wonderful people and loved by so many people,” Walker said.

“They are in a better place now.

They are in heaven with Jesus, together. That’s our faith. We know through our faith that we will see them again in heaven. We are just carrying on and living our lives as we did.”

‌DALLAS — When the archivist at the Dallas Holocaust Museum began looking for the right person to restore local survivors’ prized artifact, a World War II-era German boxcar, Ron Siebler’s name came up half a dozen times in the first 20 minutes.

The Dallas Morning News reports in the two and a half years since, Siebler hasn’t had a decent night’s sleep.

“There’s enormous pressure.

They’ve entrusted this to me and that’s a big, big deal,” the Dallas historic preservationist recently said his team erected the restored boxcar in the museum’s new home, which will open in September.

In the early 1980s, about 150 Holocaust survivors who called Dallas home wanted to educate others about the 6 million Jews slaughtered in World War II death camps and to create a place to mourn the loss of family members and friends.

On behalf of that group, Mike Jacobs traveled to Belgium to secure the boxcar, which was built in Germany and sent to Belgium as part of World War I reparations. After invading Belgium in 1940, Hitler’s forces seized the entire rail system, including this car, for military use.

No documentation exists on whether the Dallas rail car, installed in 1984 in the basement of the Jewish Community Center, transported Jews to their deaths. But to the local survivors who were part of those harrowing journeys, that didn’t matter. As Jacobs told museum visitors up until his death in 2014: His group had reclaimed an artifact that was not just one of the most iconic symbols of the Holocaust but was their reality.

Already more than a half century old when it arrived, the boxcar was twice torn apart and reconfigured in Dallas — many of its pieces stored or thrown out. Altered first to fit into the JCC basement, the rail car was reconfigured again in 2005 to occupy a spot in the museum’s 6,000-square-foot West End space.

As plans took shape for the new 55,000-square-foot Dallas Holocaust and Human Rights Museum, stakeholders and staff considered acquiring an intact World War IIera boxcar to replace its ramshackle original — but wisely chose to stick with their own.

The “basement boxcar,” broken down as it might be, is the link to the local survivors’ original vision for a Holocaust museum. And it is revered by many in the community, including the scores of parents and grandparents who saw the rail car as kids and who have since accompanied their own children on school field trips to the museum.

Like many longtime North Texas residents, Siebler first saw the weathered red boxcar three decades ago in the JCC basement, and his voice broke as he described his first encounter with this “accessory to murder.”

Trains have entranced Siebler all his life. “I have this wonderful memory of them bringing family members to me, not taking family away — and certainly not taking families away to their deaths.”

Years later he heard the atrocities that his father witnessed during his World War II service and the horror stories of one of his wife’s inlaws. When the Germans invaded her Polish homeland in 1939, she fled with her Jewish family to Russia, where they were deported to a forced labor camp. It wasn’t the

Holocaust, but as the family member described it, death was always around the corner in the Gulags.

Siebler says that the boxcar restoration has challenged him to grow at every turn — not just technically but emotionally and spiritually.

“The history, the images and the personal stories I’ve heard from those who lived through it are never far from my being.”

Because of the boxcar’s repeated teardowns, Siebler first had to gather the many random pieces that had been stored through the decades and determine what had been tossed out or lost.

“There was no roadmap for putting it all together — it was a game of architectural sleuthing to find the holes,” Siebler said. About 58 percent of the final boxcar will be original and the other 42 percent created with period-appropriate materials and using tools and processes from 100 years ago.

Siebler hired more than 30 artists and craftspeople to help and he’s adamant about extending credit to each of them. For example, Fort Worth craftsman Dennis Manske has spent countless hours shaping 100-year-old timber needed to fill gaps in the boxcar.

Manske brings his own personal mission to the restoration.

His mother was German and his grandfather was a tank commander in Hitler’s army. His parents met in Berlin, where his dad was stationed in the U.S. Air Force. That heritage makes him passionate about getting the work just right: “I feel an emotional attachment to it — like I’m doing something to make a difference, especially in today’s climate.”

Understanding the history of the Holocaust is a requirement for each member of Siebler’s team. “Everybody who has worked on this is sensitive to what the project is and recognizes that while this boxcar may not have carried human cargo to the killing centers, even if it was hauling freight for the Nazis, it was enabling other cars to transport Jews.”

Siebler’s name is well known in North Texas historic restoration circles. His work includes the Pilot Grove Church and the MKT Depot and flatcar at Dallas Heritage Village and Dallas’ Sharrock-Niblo log cabin. He has a shelf’s-worth of local preservation awards; in May, his restoration of the Lawrence Farmstead outbuildings in Mesquite will receive Preservation Dallas’ Gail Thoma Patterson Award.

Local documentary filmmaker Mark Birnbaum, who has chronicled several of Siebler’s projects, said it’s impossible to overstate the significance of the boxcar work.

“Every marking from the original car, every board, every piece of steel that Ron has endeavored to preserve ... It’s just a great honor to be associated with it.”

Mary Pat Higgins, museum president and CEO, said Siebler’s North Texas roots — as well as his talent and resume — made him the perfect fit for the boxcar project. “Ron has been a consummate artisan but, more than that, a caretaker of this artifact that is so precious to us.”

Her hope is that the restored boxcar will fulfill the wishes of those 150 survivors — to build empathy as visitors better understand that “the Holocaust is not a European story or a Jewish story but a humanity story.”

Siebler acknowledged he’s sleeping a little easier in the last week or so as the installation work wraps up.

“But there will never be another opportunity that is this personal, this challenging and this important.”

NEWS

A8 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

South Dakota man retires after 50 years driving school buses SHELLY CONLON

Argus Leader‌

HARRISBURG, S.D. — ‌ When a fire ripped through George’s Service station in 1972, longtime Harrisburg resident George VanDenHul rushed into the flames to grab what may have been the most important thing to him at the time.

A set of keys to a school bus resting too close to the fire for comfort.

Five years prior, VanDenHul had started the Harrisburg School District’s first busing system in a town with one school and about 300 people, and he wanted to protect his $3,400 investment in that effort.

He didn’t know at the time that driving children to and from school in that bus every day would become a 50-year career.

And because of the fire, it almost hadn’t, he said.

“I don’t know if the bus would’ve got destroyed or not,” VanDenHul said.

“Either way, I somehow would’ve pulled it out I think.”

But by then, he had already fallen in love with serving children who needed help getting to and from school every day, he said.

The 80-year-old retired from school bus driving recently following some recent health concerns.

City officials declared Feb. 28 George VanDenHul Day as friends and family as far away as Kansas held a reception for him and former students waved goodbye to him on a bus ride home, the Argus Leader reported.

“It was very clear when his bus of students stopped at his social event that they missed him. He knew them all by name,” district communications director JoAnne VerMulm said. “I had students come up to me and tell me George was their mom or dad’s bus driver when they were in school.

They wanted to know when he was coming back.”

But VanDenHul is modest when it comes to his life and contributions to Harrisburg

LOREN TOWNSLEY‌

George VanDenHul hugs his former bus riders, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2019 in Harrisburg, S.D. Harrisburg is dedicating an entire day to George VanDenHul. in the last half-century. He often keeps his sentences short, not saying more than necessary.

Beyond starting the district’s first bus system, VanDenHul was also a mechanic and bar owner.

He owned a race car and chased hot air balloons. He ran the town’s hardware store, coached local baseball teams, delivered fuel to the co-op in Canton and served as the city’s volunteer fire chief for a bit, he and his supporters said.

VanDenHul even helped organize the first Harrisburg Days in the late ‘60s, when the town didn’t have the fastest-growing school district in the state, he said.

That’s when the fire department sponsored tractor pulls, street dances and barbecues. And he helped raise money for the town’s original baseball diamond.

But his connection with the children is what kept him coming back year after year, he said.

And that time has allowed

him to see his beloved Harrisburg School District expand to what it is today with more than 4,700 students.

“It was a job,” he said.

“And I got attached to the kids. That was a big deal. I just enjoyed it.”

After the fire, he rebuilt the station. The bus he started with, he drove to North Carolina to pick up, he said. He owned the chassis, while the district owned the bus, he said. Today, that bus could cost at least $100,000, VanDenHul said in a press release from the school district.

He’s driven at least three generations of Harrisburg students to and from school each day, he said. And he’s seen the district grow from five bus routes to today’s 23.

“I don’t know anybody no more,” he said. “I used to know everybody.”

His days started early, and the last few years he had a route of about 40 minutes, eight stops and 70 students.

Ask him what his favorite moment has been, and he’ll

only tell you, “There’s so many, I could write a book on them.”

And though he wouldn’t go into too much detail about any antics his students did while he drove, he did admit he had to pull the bus over a couple times to settle the rowdy ones. One instance even included a student who tried to jump out of a window, he said.

“Most of the time I’d just greet them good morning.

Some of them wouldn’t say nothing, and some of them would say good morning back to you,” VanDenHul said. “I had one little girl come on. She was a second-grader. She said, ‘You saw my grandpa on the bus.’

It made me feel old.”

And VanDenHul’s greetings meant as much to his students as they did to him.

Fifth-grader Carter Stein has known the bus driver for about the last four years, Stein said.

“We haven’t had him drive our bus since about last year, but I was always happy to see him,” Stein said.

VanDenHul would give his students candy canes or a little treat every Christmas, which was heartwarming, Stein said. Stein, thankful for VanDenHul’s polite demeanor, said his bus driver taught him to always be kind even on the rough days.

“I’m going to miss his smile,” Stein said. “I would always ask him does he like his job. He was like, ‘Yes.’ Then I asked him what his favorite part about his job was, and he was just like, ‘Just seeing all the kids,” with a big smile.”

When VanDenHul had to undergo a six-hour pancreatic surgery more than a year ago, he had to take a leave of absence, he said. The district was gracious enough to leave his job open for his return, but ultimately VanDenHul decided it was best not to,

he said.

“I decided I better not. I didn’t trust myself,” he said.

“It was tough, but I’ve got some other problems, too.”

As VanDenHul looks back on the last 50 years, he said he’s grateful for the friends he has made and hopes he’s had a positive impact.

“I don’t know,” VanDenHul said. “I’m just glad they got to school safe and home safe.”

He wants to remain involved in the community as he enters retirement, but how VanDenHul spends his days will depend on his health, he said. With a bit of a green thumb, he is also looking forward to working in his garden, his daughter Julie Ruud said in a press release from the school district.

Right now, though, he’ll just focus on one thing at a time.

“At about 1 p.m., I’ll take my nap,” he said.

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NEWS

TIMES-NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019 |

A9

ST. PATRICK’S DAY

A look at the luckiest day of the year by the numbers

$3.6

$5.3

$4.4

$4.8

$4.6

$4.7

$4.5

$3.4

YOU

$3.3

TOP OF THE MORNING TO

$4.1

A look at how much Americans spend for St. Patrick’s Day: (in billions)

Projected: $5.6

$5.9

Spending

’09

’11

’13

’15

’17

’19

Top purchases The leading planned St. Patrick’s Day purchases for 2019: Food (49%) Beverages (40%) Apparel or accessories (29%) Decorations (23%) Candy (16%) Greeting cards (9%)

Shamrock or blarney?

Irish ancestry by state

An Irish shamrock is a wildflower, but the ones sold in U.S. flower shops are often impostors, clover-like sorrels easily grown in greenhouses.

More than 15 percent

Gifts (6%)

11-14.9 percent

8-10.9 percent

Less than 8 percent

Celebrations 55%

‘Original’ Irish shamrock  “Shamrock” comes from the Irish “seamrog” or little clover.  Probably closest to today’s trifolium repens (white clover), which originated in Europe.  May have a triangular mark (a crescent or watermark) on upper surface.  White flowers, sometimes with pink hue.

Plan on celebrating

10%

Claim Irish ancenstry

Familiar shamrock Oxalis acetosella (wood sorrel) is a variety sold often for St. Patrick’s Day.

Why shamrocks?

According to legend, St. Patrick used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to Christian converts in Ireland.

— Tribune News Service

Number of Irish immigrants who traveled to the U.S. between 1820 and 1930.

Baby names

GIRLS

BOYS Rank

Ireland

United States

Rank

Ireland

United States

A look at the top baby names in Ireland and the United States for 2018:

1

Jack

Jackson

1

Emily

Sophia

2

James

Liam

2

Grace

Olivia

3

Noah

Noah

3

Emma

Emma

4

Conor

Aiden

4

Sophie

Ava

Sources: BabyCenter, Central Statistics Office

5

Daniel

Caden

5

Amelia

Isabella

4.8 million Total population of Ireland in 2018.

1762 The year of the first St. Patrick’s Day parade in New York City.

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, irishcentral.com, history.com, National Retail Federation Tribune News Service, Lee Enterprises graphics

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81%

Will wear green

4.5 million

 Three heart-shaped leaf-

lets; easily mistaken for clover, but leaves are paler green, softer.  Folds easily at midrib; many plants fold leaves up at night.  White or pink flowers.

15%

Will go to a party

WE BELIEVE we are stronger together.

FROM THE FRONT PAGE

A10 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

BRIEFS

Oakley Valley Arts Council scholarships ‌OAKLEY — The Oakley Valley Arts Council invites 2019 graduating seniors who have been involved in the arts and OVAC to apply for the Johnson Memorial Scholarship.

Two $250 scholarships will be presented to two deserving area seniors. The form is available from your school counselor and must be postmarked no later than March 25. For more information, call 208-677-2787.

This scholarship is in memory of Aaron and Gloria Johnson who were killed in an automobile accident. They enjoyed the arts and were actively involved with the Oakley Valley Arts Council.

Workforce Development offers NFPA 70E Training TIMES-NEWS

‌ WIN FALLS — The College of T Southern Idaho Workforce Development and Training Department will offer NFPA 70E Training from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. March 28 in the Health Science and Human Services Building, Room 151, on North College Road. The cost is $499 per person.

Electrical hazards are the root of countless injuries and fatalities at work. That’s why the Occupational Health and Safety Administration tapped the National Fire Protection Association to develop

DeMary Library Booknotes

Sex ed

Beta Sigma Phi holds queens luncheon ‌TWIN FALLS — The Magic Valley chapters of Beta Sigma Phi met recently for the annual Queens event at Norm’s Catering Room for a luncheon and heart-shaped cookies.

Chapter queens were selected — Lori Steadham of the Jerome Laureate Alpha Zeta and Bertie Lee Marvel of the Twin Falls Preceptor Alpha Kappa.

If any woman is interested in more information about Beta Sigma Phi, call Jeanne at 208-420-0897.

„„ Training that will include electrical safety theory as well as opportunities to demonstrate and practice these critical skills „„ NFPA 70E Reference Guide, with extensive notes, to use during the course and on the job site „„ Eight hours of industry related CEU credits through the Idaho Division of Building Safety for licensed electricians „„ Certification of completion provided by CSI Workforce Development and Training Instructor Jake Ball has spent the past 18 years working as a

From A1

RICHFIELD — Beginning ‌ March 18, Richfield first- and second-graders and seventh- and eighth-graders are scheduled to receive free dental sealants and fluoride varnish to help prevent cavities, as part of Delta Dental of Idaho’s Grins-on-the-Go program.

Dental sealants fill the deep grooves of the back teeth where 90 percent of cavities occur. Fluoride varnish helps protect the smooth surfaces of teeth.

To receive these free cavity-prevention treatments, children must attend Richfield elementary and middle schools and have a parent or guardian sign a health history and permission form — available from the schools.

Grins-on-the-Go clinics take place on-site at schools. There is no cost for the service; Medicaid or private insurance is not billed.

For more information, call Delta Dental Community Outreach at 208-489-3541.

‌RUPERT — New items at the DeMary Memorial Library: Fiction: “Almost Home� by Valerie Fraser Luesse. The things that tear us apart can also bring us together.

Fiction: “In The Shadow of Croft Towers� by Abigail Wilson.

Croft Towers holds more than its share of secrets‌and Sybil is determined to uncover them all.

Fiction: “My Heart Belongs in the Blue Ridge� by Pepper Basham. A British missionary meets a chilly welcome in a remote Appalachian Community.

Mystery: “A Justified Murder�

by Jude Deveraux Mystery: “Death in Provence�

by Serena Kent Fiction: “Far Side of the Sea� by Kate Breslin Mystery: “The Coffee Club Mysteries� by Darlene Franklin LP-Fiction: “When You Are Near� by Tracie Peterson LP-Fiction: “Never Tell� by Lisa Gardner LP-Western: “Knight’s Odyssey� by W. Michael Farmer

complementary standards for electrical workplace safety.

This course will equip participants with knowledge and practical skills to help keep themselves and others safe in an industrial environment where electrical hazards could exist. It is ideal for any individual who works on or around electrical equipment and for those who oversee these personnel. Completion of this course will establish employees as qualified persons under OSHA and NFPA standards.

Walk away with:

Teach district spokeswoman Eva Craner said. There’s no agreement in place between Teach for America and the Twin Falls School District, she said.

A couple of years ago, Jerome School District Superintendent Dale Layne heard about Teach for America and contacted the organization.

The Jerome School District was — and still is — being impacted by a statewide teacher shortage and Layne was looking for other options for finding teachers.

Teach for America officials came to visit, Layne said. “I learned at this time that they were only in the Treasure Valley.�

Layne said he hasn’t had much contact with Teach for America since then. But about a month ago, Jerome School District curriculum director Janet Avery was among the group of Magic Valley school leaders that attended the meeting with Teach for America.

Layne said his understanding is there would be some costs to working with Teach for America, such as paying for the organization to provide some of the teacher mentoring support. But he said he’d certainly

Richfield students can receive free dental sealants

Times-News

From A1

the standards,� SDE spokeswoman Kris Rodine said, but districts decide how to teach those standards and they don’t have to submit their curriculum choices to the state. “The assumption is that whatever they adopt meets the standards,� Rodine said.

Those standards include topics such as puberty, STDs and pregnancy prevention.

The specifics of how health and sex ed are taught look different depending on where a student is enrolled.

In the Parma School District, fifth-grade students watch a onehour video on puberty and parents are given a chance to opt their students out, superintendent Jim Norton said.

Students in eighth grade and at the high school level take a combined health and P.E. class. Norton says the topics in the health class follow state standards and are abstinence-based.

In the Bonneville School District, curriculum director Jason Lords said fifth-grade students are invited to watch a video after school. Parents are invited to screen the video beforehand, and if they don’t want their child to see it, they don’t come to the viewing. “It’s all opt-in,� Lords said of the video.

At the middle and high school level, Lords said teachers focus on abstinence, and “they would probably not spend a ton of time on STD and HIV just because of the stigma with teaching that content.�

Practical concerns‌

Neither Lords or Norton are in favor of the opt-in bill, largely be-

PAT SUTPHIN, TIMES-NEWS FILE PHOTO‌

State Superintendent Sherri Ybarra plays basketball with students at recess as she visits schools during her listening tour in November 2018 at Rock Creek Elementary School in Twin Falls. consider working with Teach for America if they expanded into the Magic Valley.

Idaho’s teacher shortage is hitting south-central Idaho the hardest, particularly in rural areas. With fewer applicants for teaching jobs, schools are increasingly hiring people who don’t have traditional teaching credentials in order to fill vacancies. Teach for America is among the alternative options for filling teaching jobs.

Teach for America in Idaho started in its first year working with the Nampa, Caldwell and Homedale school districts, with 12 teachers in total. “We’ve slowly expanded,� Ashton said.

Teach for America wasn’t seek-

ing to grow beyond its initial three school districts, he said, but interest grew via word-of-mouth.

Now, Teach for America teachers are in 23 Idaho schools, including expansion over time beyond the initial three school districts to also include Payette, Weiser and Melba school districts, and a charter school in Garden City that serves low-income students.

Across the United States, Teach for America corps members are recent college graduates and professionals who commit to teach for two years.

Teach for America is about 30 years old, and has a rigorous recruitment and selection process to attract “exceptionally talented folks� who have the potential to be

cause of its ambiguity.

They join a strong showing of educators who have come out opposed to the legislation as written.

That list includes the Idaho Education Association and the Idaho School Boards Association, which opposes the bill “on the grounds that it is overly vague, will create barriers to important sex education classes and could be burdensome to teachers and administrators.�

The Bonneville and Parma administrators point to language in the bill that requires written parental permission for “any instruction or presentation regarding sexuality,� without clarifying what “sexuality� means in that context.

Norton wonders if that includes high school biology courses. Lords wonders if this includes history classes on ancient Greece or Rome that might include historical artwork of nude people. “I just think it opens the door to a number of issues that could be interpreted in different ways by different people,� Norton said.

When asked about the bill’s language in a February committee hearing, Ehardt said the bill was written to be broad enough to capture sex-related education not just in health class, but “in the many different places this subject matter tends to be taught.� “As far as sexuality, it’s one of those interesting definitions,�

Ehardt said. â€œâ€ŚIt’s hard to describe it, but you know it when you see it.â€?

She said it would include things such as human development, education on pregnancy, family planning, sexually transmitted diseases and situations involving the act of sex.

Ehardt’s bill doesn’t include this definition.

For comparison, Utah’s law is far more explicit about things a parent

is required to “opt-in� to, including discussions or instruction on sexual abstinence, anatomy, pregnancy, contraception and human sexuality.

Jodi Kaufman, the health and physical education specialist for the Utah State Board of Education said her state does not collect statewide data on the number of students who opt-in to sex ed.

But from what she’s seen, the vast majority of parents chose to allow their kids to take sex education instruction. “Even in our most conservative areas, most parents opt their children in,� Kaufman said.

FORM A RELAY

FOR LIFE TEAM

Teen sexual health in Idaho‌ It’s hard to say how “opt-in� policies might impact the number of Idaho kids who would receive sex education.

In fact, it’s hard to say how many kids in Idaho are actually learning about sexual health right now. The state does not keep data on the number of students who opt out of sex education, Rodine said.

While opt-in and opt-out data are hard to come by, data on teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases shines some light on the state of teen sexual health in Idaho.

When it comes to teen pregnancy, Idaho fares moderately.

In 2015, the U.S. Department of Health and Human services said Idaho had the 25th highest teen birth rate in the country.

Some, but not all, of the opt-in states had more teen births that year. Nevada and Arizona had the 13th and 15th highest teen birth rates, respectively. But Utah, another Western opt-in state, had a much lower teen birth rate and

technician, consultant and training instructor in various industrial fields. He has a bachelor’s of science in network design and management, as well as current master electrician licenses in many western states. Ball is also approved as an instructor for NFPA NEC code courses through the state of Idaho.

Class size is limited, so early registration is suggested. To register, call 208-732-6344 or go to workforce.csi.edu or visit the CSI Workforce Development and Training Center.

leaders in education, Ashton said.

About 85 percent, he said, weren’t planning to go into education or become teachers.

The organization serves 51 regions across the country. In about a week, a conference with Teach for America’s 16 rural regions will be held in Idaho, Ashton said.

Corp members’ initial training is generally a summer institute that spans five to eight weeks.

During their two years of teaching, Idaho corps members receive support through Teach for America and complete additional coursework through Boise State University. Some corps members choose to enroll at universities to pursue a master’s degree.

Corps members operate on a temporary teaching license, but receive a permanent, renewable license by the end of their second year teaching, Ashton said.

Teach for America has faced some criticism. Critics say idealistic college graduates who think they can change the world are sent into tough classrooms after only weeks of training.

However, 85 percent of alumni continue working in education or with low-income communities once their two-year commitment ends, according to Teach for America’s website.

ranked 38th in teen births in 2015.

Another indicator of teen sexual activity in the state is the rate of sexually transmitted diseases.

Rates for some sexually transmitted diseases, including gonorrhea and chlamydia, have been climbing over the past two decades, according to Idaho Department of Health and Welfare data.

In 2017, STDs among teenagers made up only a small share of the reports statewide, with the exception of chlamydia. Roughly 30 percent of all chlamydia cases in 2017 were reported among the 15- to 19-year-old age group, more than 1,800 cases in total.

Scott Nedrow, an Idaho Falls parent, thinks one way to combat STD and teen pregnancy rates is to make sex education accessible for students in schools.

The parent of 5-year-old twins and an 8-year-old, Nedrow is not in favor of the “opt-in� bill. “This is cover for trying to remove any sex education at all,�

Nedrow told EdNews. “...I’m concerned that it will promote risky behavior, more STDs, more pregnancies.�

Many parents, including some in the Statehouse, sway the other way.

Rep. Tammy Nichols, R-Middleton, stood during last week’s floor debate to voice her support for the opt-in bill.

She pointed out that she already has to give permission for a number of things at her children’s school, from Internet use to sports. In her district, she said, it is “very simple� to walk through the opt-in process. “This subject is a very emotional and very personal subject,� Nichols said. “As a parent I want to be able to exercise the rights as to what my children are learning, what they’re being able to do in their schools.�

Be a team captain with your friends, coworkers, family members!

You are provided with all the literature and team information you will need.

The goal is to raise funds before and during the event, plus teams can decorate their tent site with a Hollywood theme.

Twin Falls Relay for Life Friday, May 17th, 2019 | 6pm-midnight | Canyon Ridge High School Theme: LIGHTS, CAMERA, ACTION, FOR A CURE! Survivor Ceremony, Luminaria, Silent Auction, Live Music & Entertainment

Visit www.relayforlife.org/twinfallsid to register your team (208) 751-3311

M 1

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | A11

Times-News

COMMUNITY

We want your news and photos, to put in front of thousands of Times-News and Magicvalley.com readers. To submit: Magicvalley.com/community, or email frontdoor@magicvalley.com. By mail: The Times-News, attn: Community, PO Box 548, Twin Falls ID 83301

ASK POLICEMAN DAN

SOMEBODY NEEDS YOU ‌Volunteers — St. Luke’s Home Health and Hospice is looking for new volunteers to join its team to share compassion and increase the quality of life for patients and their families. This program is designed to offer companionship and socialization to patients as well as respite and support for the caregivers. Information: Marie Sharp, 208-814-7603 or sharpm@slhs.org.

Volunteers — Horizon Home Health and Hospice is looking for volunteers to join their team to provide quality compassionate care to patients through the following activities: companionship, socialization, respite, and support for patients and families.

Information: Cynthia Nixon, 208-800-8085 or cnixon@horizonhh.com.

Volunteers — Encompass Hospice’s work can be supported by volunteers in many ways.

Patients need compassionate volunteers to provide companionship, caregiver respite, light housekeeping, shopping or yard work.

Veterans are needed to make a connection of shared experiences that only a Veteran to Veteran can share. Information: Cindy, 208733-8600 or ckeithley@ehhi.com.

Volunteers — CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is in need of volunteers for children in foster care in the community. Volunteers commit to 8-10 hours per month, stay with the child for the duration of the case and is the voice of the child in court proceedings. Background checks and extensive trainings are provided. Information: 208-735-1177.

Volunteers — The Twin Falls Senior Center, 530 Shoshone St. W., needs drivers to deliver meals to homebound seniors in Twin Falls, Monday through Friday. The routes take an hour or less to complete.

Volunteers must be 18 and older with their own car, have proof of liability insurance, and complete a background check. Drivers receive 58 cents per mile fuel reimbursement. The senior center also needs dining room attendants from 11 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Submitting is fast and easy

Better cover those tires

Want to help?

This public service column is designed to match needs in the Magic Valley with volunteer help.

If your organization needs a volunteer, submit information to ramona@magicvalley.com before 5 p.m. Wednesday for Sunday’s publication.

‌Q

Monday through Friday to help with dining room set-up, beverage service, clearing tables and general cleanup. Information: 208-734-5084.

Volunteers — The West End Senior Center, 1010 Main St., Buhl, is looking for fulltime volunteers to deliver home-delivered meals on Mondays. Drivers leave the center at 11 a.m. and meal deliveries take about one hour. Information: 208-543-4577.

Volunteers — The Ageless Senior Center, 310 Main St. N., Kimberly, is in need of volunteers to deliver meals and to help in the dining room along with other assistance. Information: 208-423-4338.

Volunteers — The Golden Heritage Senior Center, 2421 Overland Ave., Burley, is looking for volunteers to support the Meals on Wheels program. Volunteers are needed to deliver meals to homebound seniors and also to assist in the kitchen and office for three to five hours a day and from one to five days a week. Information: 208-878-8646 or 208-431-3526.

Volunteers — Habitat for Humanity of the Magic Valley and the ReStore are seeking adult volunteers. Opportunities are available at the ReStore for volunteers to provide general customer service and drivers are needed to pick up donations. Enjoy an hour or spend the day helping. Information: 208-735-1233 or ReStore or the Habitat office, 669 Eastland Drive S., Twin Falls.

: I got stopped for my tires being too wide so I put mud flaps on my truck. I got stopped again and told that my tires were too wide. I thought all I’ll that I had to do was put mud flaps on to be legal. What do I actually have to do to make my truck DAN legal?—Rick BRISTOL A: Well first there is the naturalization system where you start to make your truck a legal citizen. Then there is ... just another bad joke for the readers out there complaining about my jokes.

The first thing we do is go to the Idaho code that you were most likely violating. Idaho code 49-949 (1) reads: “It shall be unlawful for any person to operate or move or any owner to permit to be operated or moved, any motor vehicle, truck, bus, semitrailer or trailer, upon any highway without having the vehicle equipped with fenders or covers which may include flaps or splash aprons, over and to the rear of wheels.”

The tricky part in reading this is that it says may include mud flaps. That does not mean that having mud flaps only makes your truck legal.

Your tires still have to be covered.

Mud flaps are required for semi-trucks but they are not required for vintage-certified vehicles.

Here is what is required for your truck to be legal from Idaho code 49-949 (2): “Fenders or covers, as used in subsection (1) of this section, shall be deemed to be of sufficient size and construction as to comply with those requirements if constructed as follows: (a) When measured on the cross sections of the tread of the wheel or on the combined cross sections of the treads of multiple wheels, the fender or cover extends at least to each side of the width of the tire or of the combined width of the multiple tires, as the case may be; (b) The fender or cover is constructed as to be capable at all times of arresting and deflecting dirt, mud, water, or other substance as may be picked up and carried by wheels.”

If I wanted to get technical

I could tell you that if a yardstick was placed on the fender and it touched any of the tread that could be deemed illegal. The main reason you were stopped, I believe, is that your tires stuck out enough to be considered a safety hazard.

I don’t think even you would want a rock flipped up into your windshield by a tire that was too wide.

Officer down‌

Please put these officers killed in the line of duty and their families in your prayers.

They fought the good fight, now may they rest in peace.

God bless these heroes.

Police Officer Nathan Hayden Heidelberg, Midland Police, Texas Deputy Sheriff Jacob Keltner, McHenry County Sheriff, Illinois Have a question for Policeman Dan? Email your question(s) to policemandan@ cableone.net or look for Ask Policemandan on Facebook and click the like button. Mail to: Box 147, Heyburn, Idaho 83336 Dan Bristol is the City of Heyburn Chief of Police.

Magic Valley’s Distinguished Young Women program Tuesday Workforce ‌TWIN FALLS — The Distinguished Young Women of Magic Valley program will be held at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Roper Auditorium at Twin Falls High School, 1615 Filer Ave. E. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door.

