Thursday • February 2, 2012 www.magicvalley.com • 75¢ Occupy Victory? Idaho Senate Debates Changes Protestors are excited to learn a Senate committee has agreed to consider changes to a bill intended to make them pack up and leave. BY JOHN MILLER Associated Press BOISE • Supporters of Occupy Boises encampment across from the DREW NASH • TIMES-NEWS Idaho Capitol were elated Wednes- (ABOVE) Twin Falls High School science teacher Jo Dodds teaches students during a Wednesday lab session in Twin Falls. Dodds is one day after a Senate committee agreed of 26 U.S. teachers selected by NASA to participate in upcoming research flights. (BELOW) Dodds points out the lines dividing the to consider changes to a bill meant to Earths continental plates on a map Wednesday. oust them, including delaying when protesters must pack up their tents and giving them more time to reclaim any property they leave behind. “This is exciting,’’Monica Hopkins, director of the American Civil Liber- ties Union office in Idaho, said as she T.F. Teacher Selected stood in the Capitol hallway after the State Affairs Committee voted 7-1 to open the measure to possible amend- ments. The bill would ban camping from state-managed properties. Last week, the bill blasted out of for NASA Program the Idaho House on a near party-line 54-16 vote, giving the impression it Jo Dodds, a longtime science teacher at Twin Falls High School, will take flight on faced smooth sailing on its way through the Republican Senate to a scientific trip to research astronomy. Gov.C.L.“Butch Otters desk. But after about 2½ hours of testi- BY JULIE WOOTTON mony,almost all of which came from [email protected] supporters of the free-speech vigil at the old Ada County Courthouse that TWIN FALLS • About 15 years ago, Twin Falls began in November,Senate President High School teacher Jo Dodds heard about a Pro Tem Brent Hill said he was open NASA program for educators just as it was to allowing protesters to remain un- ending. til July 1. The Rexburg Republican The FOSTER program — or Flight Opportu- said he believed the tents pose no im- nities for Science Teacher EnRichment — minent threat. came to a close in the 1990s. Since then, Dodds The measure would go into effect has been hoping for a similar research oppor- immediately,should Otter sign it as- tunity to arise. is after it clears the Senate. “Ive been waiting ever since,”she said. Idaho Falls Republican Sen. Bart She doesnt have to wait anymore. Dodds is Davis, a lawyer, said the existing bill one of 26 U.S. teachers selected to participate adequately protects free-speech in research flights over the coming year aboard rights but he remains “high-cen- NASA’s Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared tered on how it treats any property Astronomy. left behind as “litter.’’ As part of the Airborne Astronomy Ambas- Davis brandished a draft amend- sadors program, shell work alongside profes- ment designed to give protesters at sional astronomers and participate in public least seven days to reclaim belong- outreach efforts. ings before theyre discarded. “Im just so thrilled,”she said one week after “What I do feel uncomfortable Please see NASA, A2 with is the seizure and littering com- ponent,’’ he said, adding that he feared it would run afoul of protec- tions of due process for private prop- erty in the U.S. Constitutions Fifth and 14th amendments. The Senate will schedule a session JFAC TO HEAR to consider changes to the bill. Mule Deer Beat Please see OCCUPY, A10 $5.7M MILLENNIUM Odds after Blair Fire FUND REQUEST Boise State, ISU, Fish and Game officials feared stroyed 39,500 acres north of Glenns BY MELISSA DAVLIN U of I Announce the animals would suffer after Ferry and left the herd of 5,000 mule [email protected] the summer 2011 fire, but a deer without their winter habitat. Signing Classes At the time, biologists from the Ida- BOISE • The handlers of a state endowment to help pre- mild winter has helped the ho Department of Fish and Game vent underage smoking will pitch a request to spend Page S1. 5,000-head herd survive. thought this would cause the herd to $5.7 million of Idaho Millennium Fund money in the com- head south, increasing the chances ing fiscal year. BY KIMBERLEE KRUESI that more of the animals would be hit The Joint Millennium Fund Committee based its recom- [email protected] while crossing Idahos roads and dam- mendations on an estimated $9.1 million in available rev- age cultivated fields in search of food. enue. Twelve programs requested appropriations for serv- Shooting Brings GLENNS FERRY • The fear that once But it hasnt happened. Mild winter ices related to tobacco cessation and education, including surrounded an eastern Elmore Coun- conditions allowed the deer to remain in the Idaho Supreme Court for use