[Morning Briefs] ‘I Lost My Marital Duties in a Skiing Accident’

Does this look like a place where you could lose your "marital duties" in a skiing accident?? Apparently it happens.

After yesterday’s horrible set of briefs, the world decided to calm down a little. While today covers some serious issues, it looks like mostly everybody is going to be OK. Sure, four people went to the hospital after a car ran full-speed into a snow plow, but they were released from the hospital! Sure, Idaho doesn’t have a suicide prevention hot line, but that could change! And sure, a New York couple is filing a weird suit against a Jackson resort, but what are the odds they’ll win? It’s all about the silver lining, people.

• Four people wound up in the hospital after a car ran into a snowplow west of Rexburg on Thursday morning. Maria A. Rodriguez was driving her car north on SH33 just after 10 a.m., while a snowplow, driven by Clark Moon, was also driving north, plowing snow out of the right lane at about 35 mph. Rodriguez was driving too fast for the conditions, said Idaho State Police, and said she couldn’t see the plow through the snow. She didn’t brake at all before hitting the snowplow. Rodriguez and her two passengers, ages 14 and 2, were taken to Madison Memorial Hospital where they were treated and released. Moon was also taken to the hospital where he too was treated and released.

• Idaho is the only state in the U.S. without a suicide hot line, but that could soon change. On Thursday, the state Legislature’s Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee approved $110,000 in spending for a suicide prevention line, as part of the state’s $39.2 million appropriation to the Division of Veterans Services for the coming year. The money would be coupled with private donations and grants, but would initially help set up the 24-hour service. The service is much-needed, as Idaho ended up with the fourth-highest suicide rate in 2009. [TN]

• A New York couple is suing Jackson’s Four Seasons Resort for negligence, after a ski fall and failed rental binding allegedly left the woman unable to perform “marital duties.” Oh boy. The couple, Lawrence and Ann Cohn, filed the suit in 9th District Court on Monday, saying the ski binding didn’t release when the woman fell, leading to a dislocated knee and two broken bones in her leg. But what about those “marital duties?” According to the suit, Lawrence “has been deprived of the services, society, consortium and companionship of his wife.” They are asking the judge for financial damages to be decided at the trial. [JHN]

[Morning Briefs] A Vicious Murder, Beating and Wreck

Kelly Singh, 40, is charged with first degree murder for allegedly killing her 69-year-old mother with a hammer.

A lot of violence today, folks, so sorry in advance. A Nampa woman is accused of killing her mother with a hammer, which is about as horrible as it gets. In Pocatello, a man was attacked by a couple people who allegedly broke into his home. Four more people are in the hospital after a three-car accident north of Jerome. In non-violent news, a controversial online sales tax bill has been officially killed in a state House committee. Well I guess even that one’s a little violent too.

• A Nampa woman has been accused of killing her 69-year-old mother with a hammer Tuesday night. According to Nampa police, Kelly Singh said she was drinking large glasses of wine that night when her mother, Ruth Ann Collins, confronted her about her drinking. Collins told her daughter that they would talk about it in the morning and that Singh, who had lived with her mother since September, would have to leave. Singh got upset and got into Collins’ face, when Collins grabbed her daughter by the arms, said police. Later, after Collins went to sleep, Singh allegedly grabbed a hammer from her mother’s closet and repeatedly hit her in the head “because that was the only thing showing” above the covers, she said in an affidavit. Police have charged Singh with first-degree murder, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison or the death penalty. [IDS]

• A Pocatello man is in the hospital after a break-in and attack Wednesday afternoon. Police said they responded to 855 1/2 North Garfield Avenue just after 2 p.m. They were responding to a call from the victim in which he said he was attacked with a knife, before hanging up the phone. According to the victim, an unknown number of suspects entered the home and actually attacked him with a blunt instrument. He was immediately taken to the Portneuf Medical Center for severe blunt trauma injuries. Police have been able to identify possible suspects, but nobody has been arrested yet. Apparently the victim has been answering questions with conflicting information. [LN8]

• A four-vehicle crash north of Jerome on Wednesday morning has left three people injured. The accident was triggered by Rodney Gilly, 53, who was driving a semi down U.S. 93, too fast for the weather conditions, said Idaho State Police. A pickup truck driven and BMW in front of the semi had already slowed for traffic, but the semi couldn’t stop in time, hitting the pickup, which spun, somehow colliding with the semi again, said police. Linda Payne, a passenger in the BMW, was airlifted to the St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Boise with serious injuries. The driver of that car, Oliver Payne, was taken to St. Luke’s Magic Valley, along with Preston Buckley, the driver of the pickup, and his passenger, Danny Scholl.

