51 / 32 Get a taste of India BACK TO STATE! T.F. boys earn first trip to state since 2006 with win over Skyline. SEE FOOD 1 Cloudy & dry. SEE SPORTS 1 Business 4 HOLDING STEADY >>> Southern Idaho home prices remain mostly unchanged, BUSINESS 1 WEDNESDAY February 25, 2009 75 CENTS MagicValley.com Education could get $246M from stimulus City hits although that could possibly State must maintain funding levels Magicvalley.com INSIDE include funding for educa- a hitch in READ: Capitol School consolidation tion services, analysts said. By Jared S. Hopkins able to be held harmless Confidential, a won’t fix budget woes. Information from legisla- Times-News writer because of the stimulus act political blog. tive budget analysts Tuesday land swap are an exaggeration,” Joint See Main 5 reinforced Bell and BOISE — Despite hearing Finance-Appropriations Cameron’s predictions. The Tuesday that more than Committee Co-chairman R-Jerome, have said Idaho’s stabilization funding would public schools slice of this City manager admits $246 million in stabilization Sen. Dean Cameron, R- portion of the $787 billion offer $166 million for ele- year’s cut of 6 percent is funding for education is Rupert, said. “There’s no federal stimulus won’t save mentary and secondary about $85 million, and high- to ‘procedural error’ coming, state budget writers way they can remain harm- next year’s public schools education and about $36 er education will lose about predicted next year’s schools less.” budget from a cut, likely of million for higher educa- $18 million. About $58 mil- By Ben Botkin budget will still be cut. In the last few weeks, 6 percent or less. tion, analysts said. An addi- lion in reserves has been Times-News writer “The rumors that ... pub- Cameron and Co-chair- Using formulas dictated tional $45 million for public EDUCATION lic schools will somehow be woman Rep. Maxine Bell, by the federal government, safety is included in the act, See , Main 5 At a Twin Falls City Council meeting on Sept. 15, officials were wrapping up what they believed were the final steps IDAHO LEGISLATURE 2009 of a land agreement with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. In the agreement, the city transferred a 1.37-acre parcel near Canyon Ridge High School to the church to build a seminary. In exchange for the land and nearly $259,000 ANOTHER GO AT in cash, the city received the LDS Softball Complex south of Highland Park. The land was then deeded to the “We church in November. don’t DAY CARE REGULATION There’s a hitch, howev- make Latest bill would er. City offi- mistakes require regulations cials failed to like this hold the for facilities with at legally re- often.” quired public — City hearing on least four children the deal, Manager By Jared S. Hopkins which should Tom Times-News writer have been Courtney preceded by a BOISE — Lawmakers try- published legal notice two ing to increase oversight of weeks before the hearing. small day care facilities in City Manager Tom Courtney Idaho hope they’ve answered said the mistake happened all the concerns from oppo- because city officials were nents with their latest effort. looking more at the final goal The bill would require day — obtaining the softball care regulations for facilities facility — than they were at with at least four children the procedure that cities are and, among other things, required to follow. require background checks “Unfortunately, in focusing on employees, set inspection on the result, we lost sight of guidelines and minimum the process and we have a standards for first aid. procedural error that we’re Bipartisan legislation on going to have to correct,” the issue has been rejected Courtney said in an interview for four straight years. Tuesday. “We don’t make This year’s bill, Senate Bill mistakes like this often.” 1112, has a few changes, Courtney said the city rec- which lead sponsor Sen. Tim ognized its error Monday Corder, R-Mountain Home, after the Times-News asked said are enough to earn pas- MEAGAN THOMPSON/Times-News about the process. City attor- sage, beginning with the Sarah Webb, a preschool teacher and day care aid at Agape Childcare Center, reads a book to children Tuesday afternoon at the Twin Falls facility. ney Fritz Wonderlich didn’t Senate Health and Welfare Committee. A hearing is set gency dynamics,” Corder for the department. families,” Corder said. “We ent sentence that gained See LAND SWAP, Main 2 for March 4. said. Licenses would vary in want people to be safe.” sponsors’ consent. But it was Corder said the Inspections would be bid cost based on the number of The bill is expected to inadvertently left out of the Department of Health and out privately and paid for by children at a facility. include an amendment to a original draft. Magicvalley.com Welfare, not