Idaho briefs February 13, 2011
Trustee questions school's finances
TWIN FALLS - A board trustee at Xavier Charter School in south-central Idaho says the school can't account for nearly $330,000 in taxpayer money.
Joan Hurlock said the school's Utah-based management company, Paragon, failed to produce documents she requested concerning the 4-year-old school's finances.
The Times-News reported that Hurlock disclosed the information Thursday at a school board meeting.
Hurlock said statements she received show Paragon took in $788,000 from the Idaho State Department of Education from October to November 2010 and deposited it into an account the board can't view. She said only about $460,000 left the account during the same time.
Paragon owner Brandon Fairbanks said the company can account for the money and that Hurlock should have come to him first before bringing her concerns to the board.
Judge dismisses broadband lawsuit
BOISE - A state judge has dismissed a lawsuit by a consortium of Idaho telephone companies against the Idaho Department of Administration.
Fourth District Judge Patrick H. Owen on Wednesday ruled that Syringa Networks failed to prove allegations that the group was unfairly excluded from a competitive process for a multimillion-dollar contract.
The consortium sued in 2009, claiming the department illegally handed Quest Communications Co. a $60 million contract to install a broadband infrastructure for the Idaho Education Network, a project to link public schools, universities and businesses in Idaho.
A portion of the lawsuit was thrown out last year when a judge ruled the consortium didn't fully try to resolve the contract dispute before it sued the state.
First megaload arrives in Montana
LOLO PASS - ConocoPhillips said its first giant truckload of oversized oil refinery equipment has crossed North Idaho on U.S. Highway 12 and arrived in Montana.
The company said the shipment traveled into Montana early Saturday morning and is parked near Lolo Hot Springs.
The company said it will remain there until being joined by a second megaload that has yet to leave the Port of Lewiston. It's unclear when that shipment will depart.
The load that reached Montana is the first of four heading for a refinery in Billings, each carrying half of a 300-ton coke drum.
Report: Wolf shot chasing livestock
MALAD - An official with the U.S. Department of Fish and Wildlife said a wolf reported to be chasing livestock has been shot and killed in southeastern Idaho near Malad.
Todd Grimm told the Idaho State Journal that the black-colored wolf was shot Wednesday.
Grimm said the killing of the wolf is legal under a rule in the Endangered Species Act involving wolves attacking livestock.
The name of the person who shot the wolf has not been released. Grimm said the person reported the shooting to the Oneida County Sheriff's Office the day it happened. Grimm didn't know whether it was a male or female wolf.
The last reported wolf kill in southeast Idaho was July 6 when officials say a sheepherder shot a 94-pound male after it killed a lamb.
Areva hires URS Corp. to build plant
IDAHO FALLS - Executives with Areva Inc. say they have hired the URS Corp. to be the lead builder on $4 billion uranium enrichment facility planned near Idaho Falls.
Officials from both companies declined to share specifics of their deal, but agree it's a key step in moving the project forward.
The Post Register reported construction is expected to create about 1,000 jobs in eastern Idaho and inject millions of dollars in the state and local economy.
The Nuclear Regulatory Commission is still in the process of licensing the facility. Areva spokesman Jarret Adams said the company is confident construction could begin this summer.
URS, which has offices in Boise, became one of the world's biggest engineering and construction companies when it acquired Washington Group International for $3.2 billion in 2007.
- The Associated Press