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Fewer Idaho Homeless

Fewer Idaho Homeless

The number of Idaho residents classified as homeless has declined since last year. A survey released last week shows that there are 1,781 homeless people in the state.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association tracks the homeless population to determine how best to use federal funding and services. The association reported a 9.5 percent decline in homeless residents over last year. Idaho received $4.21 million in federal aid to help the homeless, but funding for 2013 will not be know until this summer.

The eastern counties in the state had the lowest number of homeless. The agency counted only 191 homeless in the counties of Lemhi, Custer, Butte, Clark, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, Fremont and Bonneville.

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Idaho Spring Job Fair

Idaho Spring Job Fair

The Idaho Department of Labor is hosting their Spring Job Fair tomorrow in Post Falls. Over 40 employers are confirmed to be there and are ready to hire in the next 60-90 days.

There are two job fairs a year, one in the spring and another in the fall. Frank Garcia of the Department of Labor says the goal of the job fair is to connect job seekers with employers that have current openings. Employers are from around North Idaho as well as some from the Spokane area. 

The event will be held at Real Life Ministries in Post Falls from 10am-2pm on Wednesday, April 17th. Make sure to dress for an interview and bring your resume. 

Real Life Ministries, 1866 North Cecil Road, Post Falls, Id.

Employers attending include:

Spokane Stands With Boston

Spokane Stands With Boston

 

From sea to shining sea, Americans stood by Boston and those injured in the Boston Marathon Bombings on Monday night.  The attack brought back instant memories of the September 11th terror attacks of 2001.

America is a much different place than it was 12 years ago.  Today as the events in Boston unfolded, people turned to social media to not only find out what was happening, but to give their opinion as to what was going on.

“Terrible, but the world needs to expect terrorist acts, during world events, and national events, Satan’s working hard now a days!” wrote Janette Smith on the KXLY4 News Facebook fan page.

“Oh my goodness there’s so much blood. How horrid.” wrote Dawn Blasberg.

The images on television and streaming across the internet did indeed show a lot of blood on the street and sidewalks.  The images were unlike anything we’ve seen in recent years.  The images of hate and anger came at America in record speed.

“IF this is a terrorist attack, how could someone be SO heartless as to do something like this to innocent people!” wrote Bowtie Bob Fryer on the KXLY Facebook page.

Coeur d'Alene School District considering demolishing 90-year-old school

The Coeur d'Alene School District's oldest school might become a demolition site. Winton Elementary School was built in 1925 and although some upgrades have been made, the district wonders if it's time to knock it down and start from scratch.

While a school house from 1925 has a particular charm, radiator heating, skeleton key doors and electrical panels like a New York subway system get in the way of seeing the beauty of a 90-year-old school.

"In 1925, if you had a light bulb you were in pretty good shape, now with all of the technology, of course, a huge issue is electricity," Bryan Martin said.

Martin is the Coeur d'Alene School District's Director of Facilities. He says a major issue Winton has is that it's not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The school has two sets of stairs and in one instance, a grandmother visiting the school had to be taken on a journey around the school just to get into the school's gym, which is located down a flight of stairs.

"We have an old, antiquated system that was put in in 1975 with the addition, but... we can't get parts for it," Wilson said of their fire suppression system.

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Man attempts burglary, barricades himself in apartment

A Coeur d'Alene man who barricaded himself in his apartment Saturday morning is under arrest for residential burglary and a weapons offense.

A neighbor found 22-year-old William A. Velis in his apartment in the 4200 block of Abbey Road attempting to steal several items. When the neighbor confronted Velis, he pulled out a weapon.

Velis then fled the neighbor's apartment back to his own, which is in the same complex.

He barricaded himself in his apartment with his young child inside. Neighbors were evacuated from their homes while SWAT was on scene.

Velis eventually complied with the SWAT team and came out of his apartment. The child was unharmed and returned to Velis' wife. Velis was taken to jail.







Coeur d'Alene Police looking for attempted rape suspect

Police are looking for a man who is suspected of trying to rape a Coeur d'Alene girl Saturday morning.

The attempted rape occurred in the 1800 block of North 15th Street around 5:30 a.m.

Police say the 16-year-old girl was assaulted by a man who had been following her as she was walking.

The man assaulted her and she was injured while trying to escape. She then ran to a nearby home where home owners let her in and called police.

Police are trying to locate that suspect at this time.

He is described as a white man in his late 20s to early 30s. He has reddish hair, a scruffy goatee and has average build and height.

He was last seen wearing a dark colored Carhartt jacket and tan Carhartt pants.

If you have any information about this attempted rape, please call Coeur d'Alene Police at (208) 769-2320.

Idaho Among Lowest For Health Insurance

Idaho Among Lowest For Health Insurance

A new study has been released regarding companies that offer health insurance to employees. The news isn't good for Idaho. The state ranks among the lowest in the country.

A report released last week states that only 43 percent of Idaho companies provide their workers with health insurance. That makes it the fourth lowest nationally. Other states in the region, Montana and Wyoming, rank lower. It is, however, an improvement from last year's score of 41 percent.

The numbers get worse. Among small businesses with 50 employees or less, Idaho ranks second lowest with 28 percent of them offering health insurance. For companies that offer insurance for employee family members, the employees pay 31 percent of their premiums on average. This is the third highest employee contribution requirement in the nation.

The report was published by the University of Minnesota's State Health access Data Assistance Center.