• Idaho lawmakers have officially dropped the Streamlined Sales Tax bill, which would have established a system to collect the state’s six percent sales tax on Internet and other remote purchases Idahoans make. The House Revenue and Taxation Committee officially killed the bill with a 9-9 vote (a tie is a loss), which has been debated and refined for the last five years. Proponents hoped the bill would level the playing field for small businesses, who lose revenue to customers who simply buy their products online. Wayne Hoffman, of the Idaho Freedom Foundation, was the only person to testify against the legislation, arguing that taxing physical sales makes sense because customers get government services, like roads and police, along the way. The same is not true online, he said. [TN]

[Morning Briefs] Disappointment All Around

Sen. Jeff Siddoway (left) had to give up his wolf bill. Jaquan Ramsey (right) had to put down a knife and go to jail.

A lot of people are disappointed today, for so many reasons! In Pocatello, some citizens aren’t happy about the South Valley Connector, which is moving forward with or without their approval. Across town, Jaquan Ramsey isn’t too happy about going to jail for domestic battery. Disappointment stretches over to Boise, where Sen. Jeff Siddoway had to give up his precious wolf hunting bill. And nationally, Romney-haters aren’t really pleased with his big wins last night. So sad, everybody.

• People packed the Pocatello City Hall last night to look at the final design for the South Valley Connector. The connector will run from Bannock Highway to South Fifth Avenue, and will include two driving lanes, a 10-foot bike and walk lane, and a two-lane train bridge. While people came out to speak about the project’s environmental impact, overall cost and placement, officials said after 16 years of working on the connector, there’s no looking back now. [LN8]

• Idaho Sen. Jeff Siddoway made waves this year by proposing a state bill that would allow hunting wolves from ultralight aircraft and the use of live bait. Now, he has announced he is giving the bill up, admitting that it would threaten to return wolves to the Endangered Species Act. Siddoway fought back tears as he asked the Senate to send the bill back to the Natural Resources and Evironment Committee, where it will stay. Siddoway is a fourth-generation sheep rancher, and has lost a lot of sheep since the reintroduction of wolves in the 1990s. He did not say whether or not he will introduce a different bill. [IDS]

• A Pocatello man was arrested for domestic battery and cited for false imprisonment Tuesday morning. Police came to a home on South Johnson Avenue for a report of a domestic disturbance, where the male supposedly had a knife. When they showed up, that man, Jaquan Ramsey, threatened himself with the knife. Police charged Ramsey after an investigation of the incident.

• Mitt Romney leaped back into frontrunner status last night after winning the Michigan and Arizona Republican primaries. Romney earned 47.3 percent of the vote in Arizona, with Santorum coming in second with 26.6 percent. In Michigan, Romney’s win was tighter, defeating Santorum with 41.1 percent to 37.9 percent. Newt Gingrich came in third in Arizona, while the honor went to Ron Paul in Michigan.

[Morning Briefs] A Shooting, A Fire and Another Areva Suspension

This incredibly boring picture is a mock-up of the Eagle Rock Enrichment Plant, which Areva has suspended indefinitely in Idaho Falls.

Areva has further suspended their enrichment plant in Idaho Falls! That’s some bad news, but let’s get to the REAL bad news. Pocatello Police were busy this morning, responding to a shooting in Old Town and a house fire. A victim from each incident is now at PMC, suffering from a gunshot wound to the chest and smoke inhalation, respectively. Meanwhile, Wyoming has some political drama on its hands as lawmakers look to approve a bill that mandates drug testing for people looking to get on welfare. Sorry, folks, t’s crazy out there!

