Idaho Briefs December 22, 2014
Missing Idaho cows recaptured by employees
POCATELLO - Pocatello police said two cows that escaped from a meat-processing business have been captured.
Officers were told by Anderson Custom Pack that employees found the missing cows and brought them back to the business Saturday.
A total of five cows fled from Anderson Custom Pack in two recent incidents.
One of the cows was recaptured on Dec. 15 and two were fatally shot - one by Pocatello police and the other by one of Anderson's owners.
Police said the cows recaptured Saturday were not injured.
Anderson Custom Pack has said the cow that fled the business Dec. 12 escaped on its own while the other four cows were intentionally released by a trespasser.
Idaho's first state-funded crisis center opens
IDAHO FALLS - Eastern Idaho's first state-funded behavioral health crisis center opened its door last week.
The center in Idaho Falls received $1.5 million in state funding along with grants and donations. As of Wednesday, the center had received three patients.
In June, Gov. Butch Otter announced that Idaho Falls had beaten out two other locations, including Post Falls, to be the state's first mental health crisis center. The center will serve as a pilot program with more facilities opening around the state in the future.
Center Coordinator Brenda Price said they provide help to individuals experiencing acute mental health or substance abuse crises. However, the facility is not meant for ongoing care.
Official said services will be provided for free and no one will be turned away.
Idaho's jobless rate lowest in 7 years
BOISE - Latest jobless rates show that Idaho is at its lowest in nearly seven years.
According to the Idaho Statesman, a declining labor force and above average employer payrolls drove Idaho's seasonally adjusted unemployment rate below 4 percent in November. It's the lowest since early 2008 and below two-tenths of a percentage point from October.
A year ago, Idaho's unemployment rate was 5.7 percent.
This is the 13th year Idaho's jobless rate has been lower than the national average.
Total jobs exceeded prerecession peaks for the second month in a row, however year-over-year gain remains at 1.9 percent.
New hires, or those who filled job openings through retirements or other reasons, jumped 15,000 during the month. It was the highest November total since 2007.
- The Associated Press