House approves Medicaid bill
Legislation to allow people with disabilities to go to work without losing the very Medicaid coverage that enables them to do so passed the House unanimously Monday.
The plan isn’t free for the state – it would cost $233,900 next year and about $400,000 the following year.
But House Speaker Bruce Newcomb told the House, “Of all the things we spend money on in this place, these are the best dollars we could possibly spend.”
The bill, HB 664, lets disabled Medicaid recipients who go to work or increase their hours pay premiums on a sliding scale, rather than lose their coverage entirely.
Last year, similar legislation passed the Senate but didn’t get a hearing in the House.
The legislation has been in the works more than 10 years.
– Betsy Z. Russel
Fair promises ‘Good Times’
The theme for this year’s North Idaho Fair & Rodeo is “Blue Ribbon Good Times.”
The five-county regional fair will be held Aug. 23-27 at the Kootenai County Fairgrounds in Coeur d’Alene.
Entertainment will include the PRCA rodeo, motocross, demolition derby, draft horse show and competitive exhibits.
Special contests this year include Christmas tree decorating and building a scarecrow or a house from recycled materials.
Kids can decorate a shoe, build a shoe box float, or build and decorate a kite.
Entry rules will be listed in the exhibitor’s handbook, which will be posted at www.northidahofair.com in April.
Printed copies will be distributed to retail outlets in May.
Other planned entertainment includes Michael Mezmer’s Comedy Hypnosis Show, Montana Clown, Pippi the Clown and Brad’s World Reptiles.
Additional acts will be announced as they are booked.
For more information, call (208) 765-4969.
– Staff reports
Oakesdale, Wash.
Sheriff identifies shooting victim
A 13-year-old boy who was shot to death Saturday night in his home in Oakesdale, Wash., was identified Monday as Evan Reed.
Whitman County Sheriff Brett Myers said an investigation concluded the shooting was accidental, but the report will be sent to Prosecutor Denis Tracy for a decision on whether any criminal charge is warranted.
Myers said an autopsy confirmed that Reed died of a single shot to the chest from a .410-gauge shotgun.
One of two youths visiting in the Reed home fired the weapon by accident, Myers said, citing witness statements.
– John Craig