• Pocatello police are interviewing a suspect in an early morning shooting in Old Town that landed a man in the intensive care unit. At about 3:30 a.m., officers responded to 1010 North Arthur Ave after a man had been shot in the chest. He said a suspect, who he identified, shot him from a car near the 400 block of West Custer Street. Police found the suspect’s car on City Creek Road, then took the suspect into custody. The investigation is still ongoing, and more details will be released later this afternoon.

• Earlier in the morning, Pocatello police and firefighters rushed to the 300 block of Warren Avenue for a house fire that sent one woman to the hospital. The 68-year-old woman had been smoking while on oxygen when the oxygen machine caught fire. Her son found her in the house and moved her outside to safety. The woman was transported to the Portneuf Medical Center for smoke inhalation.

• Areva, the French energy corporation, has “indefinitely” suspended the construction on their Idaho Falls enrichment plant, throwing their future in the region into even further doubt. Back in December, the company suspended work on the Eagle Rock Enrichment Facility, but now that suspension has been pegged with the word “indefinite,” meaning there’s no sign when the $3 billion plant might get off the ground. The suspension is part of a company-wide refinancing effort after Areva lost about $2.65 billion in the Fukushima nuclear disaster in Japan last year. [LN8]

• Wyoming is one step closer to passing a bill that would make some welfare recipients undergo drug testing. The measure would target individuals to pay for and take a drug test when they apply for the state’s “POWER” program. According to the Department of Family Services, the program distributes an average of $500 per month to 338 people. Some, however, take issue with the proposed bill, arguing that it amounts to unreasonable search and seizure—which goes against peoples’ Fourth Amendment right. The bill passed the Wyoming House 37-23 Monday, so it now goes to the Senate. [LN8]

[Morning Briefs] Four Injured in Ohio School Shooting

Students line up outside Chardon High School in Ohio after an early morning shooting left four injured. (Photo by Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer)

Today would have been a normal Monday morning, full of news about that new bike bill, Mitt Romney’s son and the Oscars, but a school shooting in Ohio changed that. Four were injured in an early-morning shooting in the cafeteria of the school, and the suspect is in custody. While it doesn’t sound like it’s as bad as it could, it’s obviously always harrowing when guns get into schools. Get ready for debate about school safety and gun control—just in time for the presidential election.

• A high school shooting in Chardon, Ohio this morning has left four injured. As students filed into Chardon High School at the beginning of the day, the suspect, a youth who is in custody, opened fire in the school’s cafeteria, injuring three boys and one girl. According to authorities, the suspect fled the school with everybody else, but was caught on a road near the school. According to a parent of a witness, the male suspect “stood up and started shooting, and then it was chaos.” UPDATE: The number shot is up to five. [CPD]

• A bill that would help protect bicyclists is working its way through the Idaho legislature and stands a decent chance at becoming law. The bill would require cars to drive at least three feet away from cyclists, as well as joggers, people on horses and people in wheelchairs. For their part, bike riders would have to ride as close to the right side of the road as possible, ride single file and pull over if they’re holding up three or more cars. The bill has made it out of the House State Affairs Committee, albeit by a slim 9-8 vote, and it will now go to the House Transportation Committee before it gets printed and goes to the House itself. [LN8]

• Josh Romney, Mitt Romney’s son, will be in Pocatello today to campaign for his father’s presidential nomination bid. Romney will be at the Red Lion Hotel at 11:30 this morning to try to convince Idaho voters to vote for his father over challengers Rick Santorum, Ron Paul and Newt Gingrich in the upcoming Super Tuesday primary. Romney will then head to Burley for a stop at the Fairfield Marriott at 2:45 p.m. and Twin Falls at the Red Lion hotel at 5:25 p.m. [ISJ]

• “The Artist” and “Hugo” won big at last night’s Acadamy Awards, taking home a cool five Oscars each. It was “The Artist,” however, that won the big awards, with wins for Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Director. Meanwhile, Meryl Streep won her third Oscar for her performance as Margaret Thatcher in “The Iron Lady.” It was Streep’s first Oscar since her 1983 Best Actress win for “Sophie’s Choice,” but her nomination this year was her 17th, more than any actor in film history.