The Distinguished Young Women, formerly America’s Junior Miss Program, is a national scholarship program that inspires high school girls to develop their full potential by providing college scholarships, developing self-confidence, encouraging academic achievement fitness, and performance and communication skills.

Contestants from Magic Valley high schools will compete in areas of scholastic achievement, interview, fitness, self-expression and talent.

This program was reinstated in the Magic Valley area by Kristina Nye, a senior at Buhl High School, in 2009 when she chaired and organized the event as her senior project.

This year marks the 10th anniversary of the event and previous winners will be appearing and performing.

Grace Solomon, daughter of Korey and Natasha Solomon of Kimberly, was chosen as the Distinguished Young Woman of Magic Valley in March 2018 at Buhl High School. She was also first alternate at the state

Solomon

Anderson

Call

Castellanos

Crapo

Henderson

Hodges

Huber

Nebeker

Ohlensehlen

Parker

Stevens

program held October 2018 in Idaho Falls. She received more than $7,500 in scholarships and is currently a senior at Kimberly High School.

Contestants for this year include: Buhl High School: Miranda Anderson, daughter of Todd and Kara Anderson, will present art for her talent.

Bailey Call, daughter of Lindsay Call and Jasmine Call,

will perform martial arts.

Brynlee Nebeker, daughter of David and Jenny Nebeker, will present a poetry monologue.

Filer High School: Madie Parker, daughter of Cole and Shelly Parker, will perform a piano number.

Jerome High School: Sydney Ohlensehlen, daughter of Jim and Wendy Ohlensehlen, will perform a dance.

Kimberly High School: Gabrielle Crapo, daughter of Lindsay Rae, Trevor and Catherine Crapo, will perform a vocal piece.

Twin Falls High School: Abbie Stevens, daughter of William and Holly Stevens, will perform ballet.

Wendell High School: Hannah Henderson, daughter of Heath and Valeen Henderson, will perform a dance.

Xavier Charter School: Adriana Castellanos, daughter of Billy and Danielle Salts, will perform gymnastics.

Lauren Hodges, daughter of Adam and Mandy Hodges, will present a vocal number.

Halle Huber, daughter of Darren and Emily Huber, will play guitar and perform a vocal piece.

Distinguished Young Women of Idaho is an official preliminary for the national program and provides cash scholarships to high school senior girls throughout the state of Idaho.

One young woman is selected among 38 participants to represent the state and compete for more than $150,000 at the national finals in Mobile, Ala. Co-chairs for the local program are Paula Weeks, Brittney Dimond and Karmelle Nye. For more information, contact magicvalley@distinguishedyw.org.

Development offers HR Series Session 4 Training TIMES-NEWS

‌TWIN FALLS — The College of Southern Idaho Workforce Development and Training Department will offer HR Series Session 4 Training from 3 to 5 p.m. March 21 in the Health Science and Human Services Building, Room 150, on North College Road. The cost is $75 per person.

In this class, students will learn how being a better leader is critical to being a better supervisor. The class will center on two concepts — relationship management and results management — and how the two concepts must work together. Using this base, students will learn how the mindset will help with supervisory practices such as hiring, coaching and corrective action. Earn SHRM/HRCI credits upon request.

Instructor Mark Stevens is the owner and CEO of The Square and the Triangle/Coaching and HR Consulting Inc. He teaches leadership development, management practices and training, employee engagement, applied employment law, anti-harassment and more. Stevens has nearly 20 years of management and human resources experience across multiple industries and multiple states. For more information, go to thesquareandthetriangle.com.

Class size is limited, so early registration is suggested. To register, call 208732-6344 or go to workforce.csi.edu or visit the CSI Workforce Development and Training Center.

BRIEFS

Workforce Development offers Excel data training

Celebration set for American Legion’s 100th birthday

day of each month at the Paul City Hall Building. The next meeting is 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, March 20.

At each meeting a different topic on coins and collecting is taught ‌TWIN FALLS — The College of and discussed. ‌FILER — The Filer American Southern Idaho Workforce DevelInformation: Neil Ritchie, vice Legion Post 47 will celebrate the opment and Training Department president, at 208-878-2844.

American Legion’s 100th birthwill offer Excel: Get Results from day. A dinner will begin at 6 p.m.

Data Training from 3 to 5 p.m.

Tuesday at the American Legion March 21 in the Health Science and Hall, 207 Main St., Filer. A proHuman Services Building, Room gram will follow on the history of 229, on North College Road. The the American Legion. cost is $60 per person.

All veterans, their family memThis course will improve your bers and anyone who had a veteran ability to manipulate data. Start family member are invited to atby working alongside the instructor tend. For reservations, call 208to discover the subtotal command ‌TWIN FALLS — The College of 326-5149 and leave a message. which will help you easily summa- Southern Idaho Workforce Develrize your data. Then learn to create opment and Training Department a structured table in Excel which will offer Excel Pivot Tables and provides five great benefits for Pivot Charts Training from 3 to data analysis: structured formula 5 p.m. March 28 in the Health Scireferences, autofill formulas, quick ence and Human Services Building, summation using the total row, sort Room 229, on North College Road. and filter capabilities enhanced The cost is $60 per person. ‌BURLEY — A post of the Ameriformatting.

Work alongside the instructor in can Legion will honor outstanding Class size is limited. To register, this course to create and use a pivot Burley residents Tuesday, March call 208-732-6344 or go to work- table, one of Excel’s most powerful 26 at the Burley Senior Center. force.csi.edu or visit the CSI Work- features. Analyze large sets of data The American Legion Burforce Development and Training quickly and easily by using slicers ley Post 17 will honor the Burley Center. and datelines. Then present your Teacher of the Year, Police Officer data pictorially by learning how to of the Year and Firefighter of the create and use a pivot chart.

Year from 6-7 p.m. at the center, Class size is limited, so early reg- 2421 Overland Ave. The commuistration is suggested. To register, nity is invited to the event, which call 208-732-6344 or go to work- will also celebrate the 100th ‌PAUL — The Empty Pockets Coin force.csi.edu or visit the CSI Work- birthday of the American Legion.

Club is accepting new members. force Development and Training Information: Sue at 208-312The club meets the third Wednes- Center.

0655.

Workforce Development offers Excel pivot tables and charts training

American Legion salutes community members

Coin club seeks new members

M 1

Alexandra Black named to Hamilton College dean’s list

Minidoka 4-H teens plan bingo fundraiser

‌CLINTON, N.Y. — Alexandra Black, of Hailey, has been named to the dean’s list for the 2018 fall semester at Hamilton College in Clinton, N.Y. Black, a sophomore, is a graduate of Holderness School.

To be recognized on the dean’s list, a student must have carried throughout the semester a course load of four or more graded credits with an average of 3.5 or above.

RUPERT — The Minidoka ‌ County 4-H Teen Association will hold a bingo fundraiser at 1 p.m. March 23 in the McGregor Center at the Minidoka County Fairgrounds, 85 E. Baseline Road.

Ten games will be played. The cost for the three-game card is $10 and the six-game card is $20.

All ages are welcome.

The event will also include a potato bar, raffle, prizes, grab bags and refreshments.

Information: Jeni Bywater at 208-436-7184 or jbywater@ uidaho.edu.

Washington State University announces their honor roll ‌PULLMAN, Wash. — Sydney Almgren of Filer has been named to Washington State University’s president’s honor roll for the 2018 fall semester.

Undergraduate students are eligible for the honor roll by enrolling in a minimum of nine graded hours in a single term at Washington State and earning a grade point average of 3.75 or earning a 3.50 cumulative GPA based on 15 cumulative hours of graded work.

‘After Fifties’ Filer High School alumni sought FILER — The Filer High ‌ School After Fifties Alumni is seeking new members. People who graduated from Filer High School before 1970 are welcome to join. If you would like to become a member and attend the group’s luncheon in June, call Christine (Slatter) Curry at 208886-7732 or email jim-chris@ curry.us.

A12 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

•

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OPINION

Times-News

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | B1

SUNDAY, March 17, 2019 | magicvalley.com | SECTION B

Idaho’s new mantra, Fix Medicaid now

‌“W

e have to do something about Medicaid before we can go home.” This is the mantra of members of the Idaho Legislature, primarily from those who are still stinging from the fact that the voters took control of Idaho’s health coverage gap problem after years of legislative inaction, and from others who fail to question this legislative COURTNEY groupthink.

SWANTEK This Thursday, March 14, Idaho physicians will gather at the Statehouse to tell legislators they have one thing to do related to Medicaid expansion, pass the Medicaid budget.

The new Medicaid law, passed by 365,107 Idahoans, directed the State to submit the necessary paperwork to allow Idaho to expand Medicaid to those Idahoans who fall in the health insurance coverage gap. The plan was completed and submitted in February. Check. Governor Little has already proposed the funding mechanism, which was approved unanimously by the joint budget committee.

Check. The Senate already approved the budget. Now it needs to be passed by the House and they can check that box and go home having fulfilled their legislative duty when it comes to Medicaid.

Yet legislators feel the need to complicate the issue. They are not exactly sure what they want to do but they are convinced they must do something. Instead of proposing legislation with specific health policy objectives, they have cobbled together a mishmash of bureaucratic hurdles to Medicaid coverage.

The main criteria for inclusion in the current proposal is based on how many votes each idea might garner, not whether it’s good public policy. After weeks of private negotiations among legislative leadership, changes to Medicaid are being made for a purely political reasons: proving to the most intemperate factions of their base they did something about Proposition 2.

Rather than thinking about the needs of Idahoans and developing a plan specific to their constituents, they’ve placed their focus on scanning through Medicaid waivers from other states picking and choosing their favorite obstacles. So-called fiscal conservatives are inexplicably willing to consider policies that add unnecessary costs if it fits their ideology. Some want to inject expensive work reporting requirements, even though voluntary work education and training programs have proven less costly and more effective in helping people move off of government programs. As a physician, I work hard to make sure the medicine I prescribe to my patients is something they need. Legislators should do the same when it comes to policy making. All legislators should want to protect Idahoans from unnecessary government spending and bureaucracy.

Every year for the past 4 years, physicians have met with legislators in March asking them to do something about Medicaid expansion.

This year, instead, we will ask them not to complicate the issue by increasing government red tape and wasting taxpayer dollars. We are calling on all legislators to implement a clean Medicaid expansion and to stop engaging in wasteful political battles.

Legislators should complete the assignment given to them by the voters of Idaho, check the box and go home.

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Courtney Swantek is a medical student at The University of Washington, Idaho Campus.

MODERN LIFE

Sneak Previews

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ne of our least endearing traits as Americans is our stubborn belief that life’s complex problems are actually simple problems. ‌Welfare recipients are lazy.

Drug addicts lack willpower.

The system (pick a system, any system) is rigged.

Racism exists only in the mind of the offended.

Things went to pieces when CHRIS women started HUSTON working. Men are pigs.

I could go on for days, but I don’t have to. Politicians will soon be doing it for me, because everyone’s gearing up for the next presidential election which is only 20 months away.

So as a public service, today’s column brings you a sneak preview of the fuzzy thinking from both parties you’ll soon be swimming in.

Most of what we’ll hear is a form of illogical logic called a false dichotomy. That’s when you apply if/then thinking to situations that are actually far more complex. Politicians love this stuff.

Here are some non-political examples: It’s a fact: One hundred percent of people who drink water will die. Conclusion: Water is

killing us all.

It’s a fact: I saw a light in the sky last night I couldn’t identify. Conclusion: Aliens are invading the Earth.

See how much fun this is?

Let’s try some more.

Democrats say we’re a nation of immigrants. Therefore, Democrats want completely open borders.

President Trump has had several well documented extra-marital affairs. Therefore, Republicans are all anti-women moral hypocrites.

Well, you get the idea.

So here’s my prediction of the political false dichotomies that will be coming soon to a television commercial, internet ad or Facebook post near you.

Here we go: Despite objections, President Trump legally ordered that his son-in-law receive a top-secret security clearance.

Therefore, he is dangerously reckless with the nation’s secrets. Do you want Russia to have our nuclear codes?

By their growing support for Medicare-for-all, Democrats are now all socialists.

Therefore, every flaw in every socialist country on earth can be held up as an example of what Democrats want America to become. Do you want Big Brother in the White House?

Even though immigrants commit crimes at lower rates that American citizens, some will end up committing crimes.

Therefore, immigration must be sharply reduced, or stopped.

Do you want to die?

Since Trump became president, drug addiction rates are at an all time high in America.

Therefore, his defeat in 2020 will save count countless lives.

Don’t you want to live?

There is nothing new in this kind of political campaigning.

It has been around as long as people have been willing to believe that there are simple answers to complex societal problems.

Gay marriage means the death of the family. Poor people are poor because they’re inferior. Somewhere there’s a shadowy group that is secretly keeping everyone else down.

Factory jobs are gone because of greedy business owners.

Okay, enough with the examples.

It seems to me that we have a host of problems facing the country, problems that will require careful thought, and reality-based wisdom to properly address. There will not be simple solutions for any of them.

But our greatest problem isn’t healthcare or immigration or underemployment or

the national debt. It is our willingness to be led by people on both sides of the political aisle who serve up only an oversimplified soup of catchy platitudes every four years instead of offering actual, and potentially painful, solutions to our serious problems. Because in the end, the simplistic thinking they offer will fail, but not until well past the election day that put the clowns in power.

So who’s to blame here? The reality is that the politician who attempts to present a nuanced analysis of a complex problem will be laughed off the debate stage by the candidate who comes up with a zippy phrase that sounds so self-evident that no one stops to realize it’s just more gas in the bag.

Make no mistake, this is our fault, not the politicians, because we’ve chosen to believe every problem is easily solved by a 30-second TV ad or a Facebook post.

After all, an election is a war, and the first casualty of war is truth. And apparently, we’re okay with that.

Chris Huston is semi-retired in the Magic Valley following a 35-year career in broadcast journalism. Connect with him on Facebook, and at chrishustonmodernlife.com.

State superintendent of public instruction is worst job in Idaho politics

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about for the last four years, is almost a mirror image to Little’s. They both want more funding for public schools, more money for teachers and think sharp reading skills are a good thing in the early grades.

They may disagree on some line items and dollar amounts (in my world, the only numbers I truly understand are bogey, double-bogey and occasionally “par”). But there’s no great divide between the governor and superintendent. Ybarra is glad that Little uses his bully pulpit to promote education.

Here’s the bottom line, she says: “We have had more than $100 million in increases going to education every year I’ve been here, and this is my fifth year. That’s a big deal – not where the superintendent’s budget differs from the governor’s. We’re in the same book and on the same page, although we may not always be exactly on the same line.”

As Ybarra sees it, her measure of success is the dramatic funding increases and what has been done with that money to improve education. “That’s for the students of Idaho, and being Idaho’s top advocate for education, that’s how I gauge my success.”

To hear others talk, the more accurate measures are when

she shows up to work every day and when she leaves … the days when her parking space is vacant … and how many “crucial” meetings she attends, or misses. If those are the benchmarks of success, then Ybarra needs to spend more time on the road talking with real people, and less time inside Boise’s political zoo. Her office can run itself, and the department has at least 130 capable people who are more than happy to keep their butts warm sitting in meetings.

The big thing is “the kids are winning,” she says. “Of course, there are problems and we need to talk about where improvements should be made. But we also need to celebrate, no matter how small it is, the successes we’re having in education.

Graduation rates are rising, and kids are taking advantage of advanced opportunities. Students are getting more college credits while in high school. Test scores are rising. Our investment in reading is working.” The list goes on …

Ybarra sure is doing a rotten job as state superintendent, isn’t she?

Charter. I happened to overhear two attendees disparaging the city manager and the diversity and inclusion project efforts — illustrative of exactly why Twin Falls needs such an effort in the first place. ‌On Election Day 2018, we Diversity matters. At its simvoted to expand Medicaid to plest, diversity means underthousands of desperate fellow standing that each individual citizens with no health coveris unique — inclusive of many age. More of us voted to do this different dimensions such as than voted for Brad Little for age, race or religion. It means governor. as Dr. Seuss once wrote, “Today If we had been voting like you are You, that is truer than this about eight years ago for true. There is no one alive who Democrats, we’d have had a is You’er than You.” Democratic majority for our But honoring diversity is state government. Every state more than recognition, and it with a Democratic majority goes beyond acceptance. We expanded Medicaid with no fail as a society if we cannot strings attached. Republican move on to collectively embrace controlled states have fought it and then celebrate our individjust like Otter and just like our ual and community diversity. state legislature is now, when a We should all ask ourselves: citizen-driven initiative passed.

Where am I on the diversity Those Republican controlled scale? Where are we as families, states tried to and often suc‌I recently attended the Twin ceeded in throwing thousands Falls City Council to hear about schools, churches, communiof their citizens off access to the our new Diversity and Inclusion ties and leaders on the diversity

scale? Where are we as a state, as a nation?

I can assure you discrimination flaunts its ugly colors right here in Twin Falls on a daily basis. It occurs on our streets, in our neighborhoods, in our businesses and schools, in our agencies and municipalities and yes, sadly, even in our churches.

I believe it is our human right to have diversity honored and upheld. As Abraham Lincoln stated, “Those who deny freedom to others deserve it not for themselves.”

I call on our leaders and each of us as fellow members of society to stop scoffing at the rights of others; to do more than recognize that diversity exists; and to move beyond lip service to not only recognize and accept diversity in our community, but to embrace and celebrate our individual and collective diversity.

Miriam Austin Twin Falls

ere’s a tip for anyone thinking abut seeking public office. Don’t run for state superintendent of public instruction because it is by far the worst job in Idaho politics. ‌I have known almost all the superintendents since the 1980s, and all have been viewed as incompetent buffoons in their own way.

Jerry Evans was a Republican who was too liberal.

Marilyn Howard was a Democrat who couldn’t communicate CHUCK with RepubliMALLOY cans. Tom Luna successfully pushed through a series of ambitious reforms that ended up being roundly rejected by Idaho voters. The only one I didn’t know was Anne Fox, who I’ve been told was the worst of them all.

So, now we have Sherri Ybarra who is fresh from an election that was “too close to call” as the votes were being counted. Ybarra has Idaho Education News, among others, watching what she does and reminding everybody what a horrible job she is doing as the state’s leading voice for public schools.

You’d get a different picture talking with Ybarra one-onone. She’s engaging, gracious and passionate about education. She smiles and laughs easily. She’s bright, confident and speaks in plain English – which are nice traits to have in public speaking.

Her biggest problem, perhaps, is she’s not much of a politician – which creates a lot of challenges in a political world.

Legislators say they never see her … that she doesn’t attend committee meetings … that she’s uninformed … that she’s inaccessible … and that budget writers prefer Gov. Brad Little’s proposals over hers. One legislator flatly described her as “incompetent.”

And that’s just what her fellow Republicans are saying.

Little is getting the props for education, and deservedly so.

As one member of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee told me, “I’ve had more contact with this governor’s staff than I’ve seen in the last four years put together.”

But to give all the credit to the governor, and none to the superintendent, is a slap in the face to women holding high political offices. Lord help us if we ever get a female governor.

Ybarra’s overall agenda, which she has been talking

Chuck Malloy, a long-time Idaho journalist, is a columnist with Idaho Politics Weekly. He may be reached at ctmalloy@outlook.com.

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Grow’s bill should be called the ‘Public Be Damned Act’

expansion. We must make sure it does not happen here.

Not only is our Republican controlled state legislature fighting this, freshman legislator Scott Grow from Meridian wants to make sure this type of citizen-driven extraordinarily popular initiative does not happen again. He’s introduced a bill to make it much harder for us to ever do this again, SB1159, better named the “Public Be Damned Act.” If this disregard for us disturbs you like it does me, it is already time to start thinking of who we vote for in 2020. Remember this.

Dallas Chase Boise

Don’t scoff at diversity

B2 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

OPINION Founded 1904 | A Lee Enterprises newspaper 132 Fairfield St. W., Twin Falls, ID 83303 letters@magicvalley.com

Editorial Board KEVIN KAMPMAN Publisher ALISON SMITH Editor

Quote of the day “It’s socialism! It’s Marxism! It’s the Bolsheviks! We’re not going to ban socialist policies like Social Security — or is that Socialist Security?

What do the Republicans call it?”

said No. 2 Senate Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois mocking Trump’s rhetoric regarding the GOP’s notion social programs are a slippery slope to socialism.

California governor praised for things that get trump condemned

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ASHINGTON — President Donald Trump, meet California Gov. Gavin Newsom, the Democratic rising star who tracks mud across the legal system the same way you do, but his dirty footprints win accolades from the mainstream media. ‌Wednesday, Newsom signed an executive order granting execution reprieves for all 737 inmates on California’s death row.

The night before the signing, a New York Times headline announced, “After Soul Searching, Gov. Gavin Newsom Will Halt Executions in California.”

Soul searching. Those are two words one rarely sees pinned on the Trump brand.

Soul searching is a grand term for a politician who said one thing when it served him, and then the opposite when it did not.

Newsom ran for office on the assertion that while DEBRA he personally opposed the death penalty, he would SAUNDERS carry out the ultimate sentence upheld by California voters at the ballot box. In 2016, California voters rejected a ballot proposition to end the death penalty, but passed another one to speed up the process.

During the 2018 campaign, his spokesman Dan Newman told the San Francisco Chronicle that Newsom “recognizes that California voters have spoken on the issue and, if elected governor, he’d respect the will of the electorate by following and implementing the law.”

Wednesday, surrounded by Democratic lawmakers the way Trump frequently has GOP lawmakers surround him, Newsom actually told reporters, “I don’t think this comes as a huge surprise to anybody.” He always had made it clear that he personally opposed the death penalty.

Newsom also claimed he was being “forthright and honest” in announcing his actions Wednesday.

The Sacramento Bee duly editorialized that “Newsom’s unprecedented move also distinguishes him as a leader willing to be honest and forthright about one of society’s most challenging moral issues.”

In an editorial, The New York Times supported Newsom’s flip-flop. Critics “argue that the governor is subverting the will of voters, but electing a governor who has a consistent record on society’s harshest penalty is also an expression of voters’ wishes.”

The same editorial page slammed Trump for “taking executive overreach to dizzying heights” in pushing his national emergency at the border.

More from the Grey Lady’s editorial: “The poison cherry atop this sundae is that Mr. Trump is subverting American democracy for a cause opposed by a majority of the public.” Note: When polls suggest a voter opposition to border security, that clearly carries more weight at the Times than when California voters repeatedly and consistently pass pro-death penalty measures on the ballot.

Trump declared a national emergency to carve out $5.7 billion to fund another 100 miles of wall along the Southwest border.

While Democrats scoff at the notion that the border is at a crisis point, The New York Times has reported on a border at the “breaking point” with 76,000 unauthorized migrants passing in a month.

Personally, I think Trump should have worked with Congress early on to pass a measure with more funding for border security.

While Democrats want to deny him funding for his signature wall, he has found ways to use past allocations to strengthen structures along the border.

To me, this is a fight that could have been avoided.

But I don’t understand how so many journalists can bash Trump as a tin-pot dictator for not respecting the process, as they cravenly praise a politician who misled his way into the governor’s office so that he could trample on the will of California voters.

In Sacramento Wednesday, Newsom proclaimed, “The people of California have entrusted me by their will and constitutional right to do exactly what I’m doing.”

Trump can say the same thing, but with more authority, because he actually campaigned for a border wall.

Contact Debra J. Saunders at dsaunders@reviewjournal.com or 202-662-7391. Follow @DebraJSaunders on Twitter.

OTHER VIEW

Short takes on innovative techniques to save time and find a date FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

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aming Rights ‌Long ago, corporate titans like H. J. Heinz and Henry Ford felt they had a right to attach their names to the products they invented. More recently, a real estate investor named Donald Trump decided to put his name on pretty much any building, airline, casino or development he could get his hands on. So it’s understandable that Trump (who surprisingly has yet to rename the White House after himself) might think that other modern corporate titans still attach their names to their products.

Trump gathered corporate leaders for a business forum this month, and the conversation turned to Apple’s efforts to base some of its phone production in the United States. “We appreciate it very much, Tim Apple,” Trump said at the White House gathering. The Apple chief executive’s name is actually Tim Cook. Trump later said he combined Cook’s name with his company to save time. So, henceforth, to save time: Amazon’s founder will now be called Jeff Amazon. The chief executive of Alphabet will be Larry Google.

Signing On Thirty years ago this week, a young English computer scientist wrote a plan for a new approach to information storage and display based on linking different computers together.

Happy birthday, World Wide Web. On March 12, 1989, Timothy Berners-Lee submitted a diagram of his idea to his boss at the European Laboratory for Particle Physics, under the understated title: “Information Management: A Proposal.” The handwritten response came back: “Vague but exciting.”

More than they knew. Today, about half the people on the planet use the system Berners-Lee ushered in, with almost 2 billion websites.

Berners-Lee, now 63 and a professor of computer science at the University of Oxford, warned in an open letter last week that the good the web has done for society is threatened by hackers,

clickbait and rabid commentary.

He is promoting the “Contract for the Web” project, seeking to establish clear norms and standards for “our journey from digital adolescence to a more mature, responsible and inclusive future.” Who better to help build that future than the man who started it all?

The Courage of Wonder Woman “Wonder Woman” star Gal Gadot, an Israeli, correctly called out Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for his assertion that their country “is the national state, not of all its citizens, but only of the Jewish people.”

The comment seemed to disown Israel’s 1.8 million Arab citizens, who comprise 20 percent of the population.

“Loving your neighbor as yourself is not a matter of rightleft, Jewish-Arab, secular or religious; it is a matter of dialogue, of dialogue for peace, equality and tolerance for each other,” Gadot posted in Hebrew on Instagram.

Netanyahu currently faces indictment on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust at the same time he’s fighting for his political life. Like his American ally, President Donald Trump, Netanyahu’s fallback position is to whip up public fears with artificial bogeymen. It’s a sad day in politics when reducing the status of fellow citizens is what it takes to win a few extra votes.

Selfless Sacrifice for a Selfie It’s almost as if the age of instant internet gratification has yielded a new generation of people who no longer think before acting. They have walked off cliffs or danced on the top of speeding cars just to get a good selfie shot.

In the latest episode, a woman in Arizona climbed over a barrier at a zoo to pose for a selfie with a jaguar. She is being treated for wounds suffered when (drumroll) the jaguar attacked her from inside its enclosure.

To her credit, the woman returned to the zoo after being treated at a hospital for her injuries and apologized. She acknowledged she took a dumb

risk. The goal, it seems, should be for people to recognize dumb risks before they take them.

To Protect and Serve?

Talk about betrayal of public trust. A Florida officer used police database information to stalk and seek dates with as many as 150 women. Bradenton, Florida, police Sgt. Leonel Marines has apparently been doing it for years. He was found out last summer when he knocked on a door and told a couple he had to speak with their adult daughter on “official” police business. When the couple pressed Marines for an explanation, he left.

They called the police. It turns out Marines had briefly encountered their daughter earlier in a parking lot and then traced her home in an apparent attempt to ask her on a date.

Further investigation found scores of other women Marines had approached on “police business” that turned out to be date requests. Marines was removed from patrol and later resigned.

Officials are considering criminal charges. As they absolutely should.

Heads-Up It wasn’t surprising that Fox News host Jeanine Pirro spouted anti-Muslim bigotry on her show, questioning Rep. Ilhan Omar’s patriotism because she wears a hijab. Even Fox News called her out.

Pirro, a former judge, is a conservative Fox contributor who regularly spews conspiratorial nonsense. But her comments about Omar, who is Muslim, broke nasty new ground.

“Omar wears a hijab,” Pirro noted. “Is her adherence to this Islamic doctrine indicative of her adherence to Sharia law, which in itself is antithetical to the United States Constitution?”

Fox has long featured all manner of right-wing lunacy, but this crossed even the network’s line. “We strongly condemn Jeanine Pirro’s comments about Rep. Ilhan Omar,” the network said in a statement. “They do not reflect those of the network and we have addressed the matter with her directly.” How refreshing.

Blunt Joins in a Rebuke of Trump. Hawley Chooses Loyalty Over the Constitution FROM THE ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

‌W

ith the help of Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., the Senate delivered a stinging rebuke to President Donald Trump.

An overwhelming majority approved a resolution to nullify Trump’s national emergency declaration, directly defying his effort to build a southern border wall. Trump’s pledge to veto the resolution sets the table for a constitutional showdown. As Blunt’s vote made clear, this is not about demonstrating loyalty to the president; it’s about defending the Constitution. ‌Trump’s only job in the weeks before Thursday’s vote was to convince Congress and the

American public that the flow of illegal immigration across the border is so overwhelming that only a border wall can fix it.

He failed repeatedly in that endeavor, even after a 35-day government shutdown. Republicans joined Democrats in blocking border wall funding. Case closed.

But Trump plans to circumvent Congress and the Constitution by invoking the National Emergencies Act to divert $3.6 billion already appropriated by Congress for other purposes.

Some weak-kneed lawmakers, including Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., hid behind the “emergency” part of this argument while evading the more crucial

question of constitutional powers.

Congress holds sole authority to appropriate funds. Hawley, a self-proclaimed authority on constitutional law, cannot possibly be confused about the appropriations clause of the Constitution. Yet he is blinded either by loyalty to Trump or fear of popular backlash if he dares to defy the president. Blunt, by contrast, refused to let the border wall controversy distract him from the far more important issue at hand.

Other prominent Republicans have had no qualms about where to draw the line. “This is a vote for the Constitution and for the

balance of powers that is at its core. For the executive branch to override a law passed by Congress would make it the ultimate power rather than a balancing power,” said Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah.

Hawley took an oath to defend the Constitution, not the president. Back when Hawley was running for attorney general in 2016, he told the Post-Dispatch editorial board that he would not hesitate to stand up to the president “when that president doesn’t follow the law or takes actions that threaten the people of Missouri. ... If I have to intervene or sue a President Donald Trump, I will.” Well?

Funding for Army Corps of Engineers projects affecting Missouri — not to mention construction of the $1.7 billion National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency western headquarters in St. Louis — could be threatened

by Trump’s diversion of funds for his wall. So, yes, the people of Missouri are threatened. The Constitution is threatened.

Thursday’s vote is a clear message to Trump, from Republicans and Democrats, that he must stop trying to usurp congressional authority. When it comes time to override Trump’s veto, Hawley should honor his promises and join Blunt in standing up to Trump.

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TECHNOLOGY

Facebook of the future Zuckerberg’s vision takes page from Chinese app KELVIN CHAN | Associated Press

F Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg AP PHOTO

acebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg is taking the social media company in a new direction by focusing on messaging. Chinese tech giant Tencent got there years ago with its app WeChat.

Zuckerberg outlined his vision to give people ways to communicate privately, by stitching together Facebook’s various services so users can contact each other across all of the apps.

That sounds strikingly similar to WeChat, which has become essential for daily life in China.

WeChat, or Weixin as it’s known in Chinese, combines functions and services that in the West are done by a number of separate companies — think of Facebook and its Messenger, WhatsApp and I n s ta g ra m services combined with PayPal and Uber.

