In brief: Feds do not want Idaho prison lawsuit delayed

BOISE – A federal prosecutor doesn’t need a lawsuit against a private prison company put on hold for an FBI fraud investigation at an Idaho detention facility.

U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson’s statement comes in response to a request from Corrections Corporation of America lawyers.

The Nashville, Tenn.-based company asked a judge this week to pause the suit from eight inmates who say they were attacked by a prison gang because there weren’t enough guards on duty.

CCA officials said the recently announced federal probe could influence the case against them.

The FBI is investigating whether the company committed fraud by understaffing the prison and giving the state falsified staffing reports.

Lawmakers approve raise for top officials

BOISE – The funding for a bill to increase elected officials’ pay squeaked through the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Friday.

The 10-9 vote allocates $22,200 in general fund money to hand raises to Idaho’s top officials.

That includes an ongoing yearly raise of 2.5 percent for the governor, secretary of state, treasurer, controller and superintendent of schools.

The measure will now be heard in the House.

Idaho suspects in custody in Oregon

MEDFORD, Ore. – Police say a man and a woman sought in Idaho and wounded by law enforcement officers in Medford, Ore., after a pursuit have both been released from a hospital and lodged in jail.

Shavon Willard was released on Friday and booked into the Jackson County Jail, Medford police Lt. Mike Budreau said. She had been sought by the Bonneville County, Idaho, sheriff’s office on a probation violation.

Wayne Pearson was released from a hospital March 7. He faces felony burglary and grand theft charges in Bonneville County and a felony eluding warrant out of Jefferson County, Idaho.