Thursday, Aug. 13

From Boise State Public Radio, this is The Connector, Idaho Daily News. Good morning. I'm Lauren Patterson. It's Thursday, August 13th. Today we have news on firefighter deaths in Utah, a new requirement for Idaho schools. More affordable housing construction is underway in Boise, and there are fire restrictions in northern Idaho. When the McCall City Council meets this evening, they're expected to accept the resignation of their city manager. McCall is one of only two Idaho cities with a city manager form of government. The other is Twin Falls. It was August of 2024 when Forrest Atkinson took over as McCall's chief executive, putting him in charge of the resort community's day-to-day operations. Phil Cushlin is expected to take over as interim city manager for McCall while a new search gets underway for a full-time replaced. It's a familiar spot for Kushlin, as he also served as interim city manager for a few months in 2024. Tonight's McCall City Council meeting gets underway at 5.30 p.m. There's much that's new in any school year, but as George Brennis reports, perhaps the biggest change for every Idaho public school this fall is a required moment of silence. When the Idaho legislature voted to require a 60-second moment of silence in the state's 700-plus public schools, much of the pushback at the time came from former or current educators. Is it the job of the legislature to dictate how time must be spent in every public school in Idaho? Idaho's children don't need a law mandating a minute of silence. They need food, medical care, and engaged instruction. On the Boise Bench, Jefferson Elementary Principal, Stacey McKenna told Boise State Public Radio that folding a moment of silence into their morning routine will be a task. A moment of silence, generally speaking, for elementary students can be a little bit of a challenge. We're approaching it by incorporating it into our morning routine. But over in Southeast Boise at Timberline High School, it won't be until later in the day when they attempt to quiet things down for a minute. Here is Principal Chad Wright. At the start of fourth period, that's when we will observe that moment of silence. The new law says students can use the 60 seconds however they choose. reflect, meditate, or pray, but they must be silent. George Prentiss, Boise State Public Radio News. Fire danger has prompted stage one and two fire restrictions across northern Idaho, according to a press release from the U.S. Forest Service. Stage one, fire restrictions are in effect for Kooten, Shoshone, and Benewa counties, and stage two fire restrictions are in effect for Bonner and Boundary counties. The fire restrictions apply to all lands, managed or protected by the Panhandle National Forests, the Bureau of Land Management, the Idaho Department of Lands, and the Cordillane tribe. Stage one, fire restrictions include building or using

campfires, stage two fire restrictions also forbid campfires or stove fires, and using vehicles off designated roads and trails. For more information on restrictions and exemptions, visit FS.usda.gov. The restrictions are in place until further notice. Firefighter deaths are adding up this summer with two of the most recent stemming from a helicopter crash in Utah. A friend and colleague shared memories about the pilots with the Mountain West News Bureau's Murphy Woodhouse. The two pilots, Chris Anderson and Miles Elliott, were working for a U.S. Forest Service contractor on Utah's massive wide-mouth two fire. Their huge sky crane chopper went down Friday morning. Federal helicopter manager Jessica Reeves worked closely with the pair this season. want to get out how amazing these men were. And yeah, it's going to be a really big loss for the aviation community for sure. She'll remember Chris as a deeply experienced pilot who had flown missions around the world and who could be counted on in the toughest conditions. She'll cherish memories of Miles taking advantage of quiet moments to play the video game Fortnite with his son back home in California. What I remember most about him is him trying to be in touch with his son as much as he could. Federal officials have logged more than a dozen fireline deaths so far this year. For the Mountain West News Bureau, I'm Murphy Woodhouse. The city of Boise celebrated the groundbreaking of the Sherwood this week, a new affordable housing development located in the Lusk district on the western edge of the BSU campus, according to a press release from the city. The new building will have two and three-bedroom apartments for families and includes space for a daycare center. The new development will also feature a community lounge with a demonstration, kitchen, classroom, computer lab, and a courtyard that includes a playground and outdoor kitchen. Construction is slated to be completed in winter. of 2027. And that's today's episode of The Connector. I'm Lauren Patterson. If you liked this episode, you might also enjoy the news and conversation on our Idaho Matters podcast. Find it wherever you're listening right now.

The fatal shooting of a teenager at a protest in Seattle has gone unsolved for six years. This is open in your face. How are there no answers? Our investigation has uncovered new evidence and witnesses who say they've never talked to police. Did police ever call you? Not once. Listen to We Keep Us Safe, a new true crime series on the Embedded podcast from NPR.