WeChat, launched in 2011, has the usual chat features — instant messaging and voice and video calling, though it doesn’t employ top-notch encryption like Facebook’s Whatsapp. Here’s a look at what else it does:

TNS PHOTO

Mobile money

The WeChat Pay digital wallet is one big reason the app has become an indispensable part of life for people in China. By linking a credit card or bank account, users can pay for almost anything: movie tickets, food delivery orders and subway and bus tickets.

You can split restaurant bills with your friends, pay your electricity bill, store digital coupons and donate to charities. There’s a “quick pay” function that lets users scan a matrix barcode to pay instead of pulling out cash or a payment card.

You can also hail a ride from Didi Chuxing, China’s equivalent of Uber.

And in a uniquely Chinese touch, WeChat users can send each other virtual “hong bao” or “red packets,” money that is traditionally gifted in red envelopes during the Lunar New Year holiday.

Social

The app hosts group chats where users can discuss topics like sports, technology, social issues, investment ideas, celebrities, breaking news and beyond. WeChat Moments is a scrolling social media feed where users can write posts and share photos and videos.

The app rolled out a new feature this year, Time Capsule, that removes user videos after 24 hours, in an apparent attempt to mimic Facebook’s Stories feature.

The Chinese model

WeChat and Weixin had nearly 1.1 billion users as of September, up 2.3 percent from the previous quarter and 10 percent from the previous year, according to its most recent quarterly earnings report. It is wildly popular in mainland China and less so in other countries, which is unsurprising because the communist leaders in Beijing have blocked its citizens from accessing Facebook and other Silicon Valley services for years.

But there’s one thing that WeChat doesn’t let users do: speak freely. Politically sensitive posts are regularly scrubbed from the service, illustrating how the app has become a key part of China’s censorship regime because of its huge user

Newer heart valves may let more people avoid surgery MARILYNN MARCHIONE

AP Chief Medical Writer

Surgery for certain bad heart valves may soon become a thing of the past. New studies suggest it’s OK and often better to have a new valve placed through a tube into an artery instead.

The results are expected to quickly transform treatment of a problem that affects millions of people — a stiff or narrowed aortic valve that doesn’t let blood pass as it should. Until recently, fixing severe cases required a major operation using a heart-lung machine while surgeons cut out the old valve and sewed in a new one.

A decade ago, expandable aortic valves were developed that can be guided to the heart through a catheter into a blood vessel and placed inside the old valve. But they’re only used now in people at high or moderate risk of dying from surgery. The new studies tested these valves in people at low risk for the operation, as most patients are, and found them as good or superior to surgical ones.

“This is our last frontier” to make these devices a standard of care, said Dr. Joseph Cleveland, a University of Colorado heart surgeon with no role in the studies or ties to the companies that sponsored them. “It’s a great thing” for patients to be able to avoid major surgery, he said.

Results were published by the New England Journal of Medicine on Saturday and were to be discussed at an American College of Cardiology conference in New Orleans on Sunday.

In one study, about 1,000 patients were given standard sur-

gery or an expandable Edwards Lifesciences valve. After one year, 15 percent of the surgery group and 8.5 percent of the others had died, suffered a stroke or needed to be hospitalized again.

In the other study, 1,400 patients were given surgery or a Medtronic expandable valve. Based on partial results, researchers estimated that after two years, 6.7 percent of the surgery group and 5.3 percent of the others had died or suffered a disabling stroke.

In both studies, certain problems were more common with surgery, including major bleeding and development of a fluttering heartbeat called atrial fibrillation.

In the Medtronic study, 17 percent of expandable valve recipients later required a pacemaker versus 6 percent of people who had surgery.

Previous research suggests that overall costs are lower with expandable valves, which cost about $30,000 versus $5,000 for surgical ones, largely because they require much shorter hospital stays and caused fewer complications, said Cleveland, who also is a spokesman for the College of Cardiology.

In the United States, surgeries to replace aortic valves have been falling. Only about 25,000 are expected to be done this year and Cleveland expects that to drop by half next year and by half again in 2021.

He and other doctors say the expandable valves still need longer study to see if they hold up as well as surgical ones. Catheter-based approaches for problems with some other heart valves, such as the mitral valve, also have been developed or are in testing.

EDWARDS LIFESCIENCES VIA AP M 1

This combination of images provided by Edwards Lifesciences in March 2019 shows the Sapien 3 heart valve expanded, left, and crimped for insertion.

Users can also send friends digital stickers, get access to online games and find out who’s nearby by shaking their phone.

Companies and organizations both inside and outside China can use the app for marketing by setting up an official account. Travel booking platform AirBnb, luxury goods company Chanel and Chinese tech giant Huawei are among brands with a presence on WeChat.

base and outsize social influence. Hong Kong University researchers found that about 11,000 articles were removed from WeChat last year, a number that doesn’t include posts blocked before publication by automatic keyword filters.

WeChat also lacks so-called end-to-end encryption, considered the gold standard for privacy and used by Facebook and other services like Signal and Apple’s iMessages.

Chinese dissidents and activists have long suspected that authorities are able to monitor what they’ve been saying on the app. The company, however, has denied it keeps a record of user chats.

President Trump revives socialism battle cry SAHIL KAPUR

Tribune News Service

WASHINGTON – Staying true to his brand of nostalgic nationalism, President Donald Trump is reviving a conservative line of attack on Democrats that dates back generations — socialism is on the march.

Trump’s dire warnings that the U.S. risks sinking into the chaos that has engulfed Venezuela if Democrats have their way has been amplified by Republicans in Trump Congress and their allies, as the GOP attempts to reverse its losses in the House and hold the Senate and White House in 2020.

The Republicans have ready foils in Sen. Bernie Sanders and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, two stars on the left who have described themselves as democratic socialists in the mold of Scandinavia. While most Democratic presidential contenders reject the label, Republicans are plastering it on sweeping proposals embraced by many 2020 hopefuls, such as the Green New Deal, Medicare for all and debt-free college education.

“It’s one of the most effective messages we have,” said Matt Gorman, a veteran of GOP presidential campaigns who worked for the party’s House election arm in 2018. “I can see these debates fomenting on the left, and Republicans are sitting back, giddy.”

Trump’s rhetoric has a familiar ring for many older voters who lived through the alarms about rising socialism or communism in the second half of the 20th century. It adds new flavors to his cocktail of nostalgia for the 1950s and encompasses his calls for reviving coal mines, bringing back manufacturing jobs, and tariffs to protect Americans from trade.

The messaging fight goes to the heart of the 2020 election.

Trump’s 2016 campaign slogan, Make America Great Again, harkens back to that time. Yet polls show that voters generally support some of the liberal social programs promoted by Democrats even if they reject the label that conservatives attach to them.

Democrats dismiss Trump’s attacks as desperate, and point out that now-popular programs like Social Security and Medicare were also derided by Republicans as a slippery slope to socialism.

“It’s socialism! It’s Marxism!

It’s the Bolsheviks!” said No. 2 Senate Democrat Dick Durbin of Illinois, mocking Trump’s rhetoric. “We’re not going to ban socialist policies like Social Security — or is that Socialist Security? What do the Republicans call it?”

He said the president is “in campaign mode” and “I just expect a lot of this to be thrown over the transom.”

Saikat Chakrabarti, the chief of staff for Ocasio-Cortez, said the labeling shows the GOP doesn’t have a good counter-argument.

“When Republicans have no attack to make, they just start calling everything socialist.

They called Medicare socialist. They called Social Security socialist,” Chakrabarti said on Bloomberg Television. “It’s probably a good sign, I mean both those things worked out well so maybe they should keep calling everything socialist.”

Trump is ready to oblige.

“Democrat lawmakers are now embracing socialism.

They want to replace individual rights with total government domination,” Trump said earlier this month at the annual Conservative Political Action Conference outside Washington. “Socialism is about only one thing — it’s called power for the ruling class. That’s what it

is. Look at what’s happening in Venezuela and so many other places.”

He called Medicare for all “a socialist takeover of American health care” that’ll force steep tax hikes and disrupt American society.

In the 1930s, numerous GOP congressmen predicted that Social Security would lead to ruin. Daniel Reed of New York warned that “the lash of the dictator will be felt.” And John Taber, also of New York, said the program was “so insidiously designed as to prevent business recovery, to enslave workers,” according to Arthur Schlesinger Jr.’s book “The Coming of the New Deal.”

In 1961, Ronald Reagan taped an 11-minute radio message calling the emerging Medicare bill “socialized medicine,” which would amount to “a short step to all the rest of socialism” and “invade every area of freedom as we have known it in this country.”

Today, Americans say the two programs are worth the cost.

A Pew Research Center poll in April 2017 found that just 3 percent of Democrats and 10 percent of Republicans want to reduce spending on Social Security. The survey found that 5 percent of Democrats and 15 percent of Republicans want to spend less on Medicare.

Among the dozen Democrats so far in the 2020 field, only Sanders calls himself a socialist. Others like California Sen. Kamala Harris and Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts reject the term, saying they believe in capitalism but with rules to protect the working class.

“Oftentimes it is the name socialism and that evocation of totalitarianism, 1984, Soviet Union that really puts Americans off,” said Daniel Pout, an instructor of politics and global studies at Arizona State University.

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NEWS

| SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019

TIMES-NEWS

PERSONAL FINANCE

A POSSIBLE

CURE FOR YOUR

MONEY

WOES

Some employers offer loan options for assistance LIZ WESTON | NerdWallet

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illions of Americans get their health insurance and retirement accounts through their employers. Now, some are getting help with their debt. Companies including insurer Aetna and accounting firm PwC help employees pay down student loans. Others partner with startups to offer debt solutions as an employee benefit. Among the approaches:  MedPut negotiates discounts on medical debt and offers interest-free loans that are repaid through payroll deductions.  Brightside connects workers to debt consolidation loans and student loan refinancing.  HoneyBee, PayActiv and TrueConnect, among others, provide payday advances or emergency loans so struggling workers can avoid the payday loan trap.

Financial stress takes a toll

Startups focus on paycheck-to-paycheck workers

Employers know many of their workers are burdened by education debt, which has reached record levels. But employers may not know how many of their workers need emergency loans to make ends meet, says Ennie Lim, HoneyBee president and chief executive.

It’s not just the lowest paid who have trouble. The 35-day government shutdown that ended Jan. 25 highlighted the financial fragility of even better-paid workers, Lim notes.

“Federal workers were lining up at food banks because they were unable to cover their basic needs,” she says.

Twenty-two percent of HoneyBee’s borrowers last year earned less than $30,000, while 52 percent made between $30,000 and $50,000 and 26 percent were paid more than $50,000, Lim says.

HoneyBee, like competitors TrueConnect and Salary Finance, offers small loans that can be repaid over time. PayActiv, meanwhile, allows employees to tap into wages they’ve already earned through payday advances.

Brightside does not loan money directly. Instead, it trains financial assistants to work with employees who have money issues, says Sophie Raseman, Brightside’s head of financial solutions.

If someone needs a loan, the assistants can discuss the costs, risks and potential benefits of products the company has vetted, as well as offer alternatives, she says.

MedPut, meanwhile, audits medical bills for errors, negotiates discounts in return for prompt payment, then loans workers the money to pay the debt. The startup focused on medical bills since those can be a huge stressor for employees, says Harsha Puvvada, MedPut cofounder.

Employers increasingly are aware that money worries can reduce productivity and increase absenteeism. More than half of the 1,600 full-time employees polled by PwC in 2017 reported feeling stressed about their finances, and human resources company Mercer has estimated financial stress costs U.S. businesses up to $250 billion a year.

Debt appears to play a leading role in creating that stress. Seven out of 10 employers in a survey last year said that debt was the No. 1 financial challenge faced by their employees, according to the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans.

Programs to help workers pay student loans were among the first debt-focused employee benefits companies offered, but they’re still not common. More companies offer pet insurance (11 percent) than student loan assistance (4 percent), according to a 2018 survey for the Society for Human Resource Management. Employers that offer the benefit typically provide about $100 a month for a set number of years or with a lifetime maximum, often around $10,000. Insurance company Unum allows employees to transfer up to 40 hours of paid time off to student loan repayment.

ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO

Ignoring financial stress is ‘like bailing a leaky boat’ MedPut, Brightside and HoneyBee were among the winners of this year’s Financial Solutions Lab, an initiative sponsored by the financial services company JP Morgan Chase & Co. and the Center for Financial Services Innovation, a nonprofit consultant focused on the financial health of struggling workers. FinLab highlighted companies that address financial health in the workplace, according to CFSI president and CEO Jennifer Tescher.

Many employers are focused on improving their workers’ physical health to reduce insurance costs but often ignore the financial stress that’s undermining physical wellness, Tescher says. That approach is “like bailing a leaky boat,” she says.

The workplace can be a good venue for debt help and education, because it’s where people get paid, have the opportunity to save for retirement and participate in other voluntary benefits, she says.

“Research and experience show that employers offer a ‘right place, right time’ dynamic for workers to deal with money,” Tescher says.

Of course, debt assistance programs have the same drawback as employer-provided health insurance and workplace retirement accounts: Not everyone has access, and even those who do could lose the benefit in the next layoff.

LOST: YOUR W-2 What to do: Go to HR or your payroll department.

A W-2 reports how much your employer paid you during the tax year and how much tax it withheld on your behalf. Generally, employers have to provide W-2s to employees by Jan. 31. If yours is lost or never showed up, simply ask your employer for another one, says Mark Luscombe, a CPA and principal analyst at Wolters Kluwer Tax & Accounting.

What else you can try: Call the IRS. The IRS might be able to contact your employer about the missing tax document. But if you’re up against the filing deadline or your employer went out of business, you can file IRS Form 4852, which is a substitute W-2. On it, you’ll need to estimate your wages and taxes withheld for 2018. Your final pay stub for 2018 can probably help provide these figures, Luscombe notes.

LOST: OLD TAX RETURNS What to do: Get a tax transcript from the IRS. This lets you see most line items from your federal tax returns for the current tax year and for returns processed during the prior three years. You can also get basic data such as how you paid and your adjusted gross income for the current tax year and for up to the last 10 years. Tax transcripts are free, but note: They aren’t the same as a photocopy of your tax return. If that’s what you’re after, you’ll probably need to fill out IRS Form 4506 instead (and there’s a fee).

What else you can try: Check with your tax software or tax preparer.

“If you were using a tax professional, they probably have it on file,” Luscombe says. If you’ve been using tax software, your software provider might still have your old returns depending on the company and which version of the software you bought.

LOST: A 1099

LOST TAX

DOCUMENTS

(and where to find them) TINA OREM | NerdWallet

L

ost or missing documents can turn tax season into a giant headache, but they don’t have to stall you for long. Here are some common tax necessities that might go missing — and what a tax pro says you can do if they give you the slip.

What to do: Log in to your investment account.

The 1099 is a record that some entity or person (not your employer) gave or paid you money. There are many types of 1099s, though some of the most popular ones — the 1099-DIV, 1099-B and 1099-R — report dividends, capital gains and other income from investments or retirement accounts. If you’ve lost one of those, you can probably get another in the tax-documents section of your investment account’s website.

What else you can try: Look at your year-end account statements.

Generally, attaching 1099s to tax returns isn’t required unless taxes were withheld from the payments, so if you can find the information somewhere else — like on your account statements — you might be OK, Luscombe says. “As long as you can recreate the information from statements, some people suggest not even bothering to try to get the 1099,” he says. “One, it’s a lot of difficulty, and two, you don’t have to send it to the IRS anyway.” Also, whoever sends you a 1099 is supposed to send a copy to the IRS, which raises the risk that the IRS might mistake that second 1099 issuance for a second payment and think you got twice as much as you’re reporting, Luscombe says.

LOST: YOUR 1098 What to do: Log on to your bank account.

A 1098 shows how much interest you paid on a mortgage during the year — interest that could score you a tax deduction. Your mortgage lender likely provides access to this and other tax documents (such as your property tax payments) online.

What else you can try: Look at your year-end mortgage statement.

You’re not required to attach your 1098 to your tax return, Luscombe says, so if you can recreate the information from your monthly mortgage statement or similar, chasing down another copy of your 1098 may be unnecessary. “I would only do that if you’re not confident in the information that you have,” he notes.

LOST: ENOUGH TIME TO DO YOUR TAXES What to do: Get an extension.

If the wait for missing documents will go beyond April 15, you can use IRS Form 4868 to get an extension. That will in general give you six more months to track things down.

But beware: An extension gives you more time to file your tax forms — it doesn’t give you more time to pay your taxes. You’ll still need to estimate how much tax you owe and include that amount (along with your extension request) by April 15. Interest and penalties may apply if you pay less than what you actually owe, so take your estimate seriously.

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NATION&WORLD

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | C1

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | magicvalley.com | SECTION C

WHITE HOUSE

DIGEST

‌ amilies given soil F from crash site ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia — Grieving family members of victims of the Ethiopian air disaster are being given sacks of earth to bury in place of the remains of their loved ones.

Officials have begun delivering bags of earth to family members of the 157 victims of the crash because the identification process is going to take such a long time.

Families are being given a 2.2-pound sack of scorched earth taken from the crash sites.

They spoke on condition of anonymity to avoid any possible government reprisal.

Forensic DNA work has begun on identifying the remains but it may take six months to identify the victims, because the body parts are in small pieces.

Iran gives US vet 10-year sentence DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — A U.S. Navy veteran from California has been sentenced to 10 years in prison in Iran, his lawyer said Saturday, becoming the first American known to be imprisoned there since President Donald Trump took office.

Though the case against Michael R. White remains unclear, it comes as Trump has taken a hard-line approach to Iran by pulling the U.S. out of Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers.

Iran has used detention of Westerners and dual nationals as leverage in negotiations, has yet to report on White’s sentence in state-controlled media.

Trump to skirt Congress Sources: President thinks little can be done by end of first term ZEKE MILLER AND CATHERINE LUCEY

Associated Press‌

‌WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s first veto was more than a milestone. It signals a new era of ever perilous relations between the executive and legislative branches of government.

Trump’s agenda was stymied even before his party lost unified control of Washington at the start of the year and he has grown increasingly frustrated by his dealings with Congress, with the president believing little of substance will get done by the end of his first term and feeling just as pessimistic about the second, according to White House aides, campaign staffers and outside allies.

Republicans in Congress are demonstrating new willingness to part ways with the president.

On the Senate vote Thursday rejecting the president’s national emergency declaration to get border wall funding, 12 Republicans joined Democrats in voting against Trump.

The 59-41 vote against Trump’s declaration was just the latest blow as tensions flare on multiple fronts.

Trump tweeted one word after the vote: “VETO!” And he eagerly flexed that muscle on Friday for the first time, hoping to demonstrate resolve on fulfilling his 2016 campaign pledge.

GOP senators had repeatedly agitated for compromise deals that would give them political cover to support Trump despite their concerns that he was improperly circumventing Congress. But the president was never convinced that any of the

proposals ensured the resolution would be defeated, said a White House official who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss internal thinking.

As the vote neared, Trump repeatedly made clear that it was about party fealty and border security and suggested that voting against him could be perilous.

“It’s going to be a great election issue,” he predicted.

Looking past the veto, Trump’s plans for future collaboration with Congress appear limited.

With the exception of pushing for approval of his trade deal with Mexico and Canada, the president and his allies see little benefit for investing more political capital on Capitol Hill. Trump ran against Washington in 2016, and he is fully expected to do so again.

Trump once declared that “I alone can fix it.” But that was before getting hamstrung in Washington, and he is now exploring

opportunities to pursue executive action to work around lawmakers, as he did with his emergency declaration on the border wall. He is directing aides to find other areas where he can act — or at least be perceived as acting — without Congress, including infrastructure and drug prices.

His dealings with Congress were inconsistent even when Republicans controlled both chambers, and he has made few overtures to Democrats since they won control of the House.

Trump initially predicted he could work across the aisle, but that sentiment cooled after the bitter government shutdown fight and in the face of mounting investigations. His frustrations are evidence of the difficulty that the Washington neophyte and former business executive has had with the process of lawmaking, and the challenges yet to come.

PARIS UNREST

BRIEFLY ARREST: A 24-year-old man was arrested Saturday in the shooting death of the reputed boss of the Gambino crime family, New York City police said.

Anthony Comello was arrested in New Jersey in the death of Francesco Cali on Wednesday in front of his Staten Island home.

The 53-year-old Cali, a native of Sicily, was shot to death by a gunman who may have crashed his truck into Cali’s car to lure him outside. Shea said Cali was shot 10 times.

FLOODS: Authorities were using boats and large vehicles on Saturday to rescue and evacuate residents in parts of the Midwest where a recent deluge of rainwater and snowmelt was sent pouring over frozen ground, overwhelming creeks and rivers, and killing at least one person. The flooding followed days of snow and rain — record-setting, in some places — and was the worst in nearly a decade in places.

GRAVE: The Iraqi government has started exhuming a mass grave left behind by the Islamic State group in the northwestern Sinjar region in the presence of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Nadia Murad, whose slain relatives are believed to have been buried in the area.

WITNESS: Italy prosecutors have opened an investigation into the possible poisoning death of Moroccan model Imane Fadil, 34,who was a key witness in the trial against ex-Premier Silvio Berlusconi over his infamous “bunga bunga” parties. In 2012, Fadil had told reporters that she feared for her safety after telling prosecutors investigating possible witness tampering in the case that she was offered money in exchange for her silence.

TROOPER: A Vermont State Police trooper who collapsed after apparently being exposed to an opioid-like drug during a traffic stop was revived by fellow troopers who administered the overdose-reversal drug Narcan, state police said Saturday. Testing is underway to determine what substance made acting Sgt. Brett Flansburg ill.

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TEACHER: Cincinnati Public Schools teacher Charles Igwekala-Nweke, who acknowledged putting duct tape over students’ mouths to discipline them, has resigned. Igwekala-Nweke taught math at Clark Montessori High School and Hughes STEM High School and had worked for the district since 2015.

— Associated Press

CHRISTOPHE ENA, ASSOCIATED PRESS‌

The famed restaurant Fouquet’s burns on the Champs Elysees avenue during a yellow vest demonstration Saturday in Paris.

Yellow vest protesters riot

Resurgent violence comes at the end of Macron’s ‘Great Debate’ THOMAS ADAMSON AND ANGELA CHARLTON

Associated Press‌

‌PARIS — French yellow vest protesters set life-threatening fires, smashed up luxury stores in Paris and clashed with police Saturday in the 18th straight weekend of demonstrations against President Emmanuel Macron. Large plumes of smoke rose above the rioting on Paris’ landmark Champs-Elysees avenue, and a mother and her child were just barely saved from a building blaze.

Cobblestones flew in the air and smoke from fires set by protesters mingled with clouds of tear gas sprayed by police, as tensions continued for hours along the Champs-Elysees. By dusk, as the demonstrators had dispersed,

the famed avenue was a blackened expanse.

The resurgent violence comes at a watershed moment for a movement, which had been fizzling in recent weeks, and at the end of a two-month-long national debate called by Macron that protesters say failed to answer their demands for economic justice.

Paris police told the AP that 192 people were arrested in Paris on Saturday and 60 others were injured, 18 of them police and firefighters.

Police appeared to be caught off guard by the speed and severity of Saturday’s unrest. French riot police tried to contain the demonstrators with repeated volleys of tear gas and water cannon, with limited success.

One arson fire targeted a bank near the Champs-Elysees on the ground floor of a seven-story residential building. A mother and her child had to be rescued just as the fire threatened to engulf their floor, Paris’ fire service

told The Associated Press. Eleven people in the building, including two firefighters, sustained light injuries.

Protest organizers had hoped to make a splash Saturday, which marked eve of the 4-month anniversary of the yellow vest movement, which started Nov. 17, and the end of the “Great Debate” that the French president organized to respond to protesters’ concerns about sinking living standards, stagnant wages and high unemployment.

They claimed Macron failed in that aim.

“It was hot air. It was useless and it didn’t achieve anything.

We’re here to show Macron that empty words are not enough,” said yellow vest demonstrator Frank Leblanc, 62, from Nantes.

The violence started minutes after the protesters gathered Saturday, when they threw smoke bombs and other objects at officers along the Champs-Elysees — the scene of repeated past ri-

oting — and started pounding on the windows of a police van.

Simultaneous fires were also put out from two burning newspaper kiosks, which sent black smoke high into the sky. Several protesters posed for a photo in front of one charred kiosk.

Demonstrators also targeted symbols of the luxury industry, smashing and pillaging shops including brands Hugo Boss and Lacoste, and tossing mannequins out of broken windows. A posh eatery called Fouquet’s, which is associated with politicians and celebrities, was vandalized and set on fire. A vehicle burned outside the luxury boutique Kenzo, one of many blazes on and around the Champs-Elysees.

Interior Minister Christophe Castaner, who inspected the damage Saturday evening on the Champs-Elysees, said an estimated 10,000 yellow vest protesters were in Paris and another 4,500 had demonstrated around France.

Man who stood up to mosque gunman hailed as hero Mosque’s imam says ‘we were saved’ after gunman confronted NICK PERRY

Associated Press‌

‌CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand — When the gunman advanced toward the mosque, killing those in his path, Abdul Aziz didn’t hide. Instead, he picked up the first thing he could find, a credit card machine, and ran outside screaming “Come here!”

Aziz, 48, is being hailed as a hero for preventing more deaths

during Friday prayers at the Linwood mosque in Christchurch after leading the gunman in a cat-and-mouse chase before scaring him into speeding away in his car.

But Aziz, whose four sons and dozens of others remained in the mosque while he faced off with the gunman, said he thinks it’s what anyone would have done.

The gunman killed 50 people after attacking two mosques in the deadliest mass shooting in New Zealand’s modern history.

The gunman is believed to have killed at least 41 people at the Al Noor mosque before driv-

ing about 5 kilometers across town and attacking the Linwood mosque, where he killed seven more people. One person died later in a hospital, and police announced today that a 50th body had been found.

White supremacist Brenton Tarrant, 28, has been charged with one count of murder in the slayings.

Latef Alabi, the Linwood mosque’s acting imam, said the death toll would have been far higher at the Linwood mosque if it wasn’t for Aziz.

Alabi said he peeked out the window at about 1:55 p.m. and

saw a guy in black military-style gear and a helmet holding a large gun. Then he saw two bodies and heard the gunman yelling obscenities.

“I realized this is something else. This is a killer,” he said.

He yelled at the congregation of more than 80 to get down.

They hesitated. A shot rang out, a window shattered and a body fell, and people began to realize it was for real.

“Then this brother came over.

He went after him, and he managed to overpower him, and that’s how we were saved,” Alabi said, referring to Aziz.

C2 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

WEEK IN REVIEW

VISIT OUR WEBSITE TO VIEW MORE WEEK IN REVIEW CONTENT

IN THE NEWS Prison time piles up for Manafort

IN THE NEWS Trump proposes record budget

President Donald Trump proposed a record $4.7 trillion federal budget for 2020 on Monday, relying on optimistic 3.1 percent economic growth projections alongside accounting shuffles and steep domestic cuts to bring future spending into promised balance in 15 years.

The deficit is projected to hit $1.1 trillion in the 2020 fiscal year, the highest in a decade.

The administration is counting on robust growth, including from the Republican tax cuts — which Trump wants to make permanent — to push down the red ink. Some economists, though, say the bump from the tax cuts is waning, and they project slower growth in coming years.

Even with his own projections, Trump’s budget would not come into balance for 15 years, rather than the traditional hope of balancing in 10.

BORDER SECURITY: The Republican-run Senate voted 59-41 to reject President Donald Trump’s declaration of a national emergency at the southwest border on Thursday. Trump, who issued the order so he could build his border wall, vetoed the measure.

DEM CONVENTION: Milwaukee will host the 2020 Democratic National Convention, party leaders announced Monday, highlighting the battleground state of Wisconsin that helped elect President Donald Trump and now will launch an opponent who could oust him.

Democratic National Committee Chairman Tom Perez chose Milwaukee over Houston and Miami.

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT: Earth is sick with multiple and worsening environmental ills killing millions of people yearly, according to a new U.N. report.

MULUGETA AYENE, ASSOCIATED PRESS‌

MASSIVE FALLOUT AFTER PLANE CRASH KILLS 157 An Ethiopian Airlines plane crashed shortly after takeoff from the Addis Ababa airport last Sunday, killing all 157 people aboard. The Boeing 737 Max 8 jet crashed near the town of Bishoftu, about 30 miles southeast of the Ethiopian capital. The airline bought the new plane in November, and it had flown only 1,200 hours since its purchase. In the days after the crash, multiple airlines across more than 40 countries around the globe — including the United States, Canada and the entire European Union ­— grounded the Boeing jetliner. President Donald Trump also lamented the complexity of modern airplanes in the wake of the crash, which was the second involving the Boeing model in the past five months. Here, relatives of the deceased react Wednesday at the scene where the Ethiopian Airlines Boeing 737 Max 8 crashed.

BIG NUMBER

THE WATER COOLER

$35 million

ADMISSIONS SCANDAL: Fifty people, including Felicity Huffman and Lori Loughlin, were charged Tuesday in a scheme in which wealthy parents allegedly bribed coaches and other insiders to get their children into some of the nation’s most selective schools. Authorities called it the biggest college admissions scam ever prosecuted by the U.S. Justice Department, with the parents accused of paying an estimated $25 million in bribes.

The amount paid by Google to former executive Amit Singhal in an exit package when he was reportedly forced to resign after a sexual assault investigation, according to court documents released this week.

SHE SAID ...

“

… I don’t think we should go down that path, because it divides the country. And he’s just not worth it.”

— House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, speaking Monday against calls by some Democrats to impeach President Donald Trump

E-CIGARETTES: U.S. health regulators are moving ahead with a plan designed to keep e-cigarettes out of the hands of teenagers by restricting sales of most flavored products in convenience stores and online.

BOX OFFICE: “Captain Marvel,” Marvel Studios’ first female-fronted superhero movie, launched last weekend with $153 million domestically and $455 million globally, according to studio estimates, making it one of the biggest blockbusters ever led by a woman.

HAL BLAINE, 1929-2019: Hal Blaine, the Hall of Fame session drummer and virtual one-man soundtrack of the 1960s and ’70s who played on the songs of Frank Sinatra, Elvis Presley and the Beach Boys and laid down one of music’s most memorable opening riffs on the Ronettes’ “Be My Baby,” died Monday of natural causes in Palm Desert, California. He was 90.

A federal judge on Wednesday sentenced former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort to an additional three and one-half years of prison, questioning his remorse and rebuking him for his crimes and years of lies.

That makes seven and a half total years for Manafort, coming on top of the roughly fouryear term he received last week in a separate case in Virginia.

Adding to his legal woes, Manafort was also charged Wednesday with mortgage fraud, conspiracy and other counts in a new indictment in New York City.

The state charges appear at least partly designed to guard against the possibility that he could be pardoned

by President Donald Trump and freed early on his federal convictions. The presidential power does not extend to state charges.

BREXIT: In a stalemate over Brexit, British politicians have chosen to delay it. After weeks of political gridlock, Parliament voted Thursday to seek to postpone the country’s departure from the European Union, a move that will likely avert a chaotic withdrawal on the scheduled exit date of March 29.

