Sittin' on the Snake
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85 / 57 BRIDGE BATTLE PART DEUX Twin Falls hosts Jerome in Great Basin showdown. Sunny, warm. SEE SPORTS 1 Business 8 HOUSING, JOBLESS NUMBERS IMPROVE >>> Recession may be over, but economy still fragile, BUSINESS 1 FRIDAY 75 CENTS September 18, 2009 MagicValley.com Employers Jerome council approves water rate hike consider this all in one shot.” meetings in August. from 80 to 90 cents in Base rate to increase by 74% Councilman Chris Barber “Our administration did a October 2008. In 2006, it voted for the increase after a good job getting the word was 72 cents per 100 cubic shifting By John Plestina The change that goes into short delay to consider his out,”Barber said. feet. Times-News writer effect Oct. 1 amounts to a 74 vote. Marj Schmidt and John Jerome’s current base rate Marchant explained that percent increase in the base Shine also voted in favor of is $8.55 monthly plus 90 aging water mains and fre- more health JEROME — Jerome City rate for residential water and the increase. cents per 100 cubic feet (748 quent leaks have led to high Councilman Robert Culver a 56 percent increase in the While some people testi- gallons) used. The new maintenance costs. offered a resounding “no” consumption rate. fied at a public hearing that monthly base rate will be The rate increase is to costs to during a roll-call vote of “I feel this is too much at they were not aware of the $14.92, an increase of $6.37, “invest in infrastructure and council members Tuesday, one time. I think we should increase, City Administrator and the usage charge will to meet bond obligations expressing his displeasure split it up, half this year and Ben Marchant said the city increase to $1.40 per 100 (for new water lines and employees over a water rate increase half next year,” Culver said. presented proposed rates to cubic feet. that passed by a 3-1 vote. “I don’t think we should do the public in two town hall The usage rate increased See WATER, Main 2 By Nate Poppino Times-News writer A series of new surveys focusing on the cost of Snail status health benefits indicate that Sittin’ on the Snake U.S. employees may likely see their coverage decline as to stay they shoulder more of the burden of premiums in the near future. the same One state-by-state study also concluded that health- care premiums in Idaho have Bliss Rapids snail to risen three times faster than wages in the past decade, stay listed; Utah with employers continuing to shoulder the majority of valvata snail may lose the burden. The organizations behind federal protection the reports all said their data show a clear need for health- By Nate Poppino care reform of the type being Times-News writer pursued in Washington, D.C., where President A species of snail that thrives Obama is attempting to along the Snake River near move Congress toward a Hagerman will remain on the fed- comprehensive restructur- eral list of threatened species, the ing of the current system. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced Wednesday. But INSIDE another species also found in the Find out what Idaho families pay region may stand a chance of on average for health insurance. shedding its “endangered” status after scientists discovered it lives See Main 2 in a wider habitat than believed. A public comment period on Families USA, one of the the Utah valvata snail ended advocacy groups promoting Monday, and federal officials may Democrats’ take on the now take up to nine more months reform effort, announced before issuing a final decision on this week that premiums for removing it from the endangered family coverage in Idaho rose species list, said Meggan Laxalt 123 percent between 2000 Mackey, spokeswoman for Fish and 2009, while median and Wildlife’s Idaho office. The individual earnings only Bliss Rapids snail, however, will went up 41 percent. remain listed as “threatened” Individual premiums rose 47 along its 65 miles of river habitat percent in the same time. thanks to concerns about declin- Employers in both cases ing water levels, water-quality absorbed at least twice as issues and competition from non- much of the cost increases as native species. their employees did. According to the group’s See SNAILS, Main 2 estimated 2009 figures, Idaho workers on average only covered 13 percent of premiums for individual plans and 31 percent for 9 lawyers family plans. The organization laid out four factors believed to drive the cost increases: the U.S. vie for continues to spend more on health care each year, insur- ance companies aren’t regu- Wood’s lated enough, a small num- ber of insurers