[Morning Briefs] Canal Companies and a Baby Boom

A newborn baby sleeps after being born in the midst of a massive storm, one that might have caused its preemptive birth. (Screengrab via Local News 8)

There’s more fallout from Wednesday’s storm, and it’s kind of a mixed bag. On one hand, the state legislature just happens to be debating a bill that would release canal companies from being liable to flood damage. Yikes. On the other hand, a bunch of babies were born (maybe) because of the storm! Nice!

• Remember how the canals in Ammon flooded Wednesday night, causing hundreds of thousands of dollars in water damage and breaking the spirits of residents? Well the very next day the state Senate discussed a bill that would free the owners of such canals from any liability, should they flood. The timing really couldn’t be any worse, but it’s not like this bill is brand new. It passed the House on Wednesday, before the major flooding even happened, so it was probably meant to pass both chambers before flood season really started. The bill wouldn’t make those companies liable for “acts of God,” and since Wednesday’s flooding was caused by snowmelt, they would be exempt. Local News 8 talked to a woman who said “To have that thrown in your face when you’re going through a really tough time, is pretty disheartening.” Ouch. [LN8]

• Believe it or not there was good news for some families during Wednesday’s crazy weather. Portneuf Medical Center saw 15 births Wednesday, far higher than their usual eight to 10, with more on the way. Nurses at the hospital nonchalantly suggested the births might even actually have been the result of the weather. Apparently falling barometric pressure has a statistically significant correlation with the onset of labor. This is a normal thing! While some babies were scheduled to be birthed that day, others came weeks early, as a complete surprise. [LN8]

• The Snake River Junior High School principal charged with three felony counts of sexual abuse of a minor resigned yesterday, much to nobody’s surprise. Christopher Cox is facing some pretty rough charges, and whether he is guilty or not, he probably shouldn’t continue working at the school, especially while this investigation is going on. Cox, who had been principal for four years, is free from jail for now, but is barred from contacting the alleged victim, the victim’s family, or any minors except his own children. [KPVI]

• Maryland is poised to become the eighth state to legalize gay marriage, after the state Senate approved the measure 25-22 Thursday. The same sex marriage bill now goes to the desk of Gov. Martin O’Malley, who sponsored the legislation and has promised to sign it into law. As usual, opponents will have time to gather votes for a referendum. They will need to gather 55,736 votes by June 30. Otherwise, the law will go into effect on Jan. 1. [BS]

[Morning Briefs] Weather Wreaks Havoc on Southeast Idaho

A semi truck lies on its side after strong gusts of wind blew it over on I-15 yesterday afternoon. (Photo by KPVI)

Sorry to just gab about the weather here, but wasn’t the weather nuts yesterday? Homes actually flooded! People lost power! A semi blew over on the highway! In other crazy news, Idaho Sen. John McGee is calling it quits after new sexual harassment allegations. This after the DUI/grand theft from the summer. In your sad news of the day, the Pocatello Gateway Station post office will officially close in about a year. But that weather! Geez!

• It’s not quite the winter wonderland Idahoans love this time of year. Aside from a few flurries of snow last night, southeast Idaho was hit with flash floods that gushed into the basements of several homes. In Ammon, waters from the nearby canal flooded into a neighborhood, flowing into basements as firefighters fought to stop the onslaught. Down river, volunteers and more firefighters filled sandbags to try to prevent further flooding from the canal. In Ririe, flood waters flooded a nearly-remodeled basement of a home, destroying all progress (ouch). The high winds and warm temperatures caused snow to melt in higher elevations and trigger the flood. [LN8, LN8, LN8]

• Flooding wasn’t all the damage done by Wednesday’s weather. High winds also knocked out power to customers in Pocatello, Chubbuck and Blackfoot. About 1,427 customers in Pocatello/Chubbuck alone were without power last night. The affected area ran from East Chubbuck Road to Pocatello Creek Road, as well as Ada and Fairway Roads. In Blackfoot about 100 people lost power, from 20 West to 95 West and 400 North to 600, as well as East Riverside Road. Idaho Power is working to slowly bring that power back to customers. [KPVI]

