25 / 14 A battle with the STAINED GLASS BUSINESS 1 AND BEADS Mouse King Downtown T.F Chilly ‘Nutcracker’ ballet never gets old. welcomes new Business 6 SEE ENTERTAINMENT 1 businesses. FRIDAY 75 CENTS December 11, 2009 MagicValley.com M.V.product Allred to run against Otter Eagle, filed paperwork with the Republican pri- the Idaho Dem- Idaho code to see if they could be Eagle Democrat Idaho Secretary of State’s office on maries winner. ocratic Party’s closed to reduce the tax rate. Thursday, becoming the first seri- Candidates include search committee “I would convene a task force to graduated from TFHS ous contender for the Democratic Gov. C.L. “Butch” for candidates. examine the pros and cons of each nomination. He runs Allred Otter, Ada County Richardson told tax break, drawing on the substan- By Ben Botkin Solutions, which does consulting Commissioner Allred to campaign tial work done on this by previous Times-News writer and mediation work with both Sharon Ullman and and govern just as task forces and interim commit- government and private industry. Rex Rammell. he has led The tees,”Allred wrote, adding that he Keith Allred, a candidate with In the political realm, Allred is Allred, who was Allred Otter Common Interest. would seek a random sample of Magic Valley roots and a presence best known for his work with The unavailable for He gave an thousands of registered voters to in the state’s public policy circles, Common Interest, a nonpartisan comment Thursday, sent out an e- example of how the work of The weigh in and then advocate based is seeking the Democratic nomina- group that works with the mail to members of The Common Common Interest would fit into on measures the majority of tion for governor in the 2010 pri- Legislature on a spectrum of Interest announcing his run for the governor’s office. A few years Idahoans supported. maries. issues. governor. ago, the organization’s leadership Democratic leaders lined up to Allred, a graduate of Twin Falls The winner of the Democratic Allred said he was asked to run endorsed the idea of a comprehen- High School who now lives in nomination will face the by Betty Richardson, who chairs sive look at all the tax breaks in See ALLRED, Main 2 T.F.grad among those CAP TAKEN OFF gathered in Copenhagen By Nate Poppino TUITION INCREASES Times-News writer Ed board passes Sure, the heads of state and the scientists are getting all the atten- one-year waiver tion at COP15, the U.N.’s climate- change conference in Copenhagen, Denmark, that started this week clearing way for tuition and runs through Dec. 18. But Twin Falls hikes above 10 percent will have its own By Damon Hunzeker representative in Times-News writer the crowds: Michael Machala, a 2005 Start saving your allowance for graduate of Twin college. Falls High School The Idaho State Board of and the son of for- Education met for about seven mer South Central Machala hours Thursday at Canyon Ridge Public Health High School in Twin Falls and, District employees Tom and Maggi among other matters, passed a Machala. one-year waiver of the board’s pol- In the years since he graduated, icy of restricting state colleges and Michael Machala has found his way universities from proposing fee and to Germany, where thanks to a tuition increases above 10 percent Transatlantic Renewable Energy without prior board approval. Fellowship he’s working on poten- “They (higher-education insti- tially low-cost organic solar cells. tutions) can at least bring propos- als to the board now,but the board See MACHALA, Main 2 is very clear that the waiver does- n’t mean they’ll automatically sign off on anything,” said Mark Browning, board spokesman. MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News Colleges and universities, prior Providers press to the waiver, could propose any Adrienne Zahorik holds her 1-year-old daughter, Cheyenne, as she waits Thursday afternoon in the lobby of the library at the increases up to 10 percent, but College of Southern Idaho for her study partner. ‘Raising (tuition) would make it harder for me ’cause I’m having a hard enough now, at least into fiscal year 2011, time trying to pay for her in day care,’said Zahorik, who is in her first semester at CSI. She hopes to eventually transfer to forward to help they can ask for anything up to Boise State University but is currently working through core classes. 