Coronavirus: Applications open in July for Return to Work bonuses, Idaho paper to close
Idaho businesses can start applying for Return to Work bonuses starting next month.
Idaho Gov. Brad Little announced Wednesday that business owners can start applying for the bonuses July 13, and a second wave of applications will open July 20.
The bonuses — which will be $1,500 for full-time work and $750 for part-time — will be given to employees who returned to work between May 1 and July 1. Employers must apply for the bonuses on behalf of employees.
Idaho set aside $100 million in federal coronavirus relief funds to create the bonus program, according to a governor’s office news release.
The bonuses were created to counteract “enhanced federal benefits that disincentivize workers returning to jobs,” the news release said.
“All Idaho businesses are now able to open their doors safely, and jobs are coming back. The Return to Work bonuses are based on a fundamental conservative principle — we do not want people on unemployment. We want people working. We’re responding to the needs of businesses, strengthening our workforce and economic rebound, and saving taxpayer dollars in the long run,” Little said in the release.
The governor’s office added that President Donald Trump, White House officials and members of Congress are “looking to Idaho’s Return to Work bonuses for similar programs on the federal level.”
For eligibility requirements and details on the program, go to www.rebound.idaho.gov/return-to-work-bonuses.
Boise approves plan to reopen schools
The board for the Boise School District has approved a plan to reopen its buildings for the fall semester.
The approved plan largely mirrors a draft released last week for public comment. Highlights include:
Offering in-person classes five days a week starting Aug. 17.
Allowing parents and students to choose between in-person and online classes.
Recommending, but not requiring, masks or face shields for students and staff.
Disinfectant wipes, disinfectant spray bottles and hand washing/sanitizing stations in every classroom.
Resuming buses and hot lunches.
Limiting the use of shared supplies.
The plan serves as an outline for the district. Plans for individual schools are due July 3. The district noted that its plans are not exhaustive or static, with strategies for slowing the spread of COVID-19 continuing to evolve.
Changes from the original plan include:
No longer automatically issuing a short-term school closure if a positive COVID-19 case is tied to a school. The district will consult with the public health district on next steps.
Allowing students to request to use a locker.
Kitchen staff must wear face masks while serving meals.
Allowing seating in employee break rooms.
Boise also added guidelines for students and staff who are sick. Neither should return to school if they have symptoms similar to COVID-19 or are caring for someone with COVID-19.
The district will notify staff if a positive coronavirus test came from a student or employee at their school. But it listed no plans to notify that school’s families.
Payette County newspaper to close
In what has been a difficult year for many in local news, an Idaho newspaper is closing its doors.
The Independent-Enterprise, Payette County’s weekly for well over 100 years, announced Wednesday that it will print its final edition June 24.
In a letter to readers, Independent-Enterprise and Ontario, Oregon-based Argus Observer Editor Leslie Thompson wrote that the coronavirus outbreak’s impact on businesses has been “enormous,” and the newspaper was no different.
“Across the United States, the economic turndown has been too much to endure — even for many newspapers, whose many advertisers were facing their own financial hardships,” Thompson wrote. “Unfortunately, the toll now includes the Independent-Enterprise, in which journalists have been helping to write the first draft of history for Payette County since the early 1890s.”
Thompson wrote that the Independent-Enterprise will be absorbed into the pages of the Argus Observer, saying the Payette County news won’t be going away. All Idaho classified ads and legal notifications will be included in Idaho-specific pages in the Argus four days a week.
Both newspapers are owned by Wick Communications, a family-owned company based in Sierra Vista, Arizona, with news outlets in 11 states.
“Thank you, for all who have supported the Independent-Enterprise throughout the years,” Thompson wrote. “We look forward to your continued support for generations to come as we draft the next chapters of history for Payette County in The Argus Observer.
JUMP hosting dance performance, movie night Friday
Looking for something to get out of your rut while staying socially distant?
This Friday, JUMP is hosting a new event — Cine-Magic Pop-Ups in the Park — its first-ever pop-up outdoor movie starting at 7 p.m. in downtown Boise. The gathering place will first host a performance for all ages by the Open Arms Dance Project, a local dance company.
After the performance, JUMP will play “Finding Nemo” on an outdoor screen, so families can allow for plenty of distancing. Attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets for the event.
The dance performance will begin at 7 p.m., and the movie will start immediately after at 7:30, according to Kathy O’Neil, community engagement director for JUMP.
O’Neil said the plan is to hold similar events as the summer goes on, but JUMP staff wants to see how the Friday event goes before planning others later in the summer.
The event is free and for all ages.
Idaho coronavirus cases continue to rise
Health officials in Southeast Idaho reported a dozen newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus Thursday.
Many of the 12 new cases involved boys and girls under the age of 18, according to Southeastern Idaho Public Health. Six cases were found in Bannock County and six in Power.
In Power County, all six cases were reported in younger people. Four boys were reported to have the virus. All four were in contact with a confirmed case and are recovering at home. A woman in her 20s and a girl younger than 18 also tested positive after being in contact with a confirmed case.
In Bannock, three girls younger than 18 tested positive for the virus, with all three being exposed to a confirmed case. All three are recovering at home. Officials also say a man in his 50s and another man in his 40s tested positive. The man in his 50s had contact with a confirmed case, while the other man likely contracted the virus through community transmission, according to SIPH.
On Wednesday, health officials around Idaho reported a total of 59 new cases of the coronavirus.
With the addition of Wednesday’s numbers, Idaho’s 14-day moving average is up to 45.43 cases — the highest the number has been since the state’s reopening began on May 1. The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare also reported 31 new “probable cases,” a significant jump from the previous day.
For the current 14-day window of Stage 4 (June 10-23), the state has averaged 51.8 new coronavirus cases per day. This number includes confirmed and probable cases.
Of the 59 new cases confirmed by health officials Wednesday, 28 were in Ada County, which now has 912 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, which causes the COVID-19 respiratory disease.
New cases were also found in Bannock, Bonner, Canyon, Kootenai, Twin Falls and Washington counties, among others.
As of Wednesday, there are 3,267 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Idaho. No new deaths were reported Wednesday, leaving Idaho’s death total at 89.
Coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the majority of Idaho’s 44 counties: Ada 912, Adams 8, Bannock 72, Benewah 12, Bingham 26, Blaine 504, Bonner 10, Bonneville 58, Camas 1, Canyon 340, Caribou 6, Cassia 131, Custer 2, Elmore 36, Franklin 17, Fremont 3, Gem 13, Gooding 50, Idaho 3, Jefferson 8, Jerome 184, Kootenai 105, Latah 7, Lemhi 2, Lincoln 31, Madison 20, Minidoka 91, Nez Perce 75, Owyhee 10, Payette 26, Power 13, Teton 11, Twin Falls 416, Valley 3 and Washington 61.
Community spread has been detected in 25 Idaho counties: Ada, Bannock, Benewah, Bingham, Blaine, Bonner, Bonneville, Canyon, Caribou, Cassia, Elmore, Gem, Gooding, Jefferson, Jerome, Kootenai, Lemhi, Lincoln, Madison, Minidoka, Owyhee, Payette, Power, Teton and Twin Falls.
This story was originally published June 18, 2020 at 9:20 AM.