RAPE TESTING: Languishing evidence in over 100,000 sexual assault cases around the country has been sent for DNA testing with money from a New York prosecutor and federal authorities, spurring over 1,000 arrests and hundreds of convictions in three years, officials said this week.

VENEZUELA: The United States announced early this week that it is pulling the remaining staff from its embassy in Venezuela, citing the deteriorating situation in the South American nation.

— Associated Press

Fact check: O’Rourke wrong on global warming CALVIN WOODWARD, SETH BORENSTEIN AND HOPE YEN

Associated Press‌

‌WASHINGTON — Beto O’Rourke opened his Democratic presidential campaign this past week with a call to action on global warming that misrepresented the science. From Iowa, he claimed scientists are united in believing the planet only has a dozen years to turn the tide on climate change, which is not quite their view.

In Washington, an exasperated federal judge fact-checked the “no collusion mantra” recited by President Donald Trump and his associates as they try to dispel suspicions that people from his 2016 campaign and Russia worked together to tilt that election. Judge Amy Berman Jackson, while sentencing former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, reminded her courtroom — and indirectly the president — that Manafort’s trial was unrelated to questions of collusion with Russia.

“Court is one of those places where facts still matter,” Jackson said. “The ‘no collusion’ mantra is simply a non sequitur.”

That didn’t stop the refrain.

“Again that was proven today, no collusion,” Trump tweeted.

A look at their political rhetoric:

CLIMATE CHANGE

O’ROURKE, on global warming: “This is our final chance. The scientists are absolutely unanimous on this. That we have no more than 12 years to take incredibly bold action on this crisis.” — remarks in Keokuk, Iowa, on Thursday.

THE FACTS: There is no scientific consensus, much less unanimity, that the planet only has 12 years to fix the problem.

A report by the United Nations Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, drawn from the work of hundreds of scientists, uses 2030 as a prominent benchmark because signatories to the Paris agreement have pledged emission cuts by then. But it’s not a last chance, hard deadline for action, as it has been interpreted in some quarters.

“Glad to clear this up,” James Skea, co-chairman of the report and professor of sustainable energy at Imperial College London, told The Associated Press. The panel “did not say we have 12 years left to save the world.”

CHARLIE NEIBERGALL, ASSOCIATED PRESS‌

Beto O’Rourke speaks at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 13 hall Thursday in Burlington, Iowa.

He added: “The hotter it gets, the worse it gets, but there is no cliff edge.”

“This has been a persistent source of confusion,” agreed Kristie L. Ebi, director of the Center for Health and the Global Environment at the University of Washington in Seattle. “The report never said we only have 12 years left.”

The report forecasts that global warming is likely to increase by 0.5 degrees Celsius or 0.9 degrees Fahrenheit between 2030 and 2052 “if it continues to increase at the current rate.” The climate has already warmed by 1 degree C or 1.8 degrees F since the pre-Industrial Age. Even holding warming to that level brings harmful effects to the environment, the report said, but the impact increases greatly if the increase in the global average temperature approaches 3.6 degrees F.

“The earth does not reach a cliff at 2030 or 2052,” Ebi told AP. But “keep adding greenhouse gases to the atmosphere and temperatures will continue to rise.”

As much as climate scientists see the necessity for broad and immediate action to address global warming, they do not agree on an imminent point of no return.

Cornell University climate scientist Natalie M. Mahowald told the AP that a 12-year time frame is a “robust number for trying to cut emissions” and to keep the increase in warming under current levels.

But she said sketching out unduly dire consequences is not “helpful to solving the problem.”

RUSSIA INVESTIGATION

TRUMP, on Manafort’s sentencing to a second federal prison term: “I can only tell you one thing: Again that was proven today, no

collusion.” — remarks Wednesday to reporters at the White House.

THE FACTS: There was no such proof in that trial or in Manafort’s other trial. Whether collusion happened was not a subject of the charges against Manafort. It’s one of the central issues in a separate and continuing investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller.

In the case that produced Manafort’s first prison sentence, he was convicted of tax and bank fraud related to his work advising Ukrainian politicians. Judge T.S. Ellis III neither cleared nor implicated the president, instead emphasizing that Manafort was “not before this court for anything having to do with collusion with the Russian government.”

Trump ignored that point afterward, tweeting: “Both the Judge and the lawyer in the Paul Manafort case stated loudly and for

the world to hear that there was NO COLLUSION with Russia.” Trump misquoted the lawyer as well as the judge.

On Wednesday, Jackson sentenced Manafort for misleading the government about his foreign lobbying work and for encouraging witnesses to lie on his behalf. Again, the case did not turn on his leadership of Trump’s campaign. “The investigation is still ongoing,” she noted, scolding Manafort’s lawyers for bringing up the “no collusion” refrain during the trial.

The two judges sentenced Manafort to 7.5 years altogether.

As with other Americans who were close to Trump and have been charged in the Mueller probe, Manafort hasn’t been accused of involvement in Russian election interference. Nor has he been cleared of that suspicion. The same is true of Trump.

M 1

NEWS

Times-News

Sunday, March 17, 2019 |

C3

ENVIRONMENT russ Lewis covers his eyes from a gust of wind and a blast of sand Sept. 14 as hurricane Florence approaches Myrtle Beach, S.c.

SITUATION WORSENS,

BUT HOPE

REMAINS Biodiversity

New UN report paints a dire picture of the planet SETH BORENSTEIN AND CHRISTINA LARSON

Associated Press

E

arth is sick with multiple and worsening environmental ills killing millions of people yearly, a new U.N. report says.

Climate change, a global major extinction of animals and plants, a human population soaring toward 10 billion, degraded land, polluted air and plastics, pesticides and hormone-changing chemicals in the water are making the planet an increasing unhealthy place for people, says the scientific report issued once every few years.

But it may not be too late.

“There is every reason to be hopeful,” report co-editors Joyeeta Gupta and Paul Ekins told The Associated Press in an email. “There is still time, but the window is closing fast.”

The sixth Global Environment Outlook, released recently at a U.N. conference in Nairobi, Kenya, painted a dire picture of a planet where environmental problems interact with each other to make things even more dangerous for people. It uses the word “risk” 561 times in a 740-page report.

The report concludes “unsustainable human activities globally have degraded the Earth’s ecosystems, endangering the ecological foundations of society.”

But the same document says changes in the way the world eats, buys things, gets its energy and handles its waste could help

fix the problems.

The report is “a dramatic warning and a high-level road map for what must be done to prevent widespread disruption and even irreversible destruction of planetary life-support systems,” said University of Michigan environment dean Jonathan Overpeck, who wasn’t part of the report.

Several other scientists also praised the report, which draws on existing science, data and maps.

“This report clearly shows the connections between the environment and human health and well-being,” said Stuart Pimm, a Duke University ecologist.

Gupta and Ekins, environmental scientists in Amsterdam and London, said air pollution annually kills 7 million people worldwide and costs society about $5 trillion. Water pollution, with associated diseases, kills another 1.4 million.

The scientists said the most important and pressing problems facing humankind are global warming and loss of biodiversity because they are permanent and affect so many people in so many different ways.

“Time is running out to prevent the irreversible and dangerous impacts of climate change,” the report says, noting that unless something changes, global temperatures will exceed the threshold of warming — another 1.8 degrees Fahrenheit above current temperatures — that international agreements call dangerous.

“A major species extinction event, compromising planetary integrity and Earth’s capacity to meet human needs, is unfolding,” the report says, listing threats to ecosystems, fisheries and other major systems.

It notes conservationists are divided on whether Earth is in a sixth mass extinction.

Air pollution Not only are millions of people dying each year, but unhealthy air especially hurts “the elderly, very young, ill and poor,” the report says.

Antibiotic resistance People getting sick from diseases caused by antimicrobial resistant bacteria in water supplies could become a major cause of death worldwide by 2050 unless something can be done about it, the report says.

Land degradation ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS

a plastic bottle lies among other debris washed ashore in 2015 on an Indian Ocean beach north of colombo, Sri Lanka.

Water pollution

While 1.5 billion people now get clean drinking water they lacked in 2000, water quality in many regions has worsened, the report says. Plastics and other litter have invaded every ocean at all depths, the report says.

Land is getting less fertile and useful.

The report says degradation “hot spots,” where it’s difficult to grow crops, now cover 29 percent of all land areas. The rate of deforestation has slowed but continues.

“The report provides a roadmap to move beyond ‘doom and gloom’ and rally together to face the challenges and take the future in our hands,” said former U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration chief Jane Lubchenco, who wasn’t part of the report. “This is an allhands-on-deck moment.”

Wind-solar pairing cuts equipment costs, increases output FRANK JOSSI OF ENERGY NEWS NETWORK.

SUBMITTED TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

In this undated photo provided by Liran Samuni, chimpanzees in the Taï national Park in the Ivory coast vocalize with another group nearby. a study released last week highlights the diversity of chimp behaviors within groups — traditions that are at least in part learned socially and transmitted from generation to generation.

Study: Chimps varied ‘culture’ matters for conservation CHRISTINA LARSON

Associated Press

m 1

WASHINGTON — Some chimpanzee groups are stone-throwers. Some use rocks to crack open tree nuts to eat. Others use sticks to fish for algae.

As researchers learn more about Homo sapiens’ closest living genetic relatives, they are also discovering more about the diversity of behaviors within chimpanzee groups — activities learned, at least in part socially, and passed from generation to generation.

These patterns are referred to as “traditions” — or even animal “culture.” In a new study, scientists argue that this diversity of behaviors should be protected as species themselves are safeguarded, and that they are now under threat from human disturbance.

“What we mean by ‘culture’ is something you learn socially from your group members that you may not learn if you were born into a different chimpanzee group,” said Ammie Kalan, a primatologist at the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology in Leipzig, Germany.

“As chimpanzee populations decline and their habitats become fragmented, we can see a stark decline in chimpanzee behavioral diversity,” said Kalan,

co-author of the sweeping new study published last week in the journal Science.

The 10-year study, led by researchers at the Max Planck Institute and the German Center for Integrative Biodiversity Research, examines data on 144 chimpanzee communities in Africa and the occurrence of 31 specific behaviors, such as tool usage or rock throwing.

The regions with the least human impact showed the greatest variety in chimp behaviors. But areas greatly altered by logging, road-building, climate change and other human activities showed markedly less behavioral diversity — an 88 percent lower probability of exhibiting all behaviors.

Multiple factors drive the loss, the authors say.

“With the increase of human disturbance, chimps may not be able to live in such large groups anymore — and it has been shown that group size is connected with social learning,” said Hjalmar Kühl, also a primatologist at the Max Planck Institute and a co-author.

For example, researchers studying chimpanzee groups in parts of West Africa encountered mysterious piles of stones alongside battered tree trunks.

PIPESTONE, Minn. — A trailblazing wind-solar hybrid project in western Minnesota could be a preview of what’s to come as renewable developers look for new ways to bolster projects.

The project, developed and owned by Juhl Energy, is among the first of its kind in the country to pair wind and solar on the same site. A 2-megawatt turbine and 500-kilowatt solar installation share an inverter and grid connection, reducing equipment costs compared to two separate projects.

The pairing is expected to start producing power this month.

Lake Region Electric Cooperative in Pelican Rapids, about 30 miles north of Fergus Falls, will buy the power for its approximately 27,000 members.

Juhl managing director Clay D. Norrbom said the plug-and-play nature of the system has attracted at least five other customers, including an industrial company in Iowa. Other customer prospects include cooperatives and municipally owned power providers in Minnesota, Wisconsin and Iowa.

He predicts Juhl will build at least three this year.

Juhl was involved two years ago in a proposed wind-solar hybrid in Red Lake Falls that would have been the first in the country. Now owned by a former partner in the project, that hybrid remains mired in debate over pricing issues involving utility Otter Tail Power that continues at the Public Utilities Commission.

Electricity generated by wind-solar hybrids gets transmitted directly to distribution grids of utilities or companies.

As the cost of solar dropped, the attraction of adding it to wind installations grew.

Global Market Insights predicts hybrid solar wind storage projects will increase 4 percent in the United States by 2024, becoming a $1.5 billion market internationally. A recent report said renewable integration targets adopted in a 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference is driving

part of the growth, along with renewable energy goals and dropping prices for the technology.

“It opens another market that quite frankly five, 10 or 15 years ago was not there,” Norrbom said. “You couldn’t supply to a municipal co-op. The scale and efficiency weren’t good enough to do that. Now you can go and supply at that distribution voltage something that’s price competitive to the end customers.”

The hybrid offers an opportunity to increase capacity. Wind turbines operate at a 50 to 55 percent capacity, Norrbom said, while solar in the Midwest sits at 15 percent. By combining power from both sources the hybrid reaches a capacity factor of 65 to 70 percent, Norrbom said, at a cost substantially less than what Lake Region pays for electricity from its transmission and generation provider Great River Energy. Juhl decided against adding storage due to cost and regulatory issues, both challenges he predicts will dissipate in the future.

Other cost savings came through technology and financing. Solar and wind farms need inverters to convert direct current to alternate current used by businesses and residences. Using an inverter built into the turbine and not needing a separate solar inverter saved at least 10 percent off the cost of the nearly $5 million project, he said. Secondly, renewable energy credits created by the project have been sold to Bank of America, giving a financial cushion large enough to contribute to a better price for Lake Region, Norrbom said.

The sale of the renewable credits allowed Juhl “to lower the rate we charge Lake Region (for electricity) because we got somewhat of a subsidy from a corporate sponsor who wanted to use the (credits) to offset their use of electricity in Minnesota,” he said.

Selling the renewable credits prohibits Lake Region from claiming it as a green project, but that turned out to be an acceptable tradeoff in return for greater cost savings, Norrbom said.

Lake Region CEO Tim Thomp-

son said the project lowers costs to ratepayers and “gives us a local renewable energy source with the wind and solar production that will tie into the local distribution grid we already own.” The co-op can only produce electricity for up to 5 percent of its generation demand, he said, but the wind hybrid project does not put Lake Region near that threshold.

The co-op will consider other renewable energy projects, Thompson said, though none are currently planned.

“We have another phase we haven’t talked publicly about because we’re thinking it through,” he said. “We’re trying to help our members save money, be renewable and be good stewards of the environment.”

One barrier to further adoption of wind-solar hybrids has been the rules and tariffs that regulate electricity in the Midcontinent Independent System Operator, Inc. marketplace, said Beth Soholt, executive director of Clean Grid Alliance, which promotes wind and clean energy. MISO has been working with the Clean Grid Alliance and other stakeholders on changing the rules to allow for more hybrids.

“Distributed and utility-scale hybrids will become more common,” Soholt said. “Wind and solar pair well together because solar produces during the day and wind is more of a nighttime source. And with storage you have a great project to offer utilities.”

Juhl Energy founder Dan Juhl wants to see larger hybrids in the category of 5 MW of wind and 1 MW of solar. Greater economies of scale would bring even more savings for ratepayers. The problem is many cooperatives and municipal-owned electric companies have contracts with their generation and transmission cooperatives or utilities limiting self-generated electricity to 5 percent of their demand.

Too many cooperatives are “shackled to antiquated contracts” that prohibit them from saving ratepayers hundreds of thousands of dollars from buying renewable energy, Juhl said.

C4 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

OBITUARIES

Times-News

Luella Luther

Dorothy Ann Brennan

Barbara Ann Blair

November 29, 1914—March 8, 2019

June 30, 1948—March 10, 2019

August 11, 1965—March 13, 2019

Perny Luella (King) Luther was known by friends and family as Lu or Luella.

Perny Luella King was born on November 29, 1914 in Peola, Asotin, Washington to Gerald Roselle King and Perny Lavina King as the second of four children, Donald, Luella, Edith, & Helen.

She passed away March 8, 2019 while in the Banner Lassen Medical Center in Susanville, CA. She had been residing with her daughter Lorna Marie (Luther) Buckalew.

She married Carter Van Luther of Gooding, Idaho in Tacoma, Washington on June 11, 1937. The family lived in Buhl, ID where their first three children, Gary, Vernon, & Gerald joined the family. Lorna, the only girl was born when they lived in Jerome. Luella worked at the Tupperware plant in Jerome and also worked at the cannery in Buhl. She was her husband Carter’s assistant as he taught Vo-Ag in the Jerome High School and for a time helped run the canning kitchen in Jerome. She cooked and served for the Methodist Church for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Carter Van Luther and son Vernon Lee Luther and two grandchildren.

She is survived by two sons, Gary (Marcia) Luther and Gerald Luther both of Jerome, ID and a daughter, Lorna (Jay) Buckalew of Susanville, CA, seven grandchildren, three step grandchildren, eight great grand children and four great, great grandchildren.

She will be sorely missed by those who loved her.

Services are pending.

Dorothy Ann Brennan, 70, passed away on March 10, 2019 after a nine-month battle with cancer. Dorothy was born in Portland, Oregon in 1948 to Eddie Schultz and Anna (Bergen) Schultz.

At a very young age, she lost her mother as the result of a massive stroke. Her father remarried, and in 1958 the family moved to a small dairy farm west of Buhl.

There Dorothy helped out around the farm including helping her dad milk the cows. She attended Buhl schools, graduating from Buhl High School in 1966.

In 1967 Dorothy joined the United States Air Force and began a 20-year career serving in the armed forces, where she was trained as a dental technician. During her service, she was posted to several Air Force installations across the country, and also served a tour in Japan at the Misawa Air Base. While stationed at the Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis, New Mexico, she met and married Miles Brennan. From this union her son Scott was born. She and Miles were divorced some time later, and she and Scott came to the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho, where she finished her career with the Air Force and was honorably discharged with the rank of Technical Sergeant. In 1987, Dorothy and Scott moved back to Buhl where she purchased a home that she lived in until her passing. While in Buhl, Dorothy obtained employment at Ridley’s Supermarket, working as a checker for many years.

She was preceded in death by a sister, Wanda Milne; her parents; her stepmother, Pearl (Peterson) Schultz; and a second stepmother, Evangeline (Anderson) Schultz.

She is survived by her son, Scott Brennan of Buhl; brothers, Kenneth of Portland, OR; Darrell (Myrna) of Mineral, VA; Gene (Margaret) of Meridian, ID; and Joseph (Dorothy) of Roy, WA; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at 11 a.m., at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, 10100 Horseshoe Bend Road, Boise, Idaho.

Memories and condolences may be shared with the family on Dorothy’s memorial webpage at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.

Barbara Ann Blair, a longtime resident of the Twin Falls area, died Wednesday, March 13, 2019 at St. Luke’s surrounded by loved ones.

Barbara’s favorite food was fried chicken. She enjoyed picnics and the sunshine. She had a wonderful laugh that could light up a room.

She is survived by her husband Harvey Blair, her sons Richard Jones, John Jones, and her daughter Caroline Jones. She will be greatly missed by many sisters and brothers.

A Celebration of Life will take place Thursday, March 21, 2019 at 2 p.m. at The Corner Stone Baptist Church, 315 Shoup Ave. W. Twin Falls, Idaho.

Marva Hale Chambers Sunrise: September 23, 1923 Sunset: March 12, 2019

Once upon a time, 95 years ago, a beautiful daughter was born to Rosel and Jane Hale. She was the fifth of seven children, born in Oakley, Idaho. She attended Oakley schools, and as a cheerleader, she enjoyed her high school years. She attended BYU, leaving to help with the war effort at DDO in Ogden. She met her handsome prince, Lionel Chambers, who was a Navigator for the Army Air Corps. They dated after the end of the war and married in the Salt Lake Temple, November 2, 1945. They were the proud parents of 11 children.

Mom was a great cook. There were always freshly baked bread, cookies, cakes, or donuts for after-school treats. She served in every Church auxiliary, her favorite being Ward organist. She taught many piano lessons.

She loved camping with our “Camping Cousins”. We were all recipients of a call to go look at the beautiful sunset, multiple times. She was a member of Daughters of Utah Pioneers, served a mission to the Philippines with Dad and loved to attend the Temple. She was a valiant disciple of Jesus Christ.

After Dad died in 1999, Mom missed him every day.

She was also preceded in death by her grandsons Jonathan Barker and Ryan Chambers and his daughter Evee and brothers Ballard, Edsel, Quentin, and Kent Hale.

She is survived by all her children: Linda & Doug Stoddard, Craig & Rosemary, Randy & Karla, Gary, Reid & Shirley, Lonnie & Lyman Barker, Lori & Brad Reeves, Rod & Chris, Lorraine & Lance Mead, Kelly & Miriam, and LeeAnn & Andy Lippert. She has 61 grandchildren and 103 plus great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her sister, Rachel (Keith) Cunningham, of Twin Falls, Idaho and brother Rodney (Sunny) Hale of Sandy, Utah.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 2019 at the No. Ogden 1st Ward, 626 E 2600 No. where a viewing will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2019 from 6 to 8 p.m., and Friday prior to the service from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Interment, Ben Lomond Cemetery.

Heartfelt thanks to the George Wahlen staff for their loving care of our Mom these last two years! We love you! THEY ARE LIVING HAPPILY FOREVER AFTER. Arrangements entrusted to Myers Ogden Mortuary.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.myers-mortuary.com

Mona Michelle Winterholer August 28, 1966—March 1, 2019

Our beloved Mona Michelle Winterholer passed away at her home in Tampa, Florida on March 1, 2019 at the age of 52.

Mona was born on August 28, 1966 in Twin Falls, Idaho and graduated from Twin Falls High School in 1984 as valedictorian. She then joined the Army and worked in the Pentagon. Her adventurous personality took her many places after her time in the service. Often times it landed her near her sister, Lori. The two women were best friends and were nearly inseparable for most of their lives, until Lori’s tragic death in August 2010.

Mona was the most empathetic person you could ever have the pleasure of knowing. She would take on any pain that was around her and truly feel deeply affected by the feelings of others. Mona’s heart was so open and pure, and her kindness was given freely. She loved her family and friends without condition. This sort of disposition was both a blessing and a curse, and our dear Mona took her own life after a lifelong battle with depression.

She was preceded in death by her mother, Donna Lea Winterholer, her niece, Anessia Shaye Winterholer, and her sister, Lori Winterholer Nigro. She is survived by her father, Jim Winterholer, her stepmother, Marian Winterholer, her brothers, Jason and James Winterholer, and her sisters, Annette (Dana) Hempleman, Tammy Shelly, and Kerry Eisenring.

We take some peace in knowing that she is reunited with her sister, mother, and her niece. All deaths that weighed heavy on her heart for a long time.

Until we meet again, our darling Mona. You were so loved and we will think of you every day.

“Everything is temporary but love. Love will outlive us all.”

A memorial will be held at a later time.

Elmer Everett Kissinger January 18, 1934—March 10, 2019

Elmer Everett Kissinger of Buhl died Sunday March 10, 2019 at St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center in Twin Falls. He was 85 years old.

Elmer was born January 18, 1934 in King Hill, Idaho, the son of George and Julia Kissinger. He lived in King Hill, Jerome and Twin Falls.

He spent several years in assisted living facilities in Jerome and Buhl.

Elmer married Lorraine Marie Ethride of Jerome in 1954. He was a hardworking man, and worked several jobs through the years. He eventually opened a family business, C&L Blacksmith Service.

Elmer was a member of the Coast Guard Auxiliary. He enjoyed bowling, fishing, hunting and camping.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lorraine, brother, Walter Kissinger and two sisters. He is survived by his four children, Fay (Michael) Knight of Twin Falls, Skip (Penny) Kissinger of Kimberly, Terry Kissinger of Twin Falls and Tony (Teresa) Kissinger of Buhl; six grandkids; eleven great-grandkids; one sister, Agnes Callow.

A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m., Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Farmer Funeral Chapel (130 N. 9th Ave.) Buhl, Idaho. An urn burial will follow the services at Sunset Memorial Park in Twin Falls.

Memories and condolences can be shared with the family at www.farmerfuneralchapel.com.

Robyn Tickner Filing November 21, 1963—January 21, 2019

Robyn Tickner Filing passed away January 21, 2019.

She was born November 21, 1963 in Twin Falls, Idaho.

She graduated from Twin Falls High School and Idaho State University. After college, her adventurous spirit led her to Akron, Ohio to be near her sister and nieces.

She was creative, fun-loving, and an avid animal lover.

Preceded in death by her father, Robert Tickner, survivors include her beloved son, Sam Filing; mother, Colleen Tickner; siblings, Terry (Carolyn), Caryl, and Tim (Leslie) Tickner; nieces, Allyson (Mark) Guran and Taryn Schmidt; and nephews, Tyson and Trey Tickner. The family sincerely appreciates the support and guidance offered by family and friends, especially lifelong friends Lorie and Donna. Cremation has occurred.

There will be no public service. A private family gathering will be scheduled to celebrate Robyn’s life.

of Greater Idaho

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OBITUARIES

Times-News

DEATH NOTICES‌ ‌Dona Ann King, 86 of Twin Falls passed away on Wednesday March 13, 2019 at Desert View Care Center in Buhl. A Memorial Service will be held on Saturday March 23, 2019 at 11 a.m. at Rosenau Funeral Home.

Arrangements are under the direction of www.rosenaufuneralhome.com.

Joy Deloris Morris, 71, a resident of Wendell, passed away on Thursday, March 14, 2019 at St. Luke’s Med-

ical Center in Twin Falls.

Funeral arrangements are pending under the care and direction of Demaray Funeral Service—Wendell Chapel. Condolences, memories and photos can be shared with the family by following the obituary link at www.demarayfuneralservice.com.

George J Knopes,73, of Wells NV, passed on March 14, 2019. Service is Pending with Parke’s Funeral Home

SERVICES ‌ ila Jean Facer L GOODING—A visitation will be held today from 5 to 7 p.m., at Rasmussen-Wilson Funeral Home, 1350 E. 16th St., in Burley.

The funeral will be held at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2019 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Gooding chapel, located at 1228 Main St., in Gooding, where a visitation for friends and family will be held one hour prior to the service.

Calvin Flint BUHL—Funeral service at 2 p.m. Monday, March 18, 2019 at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1001 Fair St in Buhl.

A viewing will be today from 5 to 7 p.m., at Farmer Funeral Chapel, 130 9th Ave N in Buhl.

Carol Barton TWIN FALLS—Visitation will be on Sunday, March 17, 2019 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Parke’s Magic Valley Funeral Home, 2551 Kimberly Rd in Twin Falls. Funeral services will be held on Monday, March 18, 2019 at 11 a.m. the Kimberly Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 222 Birch St. in Kimberly, Idaho. Family will also receive friends on hour prior to the service in the Relief Society Room at the Church.

Robert Knight HAILEY—Funeral Mass will be held 10 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2019 at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church, 313 1st Ave S, Hailey.

Ruth Denton TWIN FALLS—A Celebration of Life will be held at 1:30 p.m. Monday, March 18, 2019 at Rosenau Funeral Home, Twin Falls.

Barbara Dessel BURLEY—Funeral services at 11 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2019 at the Paul Congregational Church.

Viewing will be held today from 5 to 7 p.m., at Hansen Mortuary and for one hour prior to the services at the church.

David Croasdaile, M.D. BUHL—Friends will gather at the Magic Valley Brewery, 208 Broadway

Ave N in Buhl on Monday, March 18, 2019 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

David Greer RUPERT—Funeral services will be held 11 a.m.

Wednesday, March 20, 2019 at the Rupert Church of Jesus Christ 3rd Ward. Viewing for family and friends will be held for one hour prior to the services at the church 526 F St. Rupert, ID services will conclude with burial in the Rupert Cemetery under the direction of Joel Heward Hansen Mortuary.

Barbara Blair TWIN FALLS—A Celebration of Life at 2 p.m.

Thursday, March 21, 2019 at The Corner Stone Baptist Church, 315 Shoup Ave W, Twin Falls.

Elmer Kissinger BUHL—A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m.

Thursday, March 21, 2019 at Farmer Funeral Chapel (130 N. 9th Ave.) Buhl, Idaho. An urn burial will follow the services at Sunset Memorial Park in Twin Falls.

Dorothy Brennan BUHL—A graveside service with full military honors will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2019, 11 a.m., at the Idaho State Veterans Cemetery, 10100 Horseshoe Bend Road, Boise, Idaho.

Marva Chambers UTAH—Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, March 22, 2019 at the No. Ogden 1st Ward, 626 E 2600 No. where a viewing will be held on Thursday, March 21, 2019 from 6 to 8 p.m. and Friday prior to the service from 9 to 10:30 a.m.

Sindy Black JEROME—A viewing will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, March 22, 2019 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 825 E B St, Jerome. A funeral service will be held at 11am, Saturday, March 23, 2019 at the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 825 E B St, Jerome, with a viewing beginning at 10 a.m. Services are under the direction of Farnsworth Mortuary, Jerome.

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | C5

W.S. Merwin, prize-winning poet of nature, dies at 91 HILLEL ITALIE

AP National Writer‌

NEW YORK — W.S. ‌ Merwin, a prolific and versatile master of modern poetry who evolved through a wide range of styles as he celebrated nature, condemned war and industrialism and reached for the elusive past, died Friday. He was 91.

A Pulitzer Prize winner and former U.S. poet laureate, Merwin completed more than 20 books, from early works inspired by myths and legends to angry protests against environmental destruction and the conflict in Vietnam to late meditations on age and time.

He wrote rhymes and blank verse, a brief report on the month of January and a book-length story in verse about colonialism and the birth of modern Hawaii. Like his hero, Henry David Thoreau, he was inspired equally by reverence for the planet and anger against injustice.

He died in his sleep at his home on the Hawaiian island of Maui, according to publisher Copper Canyon Press and the Merwin Conservancy, which the poet founded.

“He is an artist with a very clear spiritual profile, and intellectual and moral consistency, which encompasses both his work and his life,” fellow poet Edward Hirsch once said of him.

Merwin received virtually every honor a poet could ask for — more, it turned out, than he desired. In protest of the Vietnam War, he declined a Pulitzer in 1971 for “The Carrier of Ladders,” saying he was “too conscious of being an American to accept public congratulation with good grace, or to welcome it except as an occasion for expressing openly a shame which many Americans feel.”

William Stanley Merwin was born in New York City in 1927. He soon moved to Union City, New Jersey, living for years on a street now called “W.S. Merwin Way,” then to Scranton, Pennsylvania.

In a long, autobiograph-

ical poem, “Testimony,” he remembered his father as a weary, disappointed man, subsisting on “pinched salaries” and “traveling sick with some nameless illuminating ill.” His mother was orphaned early in life and grieved again when her baby, a boy she meant to name after her father, died “when he had scarcely wakened.”

In a household as grim as an abandoned parking lot, the way out was pointed by words, which seemed to float around Merwin like magic bubbles. He would try to memorize scripture he heard his father recite and fairy tales his mother told him. By age 13, he was already composing hymns.

He received a scholarship from Princeton University, becoming the first family member to attend college, and began meeting some of the great poets of the present and future. Galway Kinnell was a classmate at Princeton and John Berryman a teacher.

After graduating, he lived in Spain and tutored the son of Robert Graves.

