KOZE News Podcast – Oct 22
KOZE
Washington residents warned of drug surge, fentanyl dangers
Federal and state officials have warned residents in eastern Washington about the dangers of illicit synthetic opioids after multiple teenagers died in recent weeks. U.S. Attorney William Hyslop said the community is facing a “growing and increasing
Idaho School Board Extends Waiver of Graduation Requirement
The Idaho State Board of Education voted yesterday to extend a partial waiver of the Board rule requiring high school seniors complete a senior project in order to graduate during the 2020/21 school year. A partial waiver
Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Decrease for 24th Consecutive Week
The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for unemployment insurance benefits fell for the 24th consecutive week, dropping 2 percent for the week ending Oct. 17 to 8,215. The four-week moving average for continued claims
Lewis-Clark State to hold CTE center ribbon-cutting event this Friday
Lewis-Clark State College will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the Schweitzer Career & Technical Education Center Friday, Oct. 23rd. The ceremony will be held in the main parking lot of the new
Regional health officials report additional COVID deaths
Regional health officials have reported four additional deaths attributed to the coronavirus, bringing the total number of COVID-19 deaths in north central Idaho and southeastern Washington to 44. Two deaths were reported in Whitman County which has
Little: collaboration key to solving land issues
Idaho Governor Brad Little says a collaborative process that gives everyone a say is key to solving many federal public lands issues in the U.S. West. Little, who delivered a keynote speech to the Western Governors’ Association’s
Northern Idaho hospital nearing capacity
People with COVID-19 in Northern Idaho soon may have to be sent to Seattle or Portland, because the region’s hospitals are nearing capacity. Kootenai Health says their hospital is at 99 percent capacity for patients. The facility
COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee sets first meeting
Governor Brad Little has announced the membership of the Idaho COVID-19 Vaccine Advisory Committee, which will have its first meeting Friday. Little says the state has been planning for months for the distribution of the potential COVID-19
KOZE News Podcast (10-21)
Listen to today’s headlines with Ian Sorensen.
Idaho’s coronavirus cases spike again, doctors urge action
Idaho is seeing its largest coronavirus spike since the pandemic began, with new cases increasing by 46.5% percent over the past two weeks. That trend has some health care experts urging Gov. Brad Little to take additional
Washington state issues more COVID restrictions for colleges
Washington state Gov. Jay Inslee will now require colleges and universities to provide quarantine facilities for all students if they are exposed to COVID-19. The governor on Tuesday issued more restrictions for higher education campuses as the
Whitman County reports 3 more COVID-19 deaths, Nez Perce County sees single-day high in infections
Health officials in Whitman County have reported three additional coronavirus-related deaths, raising its total number of virus deaths to seven. Overall, the county added 7 new infections on Tuesday. In the Public Health – Idaho North Central
Lewiston School Board adopts temporary mask mandate for middle schools
The Lewiston School Board has approved a temporary mask mandate at its two middle schools where the number of coronavirus infections have been climbing. Superintendent Bob Donaldson says the district has been in contact with the Public
SkyWest to add third flight from Lewiston to Salt Lake City
Officials at the Lewiston-Nez Perce County Regional Airport say a third flight to Salt Lake City will begin next month. Airport Manager Michael Isaacs says SkyWest plans to add the flight in late November after cutting the
KOZE News Afternoon Podcast October 20
A quick look at today’s headlines. Follow KOZE News on Facebook.
