News Digest
Friday, March 21, 2008 11:53 AM PDT
GOOD AFTERNOON IDAHO — Grocery tax relief bill clears ID Legislature
BOISE (AP) — Idahoans are finally set to receive a gradual boost in rebates to offset the 6 percent sales tax they pay on groceries, after more than a year of wrangling between the governor and lawmakers.
A carefully written compromise bill to increase rebates over a number of years passed the Senate 27-8 Thursday despite the fears of some lawmakers that the tax relief will seriously crimp future budgets.
Conservation groups sue over planned burn of sagebrush habitat
BOISE (AP) — Two conservation groups have sued the U.S. Forest Service, contending the agency’s planned burning of sagebrush in the Targhee Forest is illegal.
The Alliance for the Wild Rockies and the Native Ecosystems Council filed the lawsuit in U.S. District Court in Boise on Wednesday, asking a judge to stop the prescribed burn of a mosaic pattern across 1,200 acres of sagebrush habitat near Dubois.
The Forest Service’s plan states the burn is necessary to improve wildlife habitat in the Berry Creek area.
But the conservation groups contend it will kill off the healthy sagebrush in the region, destroying the habitat used by sage grouse, Brewer’s sparrows, pygmy rabbits and other wildlife.
OREGON
Boise Cascade curtails work at two Oregon mills
ELGIN (AP) — Boise Cascade announced a temporary curtailment at its La Grande sawmill and an Elgin stud mill. Company officials said Thursday the curtailment will occur next week and affect roughly 60 workers in La Grande and 70 in Elgin. Lumber demand and prices remain low amid the national housing slump and Boise Cascade officials say they are trying to minimize short-term losses to ensure long-term success.
The firm operates four plants in Union County, employing about 700 people.
The company has been struggling with poor market conditions for more than a year and has scaled back operations at all the local plants.
Work at the Elgin stud mill was curtailed for two weeks in February and early March.
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