individual day care providers. Corder Providers would also com- sentence that prohibits guns A call to the NRA’s Idaho WATCH: An health districts, will serve as said this will provide jobs, plete application forms that from being near children. lobbyist was not returned interview with a one-stop shop for all ques- eliminate any impact on the prospective parents could The National Rifle Tuesday. City Manager tions and organization. “That state’s general fund and not review. Association weighed in on Tom Courtney. takes out a mix of the intera- increase the workload “The goal is to support the issue, suggesting a differ- See DAY CARE, Main 5 Police: Dec. Weighing in Obama address renews WR Valley officials, pedestrian residents comment audacity to hope again By Ron Fournier fatality not on water report Associated Press writer AP news analysis By Nate Poppino WASHINGTON — Times-News writer President Barack Obama “We will rebuild. We will criminal gave America the audacity recover, and the United HAILEY — In what Blaine to hope again. States of America will Times-News County Commission After describing the U.S. emerge stronger than Chairman Larry Schoen economy in the grimmest of before,’’ Obama said, echo- The death of a pedestrian dubbed a sign of the region’s NATE POPPINO/Times-News terms for weeks, pushing ing Franklin Delano struck more than two unified concern about its The Big Wood River curves past homes and a snow-covered walking path his $787 billion stimulus Roosevelt and Ronald months ago by a vehicle in water, Wood River Valley res- on Tuesday north of Hailey. The river both feeds and is fed by an aquifer plan through Congress, the Reagan. Twin Falls on Addison idents filled the commission beneath the Wood River Valley. president used his address “The answers to our Avenue West was not crimi- chambers of the Old Blaine to Congress on Tuesday problems don’t lie beyond nal, according to a press County Courthouse Tuesday Survey detailed its estimates four-phase study of Wood night to tap the deep well of our reach,’’ Obama said. release Monday from the morning for an update on of how much water entered River Valley water commis- American optimism — the “What is required now for Twin Falls Police how their groundwater and left the aquifer over a sioned by cities, the county never-say-die national spirit this country is to pull Department. aquifer behaves. 10-year span, from 1995 to and nonprofit groups. that every president tries to together, confront boldly In a report released last 2004. The document was the capture in words. And great See FATALITY, Main 2 week, the U.S. Geological second piece of a proposed See REPORT 2, Main 2 presidents embody. See OBAMA, Main 2 Comics ............Business 3 Dear Abby ..............Food 8 Obituaries ..............Main 7 OURCE TROOPS OUT OF RAQ BY Commodities ....Business 2 Horoscope ..............Food 8 Opinion ................Main 8-9 S : I 2010 Crossword ..............Food 9 Movies ................Main 10 Sudoku ..................Food 5 Main 6 Main 2 Wednesday, February 25, 2009 TN Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho MORNINGMORNING BRIEFINGBRIEFING TODAY’S HAPPENINGS Pat’s Picks ... Pat Marcantonio ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT “June,” an installation by Wood River Valley Three things to do today Film screening of “Mostly Martha,” directed by artist Pamela DeTuncq, noon to 5 p.m., The Sandra Nettelbeck with film introduction by Rick Center, 314 S. Second Ave., Hailey, no cost, • For inspiration, check out adults and $6 for senior citi- up: 208-539-3093. Kessler of Magic Lantern Theater (part of food sunvalleycenter.org or 726-9491. the College of Southern zens and students. • A free screening of the flicks festival), 6 p.m., The Community Library, New work by Twin Falls sculptor Yvonne Idaho Theater Department’s • Women 16 and older are film, “Mostly Martha,” starts 415 Spruce Ave. N., Ketchum, free admission, Jacques, noon to 5 p.m., Magic Valley Arts presentation of Pulitzer invited to the WINter up at 6 p.m. at The 726-3493. Council’s La Galeria Pequena, 132 Main Ave. Prize-winning playwright Extravaganza Friday and Community Library, 415 Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and novelist S., Main Street Plaza, Twin Falls, free admis- and novelist Ariel Dorfman’s Saturday at the Magic Spruce Ave. N., Ketchum, as Ariel Dorfman’s “Speak Truth to Power: Voices sion, 734-2787 or Magicvalleyartscouncil.org. “Speak Truth to Power: Voices Mountain Ski Resort. part of the food flicks festival. from Beyond the Dark,” presented by College from Beyond the Dark” at 8 Activities include dinner, of Southern Idaho Theater Department, 8 p.m., GOVERNMENT p.m. at CSI’s Fine Arts Center moonlight snowshoe walk, Have your own pick you Theater.