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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

Big crowd turns out for informational hearing on climate change

An overflow crowd turned out for an informational hearing on climate change in the Lincoln Auditorium, the Capitol's largest hearing room, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Betsy Z. Russell)
An overflow crowd turned out for an informational hearing on climate change in the Lincoln Auditorium, the Capitol's largest hearing room, on Wednesday, March 15, 2017. (Betsy Z. Russell)

There’s a huge and enthusiastic crowd in the Lincoln Auditorium for this afternoon’s informational hearing on climate change, organized by Rep. Ilana Rubel, D-Boise; the crowd, several hundred strong, has more than filled the auditorium plus an overflow room. Today’s hearing will explore how fire, drought and future climate changes will impact Idaho businesses, farmers and citizens; you can watch live online here.

Rubel, who was unable to get a hearing for climate change legislation she proposed this year, said, “This issue is not just about rising ocean levels and polar bears – it’s about crops and jobs in Idaho. Idaho’s leaders must assess the risk ahead and take steps to address it, not hide their heads in the sand.”

An array of speakers are scheduled, including professors, energy and fire officials and more; Rubel was joined by several other Democratic lawmakers to host the hearing.

By the end of the hearing, more than 650 people had shown up, and four overflow rooms had opened.That's the largest crowd for a legislative hearing so far this year.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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