Statesman fire series cont.

Statesman reporters Druzin and Barker continue to make a case for letting more fires burn. It’s a strong series on fire… Maybe Sunday will bring some answers: What’s the hold up in Congress on fire fighting policy? Today: how much it costs to fight fires (a ton) vs. how much benefit (little). “Suppression spending has jumped by a factor of more than six in just a decade, while community assistance spending has dropped by a third since 2001.” Libertarian enviro guy: “They’re definitely going in the wrong direction by providing more funds for suppression.” Statesman.

Agassi and Graf dump ‘rack hotel

Tennis stars bail on major hotel anchor for troubled Tamarack resort. Tennis duo partner Joel Goldman: “Based on the pending litigation and current market conditions, we are not at this time proceeding with the project.” Fairmont Hotel allegedly still interested, but without tennis couple luster. Ken Ryder, Tamarack spokesman, still optimistic. Miller, AP in the Press-Tribune.

T.F. developers skewed

Times-News report sends developers, consultants, city counselors scrambling. Sunday Jared Hopkins story revealed that a four-block downtown revitalization project planned to ask for $10 million in public funds to help developers. Tuesday story revealed the concomitant squirming of public officials who backed away from a consulting contract citing “unbalanced reporting” without giving examples. Hopkins, Times-News.

Fire policy not so wise

“More provocatively, the research suggests that fighting fires on public lands to protect homes is ineffective and, in the long run, counter-productive. It is also far more expensive.” $1.86 billion spent on fire suppression last year. Warren wants government to cut around its houses. Lebanon, Ore. does it on its own. That’s firewise. Druzin and Barker cut through the ash in the Statesman.

Minimum wage up Thursday

Federal minimum wage hikes go into effect Thursday, giving Idaho’s working poor a piece of bootstrap. 70 cent/hour raises go to about 42,000 Idaho workers, costing employers some $24 million per year. (Not sure exactly how that pencils out though… any accountants out there… We got more like $61 million.) Washington and Oregon minimum wages are about $1.50 more. Next year, federal minimum wage jumps to $7.25. Russell in the Spokesman.

Semanko and Willie Horton

New Idaho GOP chairman Norm Semanko got the dirt on Willie Horton. Semanko worked for the RNC in 1988 in Washington, helping out with the Bush campaign and researching it’s black poster criminal, Horton. Also, Semanko on party unity, Semanko on citizenship (his wife’s) and Batt on Semanko: “I haven’t seen as much vigor within the Democrat party for a long time.” Russell in the Spokesman. Semanko disagrees with Batt on the vigor: Q&A in the BW.

Areva spill in France fuels worries

Areva enrichment plant in France spilled 7,925 gallons of unenriched uranium into two rivers this month. The same Areva that is planning to build a plant near Idaho Falls. Company says it’s a totally different situation: Areva-Idaho will not do reconversion of H6, only enrichment. Snake River Alliance not so sure: “These sorts of wastes have a half-life of hundreds-of-thousands of years, and Idaho really needs to be thoughtful as it thinks about the kind of economic and energy development we want to bring into this state.” Zach Hagadone at IBR.

UPDATE: French government calling for tests on water table. Lisa Bryant, VOA. Second Areva leak revealed: Forbes and IHT.

CDA hears gov’s road pitch

CDA instance of Gov. Otter roadshow: “More than 2,200 miles of pavement and 343 bridges have been deemed insufficient by the ITD.” Suggesting fuel tax hike of a penny, maybe, or registration hike of $10 to get at $240 million shortfall. Ryan Shelton, CDA Press. Otter and ITD are taking their show across Idaho, except not exactly in Boise.

Obama: Boise is my hopetown USA

Obama told the guy from Boise that works for him that Boise was basically the place that gave him the whole hope thing. Jim Messina, Obama staffer and BHS grad, told Larry LaRocco on the radio that Obama told him that the Boise crowd was when he knew “something was happening out there.” Kuraitis, on NewWest.net.

Warden: Idaho has 4th fastest growing prison system

On eve of contracting out prison beds from a soon-to-be-built private Power County lockup, IDOC warden says Idaho has 4th fastest growing criminal justice system in the nation. IDOC’s Randy Blades: “One in 34 Idaho males are in prison, on probation, or on parole. We’re expecting 5,000 more inmates in the next 10 years.” County wants to house 250 prisoners for the state. Save 50 beds for local drunks, etc. Power County Press.