Latest news with #IdahoStatesman
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Park ranger captures breathtaking moment with elusive animal while on patrol — here's why experts say it's a good sign
A park ranger in Thailand encountered a majestic black panther calmly strolling through the Kaeng Krachan National Park one morning in May, the Idaho Statesman reported. The photos, shared on a Facebook post by Thailand's Department of National Parks, show multiple angles of a gallant black panther exploring the roads of the national park. Primarily nocturnal animals, black panthers — a collective term for a rare group of black leopards or jaguars, and occasionally pumas, with their distinct black coats — are active hunters at night. Their jet-black fur allows the animals to blend in with the night's surroundings. Black panthers typically sleep during the day, making this daytime encounter quite out of the ordinary, though not concerning. Park officials read this chance encounter as a positive sign. Judging by the animal's calm body language and its appearance in broad daylight, the park officials believed the black panther felt extremely comfortable on the land within the National Park, "[comfortable] enough to venture out when it won't be hidden," park officials said, per the Idaho Statesman. As an apex predator, or a larger predator at the top of the food chain, black panthers help keep the local ecosystem balanced, feeding on herbivores such as deer or wild boar that graze on the land. Controlling the population of such prey protects the vegetation from being overgrazed, allowing it to continue supporting local wildlife in the ecosystem, protecting the area's biodiversity. Though the park ranger's sighting of the black panther that morning is encouraging, black panthers are rare, with common leopards and jaguars earning vulnerable and near-threatened statuses due to declining populations. Trail cameras are powerful tools that can help with conservation efforts. They help to gauge the population health of endangered species while being minimally invasive in the environment. They can also monitor rehabilitation efforts in local ecosystems, helping more wildlife species to survive, such as pollinators, which protect the human food supply. Comments under the Department of National Parks' Facebook post were in the local language. The translation of one comment read: "Thank you for protecting the natural resources and wild animals to become the heritage of Thailand." The translation of another Facebook user's comment simply said, "very beautiful." Do you think America does a good job of protecting its natural beauty? Definitely Only in some areas No way I'm not sure Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Unusual flurry' of earthquakes shakes near Idaho mountain town
More than a dozen earthquakes have rattled Central Idaho since Sunday morning in an 'unusual flurry' of activity, according to Idaho state geologist Claudio Berti. Berti, who is the director of the Idaho Geological Survey, told the Idaho Statesman that researchers have been keeping a close eye on the seismic activity, which originated from the Basin Butte area north of Stanley. The geologist noted the earthquakes are not coming from the same area as the magnitude-6.5 earthquake that occurred nearby in 2020 and shook much of the state. That quake, which originated near the Cape Horn Mountain in the Boise National Forest, was the second-largest in recorded history and was felt by many Boise residents. Berti said the previous seismic activity likely made it possible for the U.S. Geological Survey to detect the recent tremors, which have ranged in magnitude from 2.5 to 3.2. Geologists installed earthquake monitoring tools in Central Idaho after the 2020 earthquake, he told the Statesman. Though small, Berti said the earthquakes are likely strong enough to be felt by people in Central Idaho, particularly if they're indoors. Idaho is one of the most seismically active states in the country, and Central Idaho has gained prominence in recent years as a particularly active area. Berti said numerous faults are in the area, and there's still a lot of research to be done. Clusters of earthquakes like the ones currently happening have helped teach researchers what's going on below the earth's surface, he said. 'When we get one single (earthquake) event somewhere in the middle of nowhere, it is hard to make any sense of it,' he said. 'As we see a number of those earthquakes that come one after another, concentrated or focused in some specific region, the alignment of those individual earthquakes, we say, illuminate a fault plane.' The clusters of earthquakes can't tell experts what will come next. Berti said there are diverging schools of thought on whether increased seismic activity predicts a larger upcoming earthquake or makes one less likely as energy is released in the smaller quakes. Regardless, Berti said, it's a good reminder of Idaho's earthquake risk. He encouraged people to be prepared for potential hazards by being aware of earthquake safety procedures.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
