2016 Conference Newsletter

February 13– 15 Volume 29 2016 Know Your Government Conference Together We Are Infinite By: Kortney Sims

now Your Government is a 4-H KYG provides a safe envi- K program that gives the youth of ronment that allows teens to have a Idaho insight on what occurs at the positive experience away from In This Issue state legislative and judicial govern- home. This conference can increase a  Bill 111: School Lunches– Healthy ment levels. Every February, teens teen’s self-esteem by providing op- Choices from across Idaho come together to portunities to practice public speak- learn more about state government. ing, meeting new people, leadership  Bill 222: 32 Hour Work Week Government representatives and law skills, and new friendships that last  Bill 333: Distracted Driving professionals volunteer their time to forever.  Bill 444: Cellphones in School teach the delegates during the mock The mission of the confer- judicial and legislative sessions. The ence, “is to provide 4-H members an  Bill 555: Mandatory Concussion delegates are able to tour the Capitol opportunity to learn more about the Helmets Building, Idaho Supreme Court decision making process in their Building, and for the first time, dele- communities and state.” After the  Judicial Case: Vehicular gates will visit the University of Ida- conference, teens return to their Manslaughter ho Law and Justice Center. home counties and talk to their local  Guest Speaker: Scott Backovich At the conference, there is an 4-H groups, schools, and community option for youth to apply for a third officials.  Reporter and Planning Committee year at KYG. To do this, delegates The goal of this conference Members fill out applications, and are inter- is to make the delegates’ future full  Word Search viewed. These are the teens who plan of infinite possibilities through hands  Kevin Davidson the conference each year. This gives on workshops and peer networking. young adults a chance to gain experi-  Sponsors ence on creating 4-H involvement.  Random Idaho Facts To Get More Information About KYG

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4-H Website- http://www.uidaho.edu extension/4h/events/know-your- government Page 1 Food Fight by the Numbers By: Tucker Glick

In bill 111, Madam Chairman would allow more time for students Jenna Harris proposes to raise the calo- to eat. rie limit of school lunches and increase Despite the positives of lunch length. The bill suggests a higher the bill there are a few downsides. calorie intake for students, which The higher caloric intake could in- promise could help solve malnourishment and crease obesity rates. The bill could also the budget. hunger in high populated areas. The influence school lunch cost, which Legislator Titan Walker con- lunches could improve student perfor- could cause a chain effect and compro- veys that the bill needs changes before mance in class by reducing student’s mise school funding or make the it could pass legislation. Overall this hunger which in turn may help stu- lunches unobtainable for lower income bill may seem minor but shouldn’t be dents focus better on their studies. Jen- students. Increasing lunch length could overlooked as it could make a dramatic na has noticed that students avoid also cause an issue because the schools impact on the school lunch system. If school lunches due to their lack of fla- would have to compensate for the lost the bill is passed or reformed, it needs vor, size, and nutritional value. Legis- time by extending school day length or to be for the benefit of the students. lator Annette Furness wants the calorie days in school. This could mean that intake raised for students who do teachers could have more work hours sports. Also extending lunch time which would increase costs and com-

From Workaholic to Family Fan By: Jewlia Dopkins

"How would you like to ployees worked five days a week. But The advantages outweigh the spend more quality time with your then two years in, they decided to try disadvantages. Family's will have an family and work fewer something different: they stopped opportunity to spend more quality hours?" proposed Justin Keogh, chair- working on Fridays. time together. Single people will have man of Bill 222. Chairman “We said we were going to try more of an opportunity to date. Em- Keogh's hope is that his bill will it for only three months and if every- ployees will be healthier and less ex- help motivate people to get a job thing is working and the same amount hausted from working less. A shorter and earn enough money to live well of work is done, we would continue work week may look more appealing while only working a 32 hour week. for three more months,” Rennella ex- to the unemployed . Employees may Cristian Rennella co- plained to ThinkProgress. “Five years be paid less, but this will help lower founded elMejorTrato.com, a Latin later we haven’t stopped.” In that company costs. Also, the extra day of American search engine. Like nearly same timespan, the company has staying out of the office will allow all other companies he and his em- grown it's annual revenue by 204 per- companies to save 20% on their week- cent. ly building costs. For some companies there Whether you choose to side may be disadvantages to a 32 hour with Chairman Justin Keogh or work week. The types, siz- not, this bill could definitely put a spin es, positions, and workloads of com- on society. It could make a positive or panies all need to be considered. negative effect on society. Some companies may have to cut em- ployee’s pay checks in order to match a lower work output.