In London, he became friends with Sylvia Plath and Ted Hughes and remained close through the collapse of their marriage and Plath’s suicide, in 1963. Merwin’s then-wife, Dido Merwin, would allege that Plath had a crush on him.

Merwin’s promise was obvious. His first collection, “A Mask for Janus,” was selected by W.H. Auden for the coveted Yale Series of Younger Poets competition and was published in 1952. Throughout the 1950s, he wrote poems and plays, including a verse production of “Rumpelstiltskin.”

Times spent in Boston with Robert Lowell convinced him to concentrate on poetry, and by the end of the decade, he was regarded as a highly talented artist immersed in Old English literature, his verse likened by The New York Times to “a broad river flowing through peaceful land.”

By the early 1960s, he was marching against nuclear weapons and throwing off the rules

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AUDREY MCAVOY‌

FILE—In this Aug. 2, 2011 file photo, poet W.S. Merwin speaks to the Hawaii Conservation Conference in Honolulu.

Merwin, a prolific and versatile master of modern poetry who evolved through a wide range of styles as he celebrated nature, condemned war and industrialism and reached for the elusive past, died on Friday, March 15, 2019 at his home in Hawaii. of grammar, inspired by his “growing sense that punctuation alluded to an assumed allegiance to the rational protocol of written language.”

Meanwhile, Vietnam and urbanization darkened his vision. “I/can hear the blood crawling over the plains,” he wrote in “The Child.” In “The Crust,” the downfall of a tree is a metaphor for the severing of civilization: and with the tree went all the lives in it that slept in it ate in it met in it believed in it In the 1970s, he set-

tled permanently in Hawaii and studied under the Zen Buddhist master Robert Aitken. Divorced years earlier from Dorothy Jeanne Ferry and from Dido Milroy, he married his third wife, Paula Schwartz, in a Buddhist ceremony in 1983. She died in 2017.

Merwin’s work became sparer, rooted in the Hawaiian landscape and his personal past — how it’s often forgotten, how it’s never understood at the moment it’s lived, how words themselves were imperfect bridges to lost time.

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NEWS

C6 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

Louisiana’s ‘berry belt’ shrinking as aging farmers leave CAROLINE GRUESKIN, THE ADVOCATE OF BATON ROUGE

SPRINGFIELD, La. — Pon‌ chatoula still holds the title of Louisiana’s strawberry capital, but the sweet fruit’s future here looks less than rosy.

Farmers in Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes are growing fewer acres of the crop than ever, as an aging group of growers and an increasingly risky business is shuttering family farms.

While 265 farmers planted 915 acres of strawberries across the two parishes in 1988, a fraction of that number — just 26 farmers — planted 188 acres last fall, according to the LSU AgCenter.

Local farmers and officials say the crop will not disappear, but the acreage is likely to continue shrinking.

“You have some promise the business can exist. But in terms of the amount of people in it and the acreage, it continues to come down,” said Kenny Sharpe, the county agent for Livingston Parish.

The strawberry industry in the Florida Parishes dates to the 1800’s when immigrants from Hungary and Italy began planting in what would become known as “Louisiana’s berry belt.”

In 1924, growers planted some 14,420 acres of strawberries on farms ranging in size from five to 20 acres, according to The Loui-

siana Strawberry, a 1984 book by Ginger Romero. They sold their berries to local associations, who shipped their produce up the railroad and across the country.

The industry peaked in 1931, Romero wrote.

Now, most Louisiana strawberries stay within the state, supplying grocery chains and farmers markets in Louisiana, with a few traveling to Mississippi and Arkansas. But it still holds an important place in the area’s cultural heritage.

The berry is “kind of our identity” in Tangipahoa Parish, said Carla Tate, executive director of Tangi Tourism. The Strawberry Festival, coming up on April 1214 remains the largest and most vibrant of the parish’s festivals.

“We still have the best strawberries, and hopefully, it will continue, and we don’t have to face that issue of it (strawberries) going away.”

Growers and local officials remember a more vibrant industry just 30 years ago.

“Those were the good ‘ol days,” said Charlie Martin, the former mayor of Springfield.

Martin’s father-in-law, William Abels, then the principal at Springfield Elementary School, planted a field of them each year.

They were among the dozens of families who continued to plant berries, many as a side-hustle.

Abels would tend the berries when he was off work, Martin said, especially in the summer, and often recruit family members to help pick and sell.

“My father-in-law would knock on our door and tell us, ‘Time to pick strawberries!’”

Martin said. He recalled once bringing flats up to Mississippi for friends in his hunting club, too. “We would try to sell as many as we could.”

Other berries went to an association in Springfield that sold to companies using them for jam.

But when Abels died, no one in the family had the interest or ability to take the farm over, and it lays vacant now, Martin said.

Sharpe said the story is the same for many families who once shared in the strawberry business.

The early shrinkage of the strawberry industry came down to marketing and labor.

As it became harder for farmers to find locals willing to farm the berries, they relied more on expensive migrant workers who came here on special H2A temporary agriculture visas.

There are no longer associations that purchase and ship large quantities of berries grown in Louisiana. Instead, growers must establish their own set of buyers, through farmers markets or relationships with grocery stores, Sharpe said.

“Those were the two things that were most problematic earlier on,” Sharpe said. “You couldn’t get ‘em picked, and you couldn’t get ‘em sold.”

More recently, farmers have faced tough competition for land with developers, who want to build subdivisions in southern Livingston and Tangipahoa parishes, Sharpe said.

“A developer is willing to pay a lot more than a farmer for a 100acre lot,” he said.

Ponchatoula has been the site of disputes recently over rapid home building, often in the floodplain.

The largest farmer remaining in the business is the Liuzza family, which owns two large farms with 60 to 70 acres of strawberries near Independence.

Joey Liuzza farms with his dad, Anthony. He said the farming tradition began in his family four generations ago, when his relatives immigrated from Sicily and put their farming skills to work.

The family has survived where others have not by diversifying into growing many different vegetables, tourism and even a dirt-moving business.

But Liuzza said he is facing competition from California, Florida and Mexico, who flood the market with cheaper strawberries. He’s trying to set up a business he could pass on to his

Unexpected blizzard in Sunnyside killed 1,850 cows, Yakima area farmers are reeling ERIK LACITIS

The Seattle Times‌

‌ UNNYSIDE, Wash. — S The unexpected blizzard that swept through the Yakima Valley on Feb. 9 was just one more clobbering for the region’s dairy farms.

The number of dairy farms in the state has plummeted from 2,500 in 1993 to 377 in 2018, according to the Washington Farm Bureau, which represents the mostly family-owned businesses. Four years of low milk prices have led numerous farmers to call it quits.

Dairy farms also face new state regulations for handling and storing cow manure that one dairy consultant estimates have initial costs of $300,000 to $2 million. Requirements include special liners for the lagoons holding the manure, and a mandatory leak-detection system.

But Yakima Valley dairy farmers were unprepared for what befell them on Feb. 9. A storm with wind gusts of 50 to 60 mph and temperatures in the low to mid-teens sent wind chills plummeting near zero degrees, leaving 1,850 dairy cattle dead in the span of a few hours. With each cow valued by the dairies at $2,000, the loss was $3.7 million.

Though dairy farmers can apply for reimbursement of 75 percent of the livestock’s market value for weather-related deaths through the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Farm Service Agency, the loss hit Yakima Valley farmers hard.

“What next? Biblical plagues? A violent tornado?” says Stu Turner, a West Richland-based agronomist and consultant to the dairy industry.

“They’ve faced almost everything that you can think of that’s negative.”

Dairy cows have died by the hundreds — even the thousands — before in blizzards. An estimated 35,000 cows died in December 2015 when a winter storm dubbed Goliath swept through West Texas and New Mexico. Tens of thousands more died in an October 2013 snowstorm in South Dakota.

But last month’s tragedy drew national coverage, spurring angry reaction from animal-rights groups and condemnation on the internet.

PETA announced it would purchase either a billboard or maybe transit ads in the Yakima area to commemorate the deaths.

The image will be of a mother cow and her calf, next to the words, “Not

Your Mom? Not Your Milk!

Choose Vegan.”

Jason Sheehan, who lost 200 cows at his J & K Dairy, says most of the dairy farmers who lost cows don’t want to be part of media coverage. Not far away from his farm is a dairy that lost 600 cows, he says, but that farmer didn’t want publicity.

“No matter how good a job we do, how well we care for the animals, people tend to turn it around on us,” Sheehan says. “There’s lot of keyboard warriors out there these days.”

In fact, few Americans know much about farm life.

In 2016, only 1.5 percent of Americans were employed in agriculture, forestry, fishing or hunting, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

‘We had employees in tears’ As you drive on the country road to the J & K Dairy about four miles east of Sunnyside, the scenery is of fields blanketed in snow and barns dotting a picturesque setting. Last week, even some sunshine poked through.

The Yakima Valley is home to 57 dairy farms, with an average herd size of 1,300, according to the state’s Department of Agriculture. Washington is 10th in the nation for milk production — in 2017 it was a $1.13 billion industry, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The National Weather Service office in Pendleton, Ore., which serves the Yakima Valley, says the blizzard warning it issued for the Feb. 9 storm was “the first time” it had issued such a warning for the area. That includes records going back to 2007, and institutional memory prior to that.

Trying to escape the wind and snow, the cows reverted to their herd instinct and bunched up. The result was that they trampled each other or suffo-

cated.

“It was just overwhelming. We tried to move them, to quit bunching up, but it was just like people in a crowd, pushing, tripping over, falling down,” says Sheehan, who owns the dairy with his wife, Karen, and her parents, Tony and Brenda Veiga.

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Sheehan says he and his workers were afraid for their own safety.

They were in the midst of 1,500-pound cows.

“We did everything we could. Every one of these animals was raised by us.

We had employees in tears, seeing the animals that had died,” he says.

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kids, if they want it.

“We’re raising our kids on the farm, and if they want to do it and are able, we’ll keep them in business,” he said.

One farmer is jumping into the fray, however.

Trey Harris began leasing a five-acre farm in 2017 from the Blahut family in Springfield. The Blahuts, who are elderly, retired from the farming business after their crop was wiped out by the March 2016 flood.

Harris, who owns a seafood store in downtown Ponchatoula, said he got into the strawberry business, because he saw an opportunity to sell them at his store, and he had a relationship with Rouses Supermarkets, which were willing to market his berries.

Harris said the Mexican farm workers, who picked the fields under J.C. Blahut, have come back to the farm and showed him the ropes about how to grow strawberries.

He acknowledged that it’s a risky business, between the weather and the heavy investment, but he’s excited to see where it goes.

Harris said it has been a successful season so far, with more berries this year than at the same point in 2018.

“I love it,” he said, acknowledging, “I’m blessed because this isn’t my only business.”

Spring Consignment Sale Minidoka County Fair Grounds DATE: April 13, 2019

Rogge Auctions now taking consignments for spring consignment sale.

Ron Rogge (208) 431-6187 Kade Rogge (208) 431-0074 Jed South (208) 670-4042

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Wendell Community Auction Monday, March 25, 2019 at 10:00 am

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NEWS

Times-News

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | C7

US FOREIGN RELATIONS | Q&A

CLOSING IN ON PEACE DEAL Hopes high after marathon talks between US, Taliban ‌KATHY GANNON | Associated Press

‌T

he longest direct talks ever held between the United States and the Taliban concluded recently with both sides citing progress toward ending the 17-year war in Afghanistan, but many questions remain unanswered.

The Taliban are negotiating from a position of strength: They effectively control half the country, and President Donald Trump has made clear he is frustrated with America’s longest war and determined to bring the troops home. The two sides have reached a draft agreement on the withdrawal of U.S. troops — a longtime Taliban demand — and the insurgents have rebuffed U.S. efforts to get them to negotiate with the Kabul government.

U.S. envoy Zalmay Khalilzad can claim some success. The Taliban have Khalilzad said they will prevent Afghanistan from being used as a base for launching terror attacks, as it was prior to 9/11. But the insurgents have provided no specifics on what that would entail, and it remains unclear whether they are willing or able to confront other militant groups, some of which are longtime allies.

What was accomplished?

The marathon talks extended for 13 days and saw Khalilzad meet face-toface with Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, a co-founder of the Taliban and veteran battlefield commander. That alone marks a major change after three successive U.S. administrations — including Trump’s — rejected direct talks.

Khalilzad said they reached two “draft agreements” covering the withdrawal of U.S. troops and guarantees that Afghanistan would not revert to a haven for terrorists. But he was unable to persuade the Taliban to launch talks with the U.S.-backed government in Kabul, which the insurgents view as a corrupt and dysfunctional American puppet.

Instead, the Taliban agreed to meet with a wide array of prominent Afghan figures, including some government representatives. That would further undermine President Ashraf Ghani, who is increasingly being cast as part of a chorus of Afghan voices.

ASSOCIATED PRESS‌

American soldiers wait on the tarmac Nov. 30, 2017, in Logar province, Afghanistan. The longest direct talks ever held between the United States and the Taliban concluded recently with both sides citing progress toward ending the 17-year war, but many questions remain unanswered.

Will the US withdraw?

The two sides seem to be in agreement about the withdrawal of American forces but divided over the timeline and whether a residual force would remain.

Taliban officials have told The Associated Press that the insurgents want a full withdrawal within three to five months, but that U.S. officials say it will take 18 months to two years. The Americans are likely to insist on a residual U.S. force to guard the American embassy and other diplomatic facilities and may press for a counterterrorism force as well.

Even if the Americans accept the Taliban’s demands for a more rapid pullout, they could encounter logistical bottlenecks in withdrawing more than 10,000 American soldiers and heavy equipment from the central Asian country.

Will Taliban keep peace?

Both sides have continued to battle it out even as they negotiate, and no cease-fire has been reached.

The highly-disciplined Taliban can be expected to halt their military operations once they agree to do so, but whether they can or will act against other militant groups is a thornier question.

The Taliban have clashed repeatedly with an upstart Islamic State affiliate in recent years but have been unable to dislodge it from its strongholds in the eastern Nangarhar province. U.S. forces have had more success against IS, but air power has played a crucial role and may no longer be available after a withdrawal.

Other militant groups, like al-Qaida and the Haqqani network, have longstanding ties to the Taliban and are still active in Afghanistan and neighboring Pakistan.

Ayman al-Zawahri, who succeeded Osama bin Laden as the leader of al-Qaida after he was killed in 2011 during a U.S. raid in Pakistan, is believed to be in hiding in the region and still counts hundreds or perhaps thousands of followers in the two countries.

The Taliban might be able to convince such groups to lie low but are unlikely to wage a Western-style counterterrorism campaign against them. And if an attack on Western interests were traced back to the region, the Taliban could evade responsibility by saying it came from the Pakistani side of the porous, mountainous border.

What about the Afghan government?

The U.S. has spent 17 years and tens of billions of dollars propping up the government in Kabul, and Ghani himself owes his office to then-Secretary of State John Kerry, who negotiated a power-sharing arrangement after the 2014 election was marred by allegations of massive fraud.

But in recent months, the U.S. envoy has acquiesced to Taliban demands to keep the government on the sidelines. The Americans say they are working closely with the Afghan government and favor an Afghan-led process, but Ghani has yet to secure a seat at the table. Khalilzad said an Afghan dialogue will be held but there were no promises of a leading role for Ghani.

It remains unclear whether the government would survive in its present form without extensive aid from the U.S. and NATO, which have provided crucial air support during major battles with the Taliban. There are also numerous heavily armed factions within the government that could fight among themselves, as they did in the early 1990s.

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C8 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

ALMANAC

TWIN FALLS’ FIVE-DAY FORECAST TODAY

TONIGHT

MONDAY

TUESDAY

Partly sunny

Partly cloudy

Partly sunny

Partly sunny

WIND ENE 6-12 mph

WIND SSW 6-12 mph

WIND ENE 7-14 mph

54°

29°

55° 30°

Shown is today’s weather. Temperatures are today’s highs and tonight’s lows.

Spokane 47/28

Lewiston 47/34 Grangeville 52/31

Baker 53/27 McCall 45/19 Caldwell 59/31

Boise 57/33

Missoula 46/24

Rather cloudy

WIND E 8-16 mph

58° 32°

59° 34°

61° 36°

Helena 41/23

Butte 42/15

Mountain Home 57/32 Twin Falls 54/29

Bozeman 37/18

W. Yellowstone 40/15 Idaho Falls 46/25

Rupert 51/27 Burley 54/29

WIND SE 6-12 mph

BURLEY / RUPERT

24 hrs through 2 p.m. Sat. Month to date (normal) Season to date (normal) Last season to date Record for this date

Today: Partly sunny. Wind ENE at 6-12 mph. Highs 51-57.

Tonight: Partly cloudy. Wind ENE at 4-8 mph. Lows 25-31.

Monday: Partly sunny. Wind ENE at 6-12 mph. Highs 52-58. Lows 26-32.

Jackson 38/11

Pocatello 50/26

City

Boise Bonners Ferry Burley Challis Coeur d’Alene Elko, NV Eugene, OR Gooding Grace Hailey Idaho Falls Kalispell, MT Lewiston Portland, OR Rexburg Salt Lake City, UT Stanley

Today Hi/Lo/W

57/33/pc 49/30/s 54/29/pc 49/28/pc 49/27/s 54/28/s 64/39/s 53/30/pc 44/21/pc 43/25/pc 46/25/pc 45/23/s 47/34/s 66/44/s 43/22/pc 55/35/s 43/11/pc

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10 11+

The higher the AccuWeather.com UV Index™ number, the greater the need for eye and skin protection. Shown is the highest value of the day.

Today’s Air Quality

airnow.gov Forecast index based on presence of man-made particulates affecting aspects of human health.

Good Moderate Unhealthy Unhealthy Very Hazardous (sensitive) Unhealthy

0.0” 0.3” (1.5”) 12.7” (25.2”) 18.3” 2.0” (1988)

Skywatch Sun Moon

Rise

Set

7:47 a.m.

3:50 p.m.

7:46 p.m.

5:52 a.m.

Heating Degree Days Degree days are an indicator of energy needs.

The more the total degree days, the more energy is necessary to heat.

Monday Hi/Lo/W

Saturday Month to date (normal) Since July 1 (normal)

Full Moon Mar 20

30 494 (426) 5162 (5281)

23° 8 a.m.

46° noon

54° 4 p.m.

New Moon Apr 5

First Quarter Apr 12

Yesterday for the 48 contiguous states.

High: 90° in Marathon, FL Low: -16° in Antero Reservoir, CO

An exclusive index of effective temperature, wind, humidity, sunshine intensity, cloudiness, precipitation, pressure and elevation on the human body.

60/34/pc 53/30/pc 55/29/pc 50/25/pc 55/29/pc 55/27/s 69/42/s 56/32/pc 44/22/pc 45/23/pc 49/25/pc 47/25/pc 52/34/pc 66/48/s 47/23/pc 57/35/pc 44/10/pc

Last Quarter Mar 27

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RealFeel Temperature® Today 36° 8 p.m.

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TEMPERATURE TRENDS Daily Temperature

Forecast Temperature

Average High

Average Low

80 70 60 50 40

43

45

53 40

50

42

51

30

W-weather, s-sunny, pc-partly cloudy, c-cloudy, sh-showers, i-ice, r-rain, t-thunderstorms, sf-snow flurries, sn-snow

20 10

22

19

21

S

M

T

25

23

24

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T

F

54

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61

29

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32

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36

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61

60

40

38

F

S

18 S

“90% of your plans are going to fail no matter what you do. Get used to it.”

middlekauff Quote Of The Day

- Mark Manson - Author

2011 FORD RangeR XLT T

$

UV Index Today

Snowfall

REGIONAL FORECAST

Salmon 46/24 Sun Valley 44/25

THURSDAY

Partly sunny and beautiful WIND E 8-16 mph

REGIONAL OUTLOOK: Partly sunny today.

Partly cloudy tonight. Partly sunny tomorrow. Tuesday: partly sunny. Wednesday: partly sunny; pleasant in central parts of the area. Thursday: chance for rain and snow becoming all rain in the west. Friday: a chance for showers.

Coeur d’Alene 49/27

WEDNESDAY

Statistics through 2 p.m. Saturday Temperature High/low 51°/18° Normal high/low 52°/29° Record high 75° (1994) Record low 15° (1988) Precipitation 24 hrs through 2 p.m. Sat. 0.00” Month to date (normal) 0.26” (0.55”) Oct. 1 to date (normal) 5.77” (6.04”) Record for this date 0.41” (2004)

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Apple Watch may spot heart problem; more study needed fibrillation, according to preliminary results being presented at an American College of Cardiology conference in New Orleans.

A-fib tends to come and go, and a week of monitoring might have missed some cases, said Stanford lead researcher Dr. Mintu Turakhia.

But if the watch detected another irregular heartbeat while someone was wearing the EKG patch, 84 percent of the time it really was a-fib, he said.

“This study we believe provides very encouraging evidence that a device, the Apple Watch, can be used to detect a-fib and to point out to people when additional monitoring or testing may be needed,” said Dr. Lloyd Minor, Stanford’s dean of medicine.

Other cardiac experts said the study, which was funded

by Apple, suggests screening

LAURAN NEERGAARD

Associated Press‌

with wearable technology might be technically feasible eventually, but needs lots more research.

“I would not advise this to the overall general population,” said Dr. Valentin Fuster, director of Mount Sinai Heart in New York and a former American Heart Association president, who wasn’t involved with the study. Instead, he’d like to see it tested in seniors with risk factors like high blood pressure.

A-fib occurs when the heart’s top chambers, called the atria, get out of sync with the bottom chambers’ pumping action. Sometimes patients feel a flutter or a racing heart but many times they’re not aware of an episode.

Sometimes the heart gets back into rhythm on its own. Other patients get an electric shock to get back

‌WASHINGTON — A huge study suggests the Apple Watch can detect a worrisome irregular heartbeat at least sometimes — but experts say more work is needed to tell if using wearable technology to screen for heart problems really helps.

More than 419,000 Apple Watch users signed up for the unusual study, making it the largest ever to explore screening seemingly healthy people for atrial fibrillation, a condition that if untreated eventually can trigger strokes.

Stanford University researchers reported Saturday that the watch didn’t panic flocks of people, warning just half a percent of participants — about 2,100 — that they might have a problem.

But even among those flagged, “it’s not perfect,” cautioned Dr. Richard Kovacs of the American College of Cardiology, who wasn’t involved with the study.

People who received an alert were supposed to consult a study doctor via telemedicine and then wear an EKG patch measuring cardiac activity for the next week to determine the watch’s accuracy. Some skipped the virtual check-up to consult their own doctors; overall, about 57 percent sought medical attention.

PATRICK SISON, ASSOCIATED PRESS‌ Among those who got Customers look at Apple Watches at an Apple store on Sept.

EKG monitoring through the study, a third had atrial 21, 2018 in New York.

INTRODUC ING

into rhythm, or are prescribed blood thinners to counter the stroke-causing blood clots that untreated a-fib can spur. A-fib causes 130,000 deaths and 750,000 hospitalizations a year in the U.S. A-fib is most common in older adults, and other risks include high blood pressure or a family history of arrhythmias. But rou-

tine screening isn’t recommended for people without symptoms. Studies haven’t yet proved that early detection from screening would prevent enough strokes to outweigh risks from unnecessary testing or overtreatment.

A mobile app uses the optical sensor on certain versions of the watch to analyze pulse rate data. If it de-

tects enough variation from beat to beat over a 48-hour period, the user receives a warning of an irregular heart rhythm.

The latest version of the Apple Watch also allows wearers to push a button to take an EKG and share the reading with doctors. Saturday’s study didn’t include watches with that capability.

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M 1

NEWS

Times-News

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | C9

Democrats mull best ideological direction to beat Trump NICHOLAS RICCARDI AND ALEXANDRA JAFFE

Associated Press‌

‌DUBUQUE, Iowa — As she waited to meet former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper at a recent house party in Dubuque, attorney Connie O’Connor was anxious about the liberal direction of the Democratic presidential primary.

“I know a lot of people who don’t want to vote for Donald Trump but don’t necessarily want to vote for the presidential version of Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez,” she said, referring to the recently elected progressive congresswoman from New York. “I think we forget those people are out there.”

But about 80 miles away, union organizer Eli Shepherd pointed to the thousands of people flocking to a Bernie Sanders rally at the University of Iowa as proof that the self-described democratic socialist is best positioned to beat the Republican now in the White House.

“People get brought in (to the campaign) because it’s something they deeply care about,” Shepherd said.

“When there’s a campaign that’s actually focused on that, that’s what’s exciting, that’s what’s transformative, that’s how you win.”

Democrats have a long fight ahead over this question of who’s right.

The early days of the Democratic contest are dominated by a debate over whether candidates such as Sanders are moving the party too far left or whether the embrace of liberal priorities will fire up the base and help defeat Trump.

That debate is sure to deepen if former Vice President Joe Biden enters the race and tries to establish himself as a prominent centrist counterweight to Sanders, a Vermont senator. In the opening days of his 2020 campaign, former Texas Rep. Beto O’Rourke has also sought to appeal to

MATTHEW PUTNEY, ASSOCIATED PRESS‌

2020 Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Bernie Sanders speaks during a rally March 9 at the Iowa state fairgrounds in Des Moines, Iowa.

ELISE AMENDOLA, ASSOCIATED PRESS‌

Former Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper, left, applauds at a campaign house party Feb. 13 in Manchester, N.H. While the Democratic primary field has shifted left, polls show registered Democratic voters just want someone who can beat Donald Trump. both parties.

“There’s a tension, and that’s what presidential campaigns are about,” said Simon Rosenberg of the New Democratic Network.

So far, the candidates are racing to prove their progressive bona fides on issues such as “Medicare for All” and the Green New Deal.

Yet surveys suggest Democratic voters are less eager to tack left. A Monmouth Poll last month found 56 percent of registered Democrats said their top priority was a candidate who could beat Trump even if they disagreed with that person on most issues.

A Pew Research Center poll in January found that 53 percent of Democrats wanted the party to become more moderate, while 40 percent wanted it to become more liberal.

Recent campaign swings through Iowa, the nation’s leadoff caucus state, by Sanders and by Hickenlooper, a self-described “extreme moderate,” illustrated the contradiction in the Democratic field.

Cheri Pichone, a disability representative, brought

a Sanders action figure to a rally in Iowa City. Pichone voted for Green Party presidential candidate Jill Stein in 2016 because she said she believed the Democrats “cheated” to deny Sanders the nomination and she’s worried it could happen again.

“I don’t honestly see how anybody could beat him fairly,” Pichone said.

For the Sanders appearance in Iowa City, the crowd broke into a deafening roar as Sanders walked to the podium. “This,” he

said, “is where the political revolution began.”

Sanders was referring to the 2016 caucuses, when he came within a few votes of defeating front-runner Hillary Clinton in Iowa.

Now Sanders is an early leader, raising at least $10 million, almost all in small-dollar donations, since launching his campaign Feb. 19.

The initial sound of Hickenlooper’s first Iowa swing as a presidential candidate was a beer glass shattering.

Someone inside the packed meeting room at Confluence Brewery in Des Moines dropped a mug just as Hickenlooper walked in. Hickenlooper began scooping up shards of glass. “There’s nobody in this room who’s cleaned up more broken beer glasses than me,” said Hickenlooper, who started a brewpub after being laid off from his job as a geologist in the 1980s. He later became Denver’s mayor.

In Des Moines, he talked about persuading Republican mayors of suburbs to join Denver in pushing a tax increase to pay for light rail. He recounted, after being elected governor in 2010, how he was able to get the energy industry and environmentalists to agree on limits on meth-

ane gas emissions. He bemoaned “a national crisis of division.”

The day after his Des Moines appearance, Hickenlooper stopped at five separate locations across the state.

After Hickenlooper gave a speech in Cedar Rapids, the crowd gathered around him. Karla Goettel, 69, made a beeline for the candidate and complained about his refusal on the television show “Morning Joe” to call himself a capitalist. Hickenlooper told her a ‘bunch of Democrats” are upset at capitalism.

Goettel said Hickenlooper knew he messed up the question. “They’re all trying to be careful not to be too far right or too far left,” she said. “I just want to find someone electable.”

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C10

| SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019

TIMES-NEWS

HEALTH NUTRITION

A HEALTHY

PINCH OF

Cumin

SPICE

Paprika

Easy ways to sprinkle on some health benefits TRIBUNE NEWS SERVICES

W

e all know the importance of herbs and spices for enhancing the flavors in our foods, but do you know how herbs and spices can enhance your health as well?

Your kitchen’s spice rack may hold some secret weapons against conditions such as inflammation, heart disease, cancer and more.

“Spices are underused, but it would be very easy to take advantage of them and improve health,” said Dr. Lipi Roy, an internal medicine physician at Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

So, instead of flavoring your food with salt and butter, which can contribute to high blood pressure and heart disease, consider using the following spices:

Ginger

Cumin

Paprika

“Cumin may help fight infection and many types of cancers, and improve digestion, headaches and skin disease,” Roy said. It contains thymoquinone, a phytochemical with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects.

That means it has the potential to help “any chronic disease where there’s excess inflammation,” such as cancer and some bowel disorders, Roy said.

TRY IT: In lentil soup, on top of broiled salmon or on whole-wheat pasta.

Paprika is a mild spice made from any number of ground, dried red peppers. “It may decrease the risk for cancer and heart disease,” Roy said. It also might help alleviate gas, increase immunity and decrease cancercell survival.

TRY IT: On top of eggs or grilled shrimp, in tomato sauce or salsa, or as a rub for meats.

Ginger Ginger helps the digestive system by relieving flatulence and by relaxing and soothing the intestinal tract. Ginger is most effective at reducing nausea and vomiting due to sea sickness, chemotherapy and pregnancy.

TRY IT: On top of acorn squash, sprinkle it on salads or add it to stir-fries.

Coriander might have anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, anti-allergic and antioxidant properties. “This may have anti-anxiety properties, too, and it can help lower cholesterol and aid digestion,” Roy said.

“Many of coriander’s effects can be attributed to its high phytonutrient content.”

TRY IT: In turkey meatballs or mushroom burgers, or sprinkle it on baby arugula salad.

Coriander

Garlic

Rosemary Rosemary

Coriander

Studies show that even just smelling rosemary can enhance brain function and memory. In one small study, rosemary also was beneficial for reducing allergy symptoms and nasal congestion.

TRY IT: On fish or chicken or in soups and sauces.

Garlic supplements can boost immune function and help shorten the duration of a cold or flu. Garlic supplements also can help to reduce blood pressure and cholesterol.

TRY IT: On green vegetables, such as spinach, kale or broccoli, or in soups and pasta sauces.

Cinnamon

Turmeric Turmeric’s vibrant golden hue comes from a substance known as curcumin. Curcumin is also what makes turmeric a medicinal “cure-all,” — thought to aid in inflammation, brain function, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, cancer, arthritis and depression.

Curcumin blocks free radicti-inflammatory properties and matches the power of some anti-inflammatory drugs.

TRY IT: On vegetables, rice or quinoa or in chicken soup.

