Families sought for stories
Mortgage, heat, car payments, medical co-pays – the cost of everything seems to be going up. Or is it?
The Spokesman-Review is working on a package of stories and graphics that will look at how much things cost and how families budget their money to buy what they need and want.
We’re looking for two families to profile. Would you like to nominate your family? If so, you must be willing to talk about your household income and where it goes each month.
If that’s OK with you, please send us an e-mail at risingcosts@spokesman.com and give us your name and contact information.
High winds expected tonight
The National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for tonight for extreme Eastern Washington and portions of North Idaho, including the Rathdrum Prairie and the Palouse hills south to Lewiston.
Southwest winds gusting from 50 to 60 mph are possible across the region with sustained winds forecast at 25 to 40 mph. Strongest winds are expected along exposed plateaus and in narrow east-west valleys.
The storm could bring as much as 1 inch of snow above 2,500 feet elevation during daylight hours and an inch of snow during the evening across low-lying areas. Winds are to slam the region overnight. In addition, the weather service issued a winter storm warning for mountains of North Idaho for 5 to 11 inches of snow and high winds. The Cascades also should see heavy snow.
– Mike Prager
BOISE
Genetic privacy bill passes panel
Legislation to protect the privacy of people’s genetic test results has cleared a Idaho Senate committee, but only after surviving, by a single vote, a motion to kill it.
Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, called SB 1423 “common-sense legislation” that prohibits insurance companies, employers and others from accessing genetic testing results. It’s her second draft, in an attempt to placate opponents.
Lobbyists for insurance companies and the Idaho Association of Commerce and Industry opposed the bill. “If you’ve had a test, the insurance company should have access to the results,” said John Mackey, representing United Heritage Financial Group.
Backers of the bill included the American Cancer Society and the Idaho Medical Association.
Thirty-three other states have genetic privacy laws.
– Meghann M. Cuniff