On Thursday, the Senate advanced House Bill 176 which provides $175 million in immediate rental assistance funding for Idaho families who are facing eviction or other housing difficulties due to job loss or other Covid-related expenses. The Senate voted unanimously to approve the bill, which now goes to the Governor for signature.

Senator Jim Woodword, R-Sagle, sponsored the legislation in the Senate and noted that payments will be administered by the Idaho Housing & Finance Association and would go directly to landlords, property managers or utility companies to ensure the funds are used for housing payments.

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Last week saw the Senate and House discuss several bills relating to Idaho’s irrigation and water management. The Senate passed S1072 and S1074, which both aim to improve Idaho’s irrigation management systems. S1072 would modify irrigation district board member requirements to broaden the pool of candidates eligible for filling vacancies, while S1074 would clarify the rights and obligations of irrigation management entities. Meanwhile, H182 was referred to the House Resources and Conservation Committee. This legislation would streamline the process by which canal company boundaries are adjusted.

The Senate also passed an appropriation for the Department of Water Resources. S1121 transfers $50,000,000 from the General Fund to the Water Management Fund. These funds are directed to the Anderson Ranch Reservoir Enlargement Project, and aquifer recharge projects in the Upper Snake River Valley and the Mountain Home Air Force Base water supply. The bill is now scheduled for a vote in the House.

BOISE, Idaho (Feb. 25, 2021)—Girl Scouts of Silver Sage has been selling Girl Scout cookies for decades. For many customers, this is a can’t-miss sale that only lasts a short time —now through March 21—and the one time a year they can get their hands on a box of Thin Mints or Samoas. COVID-19 may have made it more challenging for Girl Scouts to connect with customers, but that has not stopped people from donating a box to The Idaho Foodbank through the Cookies from the Heart program.For the full story, pick up a copy of the Mountain Home News or click on this link to subscribe to the newspaper’s online edition.

At the City Council Meeting on February 22nd, Mayor Sykes announced the 2020 Citizen of the Year. As he introduced Tami Mouser, this year’s recipient, he spoke of the “beautiful woman and the amazing things she has done for Mountain Home” and in particular her Backpack Bridge program. Mayor Sykes told her that she was selected by the years prior’ citizen of the year and her peers and that selecting her was in “recognition of her exemplary leadership and selfless acts of time as well as her visionary guidance and her undaunting dedication to the citizens of Mountain Home”.

He made the presentation on behalf of the City of Mountain Home and the City Council.

Looking at their social media page, their mission statement for the program Mouser founded is: “The program is for our community to help parents and teachers to be able to provide supplies for classrooms and/or students in need.

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Idahoans who enroll will have coverage beginning April 1, 2021

BOISE, Idaho – Your Health Idaho, the state insurance exchange, reopens today for Idahoans still seeking 2021 health insurance. Between March 1, and March 31, 2021, uninsured Idahoans can enroll in comprehensive health insurance coverage through the Uninsured Special Enrollment Period.

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