Cinnamon contains one of the highest levels of antioxidants compared with other common spices. Research shows that consuming cinnamon may help lower blood sugar levels by slowing the breakdown of carbohydrates in the digestive tract and by improving insulin sensitivity. Additionally, it has been shown to significantly decrease fasting blood sugars.

Garlic

TRY IT: In any dessert, on top of cooked fruit, sprinkled in oatmeal or used in turkey chili.

Turmeric

Cinnamon Sources: Environmental Nutrition Newsletter, Harvard Health Publications

ISTOCK PHOTOS

MAYO CLINIC Q&A

Understanding secondary headache disorder MAYO CLINIC NEWS NETWORK

D

ear Mayo Clinic: How can you tell when a headache requires additional diagnostic testing?

A: Headaches come with a wide range of accompanying symptoms and severity. Most often, they are due to a primary headache disorder, such as a tension-type headache or migraine. In older adults, most headaches are primary in nature.

However, older adults are more likely than their younger counterparts to experience a

secondary headache disorder. A secondary headache is when the headache pain is a symptom of an underlying problem or condition. An “ice cream headache” is an example of a secondary headache that doesn’t have a worrisome cause. However, some secondary headaches may be warning signs of something more serious, such as an aneurysm or tumor.

Certain “red flag” characteristics are more worrisome and should be discussed with your health care provider.

Represented by the acronym

“SNOOP4,” these headache characteristics are:  Systemic symptoms: Headaches are accompanied by fever, chills, night sweats or unintentional weight loss.  Neurologic symptoms: Headaches are accompanied by signs and symptoms such as weakness, numbness, trouble walking, confusion, seizures or difficulty staying alert or maintaining consciousness.  Onset: They begin suddenly or abruptly, such as a severe headache that peaks within one to two minutes (also known

as a “thunderclap headache”).  Older age: They begin to occur or progress after age 50.  Pattern change: There are changes in frequency, severity or character that differ from previously experienced headaches.

For example, if you normally have mild visual symptoms with your headaches, a dramatic increase in visual symptoms may be concerning.  Progressive: The attacks worsen over time.  Precipitated by exertion: Headaches occurs with a cough, sexual activity, bowel move-

ments, bearing down or other activity.  Positional worsening: They change in severity, depending on whether you’re upright or lying down.

Talk to your health care provider if you’re having new headaches or headaches that seem out of the ordinary for you. If a severe headache comes on suddenly, seek emergency medical attention.

Mayo Clinic News Network is your source for health news, advances in research and wellness tips.

M 1

NEWS

Times-News

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | C11

BREXIT | LOOKING AHEAD

A DIVORCE DELAYED What’s next after vote to postpone UK’s departure from EU

No clear route out of Britain’s political crisis

JILL LAWLESS

Associated Press‌

B

ritish lawmakers are trying to put the brakes on Brexit — at least for now.

The U.K. Parliament voted Thursday 413 to 202 to ask the European Union to delay the U.K.’s exit from the bloc beyond the scheduled date of March 29.

The vote comes a day after U.K. lawmakers committed Britain to staying in the EU unless a divorce deal is ratified.

With the approaching deadline intensifying fears that Britain could leave the bloc without a deal — a move that economists say could spark economic turmoil — the U.K. Parliament voted Wednesday to rule out the possibility of a no-deal Brexit.

However, the final say on whether to grant Britain a delay rests with leaders of the 27 remaining EU nations.

Here’s what might happen next:

Delay, delay, delay

After a series of Parliamentary defeats, British Prime Minister Theresa May grudgingly gave lawmakers a chance to delay Brexit.

This option proved popular, since politicians on both sides of the Brexit debate fear that time is running out to secure an orderly withdrawal by March 29.

May wants to get an extension until June 30 — but only if she can get Parliament to back her Brexit deal in a third vote by March 20.

May’s proposed Brexit deal has been defeated twice already by lawmakers.

If it is defeated again, May says Britain will have to seek a long extension, with the risk that opponents of Brexit will use that time to soften the terms of departure or even overturn Britain’s decision to leave.

KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH PHOTOS, ASSOCIATED PRESS‌

Anti-Brexit activists hang British and EU flags Wednesday during a protest outside the House of Parliament in London.

What’s the EU’s part in this?

A Brexit extension requires approval from all 27 remaining EU member countries. They have an opportunity to grant such a request at a March 21-22 summit in Brussels.

But the rest of the EU is reluctant to postpone Brexit beyond the May 23-26 election for the EU’s legislature. The U.K. won’t be represented in the European Parliament after it quits the EU; its seats already have been given to other countries to fill in the May election.

The bloc may be open to a long delay, however, to allow Britain to radically change course. European Council President Donald Tusk tweeted Thursday he will appeal to EU leaders “to be open to a long extension if the U.K. finds it necessary to rethink its Brexit strategy and build consensus about it.”

A Brexit supporter takes part in a protest Wednesday outside the Houses of Parliament in London.

Parliament’s votes this week won’t end Britain’s Brexit crisis.

Both lawmakers and the public remain split between backers of a clean break from the EU and those who favor continuing a close relationship, either through a postBrexit trade deal or by reversing the June 2016 decision to leave.

May is unwilling to abandon her hard-won divorce deal with the EU, which May sets out the terms of Britain’s withdrawal and the outline of future relations with the bloc.

Her Conservative government is holding talks with its Northern Irish political allies and proBrexit backbench lawmakers to see if they will abandon their opposition to a deal they fear keeps Britain too closely tied to the bloc.

If May’s Brexit deal is defeated in an upcoming vote, the government says lawmakers will get to vote on several different options for Brexit to see if there is a majority for any of them.

Opposition politicians think the only way forward is an early election that could rearrange Parliament and break the political deadlock. May has ruled that out, but could come to see it as her only option.

And anti-Brexit campaigners haven’t abandoned the idea of a new referendum on remaining in the EU. There’s currently no majority for that in Parliament. A motion calling for a second referendum was defeated by a thumping 33485 vote on Thursday.

However, the political calculus could change if the paralysis drags on.

The opposition Labour Party has said it would support a second referendum if other options were exhausted.

US FOREIGN RELATIONS | CHINA

Tensions around Huawei span globe China-Canada impact

Situation affects global corporations, Canadian canola fields JOE MCDONALD | Associated Press‌

‌C

hinese tech giant Huawei’s tensions with Washington, which says the telecom equipment maker is a security risk, stretch across four continents from courtrooms to corporate boardrooms to Canadian canola fields.

In the latest twist, Huawei Technologies Ltd. is asking a court in Texas to strike down a legal ban on the government using its equipment or dealing with any contractor that does.

Washington is trying to persuade European and other allies to shun the biggest maker of network technology as their phone carriers invest billions of dollars in upgrading to next-generation communications.

The company denies accusations it might facilitate Chinese spying or is controlled by the ruling Communist Party. Chinese authorities say the United States is exaggerating security concerns to block a potential competitor.

Meanwhile, U.S. prosecutors are trying to extradite Huawei’s chief financial officer from Canada to face charges she lied to banks about dealings with Iran.

Here’s a closer look at the situation:

Security concerns

M 1

U.S. authorities say Huawei might facilitate Chinese spying by installing “back doors” in its equipment for eavesdropping or sharing secrets about customers. The company’s U.S. sales plunged after a congressional panel in 2012 labeled Huawei and Chinese rival ZTE Corp. security risks and told phone carriers to avoid them. Huawei denies it is a risk and complains Washington has released no evidence or details of its accusations. Australia, Japan, Taiwan and some other governments have imposed curbs on use of Huawei technology over security concerns.

KIN CHEUNG PHOTOS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

People use a mobile phone earlier this month in a Huawei retail shop in Shenzhen, China’s Guangdong province.

Lawsuit

Huawei is asking a U.S. federal court in Texas to strike down part of this year’s military appropriations bill that bars the government from using the Chinese vendor’s equipment or dealing with any contractor that does.

The company says the measure improperly singles out Huawei for punishment without trial and amounts to a “death sentence.”

American legal experts say Huawei’s claims will be hard to prove, but the company has few other options.

Technology competition

Allies

American officials are lobbying European and other allies to avoid Huawei, with limited success.

That threatens to block Huawei, a leading developer of fifth-generation technology, from major markets where carriers are preparing to invest billions of dollars in upgrading networks. European governments have balked at banning Huawei outright. Germany says it won’t exclude any suppliers in advance and instead will set “data protection” standards vendors must meet.

Huawei’s chief financial officer is fighting U.S. efforts to extradite her from Canada to face charges of lying to banks about dealings with Iran in violation of trade sanctions.

Meng Wanzhou, who is the daughter of Huawei’s founder, was arrested Dec. 1 at the Vancouver airport. The arrest strained Chinese-Canadian relations. Beijing has arrested two Canadians, a former diplomat and a businessman, in what is widely seen as an effort to pressure Canada to release Meng. She is free on bail and living in a Vancouver mansion she owns, while the Canadians arrested in China are barred from seeing relatives or lawyers. Chinese authorities have meanwhile slowed imports of Canadian canola, an oilseed crop, by imposing more stringent inspections. A court in Vancouver is to set a date on May 8 for an extradition hearing. Meng has filed a lawsuit accusing Canadian authorities of violating her rights by questioning and searching her before telling her she was under arrest.

A staff member works on a mobile phone production line during a media tour recently at a Huawei factory in China’s Guangdong province.

Criminal charges

Huawei is accused of stealing technology behind a robot T-Mobile USA, Inc. uses to test smartphones.

The Chinese company pleaded not guilty this month in federal court in Seattle. Two Huawei subsidiaries face 10 counts including theft of trade secrets and conspiracy.

Prosecutors say a Huawei employee removed a robot arm from T-Mobile’s lab and sent measurements and photos to China. Huawei says the employee acted on his own and was fired. A federal jury in Seattle awarded T-Mobile $4.8 million in damages in 2017.

Huawei is at the center of U.S.-Chinese tension over Beijing’s technology ambitions and complaints the communist government steals or pressures foreign companies to hand over know-how. The United States and other trading partners complain Chinese support for technology development violates Beijing’s market-opening obligations. Huawei, founded in 1987 by a former military engineer, is the most successful of a group of emerging competitors Beijing hopes will make China a creator of profitable technologies.

Business impact

Huawei says the U.S. criticism so far has had little impact on sales outside the United States.

The company’s global revenue forecast for 2018 is $100 billion and its founder, Ren Zhengfei, says this year’s target is $125 billion.

C12 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

®

® ®

®

IRISH SODA BREAD 101 Fifteen minutes is all it takes to get this whole-grain loaf in the oven.

® ®

Irish Soda Bread with Dried Fruit & Caraway

Active 15 min Total 1½ hrs (including 30 min cooling time) Equipment 9-inch cast-iron skillet Serves 12 one 2-inch-thick slice each This bread experienced a rise in popularity in Ireland in the mid-1800s when baking soda was an easier leavener to come by than yeast.

1 4½ ½ ½ 1 1 1 2¼

by JOY HOWARD

tablespoon unsalted butter cups white whole-wheat flour cup currants cup golden raisins tablespoon caraway seeds teaspoon baking soda teaspoon kosher salt cups buttermilk

1. Preheat oven to 425°F. 2. Warm a 9-inch cast-iron skillet in the oven for 5 minutes.

Remove the pan from the oven and add butter, swirling to coat the bottom and sides.

3. Combine flour, currants, raisins, caraway seeds, baking soda and salt in a large bowl.

Gradually add buttermilk, stirring just until the flour is fully incorporated. Do not overmix. The dough should be sticky and a little shaggy.

4. Transfer the dough to the prepared pan, using a spatula to spread it evenly.

It’s OK if it doesn’t reach all the way to the sides. Use a sharp knife to score a deep X in the top of the loaf.

5. Bake until cooked through and golden brown, about 40 minutes. Let cool in the pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to a wire rack to cool for at least 30 minutes before slicing.

CURRANT EVENTS

Dried currants have little to do with fresh ones. Made from a miniature black grape variety called Zante, their label as “currants” likely is due to an incorrect translation of their city of origin, Corinth, in Greece.

PER SERVING cal 214, fat 1 g (sat. 1 g), chol. 4 mg, carbs 45 g, total sugars 10 g (added 0 g), protein 8 g, fiber 5 g, sodium 354 mg, potassium 235 mg.

ALL RISE

When baking soda is mixed with an acid (in this case buttermilk) and exposed to heat, a chemical reaction is unleashed that releases carbon dioxide. The CO2 produces pockets of air that make this bread rise.

CRUST LOVE

Cast iron amasses more thermal energy per pound than other cooking mediums, so it gets hotter faster.

This means a crunchier crust on bread.

FOR YOUR HEALTH

Find good-for-you recipes you’ll love in EatingWell® magazine. Subscribe at magazine.store and get 10 issues for $10.

To sponsor this section please call your local advertising representative today!

208.735.3270 M 1

SPORTS

Times-News

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | D1

Sunday, March 17, 2019 | magicvalley.com | SECTION D

Rahm storms into lead at Players Championship

Argentina announces professional women’s soccer

DOUG FERGUSON

AP Golf Writer‌

‌PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. — Jon Rahm can’t think of a shot he missed Saturday in his round of 8-under 64 that took him from five shots behind to one shot ahead of Rory McIlroy and Tommy Fleetwood in The Players Championship.

The one bogey he made stood out for two reasons.

It was nearly perfect, of course, a sand wedge into No. 6 that tracked the flag and landed next to the pin, except that it took a hard bounce and rolled over the back of the green. And his reaction to a potential birdie turning into bogey spoke to the calm Rahm feels, even on a course designed to fray nerves.

There was no visible frustration, only more great golf.

“I’ve been working so hard on the mental aspect of my game, trying to keep myself in check a little more,” said Rahm, the 24-year-old Spaniard so full of passion. “And I think that has been the key this week. I’ve been so balanced — nothing like I used to be, nothing like before.

I’ve been really proud of how I’ve been handling myself.

“And hopefully tomorrow, it shows how different it has been.”

Rahm surged ahead with a 30 on the back nine of the TPC Sawgrass, sparked by a 4-iron into 3 feet for eagle and a wedge that stopped 2 feet behind the hole to a front pin on the par-3 17th for a tap-in birdie.

He was at 15-under 201, enough for his first 54-hole lead on the PGA Tour, enough to keep McIlroy and Fleetwood from catching him.

“Didn’t miss many shots out there,” Rahm said. “Really, really confident with my irons. Every time I stepped up, I felt like I was going to hit a good shot.”

McIlroy and Fleetwood struggled from the start and both eventually recovered, McIlroy sooner than Fleetwood, both finishing with a 70 that left them in excellent shape to capture the PGA Tour’s biggest event.

McIlroy muffed a chip and had to scramble for bogey on the opening hole, hit a chip over the green on the par-5 second hole and turned potential birdie into bogey, and that was as bad as it got. He still was under par at the turn by running off three birdies, including a 4-iron to a foot on the hardest par 3 on the course at No. 8.

But after a two-putt birdie on the par-5 11th, McIlroy’s chances dried up. Even on the par-5 16th, he tried a low runner out of the pine trees and it came out so hot that it ran through the green and into the water.

Even so, he was bogey-free over the last 16 holes and shot 70. And he can at least avoid

STATE CHEER CHAMPIONSHIPS

PAT SUTPHIN TIMES-NEWS‌

Minico junior Halie Kidd is launched into the air in their All Girl Stunt Group performance Saturday, March 16, 2019, during the Cheer State Championships at the Idaho Ford Center Arena in Nampa.

Manziel signs with new Alliance league, will join Memphis THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

J‌ ohnny Football is heading to Memphis to resume his football career.

Johnny Manziel signed with the Alliance of American Football on Saturday night and will join the Memphis Express. The quarterback’s rights belonged to San Antonio of the spring league, but that team declined to sign him and Manziel then was free to join any of the other seven clubs. He was awarded through the AAF’s waiver system to the Express, who have a league-worst 1-5 record.

“We are pleased to welcome Johnny Manziel to Alliance of American Football, which

Please see PLAYERS, Page D2

we’ve always described as a league of opportunity for talented players to launch or revitalize their pro football careers,” Alliance co-founder Bill Polian said in a statement released by the league. “We completed extensive background work to determine whether it would be appropriate for Johnny to play this season, and after consulting with many people familiar with his situation, we concluded that it would be good for him to resume his pro football career here at The Alliance.”

Manziel is expected to report to the Express on Sunday.

The 2012 Heisman Trophy

winner at Texas A&M had his contract with the CFL terminated this offseason. The Canadian league said he violated his agreement with it, but has offered no specifics.

Manziel was a first-round draft pick by Cleveland in 2014, but quickly fizzled out there with seven touchdowns and seven interceptions in 14 games, including eight starts.

The Browns released him in March 2016 He was 2-6 as a starter with the Montreal Alouettes last season, completing 106 of 165 passes (64.2 percent) for Please see MANZIEL, Page D2

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina ‌ (AP) — Argentina’s soccer association announced Saturday that the national women’s league will be granted professional status, marking a milestone in a country that is home to Lionel Messi and some of the world’s greatest players but still views soccer as largely a men’s game.

At a press conference on the outskirts of the capital of Buenos Aires, the association said that each of the 16 clubs of the women’s top division must now have at least eight professional contracts with female players. The contracts must also mirror those of the professional men’s league.

“When we assumed responsibility, we said we were going to oversee inclusive soccer that is gender equal, and we are demonstrating that,” said AFA President Claudio Tapia.

Tapia said that the association will contribute 120,000 pesos (about $3,000) per month to each club to finance the contracts.

Up until now, the women’s game has been played by amateur athletes who have gotten little to no money for their work on the field.

The national team’s female players have also struggled financially and went on strike in 2017 after their stipends of about $10 went unpaid.

With Saturday’s announcement, professional female players will now receive a monthly minimum salary of about 15,000 pesos, or $365, which is equivalent to that earned by male players in the fourth division of Argentine soccer.

Sergio Marchi, leader of the soccer players’ union, held up a copy of a contract and said, “With this we are generating a legal framework and a way to be able to advance professionally. This is the base, it is the beginning. It is in each of us to develop it.”

The professionalization of the sport gained momentum this year when soccer player Macarena Sanchez was dismissed by the UAI Urquiza team, which is the current league champion in Argentina.

She then decided to launch a legal complaint seeking compensation and professional status.

Female soccer players around the world have recently embarked on similar quests.

Earlier this month, the U.S. women’s national soccer team sued the U.S. Soccer Federation for “institutionalized gender discrimination” that includes unequal pay with their counterparts on the men’s national team.

Tapia said that professional recognition in Argentina is just the tip of the iceberg, but some advances will largely depend on the commitment of clubs and their ability to generate sponsorships and television rights.

Mariana Frambati, a forward for Banfield, called it a “historic day.”

“This will affect those who are younger, who can take this activity more seriously as a future, a job. So that generations to come can develop and play starting from when they are young,” she said.

Shiffrin, Pinturault get wins for the World Cup record book ‌SOLDEU, Andorra (AP) — Citius, altius, 40th.

Embodying the Olympic motto in a World Cup slalom Saturday, Mikaela Shiffrin went faster in her second slalom run and higher in the World Cup all-time lists by being stronger than Wendy Holdener to win an intense duel.

Shiffrin’s 40th career victory in World Cup slaloms tied her with Swedish great Ingemar Stenmark’s record for wins in the discipline.

“It was just a really amazing day to be racing,” Shiffrin said in the sun-bathed finish area in Andorra, one hour after Alexis Pinturault also

set a record winning the final men’s giant slalom of the season.

Pinturault became the most prolific French skier on the 52-year World Cup circuit with his 23rd career victory.

Shiffrin had trailing 0.28 seconds behind first-run leader Holdener and won by just 0.07 after both racers visibly pushed their limits slicing through the gates.

Holdener’s unlucky defeat extended her own unwanted World Cup record with a 22nd career podium finish in slalom without a victory.

That’s the most top-three plac-

ings in a single discipline without winning for any man or woman in World Cup history.

“I can see the frustration in her eyes,” Shiffrin said. “I have a lot of respect for Wendy. She is so strong.”

Shiffrin, the 2014 Sochi Olympics gold medalist, earned 100 race points to lift her season-long total in the slalom standings to a remarkable 1,160 — more than every woman skier’s total over all disciplines, except for overall standings runner-up GABRIELE FACCIOTTI‌ Petra Vlhova.

Shiffrin’s mammoth 2,104 points United States’ Mikaela Shiffrin reacts after winning a women’s World Cup slalom at the alpine ski, World Cup finals in Soldeu, Please see SKIING, Page D2 Andorra, Saturday, March 16, 2019.

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SPORTS

D2 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Local youth athlete makes finals for USA Shooting

‌SPORTS ON TV ‌6 p.m.

NFL — Birmingham at San Diego

TIMES-NEWS

‌AUTO RACING ‌1:30 p.m.

FOX — MONSTER ENERGY NASCAR CUP: The Auto Club 400, Fontana, Calif.

‌BIATHLON ‌11 p.m. (Monday)

NBCSN — IBU World Championship: women’s 12.5km mass start, Sweden

Mississippi State at Florida

Times-News

‌COLLEGE BASEBALL ‌Noon

‌COLLEGE BASKETBALL (MEN’S) ‌10 a.m.

ESPN2 — Ivy League Tournament: Yale vs. Harvard, championship

‌11 a.m.

CBS — Atlantic 10 Tournament: St. Bonaventure vs. Saint Louis, championship ESPN — SEC Tournament: Auburn vs. Tennessee, championship

‌ IMBERLY — Jack NelK son of Kimberly made the junior finals at the 2019 USA Spring Selection Match National Championships — International Bunker Trap.

He placed fifth in the top six junior shooters with a score of 218 over four days.

Nelson ended up fourth in the shoot-off with 27 points.

Because of his score, NelCOURTESY OF MARK NELSON‌ son now qualifies for the JuJack Nelson shooting in the 2019 USA Spring Selection Match. nior Olympics in June at the

Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colo. He will also compete in June for the USA Shotgun National Championships.

Over 150 athletes from across the nation competed from Feb. 25 to March 9 at the Tucson Trap Club in Arizona. The event was sanctioned by USA Shooting which has an outstanding legacy as one of the most-decorated Olympic sports in the United States.

‌Noon

ESPN2 — Sun Belt Tournament: Georgia St. vs. Texas-Arlington, championship

‌1:15 p.m.

ESPN — American Athletic Tournament: Houston vs. Cincinnati, championship

‌1:30 p.m.

CBS — Big Ten Tournament: Michigan St. vs. Michigan, championship

‌4 p.m.

CHADD CRIPE

CBS — NCAA Basketball Championship Selection Show

Idaho Statesman‌

‌6:30 p.m.

ESPNU — NIT Selection Special

‌COLLEGE BASKETBALL (WOMEN’S) 1‌ 0 a.m.

CBSSN — Patriot League Tournament: American vs. Bucknell, championship

‌Noon

CBSSN — SLC Tournament: Abilene Christian vs. Texas A&M-CC, championship ESPNU — Northeast Tournament: Robert Morris vs. St. Francis, championship

‌2 p.m.

ESPNU — Ivy League Tournament: Princeton vs. Penn, championship

‌COLLEGE HOCKEY (MEN’S) ‌1:30 p.m.

BTN — Big Ten Tournament: Penn State vs. Ohio State, semifinal

‌COLLEGE SOFTBALL ‌10 a.m.

SEC — Mississippi State at Kentucky

‌3 p.m.

SEC — Florida at LSU

University of Idaho arena gets go-ahead

‌GOLF ‌11 a.m.

NBC — PGA Tour Golf: The Players Championship, final round, Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla.

‌GYMNASTICS ‌2:30 p.m.

NBCSN — FIG World Cup: women’s all-around competition, Germany (taped)

‌NBA G LEAGUE BASKETBALL ‌11 a.m.

‌The University of Idaho on Thursday moved a major step closer to a new basketball and events arena decades in the making.

The State Board of Education voted unanimously to allow the university to begin the bidding and construction phase on the $46 million project. However, that decision was contingent upon approval of the State Board’s executive director in consultation with the new university president — a stipulation that will give that president input before moving into the job.

The board interviewed four presidential finalists Thursday to replace the outgoing Chuck Staben and indicated during the arena discussion

that a hiring decision could be made in the next week.

Students will cover more than one-third of the arena construction cost through $18 million of student fees. Half of that amount is subject to State Board approval at next month’s meeting because it will double an existing arena fee to $30 per semester.

The student government worked with the university administration to address some student priorities — such as how student spaces on campus are managed — in exchange for the students’ support, ASUI President Nicole Skinner said.

“We think the new arena is a great project,” State Board President Linda Clark said in a press release. “We also think it is important that the new

president has an opportunity to review the project and provide input.”

Staben expressed concern about any delays at Thursday’s meeting. However, since the bidding process is expected to take about 90 days, the contingency should be removed before the university is committed financially to the project.

The university hopes to break ground early this summer and open the venue for the 2021-22 men’s and women’s basketball seasons. Timing is a key part of the construction process because of the arena’s wooden features and the winter weather in Moscow.

The arena plans call for 4,000 seats and a capacity of 4,200, including other areas such as the alumni room. It

will be built primarily with wood products and will replace the lawn on the north side of the Kibbie Dome.

The lead gift was $10 million from Idaho Central Credit Union, which gets naming rights for 35 years.

“The ICCU arena is much more than a basketball arena,” Staben said in a press release.

“This unique facility represents an essential addition to our residential campus, offering a gathering place for students, athletes, faculty, staff, alumni and friends for generations to come. We are more energized than ever about this project. Our sincere thanks go to our students, Idaho Central Credit Union and the many donors and partners whose support will make the arena a reality.”

NBA — Lakeland Magic vs. Maine Red Claws

‌NBA BASKETBALL 1‌ :30 p.m.

Skiing

ABC — Philadelphia at Milwaukee

‌NHL HOCKEY ‌3 p.m.

NHL — St. Louis at Buffalo

NBCSN — Philadelphia at Pittsburgh

‌5:30 p.m. ‌8 p.m.

NBCSN — Edmonton at Vegas

‌SKIING 1‌ 0 a.m.

NBC — FIS Freestyle World Cup: Toyota U.S. Grand Prix, slopestyle, Mammoth Mountain, Calif. (taped)

‌1:30 p.m.

NBCSN — FIS Alpine World Cup Finals: women’s giant slalom and slalom, Andorra (taped)

‌SOCCER (MEN’S) ‌6:20 a.m.

FS1 — Bundesliga: Bayer Leverkusen vs. Werder Bremen ESPN2 — Serie A: Lazio vs. Parma

who broke a tie with Carole her 22 wins in giant slalom and Merle for the all-time record super-G from 1988-93. Alpine by a French racer. Merle got great Jean-Claude Killy won 18

McIlroy tapped in for his birdie, and then picked up four birdies where they were available.

“Didn’t have my swing today like I’ve had for the first two days, and really struggled with that early on,” Fleetwood said.

“The good thing about it was how good I was mentally, the character I showed. I was stuck in there on one of the toughest golf courses we play and managed to get an under par round out of it when I didn’t really feel comfortable all day.”

Jason Day had a 68 and was three shots behind.

Tiger Woods was five shots better on the par-3 17th — a quadruple bogey on Friday, a 2-foot birdie putt on Saturday

ter a short birdie on the 10th, he hit 4-iron from 243 yards to 3 feet on a front left pin at the par-5 11th for an eagle. He hit the right shot on the par-3 13th, with the pin below a ridge near the water, into 3 feet for another birdie.

By the end of the day, his 64 was about as high as it could have been. He two-putted from just inside 15 feet for a birdie on the 16th, and he had another birdie chance from about that range on the 18th that would have tied the course record.

No matter. He was in the lead, facing a Sunday pairing with Fleetwood as he goes for the most important win of his young career.

From D1

‌7 p.m.

ESPN — Minnesota at Houston

times.

Marcel Hirscher placed sixth, 1.74 back, having already clinched his fifth straight title in the season-long giant slalom standings.

“It’s really cool to have this globe,” Hirscher said, holding the crystal trophy he also won in 2012. “It’s surreal to have it for six years now.”

The Austrian star has also secured a record eighth straight overall World Cup title, though had his lead cut to 415 points by Pinturault ahead of the season-ending slalom on Sunday.

The World Cup finals meeting ends Sunday with overall champions Shiffrin and Hirscher favored for victory in, respectively, a giant slalom and slalom.

‌7:55 a.m. ‌8:10 a.m.

NBCSN — Premier League: Fulham vs. Liverpool

‌8:30 a.m.

FS1 — Bundesliga: Eintracht Frankfurt vs. FC Nurnberg

overall — the second-highest total ever — is more than 800 ahead of Vlhova. Holdener is third.

Vlhova placed third Saturday but trailed more than a second behind the standout leading pair.

Frida Hansdotter, the 2018 Olympic slalom champion competing in her final World Cup race, placed fifth, 1.89 behind Shiffrin.

Pinturault retained his firstrun lead to finish 0.44 seconds ahead of Swiss prospect Marco Odermatt, who earned a career-best result.

Zan Kranjec was third, trailing 1.03 behind Pinturault,

ALESSANDRO TROVATI‌

Austria’s Marcel Hirscher speeds down the course during an alpine ski, men’s giant slalom, at the alpine ski, World Cup finals in Soldeu, Andorra, Saturday.

‌10:25 a.m.

NBCSN — Premier League: Everton vs. Chelsea

‌11 a.m.

Players

FS2 — Bundesliga: FSV Mainz vs. Bayern Munich

‌1 p.m.

From D1

FS1 — MLS: New York City FC vs. Los Angeles FC

‌3 p.m.

FS1 — MLS: FC Cincinnati vs. Portland Timbers

‌SURFING 1‌ 0:30 a.m.

FS1 — Red Bull Signature Series: Volcom Pipe Pro, Oahu, Hawaii

‌TENNIS 2‌ p.m.

ESPN2 — BNP Paribas Open: men’s and women’s singles finals, Indian Wells, Calif. —-

questions about winning from the final group, something McIlroy hasn’t done in his last nine occasions dating to the start of 2018.

“I just need to hit fairways and greens. If I can do that, and take the opportunities I give myself, hopefully I can turn tomorrow into the best Sunday of the year so far,” McIlroy said.

Fleetwood missed a 30-inch putt on the opening hole and took double bogey, and he fell three shots behind through seven holes. He holed a 30foot birdie putt on No. 8 after

Houston 108, Phoenix 102 Milwaukee 113, Miami 98 Portland 122, New Orleans 110 N ‌ BA San Antonio 109, New York 83 L.A. Clippers 128, Chicago 121 ‌EASTERN CONFERENCE ‌Saturday’s Games ‌Atlantic Division Boston 129, Atlanta 120

W L Pct GB‌Phoenix 138, New Orleans 136, OT x-Toronto 49 20 .710 — Washington 135, Memphis 128 Philadelphia 44 25 .638 5 Dallas 121, Cleveland 116 Boston 43 27 .614 6½ Golden State 110, Oklahoma City 88 Brooklyn 36 35 .507 14 San Antonio 108, Portland 103 New York 13 56 .188 36 Denver 102, Indiana 100 Utah 114, Brooklyn 98 ‌Southeast Division ‌Sunday’s Games

W L Pct GB‌ L.A. Lakers at New York, 10 a.m.