• Pocatello’s Gateway Station post office will officially close within a year to a year and a half. The announcement came yesterday, on the heels of news that the Chubbuck post office will also be closing. While the U.S. Postal Service is contractually obligated to place all workers who lose jobs in the nation-wide downsizing, Elaine Hunt, steward for the American Postal Workers Union, said she isn’t confident that will happen in Pocatello. The Postal Service will release a press release on the matter this morning. [ISJ]

• New allegations of sexual harassment against Idaho Sen. John McGee have led to his resignation from the state legislature. He is accused of sexually harassing a senate staffer, although details have not been released. McGee is no stranger to run-ins with the law. In June 2011, he was charged with grand theft and driving under the influence for stealing a truck after a day of drinking at a golf tournament. He pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor DUI back in July. He has also come under fire for accepting about $6,000 in annual money meant to defray costs of legislators’ needing to stay in Boise during session, despite the fact that he only lives 30 minutes from the capitol.  With the new allegations he’s just going to call it quits. [TN]

[Morning Briefs] Guns, Scams and Graduation

Pocatello High School is one of District 25's high schools that has helped the district see a 10 percent increase in graduation rate over the last five years. (Jamie Hale/The Bannock Alternative)

If you like openly carrying weapons in Utah, but are constantly concerned about being cited with disorderly conduct for doing so, worry no more! The Utah House has your back, don’t worry. What you SHOULD be worrying about is the newest phone scam to hit Idaho, these scammers have some new tricks up their sleeves. Meanwhile, District 25 has learned some new tricks, and they appear to be doing some good in high schools! Doesn’t that just make you feel good?

• The graduation rate in the Pocatello-Chubbuck School District has seen a decent rise in the last five years, from 86 percent to 96 percent. That’s not too shabby. District 25 officials are attributing the jump to several initiatives, like Plato, their ISAT graduation alternative. Plato gives a second chance to kids who don’t pass the ISAT, which is required to graduate. If they can’t pass the test a second time, even after taking a remedial course in their trouble subjects, they can go into Plato, where they take a series of online classes in math, reading or language. Once they get to a level of mastery comparable with the ISAT, they can graduate. About 50 to 60 students go through Plato each year. Now they’re looking to get that final four percent to round out the graduation rate to a cool 100. [LN8]

• The Idaho attorney general is warning of another new scam, this one related to the multi-state mortgage service settlement. Scam callers are pretending to have lists of people eligible for Idaho’s $114 million from the settlement, and ask victims for bank account information and credit card numbers. However, that’s just not how that settlement works. According to Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, the money goes to the state legislature where it will be spent at their discretion. The rest, about $100 million, he said, will be used to assist people who have been improperly foreclosed upon, or who are trying to refinance. [LN8]

• The Utah House passed a bill yesterday that would strip local municipalities of the ability to cite people with disorderly conduct for carrying a weapon in the open in public. Passed 50-21, the measure is meant to stop local laws from trumping state laws on the issue. In April, a man arrested at the University Mall in Orem was found guilty of disorderly conduct for carrying a semi-automatic weapon on him, along with a visible, holstered pistol. [SLT]

[Morning Briefs] Tanning Ban Bill a Yes! Contraceptive Ban Bill a Maybe!

If this person is under 18, they might not be able to get that sweet, crispy tan in Idaho soon. Oil up while you can, kids!

While a lot of you spent Presidents’ Day Washington’s Birthday enjoying a day off, many in the state were hard at work! The Bannock County coroner has released the autopsy results of shooting victim Paul Danielson, the state House Health and Welfare Committee voted on two bills, and Idaho Falls police were involved in a standoff. Oh and also somebody burglarized the Blue Heeler! Come on, burglar(s), is that really what Washington would have wanted?

• The Bannock County coroner released the autopsy results of Paul Danielson, the Swan Lake man who as allegedly shot by his 12-year-old son Friday night. The results simply show that Danielson was killed by a small caliber gunshot wound to the head. That doesn’t tell us much about what might have happened, or whether or not the 12-year-old boy could have been involved, but more details should hopefully shed some light on the crime.