‘Betrayed': A Trump-backing Idaho sheriff tears into the feds' ‘sanctuary' list
On Thursday, President Donald Trump's Department of Homeland Security released a list of jurisdictions it said defied federal immigration law, including Boise. On Saturday, Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue criticized the list. Now, the department has removed the list from its web site. Was Donahue, a Republican who supports Trump, coming to the defense of Boise Mayor Lauren McLean, a Democrat who opposes him? He's not saying. A county spokesperson said Monday that Donahue was tied up with meetings related to the list and was unavailable for comment. But he is coming to the defense of fellow sheriffs around the country. Donahue is president of the National Sheriff's Association, and it's under that banner that he spoke out. It's unclear why Boise was included on the list, since sanctuary cities are banned in Idaho. Donahue issued a statement Saturday saying the department sought no input for its listing, provided no indication of the criteria used for making the list, and offered no way to object to it. 'The completion and publication of this list has not only violated the core principles of trust, cooperation, and partnership with fellow law enforcement, but it also has the potential to strain the relationship between Sheriffs and the White House administration,' Donahue said. 'The Sheriffs of this country feel betrayed.' Donahue said members of the National Sheriffs' Association and the Department of Homeland Security met on Saturday to talk about the list. However, no political appointees 'could explain who compiled, proofed and verified the list,' he said. In an emailed statement on Friday, a department spokesperson told the Idaho Statesman that the list was based on several factors, including places calling themselves sanctuary cities, legal protections for undocumented immigrants and restrictions on immigration sharing. The list can be changed at any time, the spokesperson said. There is no clear definition of 'sanctuary city,' local lawyers told the Idaho Statesman. Sanctuary cities grew in popularity before President Donald Trump's first term and colloquially refer to areas where officials limit cooperation with Immigration and Customs Enforcement. For example, some 'sanctuary' cities don't comply with immigration detainers, which are requests from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for jails to notify agents of a person's release from jail or hold someone for agents to come get them. Boise doesn't have a jail, nor does it have jurisdiction over Ada County's. McLean said Friday that she was waiting to hear from the department why Boise made the list — the only jurisdiction in Idaho that did. On Saturday, at a local Pride event, McLean told the Statesman that Boise was not a sanctuary city, and 'we're not in charge of the jails.' Idaho lawyers and an immigrant advocate told the Statesman that Boise does not appear to be violating federal immigration laws. 'I was very confused when I saw Boise was on the list. They do work with ICE,' said Estefanía Mondragón, executive director of PODER of Idaho, a local group dedicated to immigrant and Latino communities. 'If anything, PODER thinks that Boise can do more for undocumented immigrants.' The term 'sanctuary' may even be a bit of a misnomer: Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials can do immigration enforcement anywhere in the country, according to Geoffrey Heeren, a University of Idaho law professor. Idaho may have banned sanctuary cities, but neighboring states have embraced them. In Washington State, the Keep Washington Working Act instructs law enforcement to not honor immigration detainers. 'This issue has become really politicized,' Heeren said. 'The reality is that under federal law, there's a spectrum in terms of the allowable involvement of state and local governments.' Trump administration just listed Boise as an immigrant 'sanctuary.' But is it? These immigrants in Idaho fled violence. Now they face a harsh reality
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Homeowners scramble as insurers quietly pull out of wildfire-prone areas: 'It is a problem for everybody'
Homeowners in Idaho are scrambling to find affordable insurance after many companies have reduced or stopped coverage in the state. As the Idaho Statesman reported, wildfires in Idaho have increased in size and severity in recent years because of rising global temperatures. While some homeowners have adapted by adding fireproof features to their homes and removing plants that are susceptible to burning, some insurance companies feel it's too risky to continue operating. Insurers told Dean Cameron, the director of the state's Department of Insurance, that Idaho is "just one firestorm away from this taking out, wiping out a whole community." Because of this, several insurance companies have stopped writing new policies, limited coverage to properties that aren't in fire-prone areas, and increased premiums to