Page 2 Eating vs Driving By Laura Neiwert A study done by the National Along with Tanner’s comments, Highway Traffic Safety Administra- the National Highway Traffic Safety tion concludes that those who eat Administration created a list of the and drive increase the odds of an top ten most dangerous foods and accident by 80% and 65% of near beverages. Here are a few of them: miss accidents are caused by drivers First is chocolate. After eating due to worries about their food and chocolate it can leave a trail all over drink. These numbers are worse than everything you touch. What do you think of eating and driving, we think the texting and driving numbers! do? You clean them up while taking of solid foods, but coffee is respon- Tanner Mecham states, “Eating your eyes from the road. sible for more accidents than any and driving is wrong, it endangers If it can drip, it will. Don’t let that other food. Even in a travel mug, others. “Delegates should consider if McDonald’s burger endanger you coffee can make its way up and out eating while driving constitutes dis- and everyone else. of your cup and cover you. Coffee tracted driving.” Tacos can turn into a fiesta bowl brings a new meaning to the term, The first and second viola- right in your lap because of the “Don’t drink and drive.” tions would result in an $80 fine and movements of the car. Like any other Is eating and driving a form of after the third offense, the violator food, cleaning it up or eating it will distracted driving? This bill has been will spend up to three months in jail. take your focus from the road. left in the hands of bill supporter The offense? Eating while driving. What is the most dangerous bev- Malissa Meline and our 2016 KYG erage overall? Coffee. When we delegates to decide.

Becoming Disconnected By: Olivia McMurray

There are countless students to help prevent distractions from of all ages. Phones will be allowed who see using electronics in schools learning. If technology is allowed in only during breaks and for special as a necessity of life. In bill 444, the classroom, the students may soon cases, such as medical needs. Janae Madam Chairman Janae Swenson has become too focused on texting and believes that her bill will have posi- designed a law that will prohibit eve- not focusing on learning and paying tive effects on the students by allow- ry student of any age using electron- attention in class. If a phone is visi- ing them to focus on schoolwork dur- ics inside of the classrooms, with ing class. few exceptions. Janae decided on Andrew Saulls, one of the the topic for this bill because she Legislative bill delegates, agreed that feels that the delegates will all electronic usage in classrooms should have opinions to offer about the be monitored, but he didn’t agree bill on electronics, so she will get completely with all the amendments. plenty of participation from the He felt that electronics should be Know Your Government Confer- confiscated if they were in use at in- ence attendants. She also feels appropriate times, but if an electronic that her bill will make the lobby- device was visible and not in use, it ist’s job more manageable by giv- shouldn’t be confiscated. All in all, ing them a topic that is easy to he felt like the bill would have good debate. ble during class time, it may be con- discussion and he was excited to de- The main goal of the bill is to fiscated. The bill will have no fiscal bate the bill. eliminate phones from the classroom impact, and it applies to all students Page 3 Concussion Discussion By: Erin Trent High school athletes take sports, such as football, softball, However, Concussion-proof the biggest bang when it comes to baseball, soccer, volleyball, and helmets will raise the cost to play sports concussions. They take long- rough-stock rodeo. These are the sports. Concussion-proof helmets er to recover and experience more most common sports people are in- cost more than a regular helmet, and severe symptoms and after-effects jured in. Ms. Samantha Boutte, a would be costly to some families, compared to college students. A legislator for the bill, commented therefore, potentially lowering the concussion can leave a child with that she “plays sports and the bill amount of people playing these anything from headaches and dizzi- interested her”. She has also been sports in a high school setting. An- ness to depression and memory loss studying up on CTE, or Chronic other thing is that there really is no if not healed properly. Plus, a con- traumatic encephalopathy, a disease such thing as a “concussion-proof” cussion can knock an athlete out of found in athletes, and says that peo- helmet. The way a helmet works is play for weeks. If athletes suffer ple with CTE are more likely to the more it absorbs the impact, it enough concussions, it may ruin commit suicide. Merriam- Webster takes longer for the force to hit. The their ability to play. Planning Com- dictionary defines concussion as “a longer it takes the force to get some- mittee Member Sarah Woodward stunning, damaging, or shattering where, the better the helmet. proposed Bill 555: Mandatory Con- effect from a hard blow; especially: If this bill is passed, all high cussion Helmets to help, if not re- a jarring injury of the brain resulting school athletes will be required to solve, this problem. in disturbance of [brain] function." wear the “Concussion Proof” hel- Ms. Woodward proposes According to the Center or Disease met, if not they will be unable to that “concussion-proof” helmets Control and Prevention, over half of play. People not willing to comply should be worn for all high school sports injuries could with this bill will not be included on rough be prevented. Ms. Woodward’s in- the roster and schools not willing to tentions are to reduce the amount of comply will not be able to play for concussions among high school stu- the season. dents because she knows high school athletes who have suffered from concussions and doesn’t want to see anyone else hurt.