Miami 32 36 .471 — Charlotte at Miami, 11 a.m.

Orlando 32 38 .457 1 Charlotte 31 37 .456 1 Philadelphia at Milwaukee, 1:30 p.m.

Washington 30 40 .429 3 Toronto at Detroit, 2 p.m.

Atlanta 24 46 .343 9 Atlanta at Orlando, 4 p.m.

Chicago at Sacramento, 4 p.m. ‌Central Division Brooklyn at L.A. Clippers, 7 p.m.

W L Pct GB‌ Minnesota at Houston, 7 p.m. x-Milwaukee 52 17 .754 — ‌Monday’s Games Indiana 44 26 .629 8½ Detroit at Cleveland, 5 p.m.

Detroit 35 33 .515 16½ Utah at Washington, 5 p.m.

Chicago 19 51 .271 33½ Denver at Boston, 5:30 p.m.

Cleveland 17 53 .243 35½ New York at Toronto, 5:30 p.m.

Golden State at San Antonio, 6 p.m. ‌WESTERN CONFERENCE Miami at Oklahoma City, 6 p.m. ‌Southwest Division New Orleans at Dallas, 6:30 p.m.

W L Pct GB‌ Chicago at Phoenix, 8 p.m.

Houston 43 26 .623 — Indiana at Portland, 8:30 p.m.

San Antonio 41 29 .586 2½ ‌Tuesday’s Games New Orleans 30 42 .417 14½ Philadelphia at Charlotte, 5 p.m.

Dallas 28 41 .406 15 Houston at Atlanta, 5:30 p.m.

Memphis 28 42 .400 15½ Golden State at Minnesota, 6 p.m. ‌Northwest Division‌ L.A. Lakers at Milwaukee, 6 p.m.

Brooklyn at Sacramento, 8 p.m.

W L Pct GB‌ Denver 46 22 .676 — Indiana at L.A. Clippers, 8:30 p.m.

BASKETBALL

PAUL CHIASSON‌

FILE—In this Aug. 3, 2018, file photo, Montreal Alouettes quarterback Johnny Manziel (2) runs with the ball against the Hamilton Tiger-Cats during the first half of a Canadian Football League game in Montreal. Manziel has been signed by the Alliance of American Football and will join the Memphis Express. The quarterback’s rights belonged to San Antonio of the spring league, but that team declined to sign him and Manziel then was free to join any of the other seven clubs.

Manziel From D1

1,290 yards with five TDs and seven interceptions. He also ran for 215 yards on 29 carries as Montreal (5-13) missed the CFL playoffs.

In Memphis, Manziel could get an opportunity to play

quickly. Express quarterback Zach Mettenberger was injured Saturday and unable to return to the team’s 22-9 loss at Salt Lake and his status is uncertain. Mettenberger had replaced Christian Hackenberg as Memphis’ starter, so coach Mike Singletary could look to Manziel to lead his squad.

— but still started so slowly that even a late run of birdies was only good for a 72. He was 12 shots behind in his last stroke-play event before the Masters.

Five players were within five shots of Rahm, the deficit the Spaniard made up on Saturday. That group included Brandt Snedeker (65) and Keegan Bradley (68), and Dustin Johnson, the No. 1 player in the world who played the par 5s at even and still shot a 69.

Rahm, who already has six worldwide victories in just short of three years as a pro, was still lagging behind when he made the turn, and then quickly moved to the top. Af-

Vancouver at Dallas, 5 p.m.

Philadelphia at Pittsburgh, 5:30 p.m.

Florida at Anaheim, 7 p.m.

Edmonton at Vegas, 8 p.m. ‌Monday’s Games Arizona at Tampa Bay, 5:30 p.m.

Vancouver at Chicago, 6:30 p.m.

Vegas at San Jose, 8:30 p.m.

Winnipeg at Los Angeles, 8:30 p.m. ‌WESTERN CONFERENCE ‌Tuesday’s Games Pittsburgh at Carolina, 5 p.m. ‌Central Division Montreal at Philadelphia, 5 p.m.

GP W L OT Pts GF GA‌ Detroit at N.Y. Rangers, 5 p.m.

Winnipeg 71 42 25 4 88 243 211 Boston vs. N.Y. Islanders at Nassau Veterans Nashville 72 40 27 5 85 215 193 St. Louis 71 37 27 7 81 204 194 Memorial Coliseum, 5 p.m.

Dallas 71 37 29 5 79 179 175 Washington at New Jersey, 5:30 p.m.

Minnesota 72 34 30 8 76 197 211 Colorado at Minnesota, 6 p.m.

Chicago 71 32 30 9 73 241 260 Edmonton at St. Louis, 6 p.m.

Colorado 71 30 29 12 72 226 223 Toronto at Nashville, 6 p.m.

Florida at Dallas, 6:30 p.m. ‌Pacific Division‌ Columbus at Calgary, 7 p.m.

GP W L OT Pts GF GA‌ Washington 72 42 23 7 91 248 225 N.Y. Islanders 71 41 23 7 89 203 171 Pittsburgh 72 39 24 9 87 248 218 Carolina 71 39 25 7 85 212 196 Columbus 72 40 28 4 84 220 210 Philadelphia 71 34 29 8 76 220 240 N.Y. Rangers 72 28 31 13 69 202 241 New Jersey 72 27 36 9 63 204 246

Calgary San Jose Vegas Arizona Edmonton Vancouver Anaheim Los Angeles

GP W L OT Pts GF GA‌ 72 44 21 7 95 256 206 71 43 20 8 94 256 218 71 39 27 5 83 214 197 71 36 30 5 77 193 197 ‌NCAA 70 31 32 7 69 198 229 71 29 32 10 68 193 221 ‌BIG 12 CONFERENCE 73 29 35 9 67 170 225 Conference All Games‌ 71 25 38 8 58 168 227 W L PCT W L PCT‌ NOTE: Two points for a win, one point for Texas Tech 14 4 .778 26 6 .813 overtime loss. Top three teams in each division Kansas St. 14 4 .778 25 8 .758 12 6 .667 25 9 .735 and two wild cards per conference advance to Kansas Baylor 10 8 .556 19 13 .594 playoffs.x-clinched playoff spot Iowa St. 9 9 .500 23 11 .676 ‌Friday’s Games Texas 8 10 .444 16 16 .500 Columbus 3, Carolina 0 TCU 7 11 .389 20 13 .606 Toronto 7, Philadelphia 6 Oklahoma 7 11 .389 19 13 .594 Vegas 2, Dallas 1 Oklahoma St. 5 13 .278 12 20 .375 Anaheim 5, Colorado 3 West Virginia 4 14 .222 14 20 .412

Calgary 5, N.Y. Rangers 1 New Jersey 3, Vancouver 2, SO Portland 42 27 .609 4½ ‌Saturday’s Games Oklahoma City 42 28 .600 5 Detroit 2, N.Y. Islanders 1 Utah 40 29 .580 6½ St. Louis 5, Pittsburgh 1 Minnesota 32 37 .464 14½ Florida 4, Los Angeles 3 ‌NHL Boston 2, Columbus 1, OT ‌Pacific Division‌ Tampa Bay 6, Washington 3

W L Pct GB‌ ‌EASTERN CONFERENCE Carolina 4, Buffalo 2 Golden State 47 21 .691 — ‌Atlantic Division Chicago 2, Montreal 0 L.A. Clippers 40 30 .571 8

GP W L OT Pts GF GA‌ Ottawa 6, Toronto 2 Sacramento 33 35 .485 14 x-Tampa Bay 72 55 13 4 114 283 190 Winnipeg 2, Calgary 1 L.A. Lakers 31 38 .449 16½ Boston 72 43 20 9 95 216 185 Phoenix 17 54 .239 31½ Minnesota 5, N.Y. Rangers 2 Toronto 72 43 24 5 91 259 216 x-clinched playoff spot Montreal 72 37 28 7 81 212 212 Edmonton at Arizona, Late ——— Florida 71 32 27 12 76 232 239 Nashville at San Jose, Late ‌Friday’s Games ‌Sunday’s Games Buffalo 71 30 32 9 69 196 230 Charlotte 116, Washington 110 Detroit 72 25 37 10 60 195 247 New Jersey at Colorado, 1 p.m.

Detroit 111, L.A. Lakers 97 Ottawa 72 25 41 6 56 213 263 St. Louis at Buffalo, 3 p.m.

N.Y. Islanders at Minnesota, 4 p.m. ‌Metropolitan Division Philadelphia 123, Sacramento 114

HOCKEY

BASKETBALL

Montana 68, E. Washington 62

MOUNTAIN-WEST CONFERENCE‌

Conference

W L PCT Nevada 15 3 .833 Utah St. 15 3 .833 Fresno St. 13 5 .722 San Diego St. 11 7 .611 UNLV 11 7 .611 Air Force 8 10 .444 New Mexico 7 11 .389 Boise St. 7 11 .389 Colorado St. 7 11 .389 Wyoming 4 14 .222 San Jose St. 1 17 .056

All Games‌ W L PCT‌ 29 4 .879 28 6 .824 23 9 .719 21 13 .618 17 14 .548 14 18 .438 14 18 .438 13 20 .394 12 20 .375 8 24 .250 4 27 .129

——— ‌Saturday’s Games Utah St. 64, San Diego St. 57

PACIFIC-12 CONFERENCE‌

Conference

W L PCT Washington 15 3 .833 Arizona St. 12 6 .667 Utah 11 7 .611 Oregon 10 8 .556 Colorado 10 8 .556 Oregon St. 10 8 .556 UCLA 9 9 .500 Arizona 8 10 .444 Southern Cal 8 10 .444 Stanford 8 10 .444 Washington St. 4 14 .222 California 3 15 .167

All Games‌ W L PCT‌ 26 7 .788 22 10 .688 17 14 .548 22 12 .647 21 12 .636 18 13 .581 17 16 .515 17 15 .531 16 17 .485 15 16 .484 11 21 .344 8 23 .258

——— ‌Saturday’s Games Oregon at Washington, 8:40 p.m.

——— S‌ aturday’s Games Iowa St. 78, Kansas 66

‌BIG SKY CONFERENCE

Conference

W L PCT Montana 16 4 .800 N. Colorado 15 5 .750 E. Washington 12 8 .600 Weber St. 11 9 .550 Portland St. 11 9 .550 Montana St. 11 9 .550 S. Utah 9 11 .450 Sacramento St. 8 12 .400 N. Arizona 8 12 .400 Idaho St. 7 13 .350 Idaho 2 18 .100

All Games‌ W L PCT‌ 26 8 .765 21 11 .656 16 18 .471 18 15 .545 16 16 .500 15 17 .469 16 16 .500 15 16 .484 10 21 .323 11 19 .367 5 27 .156

——— S‌ aturday’s Games

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE‌

Conference

W L PCT New Mexico St. 15 1 .938 Utah Valley 11 4 .733 Grand Canyon 10 5 .667 Rio Grande 9 7 .563 California Baptist

7 9 .438 CS Bakersfield 7 9 .438 Seattle 6 10 .375 UMKC 6 10 .375 Chicago St. 0 16 .000

All Games‌ W L PCT‌ 30 4 .882 23 9 .719 20 12 .625 19 16 .543 16 14 .533 16 15 .516 18 14 .563 11 21 .344 3 29 .094

——— ‌Saturday’s Games New Mexico St. 89, Grand Canyon 57

M 1

TIMES-NEWS

SPORTS

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019 |

D3

BREAKING THE ICE

HOCKEY

Groups make effort to add diversity to youth teams

L

STEPHEN WHYNO | Associated Press

ogan Johnson slid into his pads as his brother Malakye and sister Wylla skittered around sticks and bags bulging with hockey equipment in a crowded hallway at Scanlon Ice Rink in Philadelphia.

Their mother, April, tried to keep order and Wylla asked whether a board game of Candy Land might help fill the time until Malakye’s practice, which didn’t start until a half hour after Logan wrapped up.

Snacks and homework were handy since the family knew they would be spending several hours here on a school night.

It was a standard visit to the rink for the Johnsons, who are familiar with the 20-minute drive from their Germantown neighborhood to Kensington in north Philadelphia. Four years after knowing nothing about hockey, the sport now consumes their lives for nine months out of the year between travel, practices and games, as it does for countless families of young players across North America.

The Johnsons, however, are African-American and the participation of people of color in a sport that for decades predominantly has been played by whites still stands out 61 years after Willie O’Ree broke the color barrier in the National Hockey League. Minority players in the NHL remain a relative rarity, but the effort to increase diversity in the sport — some of it funded by the league — never has been more robust than it is now. The results can be seen in neighborhoods where basketball, baseball and football are still the top choices for many.

Hockey was a tough sell for the Johnson family with football the sport of choice in Germantown. April Johnson said she didn’t want to switch her children, now 13, 10 and 8, to the ice even when she found out it could be free through the Snider Hockey program that runs programs at five city rinks, including Scanlon. She now tells everyone she can about her experience, though she encounters plenty of reluctance — almost always that their child already plays football or basketball.

“Some people are just kind of gun shy,” she said. “They don’t know what to expect, so they just don’t even want to try it out.”

The challenges for youth hockey programs trying to add minority players are cultural, socio-economic and logistical.

The sport, unlike others, has to feel more welcoming and inclusive than others in communities that have shunned or ignored it.

The Scanlon rink, in the heart of a neighborhood that has struggled with drugs and crime, is both a refuge and a showcase of what the future of the sport could look like. Far from the reputation of hockey being a white sport, children and families of all races and from all corners of the city reflect the population far more than the NHL today.

While just 5 percent of the 778 NHL players are minorities, that number is 70 percent within Snider Hockey, a program the late Flyers owner Ed Snider started in 2005 and provides free equipment, ice time and academic support for more than 3,000 students. Ice Hockey in Harlem, Detroit Ice Dreams and other organizations

Malakye Johnson takes part in a Snider Hockey practice at the Scanlon Ice Rink in Philadelphia.

MATT ROURKE PHOTOS, ASSOCIATED PRESS

Wylla Johnson, right, talks to her brother Malakye, center left, before he takes part in Snider Hockey practice at the Scanlon Ice Rink in Philadelphia. also are trying to bring the sport to people who never thought it was for them.

USA Hockey counted 382,514 youth players last season, up from 339,610 eight years earlier, but only just has begun tracking participation numbers by race and doesn’t yet have any data to share publicly.

Kim Davis, hired in 2017 as the NHL’s first executive vice president of social impact, growth and legislative affairs, said she believes diversity of hockey at the youth level is underestimated.

“You look across the country, you can’t help but know that given the demographics that we’re seeing regionally and state by state that the pipeline of talent, particularly for kids that are starting our sport as early as age 3 or 4, is shifting,” she said.

William Frey of the Brookings Institute, who has consulted the NHL on demographic shifts, expects the 2020 census to show the population under age 18 is less than half white, which makes the outreach to nontraditional hockey communities

critical to the future of the sport.

“We don’t want to leave anybody behind,” said Capitals owner Ted Leonsis, who aided an effort to keep Washington’s Fort Dupont Ice Arena open amid a funding crisis. “It’s within everyone’s best interest to make sure that we build organizations, businesses, communities that are reflective to the people that you serve.”

It remains a challenge to lure children to an unfamiliar sport. Kids in Kensington who know LeBron James and Steph Curry are less likely to know about black hockey players like P.K. Subban or even Wayne Simmonds, who recently was traded by Philadelphia to Nashville.

“A lot of kids don’t see it, so they don’t think it’s OK,” said Jason McCrimmon, the Detroit Ice Dreams president and founder.

“That’s what we still deal with in this day and age when we go out to recruit. It’s still like: ‘I don’t really want to play hockey. My friends don’t play it or what would they think of me if I played it?’ It’s an easier sit-

uation for a kid to kind of adapt and going the route of playing basketball or football because it’s so normal and it’s seen on a regular basis for kids that look like them.”

The NHL said the league and the NHL Players’ Association have invested roughly $100 million since 2015 in programs to grow the game, from the joint Industry Growth Fund to Hockey is for Everyone, Future Goals and Learn to Play. Subban, Simmonds, Columbus’ Seth Jones and O’Ree serve as inspirations in black communities across North America just as players like Scott Gomez, Richard Park, Jonathan Cheechoo and Craig Berube did for Hispanic, Asian and Native American and First Nations communities.

“When I was younger, if I didn’t see people who look like me playing hockey, that’s probably something that I wouldn’t have (gotten into),” Simmonds said.

Snider Hockey exemplifies that in Philadelphia, which is more than 40 percent black. Director of programs Dan Rudd said it was difficult to find black and Latino coaches to reflect the community at first but alumni have come back to coach over the past decade.

When he’s not watching NHL Network to learn about a sport he was entirely unfamiliar with, Chip Finney comes from West Philadelphia for his 9-year-old son Miles’ practices. A conversation with another father in the schoolyard took Finney’s family to hockey, and Miles now is the goalie for a team that also has a Muslim girl who wears a hijab on the ice.

“This unusual is his normal,” Finney said.

O’Ree, who broke the NHL color barrier with the Boston Bruins in 1958, has spent 22 years as the league’s diversity ambassador. He said he has noticed significant progress.

“Hockey’s a white sport? That’s ridiculous,” O’Ree said. “You can play any sport you want regardless of what color you are if you have the will and the desire.”

Families get creative in solving time, cost concerns M STEPHEN WHYNO | Associated Press

M 1

egan Lincoln couldn’t put her son into hockey right away when he wanted to play.

She didn’t have the time to take off from work to shuttle him to practice or the money to pour into a traditionally expensive sport.

“Nothing is cheap,” Lincoln said.

“There’s nothing about hockey that is cheap. Maybe some laces.”

But Reggie Hunter became a hockey player when the family found out Snider Hockey was offering free equipment and instruction 20 minutes from their New Jersey home. He learned to play multiple positions over time as his great-grandfather drove him to and from the rink in Pennsauken. That was seven years ago. Hunter, now 21, went on to play junior hockey.

Many families wrestle with the time and money needed to play youth sports, but those challenges can be even more significant when it comes to hockey, with all of its equipment and rinks that sometimes are far away. Having a child who dreams of hockey can look like a nightmare for the less wealthy.

“The challenge is that hockey is a very unique sport and it’s a very expensive sport,” said NHL diversity ambassador Willie O’Ree, who broke the league’s color barrier in 1958. “To go into a sport shop and outfit a 10- to a 13-year-old boy or girl, it costs about $800, and a lot of these families, they just can’t afford the money.”

The cost of protective equipment, sticks and ice time is one factor that keeps hockey lagging behind sports such as basketball and soccer in the U.S. Snider Hockey program director Dan Rudd estimates the expenses of travel hockey alone can cost a family $2,000 to $3,000 a year.

MATT ROURKE, ASSOCIATED PRESS

April Johnson, center left, speaks with children Malakye, center, and Wylla as her other son Logan, left, puts on his pads for Snider Hockey practice at the Scanlon Ice Rink in Philadelphia.

Steps are being taken to address those concerns, including programs like Snider Hockey in Philadelphia, Detroit Ice Dreams and Hockey is for Everyone, Future Goals and Learn to Play from the NHL and NHL Players’ Association. Many outfit kids with all they need to get on the ice.

Detroit Ice Dreams vice president and program manager Cynthia Wardlaw likened the cost of her children playing hockey to a car bill or mortgage bill.

“I would’ve never been able to afford hockey if it wasn’t for a program like this because it wouldn’t have ever fit in my budget,” Wardlaw said. “No matter how much

my kid might’ve enjoyed it or liked it or loved it, I wouldn’t have been able to afford it. We have a lot of parents that are thankful for our program because they would’ve never been able to experience the game of hockey because hockey is very expensive.”

Neal Henderson, who founded the Fort Dupont Ice Hockey Club in Washington in 1978, said his organization outfits kids from head to foot with safe equipment.

Some rinks rely on donated or used equipment that can be passed down from older to younger players.

Snider Hockey provides equipment, too, as part of almost $5 million in annual ex-

penses. It also helps parents trying to figure out what to buy.

“Sometimes the parents don’t have the experience in the sport to understand what to look for, so they need mentors, they need subject matter experts,” said Jim Britt, the since-retired first employee of Snider Hockey. “They need coaching along the way to make sure they know a $500 piece of equipment isn’t necessarily better than a $300 piece of equipment or a $200 piece of equipment.”

Coaches are also part-time drivers at Snider Hockey, and parents run carpools for practices and games. Detroit Ice Dreams founder Jason McCrimmon said he barters with city-run rinks by offering basic classes to get favorable ice time that allows kids to practice and play after school — hours more favorable than early in the morning or late at night.

Small-ice practices, where a team needs just a third of the rink, also help organizations keep costs down.

“You divide the dollars you spend on an hour of ice by 60 instead of 20,” Snider Hockey executive vice president Jan Koziara said. “It’s a huge return.”

NHL, NHLPA and USA Hockey assistance goes a long way as the organizations try to grow the game. Henderson believes the onus is still on parents to explore options.

“The parents have to make a sacrifice, and they have to make a sacrifice to become involved,” Henderson said. “(A child who asks their parents to play) knows the answer will be they’re too busy or they’ve got to work or they think that the price is too high. They have no idea of cost, and they don’t know what a commitment would be.”

D4 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

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M 1

THE BIG STORY Sunday, March 17, 2019 | magicvalley.com | SECTION E

PAT SUTPHIN, TIMES-NEWS‌

A cow enjoys a back massage from a robotic arm Feb. 28 at Heglar Creek Dairy east of Declo.

Modern Ag How technology is transforming the farming industry MYCHEL MATTHEWS

‌A

mmatthews@magicvalley.com‌

‌riculture in Idaho is no g longer the farm-to-market scheme it used to be. Gone are the days when growers produced a crop without knowing who would purchase the product or who would consume it.‌ In today’s competitive farming environment, varying sects in the agriculture industry have learned to join forces to assure the success of the industry as a whole, rather than pitting neighbors against neighbors.

Idaho’s dairies are an example of a sector that has learned to band together to support and promote the industry.

Rather than a single dairyman selling milk directly to his neighbors in the old days, dairymen have now formed cooperatives to purchase trucking companies and processing equipment, hire scientists to perform research and lab work and acquire promotional consultants.

This shared investment benefits all of Idaho businesses, economists say.

Vertical integration has added stability to the farming economy by increasing the value of agricultural products grown in Idaho.

As Idaho continues to look to agriculture for its economic future, the industry will focus on creating more efficient, sustainable and environmentally friendly ways to solve modern problems facing Idaho’s farmers.

M 1

What will go on at the UI CAFE? Research planned at the University of Idaho’s Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment will include the following: Nutrient and wastewater Food safety management Agricultural economics impact, sustainability and labor management Water use and protection Forage cropping and agronomy Animal health, productivity and genetic improvement Soil health and fertility Odor and emissions control Precision agriculture and technology Production management Green energy production and Agriculture commodity risk energy-use conservation management Value-added products Food Science and manufacturing

Stepping up to the plate‌

As Idaho zeroes in on which crops do best in the Magic Valley’s arid environment, the service industry surrounding dairies has stepped up to provide high-tech tools to aid in production.

And now, the state Legislature and the state Board of Education have teamed up with the dairy industry to take this collaboration to a new level.

The University of Idaho’s Center for Agriculture, Food and the Environment — after spinning its wheels for a few years — has regained traction using a three-county base for its proposed research dairy.

The entire project, estimated at $45 million, “will help support the industry and put Idaho on the map as a premier location for environmental research,” Idaho Dairymen Association CEO Rick Naerebout told the TimesNews.

The IDA is a longtime partner in the UI CAFE project and recently committed millions to purchase 540 acres

north of Rupert for a research dairy.

The university will contribute $2.5 million for the property — near Meridian Road and 1400 North — while the IDA will contribute $2 million.

The Idaho State Board of Education approved the purchase in January. The sale closed March 4, UI spokeswoman Carly Schoepflin said.

“We’re all excited. There’s never been a better time for the project,” Schoepflin said. “We have a site to build the dairy on and all of a sudden the project has become real.”

The research dairy is the heart of that enterprise, College of Agriculture Dean Michael Parrella wrote in the UI newsletter. “CAFE will help dairy operators produce milk more economically and efficiently while ensuring the sustainability of the environment.”

The CAFE will also focus its research on animal feed, sustainable crop growth practices and water use, Parrella said.

“We need a safe, efficient, and en-

vironmentally sustainable way to produce food,” he said. “Idaho CAFE offers a new approach to solving issues we face in feeding the world’s population.”

Why focus on dairy research?‌

Livestock-based production accounts for more than 60 percent of agricultural cash receipts in Idaho and the ripple effect of the CAFE’s research will benefit many outside the dairy industry, the university says.

Dairies support more than 39,400 jobs, making the dairy industry one of the largest economic drivers in Idaho, IDA President Pete Wiersma said.

“As such, the IDA shoulders the responsibility of ensuring the continued growth of Idaho dairy and the thousands of jobs that it supports,” Wiersma said in a statement on the IDA website.

Key aspects of the dairy research facility include a 2,000-cow dairy relying on state-of-the-art technology, 1,000 acres of associated cropland, improved wastewater treatment, nutrient management systems, a food-processing facility and laboratory space, as well as offices for faculty and student housing.

In addition, the university is in negotiations to buy a 6-acre parcel of land in Crossroads Point at Interstate 84 and U.S. 93 for the CAFE’s Jerome Center for education and outreach, Schoepflin told the Times-News.

The university will also work closely with the College of Southern Idaho’s food science center to round out the business model.

“All the research done at the CAFE will have direct work applications to Idaho,” Schoepflin said.

MORE INSIDE: New irrigation methods save water, E2 | Robotics help dairies monitor cows, address labor shortage, E2 | Automated techhnology in farming, E3 Cow Tudder app matches cows online, E2 | Smartphone apps keep an eye on crops, E3 | CSI plans changes to agriculture program, E4 | Adjusting to the new age of agriculture, E4

THE BIG STORY

E2 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

IRRIGATION TECHNOLOGIES

New irrigation methods helping farmers save water HEATHER KENNISON

hkennison@magicvalley.com‌

TWIN FALLS — If you want farmers to adapt to new methods or technologies, convenience is key.

That’s what Howard Neibling says about irrigation developments made over the past five to 10 years. Neibling is a water management engineer for the University of Idaho Extension Kimberly Research Center. He’s been experimenting with a new method of pivot irrigation that saves water — and it’s slowly being adopted by Idaho’s farming industry.

While new technologies and methods can help farmers save water and increase efficiency with irrigation, experts say there’s a generational gap when it comes to their acceptance. That gap is expected to narrow over the next 15 years as younger farmers move into the industry.

“They’re the ones that are going to demand a lot of technology — because they’re used to it,” CropLogic Western Territories Manager Scott Barclay said.

A new market‌

CropLogic is a New Zealand-based company with international offices in Australia and the U.S. The company chose to launch an office at the College of Southern Idaho last year, however, because it believes the Idaho potato industry would particularly benefit from its technologies.

CropLogic’s soil moisture probe — or capacitance probe — uses an electrical current to measure soil moisture.

“Any time you can get information, that helps you raise a better crop,” Barclay said. “Especially with potatoes, quality is huge.”

The voltage is low enough it doesn’t hurt the crops, and sensors reaching 4 inches deep also measure soil temperature. The probes range from 2 to 6 feet long.

They are designed to help farmers improve their irrigation practices by calculating evapotranspiration — water loss from the plant due to heat and the plant using it — Barclay said.

The complicated nature of the soil moisture probes over the past few decades made farmers less inclined to adopt them, Niebling said. Farmers instead opted to use the “hand-feel” method of digging up dirt, clumping and smearing it on one’s hands to determine moisture content. That’s in part because the older probes had to be hooked up to a computer to download readings.

“They started out sort of rudimentary,” Barclay said. “As time goes on, they’ve gotten better and better.”

Today, the company’s probes send data once per hour to a satellite, and farmers can access that data from the cloud. Each probe uses weather information from other sources to help make its calculations.

Potatoes are especially sensitive when it comes to watering, Bar-

COURTESY OF SCOTT BARCLAY‌

CropLogic soil moisture sensors are shown in potato field in Washington last summer. clay said. Under-water and you have a lower quality and lower yield; over-water and the potatoes are too wet and become diseased.

The sensors help farmers see where they are within the optimum range, so they can change their irrigation practices accordingly.

Barclay still recommends using a combination of the hand-feel method and the sensors, to ensure accuracy. The sensors can take inaccurate readings if they aren’t calibrated to the correct soil type — or if a tuber begins growing up against the probe.

The technology still has room to improve. Companies are working to find ways to connect a sensor to a pivot to collect even more information.

“You can never replace the man in the field,” Barclay said.

Barclay expects farmers will become more accepting of the technology, especially if future government regulation increases enforcement of water rights and penalizes those who use more than their share.

New methods‌

Irrigation pivots have become more sophisticated, to the point where today’s farmers can control them from their phones, Neibling said. But newer technologies and ways to gather information are driving more research.

Over the past five years, Neibling has been working on a research project with Troy Peters at Washington State University. The researchers wanted to find out if lowering the sprinkler systems on irrigation pivots would reduce water usage.

What they discovered: lowering sprinkler heads from a height of 5 or 6 feet down to 12 or 18 inches can reduce water usage by 15 to 20 percent.

“It does cost a fair bit to retrofit a pivot,” Neibling said, “but if you use less water, that can be a benefit.”

Nozzle manufacturers, in turn, are improving the equipment to make it easier and more affordable to retrofit the pivots, he said. Drip irrigation is also becoming a water-saving solution in some parts of the West.

As irrigation becomes more technologically advanced, farmers have more options for improving their watering systems. It’s made irrigation scheduling a lot more reasonable, affordable and convenient. And the more convenient it is, Neibling said, the more likely growers are to opt in.

Tinder for livestock Cow Tudder app matches cows online JESSICA L. FLAMMANG

jflammang@magicvalley.com‌

‌ new dating app has hit the A market in the U.K., and it’s not a spinoff on lunch dates or chosen religion this time.

It’s not even for humans — it’s for livestock.

Hectare Agritech released “Tudder” — a play on the words Tinder and udder — to help farmers select and ultimately purchase worthy mates for their cattle.

The new matchmaker software launched just in time for Valentine’s Day this year.

The umbrella company’s website claims “we’re reinventing farm trading and making farmer’s lives easier.”

Farmers can find genetic summaries of cattle on the market right at their fingertips, just as they would search any social profile for personal data.

But first, they have to specify whether they are seeking breeding cows or bulls.

Milk yield, protein content and calving potential are the new norm as farmers swipe right for cattle that interest them and left

to reject potential matches. A swipe to the right connects them to the animal’s seller through a third party — SellMyLivestock, an online marketplace for livestock, grain, feed and bedding.

New Hampshire cattle farmer Dan Luff and his high school friend Jamie McInnes launched Hectare Agritech and the SellMyLivestock brand in 2014.

The Tudder app, an offshoot brand of their company, currently hosts approximately 42,000 animals and can be downloaded on Apple and Android phones.