Cold Weather Warning This Weekend
The National Weather Service has issued the following severe weather warning for this weekend: Friday through Monday will feel a lot like winter across the Inland Northwest. There will be a chance of lowland snow accumulations Friday
Idaho estimates resident death count increased beyond virus
Idaho state officials estimate hundreds of more residents have died than in a normal year, even without counting fatalities that are attributed to the coronavirus. The state estimates 861 more Idaho residents died between January and September
CORRECTION: Washington wants to declare burned bridge ‘major disaster’
The state of Washington has asked the federal government to declare a destroyed railroad bridge a major disaster after it was burned down in a wildfire in September. The 100-year-old bridge spanned the Yakima River near Prosser,
Idaho OKs contract to distribute low-income education money
Idaho officials approved a contract Monday with Florida-based financial tech company ClassWallet to distribute $50 million in federal coronavirus emergency money as part of Governor Brad Little’s ‘Strong Families, Strong Students’ initiative. The program will provide up
West Ada School District teachers continue “sick out” protest
More than 500 teachers in the West Ada School District continued their protest of in-person classes by calling in sick for the second straight day Tuesday. As a result school district officials canceled all classes – both
Warrior basketball teams will play with no fans in attendance
Lewis-Clark State College has announced that no fans will be allowed at home games in the Activity Center to start the 2020-21 men’s and women’s basketball seasons. Athletic Director Brooke Henze says the unprecedented step is aimed
Coronavirus infections continue to climb in the region
The number of coronavirus infections continues to rise in the north central Idaho and southeastern Washington region. The Public Health – Idaho North Central District reported a total of 51 new virus cases Monday. Latah County reported
Asotin County Commission selects site for new jail
Asotin County commissioners have chosen the site for a new county jail near the Snake River. The 6.4 acre lot is located near the intersection of 14th Street and Port Drive. The purchase price is approximately $1.4
Strong Families, Strong Students Initiative Website Goes Live Wednesday
The web site for the new $50 million “Strong Families, Strong Students” initiative will go live Wednesday, with the goal of supporting Idaho families and their students’ educational needs during the pandemic. Under the plan, which Governor
Schools in Washington state, Idaho report COVID-19 outbreaks
Several school districts in Washington state and Idaho have chosen not to report COVID-19 cases at their schools since opening in August, creating an incomplete picture of how the virus is affecting students and faculty. Among the
No class Monday in West Ada district due to teacher shortage
A school district in Idaho canceled school today due to a teacher shortage after hundreds called out in sick in protest of in-person instruction during the pandemic. The West Ada School District made the announcement to cancel
Lewis-Clark State Schweitzer CTE Center receives a $25,000 donation from Katie Seekins
Lewis-Clark State College has received a $25,000 donation from Katie Seekins, which will be used for the new Schweitzer Career & Technical Education Center. The donation will be used to name an information technology classroom at the
Warrior baseball team is favorite to win Cascade Conference
The Lewis-Clark State College baseball team has been picked as the favorite to win the Cascade Conference title in the pre-season coaches poll. The Warriors, who return the majority of last season’s team that went 15-5, received
Lewiston school district announces mask mandate for middle school students
The Lewiston School District has announced a mask mandate for all middle school students beginning today (Mon). District Superintendent Bob Donaldson sent a message to parents and guardians Sunday announcing the move due to the rising number
Genesee High School scraps final two games due to COVID-19
The remaining two Genesee High School regular season football games have been canceled following another positive COVID-19 test – this time involving a player. Its the program’s second positive case. The first was a coach who tested
Tribe to re-open casinos Monday
Following a 10-day closure after a cyber-attack, Nez Perce Tribal Enterprises will re-open both of its casinos today (Mon). The Clearwater River Casino near Lewiston will open this (Mon) morning, while the It’se Ye-Ye Casino in Kamiah
Fire destroys two camp trailers in Clarkston Heights
Two camp trailers were destroyed Saturday afternoon after a field fire re-ignited and spread in the Clarkston Heights. Crews from the Asotin County Fire District responded to the blaze at 2211 Fifth Avenue at around 4:10pm. Once