KYG Clover: To Infinity and Beyond By: Kortney Sims KYG Clover was born in 2013 at the in Moscow, Idaho. All of his journeys Summer Planning Committee Meeting and first have helped prepare for the 2016 Know met delegates at the 2014 KYG Conference. Since Your Government Conference. This little then he has traveled from Idaho to Mexico, Ore- guy has a following, and wants you to join gon and Washington D.C. He even continued his in the fun! It’s easy, to get started all you travels outside the US! With so many sights to need to do is take a picture with KYG Clo- see, people to meet, and new things to learn, he ver and post it to social media using the decided to attend some amazing activities such as: hashtag #idkygclover. Look him up to see T.A.L. K retreat, Ag Days at the University of all of his adventures throughout the years, Idaho, and the Idaho 4-H Teen Ambassadors re- and now it’s your turn to take him with treat. He even visited a cloned mule and watched you! Remember to snap a photo, and Vandal football after the livestock judging contest hashtag #idkygclover! Page 4 DUI/ Manslaughter: Reasonable Doubt? By: Sydney Olson

After departing from his girl- was found to have traces of the narcot- friend’s house on November 1st of ic in her blood as well. 2015, a car accident led to death of a Richards admitted to being a KYG High School student. The cause substance abuser who, after becoming of the car accident may have been due clean, relapsed into her addiction on to substance abuse, but the accused October 31st. However, when she hit has claimed innocence. The court date Campbell, she claims that she had not other intoxicating substances ..., as is scheduled for February 15th of been under the influence and the loss shown by analysis of his blood, urine, 2016. of consciousness was caused by the or breath, to drive or be in actual As he was leaving his girl- lack of insulin caused by her type one physical control of a motor vehicle friend’s home, Charles Campbell was diabetes. Her pediatrician, Dr.Kendall within this state.” In order to be guilty, struck by a Dodge Dakota belonging Lewis, confirmed that Richards, after it must be proven beyond reasonable to Stacey Richards. Emergency ser- refusing to take insulin, has had simi- doubt that the heroin played a part in vices were called and once Officer lar spells before November. the manslaughter of Charles Campbell. Terry Anderson and paramedic Taylor At Richards’ court trial, she According to Prosecuting At- Jones arrived, Mr. Campbell was de- will be tried for Vehicular Manslaugh- torney Erin Olson, “I think this trial is clared deceased at the scene. The of- ter. “Manslaughter is defined as the going to be so interesting because it ficer then found Stacey Richards un- unlawful killing of a human being involves both insulin and possible conscious in her vehicle. Both a foil without malice, vehicular is in which drug overdose; which have overlap- wrapper and syringe were found under the operation of a motor vehicle is a ping boundaries because of their Richards’ seat and, after being tested, significant cause contributing to the sometime symptoms.” were found to have traces of heroin. death.” Richards is also being tried for Richards, while being treated at the driving under the influence which hospital, is defined by Idaho law saying, “it is unlawful for any person who is under the influence of alcohol, drugs or any other intoxicating substances, or any combination of alcohol, drugs and/or any

Page 5 Scott Backovich: Complain Less and Give More By: Kortney Sims speaking all over the country. On Saturday night, A Disneyland fanatic as well as a Scott directed activities to promote leadership skills, such Chipotle and Netflix lover, Scott Backovich as listening, taking action, and never stop is famous for his comedic way of empower- improving. Sunday morning, Scott’s speech ing today’s youth. At a young age, Scott reminded the delegates that everyone could was influenced by a speaker that he heard use a little hope. Scott’s message is to be a and he hopes to give students the same catalyst, meaning take action, whether it is in insight that the speaker gave him. Scott your school, your community, or even in your was 17 when his career started and he county. As Scott told reporters, “complain less booked his first professional job. After and give more.” By giving to others, we create that, groups continued to call to ask him a network of positivity and greatness, which to speak. For 10 years, Scott had based can continue through many generations. his career on, “Not saying no,” which gives him the joy of

