The Courier
NEWS 2023 Young Leader Scholarship Announced
The Mid America CropLife Association (MACA) Board of Directors has selected nine college students to participate in the MACA Young Leader Scholarship Program (YLSP), including one local student. Charlotte Brockman, Gooding, Idaho, is attending the University of Nebraska – Lincoln. Brockman is pursuing a major in Agronomy with a minor in Agricultural and Environmental Sciences Communications. She plans to graduate in May 2025. Her internship will be at CSS Farms in Kearney, NE. This is the eleventh year for the program, which is designed to expose future agriculturalists to the crop protection industry and potential career opportunities. Recipients receive financial compensation, additional training for finding a job plus the opportunity to network with MACA members. MACA members benefit by developing a talent pool of future industry leaders and through the heightened awareness of MACA within the participating universities. The recipients’ educational focus is agriculture, enrolled at one of the land-grant universities in the MACA region and have secured a 2023 summer internship related to agriculture, preferably within the crop protection industry. Additionally, the selected recipients will attend the MACA Annual Meeting September 5-7, 2023, in Indianapolis, Indiana and speak about their internship experience and participate in the meeting with MACA members. After completing the summer internship, the scholarship recipients receive a $2,000 scholarship to assist with their tuition expenses.
Construction on I-84 Between Jerome and Twin Falls
As part of Governor Brad Little’s Leading Idaho Transportation initiative, the Idaho Transportation Department (ITD) has begun a project to widen I-84 between the South Jerome Interchange (Exit 168) and the Twin Falls Interchange (Exit 173). Construction begins this week on this 2.5-year project. I-84 serves as a primary interstate route, and traffic counts are expected to increase substantially over the next 20 years. The existing interstate will not be able to accommodate anticipated future traffic volumes. These improvements will increase capacity and improve safety on I-84 to serve South-central Idaho for years to come. In 2023, motorists should expect: I-84 will be restricted to one lane in each direction at night. Occasional daytime lane restrictions may be necessary. Rolling closures on I-84 will occur this spring/summer for blasting rock in the median. Traffic shifts will be used throughout construction. The speed limit on I-84 will be reduced. 400 South Road will be closed intermittently. Funding for this project comes from the Leading Idaho TECM Program. The program allows cont. page 3... ITD to address rapid growth and build critical infrastructure today...
News from the Heart of Idaho Camas • Lincoln • Gooding
April 26, 2023
Vol 47 Num 17
Stop Lead Ammo, Tackle Ban
Press Release from Senators Crapo & Risch Senators Mike Crapo and Jim Risch (both R-Idaho) joined Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) to introduce legislation to prohibit the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) and the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) from banning the use of traditional lead ammunition or tackle on public lands unless such action is supported by the best available science and state wildlife and fish agencies. “The attack on the way Idahoans live continues at the hands of the Biden Administration,” said Crapo. “Hunting and fishing are part of the cultural fabric that binds Idahoans to the land and environment they love, while maintaining the conservation and management of wildlife through sound, scientific practices. Banning traditional ammo and tackle alienates sportsmen and women who cannot access or afford lead alternatives.” “Hunting and fishing is a way of life in Idaho, but recent attempts by the administration to ban affordable lead ammunition and tackle is getting in the way of practicing and sharing these traditions,” said Risch. “The Protecting Access for Hunters and Anglers Act will ensure Idaho’s sportsmen and women can continue to use lead ammo and tackle rather than expensive alternatives.” In spring 2021, the USFWS entered into settlement negotiations with activist organizations over a lawsuit regarding the use of traditional lead ammunition on more than three million acres of federal land. Crapo and Risch joined their colleagues in urging USFWS Director Martha Williams not to cave in to activists’ calls to restrict the use of lead ammo and tackle on public lands. Last year, the USFWS finalized a plan to open 40,000 acres of federal land to hunting and fishing activities. However, the agency banned the use of lead ammunition or tackle on these lands, despite a lack of scientific evidence that the use of lead ammo and tackle was causing specific harms. -- -- -Crapo and Risch also co-sponsored this legislation in the 117th Congress.