100 percent — not that it’s likely. “Nobody’s even put a number ilies don’t have bottomless pock- tuition rates in its April 5 meeting. recently reduced the university’s T.F. County out there yet,” Browning said, ets.” The board also approved a plan research and extension budget by adding that California institutions Colleges and universities are to keep the University of Idaho’s about $4.7 million, resulting in a By Nate Poppino have raised tuition by as much as starting their budgetary processes Research and Extension Center in plan to close the facility at the end Times-News writer 30 percent. “An Idaho student is for the next fiscal year, beginning Parma fully operational for at least an Idaho taxpayer,and Idaho fam- July 1. The state board establishes five years. The Idaho Legislature See TUITION, Main 2 The requests came early and often this year. Winters aren’t usually an easy “AN IDAHO STUDENT IS AN IDAHO TAXPAYER, AND IDAHO FAMILIES time for low-income people. But things are unique this year, said DON’T HAVE BOTTOMLESS POCKETS.” Cecille Griffith. She recalled one of the families —Mark Browning, spokesman for the Idaho State Board of Education she helped: a woman walked in to her Kimberly office at the East End Providers “hysterical” because her THE BILL AT A GLANCE husband, a master plumber, had lost his job. $1,100,000,000,000 Highlights of the $1.1 trillion spending drug users. And that, she said, is the differ- bill that passed the House on • Allows Amtrak passengers to trans- ence. The poor economy is rippling Thursday: port firearms in checked luggage. outward, and people are losing That’s the total amount the U.S. House • $519 billion in routine payments for • $68.2 billion for the Education Medicare and Medicaid. Department. See PROVIDERS, Main 2 approved for latest spending measure • $3.9 billion for more than 5,000 • $109.6 billion for veterans programs, “earmarks” — or homestate projects a 15 percent increase, including $45.1 By Andrew Taylor ments for federal benefit pro- sought by lawmakers. billion for health care. Associated Press writer grams such as Medicare and • A pay raise for federal employees • $7.3 billion for the 2010 Census. Medicaid. The Senate immediate- averaging 2 percent. • $18.7 billion for NASA, a 5 percent WASHINGTON — Democrats ly voted to begin debate, with a • Establishes an appeals process for increase. are muscling through a deficit- final vote likely this weekend. automobile dealers closed by General • $7.9 billion for the FBI, a 7 percent swelling spending bill, giving No House Republicans voted for Motors and Chrysler. increase. domestic programs their third the bill. Some 28 Democrats, • Permits the local Washington, D.C., • $3.7 billion for grants to state and East End Providers government to provide abortions with local law enforcement. major boost this year and award- chiefly moderates and abortion Contact: 229 N. Main St. in Kimberly; locally-raised revenue; permits nee- • $5.1 billion for heating subsidies for ing lawmakers with more than opponents, opposed it. 539-2598 dle exchange programs in the city; the poor, almost 40 percent more 5,000 home-state projects. The measure provides spending Primary mission: Provide toys, clothes and allows implementation of a med- than requested. The House voted 221-202 increases averaging about 10 per- and food to children and seniors. ical marijuana referendum. • $41 billion for highway construction, Thursday to pass the 1,088-page, cent to programs under immedi- Want to donate? The Providers can use • Eases restrictions on federal funding a slight increase. $1.1 trillion measure — combining ate control of Congress. It comes just about anything you’ll spare, includ- of needle exchange programs to • $1.6 billion to subsidize Amtrak. $447 billion in operating budgets ing blankets, coats, hats, warm clothes, SPENDING combat the spread of disease by — The Associated Press with about $650 billion in pay- See , Main 2 food and toys. Comics....................Sports 5 Crossword ......Classifieds 6 Obituaries ..........Business 5 Commodities ......Business 2 Dear Abby ........Classifieds 7 Opinion ..................Main 6-7 FINDING HIS FOOTING Community ........Business 3 Movies ......Entertainment 2 Sudoku ............Classifieds 5 CSI’s Owens raises him game on both ends > Sports 1 MORNINGMORNINGMain 2 Friday, December 11, 2009 BRIEFINGBRIEF- TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Pat’s Picks TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Three things to do today ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT More information inside pre-schoolers and their caregiver, 10:30 Pat Marcantonio “It’s a Wonderful Life,” presented by Burley a.m., Burley Public Library, 1300 Miller Ave., Junior High School drama department and For detailed coverage of today’s no cost, 878-7708. • Centre Stage Studios ed on 400 East Road off of directed by Mike Brinkerhoff, 7 p.m., at the arts,entertainment and seasonal Traditional Storytime, preschoolers and their parents invited for stories and songs, presents a ballet classic, Idaho Highway 24, less than school, 700 W. 16th St., Burley, $6, 878- events all around south-central “The Nutcracker” at 7:30 two miles from Minidoka. 6613. 10:30 a.m., Twin Falls Public Library, 201 tonight and 2 p.m.