MONTANA
Man to plead responsible in ‘killing spree’ of eagles, different birds
A Washington state man accused of serving to kill greater than 3,000 birds — together with eagles on a Montana Indian reservation — then illegally promoting their carcasses and feathers intends to plead responsible to unlawful wildlife trafficking and different prison expenses, courtroom paperwork present.
Federal prosecutors say Travis John Branson and others killed about 3,600 birds throughout a yearslong “killing spree” on the Flathead Indian Reservation and elsewhere. Feathers and different components of eagles and different birds are extremely prized amongst many Native American tribes to be used in sacred ceremonies and through powwows.
Branson of Cusick, Washington, will plead responsible below an settlement with prosecutors to diminished expenses together with conspiracy, wildlife trafficking and two counts of illegal trafficking of eagles, in response to courtroom paperwork filed Feb. 27. The paperwork didn’t element what number of birds he’ll admit to killing.
A second suspect, Simon Paul of St. Ignatius, Montana, stays at massive after an arrest warrant was issued when he failed to indicate up for an preliminary courtroom look in early January. His legal professional, Dwight Schulte, declined to remark.
The defendants are accused of promoting eagle components on a black market that has been a long-running downside for U.S. wildlife officers. Illegal shootings are a number one reason for golden eagle deaths, in response to a recent authorities research.
Immature golden eagle feathers are particularly valued amongst tribes, and a tail set from one of many birds can promote for a number of hundred {dollars}, in response to particulars disclosed throughout a separate trafficking case in South Dakota final 12 months by which a Montana man was sentenced to a few years in jail.
IDAHO
Fewer obstetricians working towards since abortion ban
BOISE — More than 50 Idaho obstetricians have stopped working towards within the state since a near-total abortion ban took impact in August 2022, in response to a newly launched report.
Data compiled by the Idaho Physician Well-Being Action Collaborative additionally reveals that solely two obstetricians moved to the state to observe within the final 15 months, the Idaho Statesman reported on Feb. 20. Obstetricians present well being care throughout being pregnant and childbirth.
The variety of obstetricians in Idaho decreased from 227 in 2022 to about 176 in 2023, a decline of 51 medical doctors, the report mentioned.
The numbers “ought to concern each person dwelling in or contemplating a transfer to Idaho,” the Idaho Coalition for Safe Healthcare, the collaborative’s mum or dad group, mentioned in a information launch.
Additionally, the report mentioned two hospital obstetrics packages — at West Bonner General Health in Sandpoint and at Valor Health in Emmett — have closed since Idaho’s legislation banning abortion took impact, the report mentioned.
A 3rd hospital obstetrics program is in “severe jeopardy” of closing, the report additionally mentioned.
Only 22 of 44 counties in Idaho have access to any working towards obstetricians, the report mentioned. About 85% of obstetricians and gynecologists in Idaho observe within the seven most populous counties.
Idaho banned almost all abortions after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022. Idaho makes it against the law with a jail time period of as much as 5 years for anybody who performs or assists in an abortion.
SOUTH DAKOTA
GOP lawmakers OK video to make clear abortion legal guidelines
PIERRE — South Dakota’s Republican-controlled legislature on Feb. 29 accredited the creation of a video to stipulate the state’s abortion legal guidelines and to make clear when well being care suppliers are legally allowed to intervene.
The invoice handed by the state Senate in a 31-3 vote can also be meant for most people and would require the state Department of Health, which solutions to Republican Gov. Kristi Noem, to create the informational video “and different supplies” by Sept. 1. Creation of the video would take place in session with the state legal professional normal and authorized and medical consultants, describing how the state’s abortion legal guidelines needs to be utilized.
South Dakota outlaws all abortions besides to save lots of the lifetime of the mom below a set off ban that took impact in 2022 after the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade.
Republican Rep. Taylor Rehfeldt mentioned she introduced the invoice for readability to suppliers who had questions on once they may intervene to save lots of the lifetime of a mom.
The invoice seeks to supply clarification with out “the noise of politics across the abortion situation,” Rehfeldt mentioned in an interview with The Associated Press. Efforts to make clear or redefine the statute itself possible would have failed, having little consensus across the situation, she mentioned.
Noem spokesman Ian Fury, who’s the governor’s “unborn youngster advocate,” mentioned the administration will make the proposed video and supplies available on South Dakota’s being pregnant useful resource web site.
NORTH DAKOTA
Congressional age restrict may very well be take a look at case
BISMARCK — North Dakota can be the primary state to set an age restrict for U.S. Senate and House candidates below a measure that might go earlier than voters in June, although it is unclear whether or not a state restrict on federal officeholders would violate the U.S. Constitution.
The transfer comes at a time of heightened curiosity within the matter given the superior age of some congressional leaders and the main presidential candidates in each events. At least one political observer mentioned the transfer may very well be an effort to create a take a look at case for the nation.
“It’s been a problem in North Dakota, it has been a problem nationally,” mentioned measure chairman Jared Hendrix, who led a profitable 2022 initiative that set time period limits for North Dakota’s governor and Legislature. The sponsoring committee for the measure consists of present and former lawmakers.
Supporters of the initiative on Feb. 9 submitted almost 42,000 signatures, way over the roughly 31,000 signatures required to qualify for the June 11 poll. The secretary of state’s workplace has till March 15 to evaluate the signatures.
The proposal states, “No person could also be elected or appointed to serve a time period or a portion of a time period within the U.S. Senate or the U.S. House of Representatives if that person may attain 81 years of age by December thirty first of the 12 months instantly previous the top of the time period.”
University of North Dakota political science professor Mark Jendrysik has mentioned the North Dakota initiative may very well be an effort to create a take a look at case for the U.S. Supreme Court to see if the courtroom can be keen to permit states to set congressional age limits on an individual foundation.
The measure additionally has a “poll advisory” to incorporate candidates’ ages by the top of their time period on the poll if “superior legislation requires age-limited candidates to seem on the poll.” The measure additionally seems to put out a courtroom course of for denied candidates to problem the age restrict.
UTAH
Bill killed to ban Pride flags, different views from lecture rooms
SALT LAKE CITY — Utah lecturers shall be free to show LGBTQ+ Pride flags and different social, political or non secular imagery after the state House blocked a invoice on Feb. 26 that may have banned lecturers from utilizing their position to advertise or disparage sure beliefs.
The Republican-led chamber defeated the proposal in a 39-32 vote as they raced to deal with tons of of excellent payments through the ultimate week of the 2024 legislative session. Both Democrats and Republicans criticized the invoice’s imprecise language and warned that it may stymie necessary classes in important considering.
Educators would have been prohibited below the invoice from encouraging a scholar to rethink their sexual orientation or gender, they usually may have confronted punishment for affirming or refusing to affirm a scholar’s id. Challenging a scholar’s political viewpoints or non secular beliefs, even throughout the context of an academic train, additionally may have left a trainer vulnerable to a lawsuit.
Some lecturers pleaded with lawmakers to reject the invoice, which they mentioned would make them afraid to talk overtly within the classroom. But Rep. Jeff Stenquist, a Draper Republican and the invoice’s main sponsor, inspired educators to view it as a device to enhance belief within the state’s training system.
The invoice’s surprising failure on the House flooring comes a month after Republican Gov. Spencer Cox signed laws limiting variety, fairness and inclusion packages on the state’s instructional establishments.