Co-founder Jamie McInnes sees the app as a valuable new asset for high-tech farms.

“Finding the right match can be daunting for us humans, let alone if you’re a four-legged farm animal,” she said in an interview with ABC15.

The genetic data stored on the app for each animal compares to a customized dating profile for a human, just perhaps more streamlined.

Even mating for livestock has ultimately turned to technology for assistance, leaving farmers less guesswork as to the value of their offspring.

You can follow along at #tudder on Instagram.

PAT SUTPHIN PHOTOS, TIMES-NEWS‌

A cow walks into the stall to be milked by the Lely Astronaut robot Feb. 28 at Heglar Creek Dairy east of Declo.

Bots and bovines Robotics help dairies monitor cows, address labor shortage‌ HEATHER KENNISON

hkennison@magicvalley.com‌DECLO — At this dairy, cows are milked, pampered and fed by robots.

Heglar Creek Dairy’s robotic barn has been up and running for three months, and the cows are already milking it for all it’s worth. They check in regularly with the Lely Astronaut milking robot, which scans their collars and dispenses treats. The dairy cows lean against automated back-scratching brushes for stress relief. And they even sleep on water beds in a climate-controlled barn.

It’s one of only two dairies of its kind in southern Idaho, but the idea is catching on. Two more dairies are installing robotic technologies, said Todd Webb, a partner in Heglar Creek Dairy and Snake River Robotics east of Declo.

“Cows in a conventional barn are generally more anxious,” Webb said. “The more we can keep equipment and people out of the corrals, the better the cows are at giving us milk.”

And why not add other amenities while you’re at it? The back-scratching brush? “That’s just a comfort toy,” Webb says.

Heglar Creek Dairy in Cassia County is a part of Heglar Creek Farms, which was established 20 years ago when two families merged their operations. The farm diversified several years ago in order to provide more opportunities for the younger generation. Today, the partners also own and operate Heglar Creek Cattle, Heglar Creek Electric, Raft River Sod and Snake River Robotics (a Lely dealer and service center).

Robotics don’t only improve the quality of life for dairy cows; they can also help dairies address a labor shortage.

“That’s why robotics is becoming a viable thing,” Webb said.

“The motivation for (switching to) robots is not to take jobs away from people. Robot technology exists because there is a labor demand.”

What results is a lower operational cost for dairies — and higher-paying, skilled jobs for agriculture workers.

How it works‌

It’s hard to miss the big red barn at the top of the hill. Built to hold up to 1,100 cows, the robotic dairy was an engineering feat.

Lines, cables and fibers run milk, chemicals and communications throughout the 400-by-400 barn. The company contracts 11 vendors for the dairy.

Behind barn doors, Lely brand robots and other technologies do everything from feeding the animals to washing their teats and scooping manure. The cows have the option to go into a separate pen, where the Lely Astronaut is, to receive a treat and be milked.

“Cows can come in and leave as they want,” Webb said. “They’re enticed to come in with feed.”

A healthy Holstein enters the robotic enclosure an average of five to six times a day, but gets milked only three times a day.

She is weighed, and the robot scans the collar around her neck to identify which cow is in the pen. If it’s time for the cow to be milked, the Lely Astronaut will dispense a certain type and

Partner Todd Webb goes through a presentation about the robotic dairy system implemented at his farm Feb. 28 at Heglar Creek Dairy east of Declo. it into large grates in the floor that will send it to be processed.

Dairy managers periodically send the cows through a “foot bath” to help harden and disinfect their hooves.

Healthier, happier cows and farmers‌

Milk from a cow is collected inside a jar during the robotic milking process Feb. 28 at Heglar Creek Dairy east of Declo. amount of food based on each cow’s diet. Rationing is determined by milk production and lactation cycle.

While the cow is eating, the milking process begins. The robot sends out a couplet of spinning brushes that clean the cow’s teats and stimulate nerves for lactation. The brushes are disinfected, and cylindrical teat cups identify and affix to each of the cow’s teats — attaching in order of which “quadrant” milks the slowest.

To the cow, the process is the same every time.

“The robot doesn’t get frustrated,” CFO Todd Jensen said.

“If it misses, it just tries again.”

If the animal kicks a cup, it cannot fall to the ground, but simply bounces back and reattaches. After milking, the robot applies a chemical to the teats to control infection.

The robot can tell if the cow is sick, based on her milk temperature or color. If desired, the milk can be easily sent to a separate tank or dumping area rather than getting mixed in with the rest.

The cow’s collar also tracks her activity and cud-chewing.

Unhealthy cows — or those ready for breeding — are funneled into a separate area after leaving the robot. They still have access to the robot at all times, Webb said.

The robotic dairy can detect and treat sick cows days faster than in a conventional dairy, he said. And the dairy’s robotic systems also inform the manager which cows haven’t been milked in a 12-hour cycle.

Meanwhile, a feed-pushing robot circulates the barn to push food closer to the hungry Holsteins. And a pulley system with chains slowly pushes scrapers across the bottom of the corral to clean out manure, scooping

The barn’s atmosphere is relaxed and absent of mooing or bellowing. Large fans above circulate and ventilate, providing a complete air exchange about every 15 minutes in winter, and every 90 seconds in summer, Webb said.

When the cows aren’t being milked, many of them mill about or choose to lay on a “water bed” covered in compost. The beds are comfortable for the animals and reduce injuries, Webb said.

This translates to both health and behavior. “Cows are less stressed and they have fewer health issues,” Webb said. “We see increased milk production and increased lifespan of cows.”

Heglar Creek Dairy’s robotic barn took a year and a half to build. It was a substantial investment, but one Webb thinks will pay off. The dairy can collect more data from individual cows than in a conventional barn, he said.

Robotic technology is catching on‌ Holland-based Lely has been developing its dairy robots for more than two decades. Small dairies began using them to help improve the quality of life for farmers and employees, Webb said.

Farmers are enjoying increased leisure time and flexibility in their schedules due to these automated systems. “A lot of conventional dairymen have never been to a basketball game because basketball games happen at 4 o’clock,” Snake River Robotics Engineer Kelby Nelson said.

The robots are changing that.

It’s also a good way to get the younger, more tech-savvy generations involved, Webb said.

Robotic technology is becoming a large-dairy solution, where managers can collect more data and use sophisticated software.

Tech-savvy operators can set up milk tables to determine how many pounds they want to be collected per milking. Complex calculations determine the return on investment while each robot milks 60 cows three or more times per day.

“It’s a management tool and it’s helped us decrease our cost of operations,” Webb said. “We don’t have to train a robot to milk a cow.”

M 1

THE BIG STORY

TIMES-NEWS

SUNDAY, MARCH 17, 2019 |

E3

PAT SUTPHIN PHOTOS, TIMES-NEWS

Tractors and drones Douglas Miceli models equipment use Feb. 28 at Stotz Equipment in Twin Falls.

Automated tecnology in farming

JULIE WOOTTON-GREENER

jwootton@magicvalley.com

TWIN FALLS — Buhl farmer Ron Elkin doesn’t own a drone, but says he’s excited about where the technology is headed.

It’s nice to have an aerial view of crops for monitoring throughout the season, which makes it easier to see problems from the air, Elkin said. And drones could be used to help with targeted pest control, he said, potentially leading to cost savings and environmental benefits.

Technological advances over the last couple of decades — including drones and GPS (Global Positioning System) navigation in tractors — have impacted farmers by increasing efficiency and precision.

“It’s definitely changed the way we do things,” Elkin said. He’s one of the owners of the 800-acre M & R Farms in Buhl which grows malt barley, corn, alfalfa and sugar beets.

Like any technological advancement, though, one major factor in whether customers buy it and use it is the price tag.

Here’s an overview of technological advances in tractor and drone technology:

Tractor technology

One of the major advances in tractor technology is GPS, but it has been available for at least a couple of decades.

“We started using the GPS

Douglas Miceli shows farming equipment Feb. 28 at Stotz Equipment in Twin Falls. stuff fairly early on when it was out and about,” Elkin said. “Now, it’s pretty much commonplace for just about anything going on in the field.”

GPS allows for precise and accurate planting to the sub-inch, Elkin said. In addition to planting in straight lines, the technology also accounts for field layouts such as curves and circles.

New tractors often have built-in GPS technology on a monitor.

This automated technology al-

lows farm owners and managers to remotely manage what’s happening with a tractor and to see what’s on the tractor’s monitor screen, said Douglas Miceli, a precision agriculture specialist with Stotz Equipment in Twin Falls, a John Deere dealership.

Vehicle steering systems have also advanced over time, including automated and assisted steering.

“Now, the tractor is handling keeping you on track,” Elkin said.

“It lets the operator focus on what

the machinery is doing. It’s really helped out with operator fatigue.”

Elkin said he thinks autonomous steering hasn’t quite caught on yet, but “I suspect it’s not far off.”

Another advance in tractor technology is IVT (Infinitely Variable Transmission), Elkin said, which helps with fuel efficiency, and leads to less wear and tear.

Drones in agriculture

Reeder Flying Service in Twin Falls offers ground support for

Joslin Field — Magic Valley Regional Airport. It’s a fixed base operator (FBO) and helicopter charter company and has flown drones commercially for about four years.

For drone use in precision agriculture, “the biggest thing drones can do is cover hundreds of acres in a single flight,” FBO manager and chief drone pilot Jared VanderKooi said.

It yields high-resolution, “super-detailed” images, even when there’s a cloud cover, he said.

Benefits include boosting yields, cutting costs and getting ahead of problems — like irrigation and drainage issues — that farmers may not be able to see from the ground, VanderKooi said.

Images allow for farmers to figure out if there’s a section of their crops that aren’t doing well so they can replant, VanderKooi said. And after storms, he said, farmers can get a much better feel for crop loss and that helps with insurance claims.

Reeder Flying Service, though, hasn’t pursued agriculture clients much for its drone offerings, VanderKooi said.

The cost for clients depends on the acreage and how often the farmer wants their land monitored, he said. It can start at just pennies per acre. “It’s cheaper than an airplane, for sure.”

Some farmers have their own drones, but because it is considered a commercial use, they must obtain a remote pilot certificate from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate drones legally.

To keep a watchful eye on crops, check your phone MYCHEL MATTHEWS

mmatthews@magicvalley.com

M 1

Whether watching for rogue bean plants or monitoring soil conditions, growers can always use another set of eyes on their crops.

Are those aphids in my alfalfa?

Is that plant poisonous? Am I over-watering my barley?

Is there an app for that?

Over the decades, technology has changed how we farm. With today’s major advances in computer technology, solutions to our farming dilemmas are now at our fingertips — right on our cellphones.

From those that regulate irrigation water from afar to those that compare beef-cow body conditions over time, farm apps are cropping up in every field.

Below is a sampling of mobile applications available in the agriculture industry:

Keeping track of pests

AgPhD Mobile Apps provides a full range of cellphone software from detecting pests to identifying crop nutrient deficiencies in the field.

The PlantNet Plant Identifica-

tion app allows you to take a pic- Dairy data ture of a weed on your Android Want to break down your feed and the app will identify what costs per cow, compare various kind of plant it is by searching commodity prices, or check historically high milk prices? through its photo galleries.

DairyCents, a dairy farmer app Tractor GPS Apps developed by Penn State Feed, Keep track of your position in will do the work for you. Dairythe field with Farm Sprayer GPS Cents is available on Apple and for Apple or Android. This app Android. knows where you have sprayed pesticides, spread fertilizer or Records keeping sown seeds, and how many acres Keep track of your animals’ food you have covered. It can even consumption and weight gain calculate the speed at which your over time with the Beef Cow BCS tractor is traveling. app available on Apple.

Stay informed

For daily information, apps such as AgMobile, available for Apple and Android users, will keep you on top of the charts.  Get live USDA news and reports  Have access to historical market data  Get weather conditions, forecasts, maps, and other agriculture-specific data based on your location  Get custom watchlists for quick access to the markets you follow the most

THE BIG STORY

E4 | Sunday, March 17, 2019

Times-News

CSI plans ag program changes Preparing students for the future of farming JULIE WOOTTON-GREENER

jwootton@magicvalley.com ‌

TWIN FALLS — As the agriculture industry evolves and technology advances, the College of Southern Idaho’s agriculture department is revamping some of its offerings in the interests of better preparing students for the workforce.

Beginning in the fall, CSI will offer a new pathway for agriculture students seeking an associate’s degree — agronomy and precision agriculture.

The program will include instruction in areas such as automated systems and the use of drones in agriculture, said Jeff Cooper, assistant professor of soils, water and natural resource management at CSI. It will incorporate two existing classes that are on the books but haven’t been taught recently.

CSI is also launching a new degree program — a bachelor’s degree in food processing technology — starting this fall. It’s the college’s first bachelor’s degree and the first among Idaho community colleges.

Food processing is a notable industry in the Magic Valley, said Matthew Quesnell, agriculture department chairman at CSI. “We feel like it’s an area where we need to train students.”

Another change: CSI acquired a new tractor in early January with “all of the bells and whistles,” said Ivan Smith, manager of the college’s Breckenridge Endowment Farm in Twin Falls. The college’s old tractor, Smith said, didn’t have much technology incorporated in its design.

CSI is also applying for federal Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act funding, which is administered at the state level. CSI agriculture department officials hope to use the money, if awarded, to make improvements

The agriculture department has a global positioning system (GPS) class and two geographic information system (GIS) classes.

CSI has incorporated instruction on using drones in agriculture for about three years. “The students really enjoy using them and learning about them,” Quesnell said.

“They can fly circles around me,” Cooper said.

Anyone can fly a drone, Cooper said, but what students do with the data is the part that really matters.

Many agriculture majors aren’t sure exactly which area of the field they want to go into, Quesnell said, and it’s important for students to have foundational knowledge.

“We really want to understand how agriculture works and where it’s headed.”

Instruction in technology such as GPS and GIS is beneficial for students regardless of which pathDREW NASH PHOTOS, TIMES-NEWS‌ way they choose, he said. “That is really an add-on that’s useful in a Agriculture Department Chairman Matthew Quesnell works with Jessica Smith, left, and Mary Tomera during whole wide range of industries.” class March 7 at CSI in Twin Falls. to its Breckenridge Endowment Farm, such as buying pivots and other new equipment.

for students to take more credits than what’s required for graduation, Cooper said.

The agriculture department includes agribusiness, animal science, water resources, aquaculture, food processing technology, horse management, horticulture and veterinary technology.

Launching students on a career path‌ The CSI agriculture department has historically focused on helping students earn an associate’s degree in order to later transfer to a four-year university. The department also offers basic and intermediate technical certificates.

“We feel like in recent years there has been a lot of focus on transfer programs,” Quesnell said.

But there are students who plan to go directly into the management of their family farms or other employment within the agriculture industry, Cooper said. As a result, instructors are focusing less on theory in class, and more on the “nuts and bolts” of the agriculture industry, he said.

A big portion of CSI agriculture

Zane Loughmiller, facing, talks with Arie Van Straalen during class March 7 at CSI in Twin Falls. students are already working in agriculture, Cooper said. He estimated 20 to 30 percent of students in his geospatial classes are actively employed in the agriculture industry and enroll in order to receive training in new technology.

While some students come to college with the goal of graduating and landing a job that pays well, Ivan said, others enroll “just to gain knowledge of where the industry is going.” And it’s common

An ever-changing industry‌ CSI’s agriculture department — and many other career/technical programs — face the challenge of preparing students for a fast-evolving future workplace.

“First of all, you’re trying to get ahead of the game,” Cooper said, which means lessons can’t just focus on current technology.

With technology changing so rapidly, it’s also not feasible for CSI to buy new and costly equipment frequently. Instead, the college relies on industry partnerships.

Hands-on experience at the Breckenridge Endowment Farm‌ CSI agriculture students are privy to hands-on experience at the Breckenridge Endowment Farm, which includes about 60 acres of farmable land. Instructors are interested in utilizing the approach even more for student instruction, Quesnell said.

CSI partnered with J.R. Simplot Co. last year, which used a portion of the Breckenridge Endowment Farm to plant 11 different varieties of cover crops and worked with students on the project.

Students also use the farm for lessons such as taking soil samples and later analyzing the results. This real-life experience in the field is shifting the experience college enrollees can acquire.

“Students don’t just sit in class,” Smith said. The farm allows them to apply their knowledge.

PAT SUTPHIN, TIMES-NEWS‌

Douglas Miceli shows off precision equipment Feb. 28 at Stotz Equipment in Twin Falls.

Technology has transformed the field of farming JESSICA L. FLAMMANG

jflammang@magicvalley.com‌

As society becomes more ‌ mechanized, so too do industries such as agriculture. While resident dairy cows may not notice the changes — and perhaps might even be more comfortable with the regularity of robotics and the luxury of water beds — farmers might take longer to adjust to the new age of agriculture.

Shared investments are reshaping the competitive aspect of the industry and adding economic stability to the field. Agricultural partnerships, including the UI CAFE model, aim to maximize

efficiency and sustainability for dairies, one of Idaho’s key economic drivers.

Aerial drone monitoring and tractor GPS systems have afforded farmers increased planting precision and more efficiency in remotely monitoring their crops, essentially taking the guesswork out of the equation.

Soil moisture probes that use electrical currents to measure moisture and temperature have assisted farmers in irrigation management. No longer must farmers dig up dirt to measure themselves; now, they can access data from the cloud sent to a sat-

ellite hourly from the probes.

These technological tools do not completely eliminate the human aspect. Farmers still need to calibrate the sensors and check for accurate positioning.

Once in place, automated devices no longer demand hands-on monitoring. For example, irrigation pivots can now be controlled remotely from farmers’ phones.

Still, this approach depends on correct positioning, and sometimes, retrofitting the devices.

Despite the challenges, remote management of crops and fields has become the new standard. A myriad collection of cellphone

apps designed to detect pests, identify plants and weeds, and crop nutrient deficiencies, as well as track and calculate tractor speed and positioning in the field has offered a fresh face to farming.

Instead of keeping tedious handwritten records of livestock food consumption and weight gain, farmers can enter these stats on their mobile devices. They can even match their bulls and cows on “Tudder” a U.K.-based dating app for cows!

Potatoes, corn, alfalfa, sugar beets and barley alike are entering a new era. And educating future farmers is not long behind.

The College of Southern Idaho is poised to offer its students contemporary skills with its new associate’s degree path in agronomy and precision agriculture, where students will be introduced to automated farming systems.

All of these adaptations to traditional farming will come with benefits as well as drawbacks for the modern farmer. But as technology ushers in a new age and cow udders are systematically milked by robotic arms — reducing the margin of error for over or under-milking — farmers can ultimately appreciate fewer hours spent in the barns and the field.

M 1

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*137918230021 * 137918230021

*108287480021 * 108287480021

*108132430021 * 108132430021

*108427220021 * 108427220021

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

6361-3F54-AZ-002287

ONTARIO, OR (541) 889-2530

POCATELLO, ID (208) 233-5588

IDAHO FALLS, ID (208) 522-4009

1648 E. IDAHO AVE., STE. B

4150 YELLOWSTONE AVE., STE. A

NAMPA, ID (208) 461-3337

CASPER, WY (307) 235-9954

999 E. 17TH ST.

1611 CALDWELL BLVD.

4150 S. POPLAR ST.

BOISE, ID (208) 376-8989

TWIN FALLS, ID (208) 734-4576 1414 POLE LINE RD. E.

10296 FAIRVIEW AVE.

Coupons Can Be Used In-Store and at HarborFreight.com *Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 5/25/19.

At Harbor Freight Tools, the “Compare to” price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the “Compare to” price by another national retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. No other meaning of “Compare to” should be implied. For more information, go to HarborFreight.com or see store associate.

56" x 22" DOUBLE BANK EXTRA DEEP CABINETS

SAVE $3,005 COMPARE TO

$

BLUE

3,655

RED

$649

ITEM 64866 ITEM 64164 ITEM 64457 64864 shown 64165 shown 64458 shown

MODEL: KRA5311FPB0

*108449320021 * 108449320021

7499

$

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

99 9

Customer Rating

ITEM 69730/60363 ITEM 69727 shown CALIFORNIA ONLY

ICE YOUR CHO R O L O OF C

BLACK

2" SEMI-TRASH GASOLINE ENGINE WATER PUMP (212 CC)

Customer Rating

• 21,500 cu. in. of storage • 4400 lb. capacity • Weighs 400 lbs.

Customer Rating

SNAP-ON

6.5 HP (212 CC) OHV HORIZONTAL SHAFT GAS ENGINE

COMPARE TO

NOW

SAVE $230

329 HONDA MODEL: GX200UT2QX2

99

$

99

1"-3" INTAKE AND DISCHARGE HOSES AVAILABLE

NOW

$9 9

99

*108760570021 * 108760570021

19999

$

SAVE $315

11999

$

LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

COMPARE TO

NORTHSTAR

$

99 $1 74

ITEM 56160 63405 shown

*108491970021 * 108491970021

48999

MODEL: 109163

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

Customer Rating

SAVE 110 $

$349

$

ULTRA-TOW

NOW

239

$129

99

MODEL: 41196

*458061280021 * 458061280021

99

169999

ITEM 69687 67599 shown

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

SAVE 249 COMPARE TO

36999

$

SAVE $139

$

$

HONDA

$

21° ANGLE FULL HEAD FRAMING AIR NAILER

Customer Rating

ITEM 62200 shown ITEM 62214 CALIFORNIA ONLY

NOW 9 9

Customer Rating

COMPARE TO

WE CARRY A FULL LINE OF NAILS

3100 PSI, 2.8 GPM 6.5 HP (212 CC) GAS PRESSURE WASHER

500 LB. CAPACITY ALUMINUM MOBILITY WHEELCHAIR AND SCOOTER CARRIER

599

COMPARE TO

PORTER-CABLE

MODEL: GX200

$

199

*108565720021 * 108565720021

*108621940021 * 108621940021

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

• 950 BPM with 55 lbs. of impact energy • Weighs 70 lbs.

ITEM 63175 69927 shown

6 FT. x 8 FT. ALUMINUM GREENHOUSE

3-IN-1 ELECTRIC BLOWER VACUUM MULCHER

COMPARE TO

BOSCH

99

SAVE 979

1,379

$

$

MODEL: BH2760VC

$399

*108743070021 * 108743070021 LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

Customer Rating

NOW

9 $1 9 9

230 MPH MAX | 12 AMPS

NOW 9 9

4699

$

$5 99 9

99

Customer Rating

15 AMP HEAVY DUTY PROFESSIONAL PAVEMENT Customer Rating BREAKER HAMMER

NOW

77

$

MODEL: FR350B

NOW

COMPARE TO

$

TORO

99 9 3 $

SAVE 55%

89

MODEL: 51621

4999

*108766530021 * 108766530021

ITEM 62469/62337 shown

LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

SAVE $400

ITEM 63354 47712 shown

$

*109038750021 * 109038750021

ITEM 63439 64608/63436 shown

299999

$

COMPARE TO

$

PALRAM

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

9

59999

MODEL: 741353

HOT NEW TOOLS 74 NEW TOOLS ARRIVING THIS MONTH

NEW

NEW

SUPER COUPON

Customer Rating

3000 LUMENS 14" COMBO SPOT/FLOOD LIGHT BAR

10", 15 AMP JOBSITE TABLE SAW

NOW

COMPARE TO

TRAVELLER

$

124

99

MODEL: 115167499

SAVE $65

*108798910021 * 108798910021

$

LIMIT 2 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

NEW

6999

$5 9

99

COMPARE TO

DEWALT

ITEM 64321

NEW

*108911910021 * 108911910021

Customer Rating COMPARE TO

LINCOLN ELECTRIC

SAVE $30

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

$1

NOW

299

$

99 9

ITEM 64855

SUPER COUPON

99 9 8 $2

$1 9

ITEM 64515/64536 shown

*108891970021 * 108891970021

Customer Rating

SAVE 31% COMPARE TO

HUSKY MODEL:29 H3D18SWS

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

NEW

Lightweight and comfortable

NOW

$

Customer Rating

PROFESSIONAL 6" PALM ORBITAL AIR SANDER NOW

$1 4

99 9 $9

2999 $4170 SAVE 64%

MODEL: K3371-1

*108954010021 * 108954010021

ITEM 64527

LIMIT 3 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

Customer Rating

12 VOLT, 150 PSI PORTABLE INFLATOR

129999

$

SAVE $197 COMPARE TO

MATCO

ITEM 64416

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

$

29775

MODEL: MT2416

AMMO DRY BOX Customer Rating • 5400 lb. capacity

Customer Rating

3/8" x 14 FT. GRADE 43 TOWING CHAIN

3999

$

1

$ 99

BLACK

ITEM 69403 60263/34635 shown

WHITE

7

COMMERCIAL $ 32 ELECTRIC MODEL: GT-200STC

ITEM 1142 69402/60265

NOW

SAVE 64%

COMPARE TO

$3

NOW

99

9

NOW

$ 99

CUSTOM ACCESSORIES

$

19

$6

99

49

MODEL: 59008

ITEM 4077/63109/63152 shown

SAVE 45% COMPARE TO

FARM & RANCH MODEL:7FR1055 $ 35

5

$ 99 ITEM 69385 62698/62388 62409/30900 shown

$1 9

99

SAVE 69% COMPARE TO

$

MIBRO

64

99

ITEM 60658 97711 shown

MODEL: 426920

NOW

ITEM 63135 61451 shown

$39 9

6 SAVE 60%

$ 9 99

COMPARE TO

RANGEMAXX

9

$ 99 MODEL: 1312-92

*109001150021 * 109001150021

*137992910021 * 137992910021

*109063000021 * 109063000021

*109074540021 * 109074540021

*109082440021 * 109082440021

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

WIRELESS SECURITY ALERT SYSTEM

Customer Rating

AUTOMATIC BATTERY FLOAT CHARGER

4 PIECE, 1" x 15 FT. RATCHETING TIE DOWNS

Customer Rating

Customer Rating

Customer Rating

9

SAVE 65% FIRST ALERT

$

99

1499

NOW

$49 9

$

28

99

MODEL: SFA600

ITEM 61910 62447/93068 shown

9

$ 99

$ 99

NOW

$9

HEAVY DUTY POWDER-FREE NITRILE GLOVES PACK OF 50

• 7 mil thickness

5" JUMBO ALUMINUM HOOK

Customer Rating

COMPARE TO

SAVE 50%

ITEM 69594/69955 64284/42292 shown

NOW

NOW

$69 9 COMPARE TO

EPIC

$

99¢

ITEM 63056

SAVE 66% 11199 90984/60405 63094/63150

$

63057/61524 shown

19

99

MODEL: 122544299

SAVE 65%

COMPARE TO

1

2

$ 99

$ 99

TOOL SHOP

MODEL: 92645

ITEM 60342 92077 shown

Color may vary. Do not use to support human weight.

32¢

PER PAIR

AVAIL. IN MED, LG, XL

NOW

$79 9

SAVE 50%

ITEM 68504, 61775, 61773, 68506, 61774, 68505 shown

16

COMPARE TO $ 21 GREASE BULLY MODEL: 10046

*109087680021 * 109087680021

*109108030021 * 109108030021

*109121140021 * 109121140021

*109217940021 * 109217940021

*109311580021 * 109311580021

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

13 PIECE TITANIUM HIGH SPEED STEEL DRILL BIT SET

12" RATCHET BAR CLAMP/ SPREADER

Customer Rating

Customer Rating

SAVE 75% COMPARE TO

DEWALT

6

$

1998

$4

99

ITEM 61621/1800 shown

NOW

$2

99

3

NOW

$ 99 MODEL: DW1341-GT

13

SUPER COUPON

99

$

2499

$

99

E

SAVE 79% COMPARE TO

21 PIECE, 3/8" DRIVE SAE AND METRIC CHROME SOCKET AND RATCHET SET

10" PNEUMATIC TIRE

Customer Rating

49

SUPER COUPON

NOW

*108939670021 * 108939670021

ITEM 64596 64688 shown

8" CABLE TIES PACK OF 100

IC YOUR CHO

SAVE $89

FIXED SHADE WELDING HELMET

$15 9

189999

379

MODEL: DWE7480

LIMIT 1 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

2 GALLON, 1.2 HP, 135 PSI ULTRA QUIET, OIL-FREE PROFESSIONAL NOW 99 AIR COMPRESSOR $

• 15 amp motordelivers 4800 RPM for powerful cutting performance • 26" x 19" heavy duty die cast aluminum tabletop • Adjustable miter gauge, 45° left and right for accurate cross cuts

*457988160021 * 457988160021

Customer Rating

SUPER COUPON

$

NEW

SUPER COUPON

$ 99

SAVE 85% COMPARE TO

IRWIN

$

1998

MODEL: 1964718

ITEM 46807/62123 63017/69222 shown

4 PIECE WOOD CHISEL SET $ 99 Customer Rating

NOW

7

$49 9

• 18" to 30"

SAVE 74%

SAVE 83% COMPARE TO

DEWALT

$

6 PIECE CAMOUFLAGE ELASTIC Customer Rating STRETCH CORDS

4 FT. x 12 FT. CANVAS DROP CLOTH

Customer Rating

2997

COMPARE TO

3

$ 9 99 9

NOW

$29 9

COLEMAN MODEL:11 2000016374 ITEM 61947/62824/46911 shown

MODEL: DWHT16063

ITEM 69471/42429 shown

$

66

SAVE $ 99 53% 8 COMPARE TO

EVERBILT

$

NOW

$5 9 9

1298

ITEM 69309 38108 shown

MODEL: 69CV8

*109383540021 * 109383540021

*109462700021 * 109462700021

*109486150021 * 109486150021

*109499890021 * 109499890021

*109628900021 * 109628900021

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

SALE ENDS SOON

MOST STORES OPEN: Monday - Saturday: 8:00am - 8:00pm Sunday: 9:00am - 6:00pm Follow Us #harborfreight

18" MACHETE WITH SERRATED BLADE Customer Rating

Customer Rating

32 PIECE SCREWDRIVER SET

SAE AND METRIC SOCKET SET

NOW

$5 9 9

Sheath included.

ITEM 94154 62682/60641 62683/69910 shown

SAVE 73% COMPARE TO

SOG

$

1869

5

$ 99

NOW

$4

99

MODEL: 947981

Customer Rating

COMPARE TO

$

3197

MODEL: 48201

NOW

SAVE 80%

SAVE $799 81% PERFORMAX

MAGIC MOVER FURNITURE SLIDERS

Customer Rating 40 PIECE, 3/8" DRIVE

ITEM 90764 61259 shown

COMPARE TO

KOBALT

4

$ 99 $

1997

MODEL: 89809

$399

ITEM 47902/61328 63015/62843 shown

NOW

SAVE 72% COMPARE TO

JMK LIT

$

1096

MODEL: 2751

$29 9

3

$ 99

ITEM 62182/40071 shown

*109709220021 * 109709220021

*109741260021 * 109741260021

*109801350021 * 109801350021

*109813760021 * 109813760021

LIMIT 4 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

LIMIT 5 - Coupon valid through 5/25/19*

*Original coupon only. No use on prior purchases after 30 days from original purchase or without original receipt. Valid through 5/25/19.