Samantha Wright

Idaho Senator Mike Crapo says U-S security is being threatened by the ongoing attacks on American embassies in the Middle East and around the world. 

The Republican condemned the violence during a conference call with reporters this morning. “The attacks heighten and give emphasis to the fact that the United States must continue to maintain its defense posture and its intelligence system in a way that will help us to defend our national security interests abroad.” 

Even though it’s several weeks away, voting officials are gearing up for the November 6 election.  Today  marks the last day for county clerks to print absentee ballots.  Soon, they’ll be in the mail for anyone who wants to vote early. 

Boo Boo the bear has been moved to a rehabilitation area outside McCall. The Snowdon Wildlife Sanctuary takes care of injured and orphaned wildlife.

Boo Boo made headlines last month when he was found by firefighters working on the Mustang Fire north of Salmon. He was alone, hiding up a tree, with second degree burns on all four paws.

In the 1960’s, America began to take the mentally ill out of institutions. This led to consequences, especially for those who weren't ready or able to be de-institutionalized. 

While family members gathered at Ground Zero in New York this morning to remember the September 11 terror attacks in 2001, another group gathered in Boise at the new Idaho Fallen Soldier Memorial.

Who will be eligible for Medicaid if Idaho expands its program under the Affordable Care Act?  That’s the question lawmakers asked Monday of state Health & Welfare Director Dick Armstrong.  He’s part of a 15 member panel studying the option. 

Armstrong says the panel has gathered a lot of information so far.  But he says the federal government has not set some of the guidelines that will determine who would get to sign up for the expanded plan.  That means officials are left to guess how many residents would eligible.  

The black bear cub - known as Boo Boo - is expected to make a full recovery. The bear was burned in the Mustang Fire north of Salmon. 

Boo Boo could be ready to leave the Idaho Humane Society, where he’s been recovering from his burns, in as little as two weeks.  The three-to-four month old cub has 2nd degree burns on all four of his paws. 

West Nile cases are on the rise in Idaho.  The state now has eight human cases of West Nile and five additional reports of the mosquito-borne illness are under investigation. 

Niki Forbing-Orr with Idaho’s Health and Welfare Department says the state is doing better than other states, like Texas. “So far the CDC is reporting 888 human cases there.  All 48 states of the mainland United States have reported west nile activity and nationally 87 people have died," she says.  "We’ve not had any deaths in Idaho yet, so we’re crossing our fingers that we don’t.”

A judge has ordered the U.S. Forest Service to take another look at plans to expand exploratory drilling in the mountains near Idaho City.  U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge issued a ruling Thursday that essentially vacates the environmental assessment produced by the agency on the CuMo Mine project.

Lodge concluded the agency acted arbitrarily in determining that expanded drilling would not significantly impact groundwater sources.

The Lemhi County Sheriff today warned homeowners near Butcherknife Ridge to be prepared to evacuate if the Mustang Complex Fire gets closer.  The 181,000 acre fire is threatening homes in the Highway 93 corridor north of North Fork. 

Thirty-two Idaho delegates are in Tampa this week for the Republican National Convention.  The list includes some well-known names, like Governor Butch Otter, U.S. Senator Jim Risch and former State Republican Party Chairman Norm Semanko.  Delegates are hosted at parties and attend special meals put on by interest groups.  But it’s not all fun and games.  David Adler directs the Andrus Center for Public Policy at Boise State.

Samantha Wright asked Adler about what it means to be selected as a delegate.

Update: August 29, 2012

The Idaho state veterinarian, Mark Drew, says the injured bear cub needs more help than previously thought.  The cub, nicknamed Boo Boo, was burned in the Mustang Fire near Salmon.  All four of his paws were severely burned. 

Updated August 24, 2012 at 1:41 p.m.:

The Mustang Complex Fire near Salmon grew dramatically Thursday.  That prompted an evacuation order for Spring Creek and Indian Creek residents.  In fact, it grew so fast that firefighters had to leave their posts around 11 p.m. last night. 

“The fire was growing too hot and too erratic and so we pulled the firefighters off,” says fire spokeswoman Lisa Radosevich-Craig.  She blames it on gusty winds.  She says the crews were back on the fire line this morning, but it could flare up again this afternoon.

Firefighters took advantage Wednesday night of what they said were favorable weather conditions for burn operations to help reduce the threat of the Trinity Ridge Fire burning through Featherville. 

Crews started fires on a ridge above the town.  The goal was to have those fires burn slowly downhill, towards Featherville.  In the process, they'd reduce available fuel and create a buffer for the town. 

Boise State President Bob Kustra says times are changing for colleges and universities, including his own.  In his tenth annual State of the University Address, Kustra reflected on recent funding cuts, and how the university has responded.  

He told a room full of faculty and staff that he’s as challenged and scared as they are. “These are challenging times, they’re scary times, there’s no question about it.” 

Officials on the Trinity Ridge Fire are about to get some help from the Idaho National Guard. The Guard has been activated to help with Idaho wildfires because of a  disaster declaration issued by Governor Butch Otter.  The Idaho Emergency Operations Center is sending Guard members to the fire which is near Pine and Featherville.

Eighty National Guard members will staff 20 checkpoints in the area, 24 hours a day.  The teams will consist of both airmen and soldiers from various Idaho Army and Air Guard units.  They should take over the checkpoints on Sunday.

Residents of Pine and Featherville were briefed today on the rapidly moving Trinity Ridge Fire.  The fire expanded yesterday and moved about five miles away from Featherville. 

David Olson with the Boise National Forest says the residents were told to prepare for an evacuation that could come at any time. "The whole focus right now is to inform the community where the fire is, what it potentially might do and have them ready to leave when or if the order comes.”

Boise police officers found two pop bottle bombs this week in West Boise.  Usually the bottles are designed to make a big bang, but in this case, they injured an officer. 

Soda pop bottle bombs explode and make a loud bang.  That seems to be why they’re so popular, especially among kids.  Lynn Hightower with the Boise Police Department says officers will get a call about them about once a month. "They're unfortunately common in neighborhoods and communities around the country as they’re extremely easy to make.”