dominate the market and Americans with ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News insurance keep getting bench seat charged more to cover the health costs of those without een through silhouetted leaves along the Snake River Thursday afternoon, Ephraim Boss, 18, of By Andrea Jackson insurance. Times-News writer SSalt Lake City, fishes under blue skies. Boss was in town to assemble a trade show display and Those factors also affect what businesses can offer decided to purchase a cheap fishing pole to try his luck on the river before disassembling the display The Idaho Judicial Council rep- their workers. A set of stud- rimanded him four years ago ies last year concluded that at the end of the day. Today’s forecast calls for sunny skies and a high of 85. when he was a magistrate judge in more than half of Idaho Gooding County, but now Kevin businesses do not provide Cassidy wants the council to sup- health benefits. Now, an port him in getting back on the annual survey by the Kaiser M.H.Air Force Base seeks more air space bench. Family Foundation and the And he’s not alone. Cassidy, Health Research & The Associated Press offered in Idaho, making was approved years later. modern and faster than along with eight other lawyers, Educational Trust found the base comparable to Bird said a larger range the F-15 jets currently are vying to fill a vacancy left by that about 40 percent of BOISE — Officials at the Nevada’s Nellis Air Force would allow the F-15 pilots housed at the base. But retiring 5th District Court employers nationwide are Mountain Home Air Force Base. at the base to fly closer to some ranchers are con- Administrative Judge Barry Wood likely to require workers to Base in Idaho have asked It’s not the first time the ground at supersonic cerned that lower-flying on Dec. 31. pay more out-of-pocket at the Federal Aviation military officials have speeds for their training, jets would harry their cat- They’re competing to get their doctor visits, raise Administration to expand sought to expand the creating more realistic tle. names on a short list from the the base’s airspace deeper range, the Idaho scenarios as they prepare The Mountain Home state’s judicial council that will go See COSTS, Main 2 into Oregon and Nevada. Statesman reported. for deployments to places range complex covers See SEAT, Main 2 Col.John Bird,the com- Environmental groups like Iraq and Afghanistan. more than 187 square mander of the 366th and others scuttled a sim- An expansion could also miles in Idaho, Oregon On the Web Fighter Wing, said the ilar proposal in the 1990s. make the base more and Nevada. If approved, INSIDE Visit www.familiesusa.org/assets/ expansion would double That prompted the Air attractive as a future the expansion would Find out who all nine lawyers are. pdfs/costly-coverage/idaho.pdf the effectiveness of the Force to retool and scale training site for the F-35 or increase the air space by to read the Families USA report. airspace and the training back that request, and it F-22 jets, which are more nearly 30 percent. See Main 2 Comics....................Sports 7 Crossword ......Classifieds 6 Obituaries ..........Business 7 Commodities ......Business 2 Dear Abby ........Classifieds 7 Opinion ..................Main 6-7 70 ARTISTS, PLENTY OF CRAFTS Community ....Business 4-5 Movies ......Entertainment 2 Sudoku ............Classifieds 2 1,000 Springs Festival this weekend > Entertainment 1 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Friday, September 18, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS MORE EVENTS INSIDE Avenue, Twin Falls, no cost, 734-0622 or Pat Marcantonio MOMS Club, support and fun activities for [email protected]. stay-at-home moms and their children, • This is a must in our • Learn about the uni- For detailed coverage of today’s 9:45 to 11 a.m., Twin Falls, 539-6470 or TODAY’S DEADLINE energy-strapped world and verse in the “Uranus and its [email protected]. arts and entertainment all future. That is, a two-day Moons” astronomy talk at Deadline for registering artists, crafters for Burley Lions Club, noon, Morey’s around south-central Idaho, Renewable Energy 7:45 p.m. in the Rick Allen Nov. 7 art and craft show, Our Savior Steakhouse, 219 E. Third St. N., 878-7235. check out our Events Calendar in Conference for Small Room at Herrett Center for Lutheran Church, Twin Falls, 733-3774 Members of the Twin Falls High School grad- Business and Consumers the Arts and Science off of today’s Entertainment section. Reminder for Satruday’s Environmental uating class of 1947 no-host lunch, open to from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.