Twin Falls grad Brady Jardine has PLAYING become a key player at Utah State. FOR THE Who else from Magic Valley schools now plays at the college level? BIG CROWDS SPORTS 1 SUNDAY April 3, 2011 TIMES-NEWS $1.50 Magicvalley.com SHAKING UP EDUCATION AND MEDICAID Uncertain times ahead ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News Jessica Thompson, left, a 20-year-old with a cognitive disability that makes reading and organizational skills difficult, works with therapy technician Erin Magill Wednesday at her Twin Falls home. State Medicaid reform passed this year will reduce the hours of medical services Thompson and other Medicaid recipients like her will be eligible to receive. Faced with another year of winnowing revenues, Idaho budgeting and social interaction. “Over the years, shes learned a Reforming Reforming lawmakers traded reduction for reform this session. lot with the people shes working What will remain when they depart the Capitol will be with,”said her mother, LaRee Hol- education Medicaid libaugh. “With the budget cuts, you After the legislative After the legislative session: The months of work to realize the legislation of change. never know what theyre going to session: A 27-mem- Idaho Department of Health and cut.” ber task force will Welfare will begin a $300,000 study Thompson is one Medicaid re- By Ben Botkin For Thompson, Medicaid servic- start holding public to explore how to change a Medicaid cipient among 220,000 in an Idaho Times-News writer es are a vital link to living with a meetings this year to system that pays providers per serv- system that, along with public edu- cognitive disability in Twin Falls. plan how classroom ice rendered to one with more over- cation, has been targeted for signif- BOISE — Because of a disability, She gets 22 weekly hours of devel- technologies will be sight, to discourage providers from icant trims during the era of the 20-year-old Jessica Thompson has opmental services that help her implemented. billing for unnecessary services. state budget crunch. challenges with reading, organiza- with a variety of tasks: household tion and dealing with stressful situ- chores like cooking and washing For more next steps, For more on the next steps in See AHEAD, Main 4 see Main 4. reforming Medicaid, see Main 4. ations. dishes and other life skills like ALSO MAKING NEWS Some say broke states Japans disaster cut taxes too much dims future of By Tony Pugh group in Cleveland. nuke power in U.S. McClatchy Newspapers Schillers lament is by no Even before the crisis in Japan, means unique. Across the coun- dubious economics jeopardized WASHINGTON — In his new try, taxpayers jarred by cuts to nuclear energys second act in the budget proposal, Ohio Republi- government jobs and services are U.S. Now, potentially tougher can Gov.John Kasich calls for ex- reassessing the risks and costs of safety requirements and regulato- tending a generous 21 percent cut a variety of tax reductions, ex- ry scrutiny threaten to stir up in state income taxes. The meas- emptions and credits, and the public opinion against a technol- ure was originally part of a ideology that drives them. States ogy that lately has been viewed as sweeping 2005 tax overhaul that cut taxes in hopes of spurring ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News a prime defense against global abolished the state corporate in- economic growth, but in state af- Jarren McCall, of Jerry’s Concrete and Construction, makes a frame for a sidewalk warming. Opinion 7 come tax and phased out a busi- ter state,it hasnt worked. along Caswell Avenue West off of Washington Street North Friday in Twin Falls. ness property tax. Theres no question that The tax cuts were supposed to mammoth state budget problems stimulate Ohios economy and resulted largely from falling tax create jobs. But that didnt hap- revenues, rising costs and greater Construction cones return pen once the economy tanked. demand for state services during Instead, the changes ended up the recession. But questionable costing Ohio more than $2 bil- tax reductions at the state and lo- to T.F.’s Washington Street lion a year in lost tax revenue; cal level made the budget gaps money that would go a long way larger — and resulting spending By Nate Poppino sume at the beginning of March, toward closing the states $8 bil- cuts deeper — than they other- Times-News writer but rain and snow brought more lion budget gap for fiscal year wise would have been in many delays, said Idaho Transporta- 2012. states. With warmer weather, work tion Department spokesman “At least half of our current A 2008 study by Arizona State has resumed on Washington Nathan Jerke. U.S. forces step back budget problem is a direct result University found that that states Street North in Twin Falls. The project, which began last of the