offset potential losses. This year, 25 of Idaho's 91 property insurance companies discontinued some or all coverage because of wildfire risks. Any remaining coverage has gone up substantially, with insurance premiums rising by 46% from 2021 to 2023 in the state, according to a report by insurance agency Policygenius. "There is a general belief that this is just a rich-people-that-live-in-wildland-interface problem." "That's not the case," Cameron told the Idaho Statesman. "It is a problem for everybody." Higher insurance premiums affect current and future homeowners; if costs go up too much, people may struggle to pay other bills or even be forced to obtain coverage through state-run programs that are meant to be a last resort, since they typically only provide basic protection. For prospective homebuyers, limited availability of insurance can make it difficult to buy a home, since lenders require proof of insurance before approving loans. The insurance industry is experiencing volatility across the United States, with numerous companies having to raise prices to offset damages from increasingly frequent storms. Burning dirty fuels such as oil and gas has put more heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere, leading to higher temperatures, the perfect conditions for extreme weather. Do you think your house could withstand a hurricane? No way Maybe a weak one I'm not sure It definitely could Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. States such as Florida, Texas, Louisiana, and California are among the most vulnerable to natural disasters, and therefore, a chaotic and unstable insurance market. But even in the Upper Midwest, which isn't normally associated with severe weather events, home insurance premiums have risen by nearly 40% over the past seven years. The shifting climate doesn't discriminate, and unfortunately, that means millions of people are dealing with skyrocketing insurance costs. Luckily, the Statesman reported that Idaho is "better positioned" than other Western states to handle the insurance crisis. While the Department of Insurance understands companies still need to make a profit, it's hosted public demonstrations to show homeowners how to make their properties fire-resistant to lower the risks of extensive damage or loss. These "home hardening" initiatives, which include removing flammable vegetation and installing fire-resistant materials, have helped many homeowners keep their insurance, as a YouTube video uploaded by KTVB detailed. Earlier this year, Cameron pushed for a measure to assist homeowners with funds to upgrade their properties and protect them from wildfires, but it did not pass. If you want to make your home fire-resistant without spending too much, you can always use a fire-retardant paint on your home's exterior and fire-retardant fabric spray on upholstery that will at least make fabrics harder to ignite, as Life Hacker recommended. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Six news stories that defined the inclusive classroom sign debate in Idaho
Stories by Idaho Statesman journalists, with AI summarization The debate over inclusive classroom signage in Idaho reached a flashpoint when West Ada School District ordered a teacher to remove her 'Everyone is welcome here' sign, featuring hands of different skin tones. This decision ignited protest rallies at the Idaho Capitol and brought vocal feedback from parents, teachers, and students at school board meetings. While the district stuck to claims that the signs violated rules on 'content-neutral' displays, public support was displayed for the teacher, with local events like 'Chalk the Walk' and T-shirt campaigns spreading the inclusive message. In May, West Ada took action on its policy, and the teacher took an action of her own. 'American dreams the way we planned them,' sang one participant, in a 'Wicked' reference. | Published March 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Carolyn Komatsoulis The controversial policy was intended to 'remove distractions, or perceived distractions, from the classroom,' a district spokesperson said. | Published March 18, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rose Evans The district has so far stood firm that the sign in a Meridian teacher's classroom violated policy requiring displays be 'content neutral.' | Published April 3, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rose Evans Dozens of parents, teachers, and students spoke at the meeting Monday. Finally, the elected board members did, too. | Published April 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rose Evans One school trustee asks: Could teachers still wear T-shirts similar to the sign in a teacher's classroom with multicolored hands and the message 'Everyone is welcome here'? | Published May 14, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rose Evans 'I don't understand why we can say we embrace diversity but not show what we mean,' the teacher said. | Published May 15, 2025 | Read Full Story by Rose Evans The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.