E S T N V F R L B V E K S E R D T S N G P A R H I M V T F E E B D E E G B M I H L A I R T F X U C N M O L P R N L E V U E V I T A T N E S E R P E R C N W Z U W C I R S Q O D O E E D D W D O N O W E R D T D Y S A I V G R C R M T V A M Y W O N T Q E Q U O E M L O R L A R T Q J L V N R T S I J G B L P L A T I P A C I H M T G J R S U P T O N X G N D E V T C P K More than 72 different M R Q A M E N D M E N T E I B precious and semi- D X W S L R D Y L U D C L E L precious gemstones C O U R T I I Q O F C H T I U are mined from Idaho. Some of these stones AMENDMENT LAWYER can’t be found any- 4-H is offered where else in the in every county BILL LEGISLATOR world. in Idaho. CAPITAL PROSECUTER COMMITTEE REPORTER COURT REPRESENTATIVE DEFENDANT SENATE GOVERNMENT WITNESS

Page 6 Kevin Davidson: 4-H Volunteer By: Kortney Sims

On February 14, 2003, Kevin ferent aspects, including: legislative program. However, it is now time for Davidson made his first appearance at session, judicial cases, and leadership the next generation to bring new light the Know Your Government Confer- within the planning committee and and ideas to help the youth develop ence. He was a chaperone for his son, reporters. Kevin still believes that their life skills. Dustin. Kevin experienced both the Know Your Government is a great legislative and judicial sides before he was asked to help coordinate the Re- porter workshop. His work with Cheryl Lockard and Rosie Davids has been rewarding, fun, and allowed him to grow as a person. His favorite thing about the KYG experience, overall, is seeing how youth change from being 8th grade children, to being young adults who are involved in their communities. Kevin is known for his fun, boisterous personality that can always brighten your day. He believes KYG is beneficial to the youth in many dif-

Plate Update By: Laura Neiwert Over thousands of Idaho resi- Funding from the plates assist with a $12 return. dents have decided to be a proud part 4-H programs such as the annual As of December 2015, 169 of the University of Idaho 4-H Youth Know Your Government Conference plates were sold throughout the state Development Program by participat- and Teen Conference. Some of the of Idaho. In order to keep the program ing as leaders and youth. Through money raised is also used for scholar- going, there needs to be 250 plates their involvement, 4-H members and ships for 4-H members. sold by the third year of the program, leaders have the opportunity to learn Turns out, these plates are and 1,000 plates sold by the fourth essential life skills, while making a pretty popular. After a long legislative year. positive influence on the lives of those debate in 2014, the plates were made Kevin Davidson, District 3 around them. and available for the public purchase Reporter Advisor, stated “The Idaho To recognize and assist the in January of 2015. Since then, over 4-H plate program benefits in a couple Idaho 4-H program, a special license $1,500 worth of sales has been made. of ways. It gives money back to the plate program was created. The pro- What most people don’t real- programs and it provides publicity for gram enables alumni, parents, mem- ize is when a 4-H plate is purchased, the 4-H program. Anyway we can bers and state supporters to show their about 50% of the money is returned to help our youth develop life skills, is a 4-H pride. Part of the money from the the county and the rest goes to the good thing.” Mr. Davidson encour- sale of the plates will be used to gen- state. The initial fee for a plate is $35; ages everyone to buy a plate in sup- erate financial support for the Idaho 4- about $22 goes to support the Idaho port of 4-H. H programs. 4-H programs. Plate renewals are $25 Page 7 2016 Planning Committee Members

Back row: Justin Keogh, Nathan Hampton, Kendra Evans and Harlee Nordby Middle row: Tristan Hen- dricks and Jenna Harrison Bottom row: FaithAnn Hynek, Sarah Woodward, Jacqueline Hernandez, and Jenae Swenson

2016 Reporters

Back row: Sydney Olson, Jewlia Dopkins, Laura Neiwert, Tucker Glick, and Erin Trent Front row: Olivia McMurray, Kortney Sims, Shelby Burlile, Cheryl Lockard, Rosie Davids, and Kevin Davidson