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A bill that would require girls under 18 to get permission from a parent before having an abortion is expected to be introduced to the Legislature shortly.

Rep. Bill Sali, R-Kuna, who’s sponsoring the bill with House Majority Leader Lawerence Denney, R-Midvale, asked a House committee for more time to work with legal experts to ensure the bill doesn’t meet the same fate as last year’s version, which was thrown out by a federal judge.

Sali, who staunchly opposes abortion, said studies that show parental consent laws have no effect on the number of teenagers seeking abortions can easily be countered by studies that show they do.

Concerns over teenagers being reluctant to tell their parents about their pregnancy for fear of how they’ll react are not good arguments against the bill, either, Sali said.

“I’d take a bad parent over an abortionist who had a financial interest I think any day,” Sali said.

– Meghann M. Cuniff

Goodwill in Post Falls to offer job training

A new Goodwill Industries store planned for Post Falls will offer not only retail goods, but also job training for local people with disabilities.

The thrift store will be the 13th agency site in the Inland Northwest, said Diane Galloway, public information manager.

Set to open April 12 at 317 Seltice Way, the 7,200-square-foot store will employ 10 people. It’s not yet clear how many disabled people will be able to find training and employment assistance, Galloway said.

– JoNel Aleccia

Quarry blasting dates specified

After protests from nearby property owners, officials in Boundary County have increased restrictions on blasting at a tungsten gravel quarry near Porthill, Idaho.

The blasting was originally approved to take place at unspecified times between March 3 and 17. Nearby property owners, who are fighting the decision to allow the quarry, claimed the vague blasting times violated prior notice requirements.

County commissioners last week agreed and set new blasting dates, according to a statement issued by the county. The blasting is now allowed between 2 and 4 p.m. on March 24, 27 and 28. Each blasting sequence will consist of one detonation chain expected to take no longer than “a few seconds,” according to county officials.

Approval of the quarry is also being appealed in District Court.

– James Hagengruber

Cap on cigar taxes passes House vote

Legislation to cap taxes on pricey cigars at 50 cents each passed the House Monday on a split 43-23 vote.

Rep. Jim Clark, R-Hayden Lake, said the measure would make Idaho cigar stores competitive with Oregon and Washington, which have similar caps.

But Rep. Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, noted that Montana charges more than Idaho now, so the same argument would suggest Idaho’s now getting all of Montana’s cigar business. He warned that the bill was a first step toward taxing tobacco products on volume rather than price.

Clark countered, “This is only for premium cigars. … This is a good bill.”

The bill, HB 693, now moves to a Senate committee.

– Betsy Z. Russell