in youth courts, the These M.V. Women ty deer herd is slowly dissipating. parts of their range that didnt burn,said American Cancer Society for the Idaho Womens Health Not too long ago, a 2011 summer Randy Smith, Fish and Game regional Check, and the American Lung Association for youth to- Confidence wildfire had wildlife officials prepar- wildlife manager based in Jerome. bacco prevention and cessation programs. ing for the worst. The Blair Fire de- Please see FIRE, A2 Please see MILLENNIUM, A2 Page O1. Death by Chocolate: Dont miss this event, 6-9 p.m. at High 38° 25°Low Bridge C7 Markets A5 Dear Abby C9 Obituaries O4 Canyon Crest Dining and Event Center, 330 Canyon Crest Dr. Comics A7 Crossword C9 Jumble C8 Opinion A8 A few clouds. S4 Come support the defending NJCAA champions as they pursue another conference title. DATE OPPONENT WOMEN MEN Saturday, Feb. 4 North Idaho 5:30 pm 7:30 pm Thursday, Feb. 9 Eastern Utah 5:30 pm 7:30 pm Saturday, Feb. 11 Colorado NW 3:00 pm 5:00 pm Saturday, Feb. 16 Snow College 5:30 pm 7:30 pm Saturday, Feb. 18 Salt Lake 3:00 pm 5:00 pm A 2 • Thursday, February 2, 2012 Reporter Davlin to Appear on Idaho Reports Despite Cuts, DEQ, Ag TIMES-NEWS topics in the Legislature. “Idaho Reports” is an BOISE • Rep. Maxine Bell, hour-long program dedi- Departments Laud Successes R-Jerome, Sen. Dean cated to covering state pol- Cameron, R-Rupert, and itics during the legislative Times-News reporter session. Bell, Cameron The states ag department is seeking $175,000 aquatic weed control. Gov. participation, there is no Melissa Davlin will appear and Davlin are joining for the expansion of a Twin Falls food quality lab. C.L. “Butch” Otter recom- money, but that doesnt af- on Idaho Public Televi- Lewiston Tribune reporter mended $36.3 million for the fect other programs, Fisher sions “Idaho Reports” this Bill Spence and program BY MELISSA DAVLIN The DEQ supported the department for fiscal 2013. said. week to discuss the new host Greg Hahn. The pro- [email protected] governors recommendation The governor recom- The office also lost $1.2 state map of legislative dis- gram airs 8 p.m. Friday and of a $61.3 million depart- mended a $13.3 million ap- million from fiscal 2011 for tricts impacts on south- 11 a.m. Sunday on Idaho BOISE • Despite budget mental budget. During her propriation for the Office of wolf management, monitor- central Idaho and other Public Television. cuts, Idahos agriculture and presentation to the Joint Fi- Species Conservation, a 42.4 ing and depredation mitiga- environmental agencies are nance-Appropriations percent drop from the $22.9 tion. The office is still work- still trucking along. And in Committee, Director Toni million appropriated this ing with the federal govern- some cases, theyre seeing a Hardesty cited recent suc- year. ment to provide support for lot of success. cessful programs, including Almost all of that lost ranchers who lose cattle to On Wednesday, the Idaho settlement ponds in Twin money is from the Bon- the predators, Fisher said. State Department of Agri- Falls that reduced water pol- neville Power Administra- “The state of Idaho feels WASHINGTON WOMAN culture, Soil and Water Con- lution and drinking water tion for salmon recovery ef- that wolves were forced on servation Commission, Of- loans that made it possible forts, said office administra- us by the Endangered fice of Species Conservation for small communities to tor Nate Fisher. The money Species Act,”Fisher said. Be- HOSPITALIZED AFTER and Department of Environ- update their water systems. goes to projects to improve cause of that, he added the mental Quality all presented Agricultures budget re- habitat for salmon — for ex- federal government should TUESDAY CRASH their budget requests to leg- quest included a one-time ample, building fences be the one compensating islators. While funding cuts supplemental request of around creeks on private ranchers for cattle and sheep TIMES-NEWS Stenersons vehicle rolled have forced some depart- $175,000 for expansion of property to prevent cows loss. and came to rest on the ments to find alternative the Idaho Food Quality As- from trampling through the But, he said, the division is TWIN FALLS • Idaho State west shoulder of the road. funding sources and re- surance Lab in Twin Falls, water,Fisher said. still focused on efforts to Police and Twin Falls County She was transported by structure their programs, $89,700 from the dedicated That money is project- keep sage grouse from being sheriff’s deputies investigat- ground ambulance to St. Wednesdays presenters said fund for poultry inspection, specific and depends on par- listed as an endangered ed an injury accident involv- Lukes Magic Valley Med- theyre still making progress and an ongoing general re- ticipation from landowners.