IDL fire burn permits not required after Oct. 20
State burn permits from the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) won’t be required anymore for burning activities outside of city limits starting this coming Wednesday, Oct. 21. The burn permit from IDL is required for any burning
LC baseball alumni golf tourney Saturday
The Lewis-Clark State College baseball Alumni Golf Tournament is Saturday at the Lewiston Golf and Country Club. The format is a four-person scramble and the cost is $75 per player, which includes green fees, cart rental, lunch,
Big games highlight local H.S. football scene
Playoff implications, homecoming and senior nights are all part of tonight’s local high school football schedule. In the LC Valley, Lewiston hosts Post Falls in a game that could lead to a post-season opportunity. Kick-off is at
Nez Perce Tribal casinos remain closed due to computer issues
Both casinos operated by the Nez Perce Tribe remain shutdown due to major computer issues. The Clearwater River Casino near Lewiston and the It’se Ye-Ye Casino in Kamiah closed October 8th after both experienced computer problems. Technicians
WSU announces changes to Spring semester
The spring semester at Washington State University has been pushed back and officials announced several other changes in response to the coronavirus pandemic. The semester will now start Jan. 19, about one week later than previously scheduled,
WA high court strikes down $30 car tab initiative
The Washington Supreme Court on Thursday unanimously struck down Tim Eyman’s Initiative 976, a measure that would have steeply discounted the price of car registrations at $30 while gutting transportation budgets across the state. The justices said
Idaho’s Unemployment Continued Claims Decrease for 23rd Consecutive Week
The number of Idahoans who filed a continued claim for unemployment insurance benefits fell for the 23rd consecutive week, dropping 8 percent for the week ending Oct. 10th to 8,386. The four-week moving average for continued claims
Governor Little Stresses Personal Responsibility in Latest Covid Conference
In his 29th covid-19 press conference since March, Idaho Governor Brad Little announced Idaho will stay in stage 4 of recovery for yet another two weeks and emphasized personal responsibility to fight the spread of the novel
Pullman Regional Hospital experiences localized Covid-19 outbreak
Pullman Regional Hospital has experienced a localized outbreak of COVID-19 with two employees in the same department testing positive for the virus. Both employees are now quarantining. Contact tracing is taking place and all staff in close
Clarkston native named St. Joe’s CFO
St. Joseph Regional Medical Center has named Alan Poole as the hospital’s new Chief Financial Officer. Poole joins St. Joe’s from Sutter Health where he served as the CFO for Delta Medical Center and Eden Medical Center
Grangeville, Moscow schools report virus infections
Health district officials in north central Idaho and southeastern Washington reported a combined total of 54 new coronavirus infections in the region Wednesday, including an additional death from earlier this month. Officials say the death was in
Idaho County investigators say suicide victim was person of interest in murder case
Investigators with the Idaho County Sheriff’s Office say a man who committed suicide recently was a person of interest in an Elk City murder investigation. According to a news release, 47-year-old Billy Jack Jones died at his
University of Idaho reports fiscal year surplus
The University of Idaho announced this week it ended fiscal year 2020 with an operating surplus of more than $900,000. President Scott Green says the university ended 2018 and 2019 with $21 million and $19 million in
High Court declines to overturn transgender inmate case
The U.S. Supreme Court has declined to hear the state of Idaho’s bid to overturn a case involving a transgender inmate who sued state officials to obtain sex reassignment surgery. The Court had ruled 7-2 in May
LC men’s basketball team garners highest-ever pre-season ranking
The Lewis-Clark State men’s basketball team is ranked 5th in the NAIA Pre-Season Coaches Top-25 Poll. The top-five ranking is the highest-ever pre-season rating in program history. The Warriors are coming off a 29-3 season that saw
Memorial Bridge work to affect traffic at night
The Idaho Transportation Department is making emergency repairs on the joints in the westbound lanes of Lewiston’s Memorial Bridge to allow the bridge to expand and contract. The work, which begins tonight (Wed), will affect traffic at
Law enforcement continues investigation into Elk City homicide case
The Idaho County Sheriff’s Office continues its murder investigation in Elk City. The Lewiston Tribune reports several people have been interviewed and taken polygraph tests in connection to the death of 62-year-old Leanna Bailey. Bailey was killed