• An Idaho Falls man was arrested following a three-hour armed standoff at an apartment building last night. According to police, officers initially went to the building to serve Timothy Murphy an unspecified Idaho Department of Correction warrant at about 9 p.m. Murphy then allegedly holed up in his apartment with his wife, child and a shotgun. Police evacuated the 8-apartment building and negotiated with Murphy over the phone. At about 12:26 a.m. Murphy surrendered and was taken to Bonneville County Jail, where he probably would have gone with fewer charges three hours earlier. [LN8]

• The Idaho House Health and Welfare Comittee passed the controversial bill that would ban minors from using tanning beds in the state. Proponents of the bill argue that tanning booths lead to skin cancer, and should be kept out of the hands of kids under 18. Opponents argue that the issue should be the decision of parents, not the state. Regardless, the bill will now go to the state House and Senate, where everybody will undoubtedly make the same points and argue this to the end of the earth. [TN]

• Hard at work on a holiday, the Idaho Health and Welfare Committee also voted 7-3 to hold another controversial bill, this one mimicking the national birth control debate. HB 530 would allow Idaho insurance carriers and employers to restrict coverage for contraception, sterilization or abortion-inducing drugs. The emotional hearing yesterday was standing room only, as people flooded in with stories about the medical use of birth control drugs for things like acne and painful periods. The committee will hold the bill to specify language about what kinds of drugs would be able to be banned. [BW]

• The Blue Heeler bar in Pocatello was burglarized last night, with thieves forcing open and damaging several coin operated machines. Those bastards.

[Morning Briefs] Apparently Only One President Matters Today

While everybody might be holding Presidents' Day sales, the official day is actually Washington's Birthday. Ok, ok, but do we really care?

It’s Presidents’ Day! Or IS it? Technically, no, but that doesn’t matter. Over the weekend there was some tragic news. Mystery surrounds a shooting death in which a 12-year-old is suspected and mystery surrounds a snowmobile accident that left another man dead. Meanwhile, some Idahoans are driving to Oregon to get medicinal marijuana cards, but it really isn’t much of a trend, so let’s not get freaked out about it, ok?

• A shooting near Swan Lake left one man dead and lead to the arrest of his 12-year-old son. Paul Danielson, 46, was shot and killed at 11 p.m. Friday night, but contrary to rumors of a killer on the loose, police arrested his son during an interview. Other details, ones that might help clear this whole mess up, are still under wraps as police figure this thing out. Meanwhile, the Swan Lake community is naturally getting pretty worked up over this. [LN8]

• A Soda Springs man is dead after snowmobiling in Caribou county on Saturday. The Cairbou County Sheriff’s Office isn’t releasing any details yet, but said it was an accident that happened sometime on Saturday afternoon. Caribou County and Bear Lake Sheriff’s deputies and rescue crews were dispatched from the Trail Canyon warming hut near the Targhee National Forest, and found the man in the Big Basin area. Deputies went back to the area Sunday to investigate the death, but said they still don’t know what exactly happened. [LN8]

• Some Idahoans are obtaining Oregon medical marijuana cards in what isn’t anything close to an epidemic and not even quite a trend. But still! People are kind of concerned about this! According to the Oregonian, 138 Idahoans applied for Oregon licenses, ranking our state second just behind Washington. People can’t legally carry marijuana in Idaho with the card (as we learned last week), but the holders can still legally smoke weed in Oregon. So to actually take advantage of the card, Idahoans have to travel to Oregon annually, buy marijuana there, and smoke it all before they come home. [TN]

• Today is Presidents’ Day? Right? Not according to actual U.S. law. Officially today is Washington’s Birthday, Presidents’ Day is just a holiday used by stores to sell things. While George Washington’s actual birthday is Feb. 22, the holiday was moved in the late ’60s in the Uniform Monday Holiday Act. While early drafts proposed calling the day Presidents’ Day, to honor all presidents, it was eventually dropped so as not to dishonor Washington. Regardless, some localities still hold Presidents’ Day festivities and stores all hold their Presidents’ Day sales. But in the end, most people are just happy with a day off. [CSM]