Stallings elected to lead Democrats

Boise Idaho Democrats have elected Pocatello City Councilman Richard Stallings, a former congressman, to lead the state party.

Stallings was elected at the Democrats’ annual Frank Church Banquet in Boise Saturday to replace Carolyn Boyce, who stepped down as the party’s chairwoman.

Democratic leaders say Stallings, a moderate, pro-choice Mormon, has the appeal to bridge the divide between Democrats and Republicans.

Stallings, 64, served four terms in the U.S. House from 1985 through 1993. He lost the 1992 race for the Senate and failed in 1998 to return to his former eastern Idaho congressional seat when he was beaten by Mike Simpson.

Crows crowd Twin Falls

Twin Falls, Idaho Thousands of crows have found a home in the trees of Twin Falls.

City Manager Tom Courtney said city officials were told the crows would leave downtown by late spring or early summer, and many residents are irked at the mess and possible health problems posed by the birds.

Courtney said flashing lights and noisemakers have proven futile in scaring the crows away, and the only effective way to remove them from downtown is through poisoning.

USDA spokeswoman Teresa Howes said the department will not poison the crows just because the city asked, but will look into the matter. She said that if the agency chooses lethal measures, it will use an avicide that shuts down the bird’s kidneys. She said the toxin works its way out of the birds system before it dies, so does not pose a secondary threat to pets or humans.

Last month, Caldwell officials gave police the go-ahead to shoot some of the thousands of crows roosting in trees in that community’s downtown area because the non-lethal methods to scare the birds were not effective.