Latest news with #KTVB
Yahoo
5 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Authorities make difficult decision after observing concerning grizzly bear behavior: 'In the interest of human safety'
Authorities make difficult decision after observing concerning grizzly bear behavior: 'In the interest of human safety' As more people settle near wildlife habitats, encounters between humans and animals are becoming harder to avoid — and sometimes, they end in difficult decisions. Last month, Idaho wildlife officials euthanized a grizzly bear after it showed an alarming shift in behavior, repeatedly seeking out human food in a residential neighborhood. According to KTVB, officials said the bear's growing comfort around people and its persistence in finding garbage posed a serious safety risk. What's happening? The bear appeared in the Pinehaven area of Island Park. It was captured on doorbell cameras rummaging through trash, pressing against buildings, and breaking into vehicles to find food. Idaho Fish and Game, working with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, determined the bear had become too accustomed to human-related food and had lost its natural wariness of people. "Due to the bear's consistent seeking of unnatural food and habituation to residential areas, it was captured and euthanized in the interest of human safety," Idaho Fish and Game stated, per KTVB. Why is this incident important? When wild animals associate neighborhoods with food, the risks escalate quickly. Bears that lose their fear of people often return to populated areas, increasing the chance of dangerous encounters. Officials warn that these conflicts don't just put wildlife at risk but also create safety concerns for neighborhoods. Bears repeatedly entering residential areas increase the chances of dangerous encounters and can strain local resources, including law enforcement and wildlife management. While conservation efforts often focus on protecting ecosystems, managing attractants like garbage, pet food, and fruit trees is just as much about protecting people. Preventing these conflicts reduces the need for lethal actions and helps communities coexist more safely with nearby wildlife. What's being done about incidents like this? Wildlife officials stress that prevention starts at home. Residents are urged to store garbage inside locked sheds or garages and only set out the bins on collection day. Bear-resistant containers are also recommended. Other simple steps include removing bird feeders during bear season, keeping pet food indoors, and securing fruit trees and beehives with electric fencing. These actions help prevent future conflicts and reduce the risk of dangerous encounters. Do you worry about air pollution in your town? All the time Often Only sometimes Never 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. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho will have journalism shield law, after Gov. Little signs bill
Idaho Gov. Brad Little is interviewed by KTVB reporter Joe Parris after the governor delivered his State of the State address in the House chambers of the Idaho Statehouse on Jan. 6, 2025. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun) Idaho will become the 41st state with a media shield law, protecting sources who provide confidential information or documents to journalists. Gov. Brad Little signed House Bill 158 into law Thursday morning, the governor's office's Communications Director Emily Callihan told the Idaho Capital Sun. The governor's office plans to hold a signing ceremony with partners involved in the bill, she said. The Idaho Legislature unanimously passed the bill this year, following a rise in legal threats that sought to force journalists to reveal their sources. Idaho is one of 10 states without a journalism shield law, according to the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press. Idaho's new media shield law takes effect July 1. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX Idaho Press Club President Melissa Davlin wrote the bill based on language in laws in Kentucky and Alabama. 'Too many Gem State newsrooms have had to spend time and resources fighting subpoenas that would force them to betray their sources' trust under threat of fines or jail time,' she told the Idaho Capital Sun in a written statement after the Legislature passed the bill. 'The Idaho Press Club is grateful that lawmakers saw the need for this change, and we thank our legislative sponsors for their help getting this to the governor's desk. Idaho, like the rest of America, needs a strong press corps, and this shield law will help reporters focus on their work instead of costly and stressful legal proceedings.' The bill states: 'No person engaged in journalistic activities shall be compelled to disclose in any legal proceeding, trial before any court, or before any jury the source of any information procured or obtained and published in a newspaper, print publication, digital news outlet, or by a radio or television broadcasting station with which the person is engaged or employed or with which the person is connected.' Disclosure: The Idaho Capital Sun's journalists are members of the Idaho Press Club. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Idaho Teacher Says She Was Ordered To Remove 'Everyone Is Welcome Here' Signs From Classroom
Apparently, being inclusive is a little divisive for officials of one Idaho school district. Sarah Inama, a middle school teacher in Meridian, learned that lesson the hard way when she decided to post some signs in her classroom that read, 'Everyone is welcome here.' Although the idea of making everyone feel welcome seems like the least offensive thing a teacher could do, officials for the West Ada School District reportedly thought otherwise and ordered her to take down the signs. The reasoning? District officials claimed that posters saying 'Everyone is welcome here' violate a policy that requires classroom content to be neutral, per Inama. 'They told me that they were in violation of district policy because, in today's political environment, they're considered a personal opinion,' Inama told Boise NBC affiliate KTVB. At first, she complied with the unwelcoming edict, but she said she changed her mind because she believes the message of the signs represents a core value of public education. However, Marcus Myers, the district's chief academic officer, told KTVB via email that policy dictates district facilities be 'content neutral' and respect others' right to express differing opinions. Inama pointed out that her signs actually align with posters made by the district that encourage students to 'welcome others and embrace diversity.' Not surprisingly, she is concerned about the message being sent by the removal of her signs.'I just feel like as a teacher ... I would do anything to protect my students. I love all of them unconditionally,' Inama told KTVB. HuffPost reached out to district officials for comment, but no one immediately responded. The episode echoes a national trend since Donald Trump became president and immediately ordered the dismantling of programs promoting diversity, equity and inclusion. Along with private companies scaling back or ending their DEI programs, federal agencies are no longer celebrating holidays and history months like Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Pride Month and Holocaust Days of Remembrance. The results have occasionally been comical. For instance, the Defense Department recently flagged more than 26,000 photos and online posts on its website for deletion because they were determined to have some kind of connection to DEI. One of the items considered for deletion was a photo of the Enola Gay, the World War II aircraft that carried the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, Japan, in 1945. Needless to say, the plane was not celebrating the LGBTQ community. Its pilot, Col. Paul Tibbets, Jr., named it after his mother, Enola Gay Tibbets. Google Scraps Diversity Hiring Goals To Comply With Trump's New Directive We Work In DEI. Trump's Wild Anti-Diversity Claims Are Spreading Popular Lies. Raft Of Government Websites Go Dark Or Remove Key Health And Equity Information In Trump Purge Meta Kills Diversity Initiatives, Loosens Hate Speech Rules, Deletes 'Trans' Theme From App
NBC News
24-02-2025
- Politics
- NBC News
'Dissent was not being tolerated': Woman dragged from Idaho town hall meeting
An Idaho woman was issued a citation after she was forcibly removed from an Idaho Republican legislative town hall after interrupting the speaker. KTVB's Abby Wilt 24, 2025
