In brief: Senate passes bill on ultrasound option
Some women seeking abortions will be offered a chance to view ultrasound images of their embryos before undergoing the procedures under a bill the Senate passed Tuesday.
An addition to Idaho’s “informed consent” law, House Bill 248 also requires doctors who use ultrasound equipment to provide a printed picture of the ultrasound image, if a woman requests it.
“When women see this image, it typically has an effect that many of them will keep the child, and give it to adoption or just keep it,” said Sen. Curt McKenzie, R-Boise, a bill sponsor.
Senators voted 25-9 in favor of the bill, which next heads to Gov. Butch Otter for signing.
– Parker Howell
Coeur d’Alene
Ex-commissioner gets jail clerk job
Former Kootenai County Commission Chairman Gus Johnson has a new job with the county – working in the jail as a records clerk.
Johnson, whom voters ousted from office in November, began working Monday in the booking area where new inmates are processed.
The full-time job pays $8.90 an hour. Johnson made $32.09 an hour as one of the three elected commissioners.
Kootenai County sheriff’s Capt. Ben Wolfinger said Johnson, a former Post Falls mayor and Kaiser worker, was treated like any other job applicant and had to take the same skills tests, including a typing test, pass an interview and get a background check.
“He did well and got treated like everyone else,” Wolfinger said Tuesday.
Eight people applied for the clerk opening, according to county human resource records.
– Erica Curless
Post Falls
Renewal agency selects director
The Post Falls Urban Renewal Agency has chosen a new executive director, turning to a Post Falls native with a career in state politics, the agency announced Tuesday.
Luke Malek will begin Monday as an independent contractor, replacing Pat Raffee, who resigned.
Malek most recently worked for Lt. Gov. Jim Risch, running his North Idaho office.
He also served as the chief development and communications officer for the Dirne Community Health Center in Coeur d’Alene.
He is a 2004 graduate of Albertson College of Idaho, in Caldwell.
The Urban Renewal Agency promotes economic and community improvement.
– Hope Brumbach