tax changes we made in structural deficits could be traced DEBCO Construction of year, will result in a widened, re- from role in Libya 2005. A lot of people dont want to 15 years of tax cuts, mainly in- Orofino ended its winter hiatus built and augmented Washing- to hear that, but that’s the reality. come tax reductions that “were on the project this week, with ton essentially from Addison Av- The U.S. is following through on a Much of our pain is self-inflict- not matched by spending cuts of frames set up along the roads enue north to Pole Line Road. pledge to shift the main combat ed,” said Zach Schiller, research a commensurate size.” southbound lanes to pour side- The particular zone now under burden in Lbya to NATO allies director at Policy Matters Ohio, a walks. while some leaders call for more liberal government-research See STATES, Main 2 Work was originally set to re- See CONES, Main 2 support for the rebels. Main 3 Bridge ..............Classifieds 8 Kids Only ........Family Life 6 Obituaries..........Opinion 6-7 Mostly cloudy Crossword ......Classifieds 4 Jumble ............Classifieds 3 Sudoku ............Classifieds 7 45 / 27 Dear Abby........Classifieds 5 Movies ..................Opinion 5 Your Business ....Business 2 Business 4 NO TICKETS AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR PRE-SALE ONLY! Get yours before 4pm Tuesday Purchase tickets at the Times-News Offi ce $10 132 Fairfi eld St. W Twin Falls, ID Each Main 2 Sunday, April 3, 2011 MORNING MIX Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho Future of a IF YOU DO ONE THING TODAY forgotten people Take mom to Desert Sage Quilt Guilds quilt show in Filer; shell love you for it. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Twin Falls County Playing chicken with Fairgrounds, youll find demonstrations, a vendor mall, a block challenge and quilt show pins. Admission is $5 for adults and $3 A version for children. a posse of roosters of Buhl Follow Times-News writer t’s official: Hens are cockfighting all it is today.I Melissa Davlin on her trip to now citizens of Hailey. sure don’t want to be on the report in Nepals refugee But not roosters. DON’T same side of the fence when I camps, where Bhutanese Smart move on the city’s ASK ME that inverted rooster hits refugees are preparing to part. the ground. resettle in Twin Falls. From For roosters are trouble, Steve Crump Because a rooster throw- Davlins latest blog post: and as an old farm boy I can down never really ends. tell you they don’t just crow “Walk around with him, These animals are geneti- The hour-long drive at 5 a.m. do chores while holding cally hardwired to make from the airport to After a year-long test of him or whatever,let him every fight just the warm- Damak was nice.Un- an ordinance allowing hens calm down and stay that up for the next . like Kathmandu,where I al- — but not their male coun- way for 15-30 minutes until When I was about 5,I ways felt on-edge,I imme- terparts — to be raised he has settled.” went to visit my grandfa- diately felt relaxed.We within the town’s limits, I for one am not doing ther who farmed near passed through several small ASHLEY SMITH/Times-News the Hailey City Council chores while my arms are Pocatello.He’d given me a towns and drove past rice Chris Roberts, of Jerry’s Concrete and Construction, crosses a granted the birds perma- wrapped around 8 pounds box of Cracker Jacks,and paddies,fields of boys play- freshly poured sidewalk along Washington Street North on Friday. nent residency last week. of dynamite. before I wandered out into ing cricket,plenty of cows The rules governing “ ...at your discretion the backyard Granddad and bamboo thatch huts.... begin counting days off on chickens were set to expire you can put him down,” shooed his half-dozen Jhapa,the district where Cones DEBCO’s contract. Barring June 9 under a sunset continues ChickenCross- roosters into a chicken- Damak is located,is rural significant moisture, con- clause that allowed the city ing.org.“If he kicks, wire enclosure. Continued from Main 1 and agricultural — like Mag- struction could wrap up in to repeal the ordinance af- screams or squawks while My grandfather went ic Valley in some ways.Some construction runs from Fil- early July,he said. ter a year of monitoring, you are releasing him,pick back into the house,and I towns even reminded me of er Avenue to Cheney Drive, “They’ll be on and off for but only two complaints him up and repeat this cycle was sitting on the back small southern Ida- though initial work should this week and next week … were received, according to until he submits to you,and porch steps playing with ho cities — re- only stretch as far north as try to catch what good the Idaho Mountain Ex- will walk off peacefully the little blue plastic air- place the Fords North College Road.