News Rail
Monday, June 25, 2007 10:35 AM PDT
IDAHO
E. Idaho Simplot plant putting phosphorus in Portneuf River
POCATELLO (AP) — A J.R. Simplot Co. fertilizer plant on the edge of this eastern Idaho city is the main source of phosphorus being put into the Portneuf River, an official with the Environmental Protection Agency said.
Christine Psyk, director of the EPA’s Region 10 Office of Water and Watersheds, said the company’s Don Plant is contributing 82 percent — about 1,200 pounds each day — of the phosphorus entering the river.
Southwest Idaho cities looking to retain
identities
NAMPA (AP) — City planners in southwest Idaho are working to merge the growing cities of Nampa and Caldwell while holding onto each community’s unique identity.
Brian Billingsley, planning director for Caldwell, said he doesn’t want the region to become like his native Chicago and surrounding area.
OREGON
Legislature revives car
locator services bill
SALEM (AP) — A bill requiring car locator services to give police information on vehicle location if police suspect a life-threatening emergency or a crime was resurrected by legislators Saturday. After hearing the testimony of Rep. Donna Nelson, R-McMinnville, the House Committee on Elections, Ethics and Rules sent it back to the House.
House sends cigarette tax increase to voters
SALEM (AP) — Voters will decide in November whether to amend Oregon’s constitution to implement an 84.5 cent tax per pack of cigarettes to pay for medical coverage for 117,000 uninsured children in Oregon.
Democrats pushed for the constitutional amendment only after their efforts to pass a law outright were stymied by Republicans, who have argued that funding for the expanded health coverage should come from existing revenue.
Any effort to raise taxes requires a supermajority, meaning that Democrats — who hold a slim 31-29 advantage in the House of Representatives — would have had to entice at least five Republicans to join their cause.
