Hello Wednesday. Gretchen Parsons here with your local news.

Good first day of March. Ada County Commissioners have set a public hearing for the dissolution of the Meridian Library District, details below. Plus, if you have any interest in being a vendor at the Capital City Public Market, applications are now open.

• Today: 42° 🌨 🌤Chance of snow showers then mostly sunny.

First Up Today

Public hearing set for dissolution of Meridian Library District

The Ada County Board of Commissioners set a hearing date for the dissolution of the Meridian Library District.

This comes after a group of Meridian residents, called the Concerned Citizens of Meridian, filed a petition to commissioners seeking to dissolve the district because they believe the library is placing pornographic books in the children’s section.

One of the books the group took issue with and cited as an example at a library board meeting last year was titled Gender Queer – a graphic novel that explores gender identity and sexuality.

The group gathered 119 signatures for the petition, and at an Ada County Commission meeting last week, commissioners approved 93 of the signatures, which meets the 50-signature threshold required by law for the motion to move forward.

Tuesday morning, commissioners set a public hearing for the dissolution of the Meridian Library District for Monday, March 20 at 6 p.m. Only residents living within the district can testify and submit documents. Any residents submitting documents must do so at least five days before the hearing so commissioners can look them over.

Applications open for Capital City Public Market

A sign that springtime is right around the corner – vendor applications are now open for the 2023 Capital City Public Market.

The market runs from 9:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays from April 15 through December 16 in the Grove Plaza in downtown Boise.

In order to apply, vendors must be from Idaho and make/ grow the product themselves. Resellers or franchises are not allowed.

In addition, vendors must pay weekly booth fees that range from $65 – $80, depending on the product.

Interested applicants can read more about the requirements and apply here.

While the location has changed over the years, the Capital City Public Market has been ongoing since 1994.

(Photo: Dave Takisaki/ Unsplash)

Saint Al’s opens first-of-its-kind facility in Idaho

Saint Alphonsus opened the first advanced Neuro, Surgical, Trauma Intensive Care Unit in Idaho on Tuesday.

The new 37,535-square-foot facility will be able to treat patients suffering from both common and complex neurological disorders, such as spinal cord and traumatic brain injuries, brain infections, seizures, strokes, and tumors. It’s also equipped with state-of-the-art equipment, including a portable CT scanner for bedside surveillance scans that eliminates the need to transport patients for imaging. The scanner was purchased with proceeds from the 2022 Saint Al’s Festival of Trees.

“The number of trauma cases is growing as the population of the Treasure Valley and the region grows.  There’s a greater need for advanced, specialized surgical critical care, and this new unit provides that 24/7 support,” said Dr. Rashna Ginwalla, Trauma Surgeon and co-Medical Director.

The facility has 18 ICU rooms and 17 “step-down rooms,” which provide an intermediate level of care between ICUs and general medical-surgical units.

“The 35-bed unit will expand the number of ICU beds at the Boise hospital to 77, helping to address a shortage of ICU beds in the region,” the news release stated.

The release adds that the facility will be staffed by board-certified neurocritical care and critical care acute care surgeons. 

(Photo courtesy of Saint Al’s)

Happening Today

• Big win: The Boise State men’s team notched a big come-from-behind win over San Diego State last night with an electric arena at Boise State. It could cement the team a bid to the NCAA tournament. Full coverage over at BroncoNationNews.com.
• Weather Advisory: A Winter Weather Advisory was in effect in the Treasure Valley until 5 a.m. this morning. While the advisory is lifted, it could be a slippery commute and drivers are urged to use caution.
• Road Closure: Starting today, Latah Street will be closed at Kootenai Street as part of the Kootenai Street, Orchard St to Vista Ave project. The intersection is expected to open again in early April.
• Rescue Mission: March 1 kicks off the Boise Rescue Mission’s March to End Hunger Campaign. See how you can get involved here.
• 2nd Street Rehabilitation: ACHD will be rehabilitating 2nd Street in Kuna from Linder Avenue to Orchard Avenue. See the project details and take the survey.

BoiseDev Reports

Lego poised to open store in Village at Meridian

Lego plans to open a store at The Village in Meridian. As Don Day reports, while an application for the store hasn’t yet been filed, the toymaker does have a job posting for the new store.

Daycare, profit sharing, China limits: Micron & others learn of strings attached to Chips subsidies

Chipmakers like Micron that are applying for federal dollars from last year’s Chips Act will have to agree to several stipulations. Find out what they are on BoiseDev.

ACHD backtracks from dual 8th/9th Street bike lane pitch, approves design of two bike lanes on 8th Street near St. Joe’s School

ACHD approved the design for a new stretch of protected bike lanes on 8th Street. As Margaret Carmel reports, the approval comes after more than a year of hearings and multiple redesigns.

‘Compromise’: New version of self-storage unit tax bill gets the approval of Ada Assessor, moves to House floor

A bill capping the tax value for self-storage units, nursing homes and car washes died on Monday and a new, watered-down version headed to the house floor in its place. Margaret Carmel has this report.

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• Drag Shows: The Idaho Legislature’s House State Affairs Committee introduced a new bill Monday that the bill’s author said would restrict minors from attending so-called “sexual exhibitions,” including drag shows, burlesque performances, erotic dancing, and stripteases. Read the report from the Idaho Capital Sun.
• Manslaughter: CBS2 reports that the driver who fatally hit a pedestrian in downtown Boise in January has been charged with Vehicular Manslaughter.
• UI Homicides: According to the AP, law enforcement officials seized dark clothing, medical gloves, a flashlight and other items from a Pennsylvania home where they arrested a graduate student charged with stabbing four University of Idaho students to death, according to newly unsealed court documents.
• McCall Homicide: KTVB reports police arrested a man suspected of killing his wife in McCall two weekends ago.

Things To Do

• Reggaeton: If you’re a fan of Reggaeton, Humpin’ Hannah’s is having a Reggaeton party on Thursday starting at 9 p.m. There is a $5 cover and there will be drink specials.
• Comedy: Mad Swede in downtown Boise is hosting a comedy show on Friday called Rent’s Due. The show starts at 7 p.m. and tickets are $25.
• Piano Concert: Members of the Boise Phil will be playing a special piano concert at the Idaho State Museum on Friday at 7:30 p.m. They will be playing the 1878 Cartee Weber Grand Piano, which the Idaho State Historical Society has restored. Tickets are $15 at the door.
• Big Sky Championships: The 2023 Big Sky Men’s and Women’s Basketball Championships begin on Saturday at Idaho Central Arena. You can buy single-game tickets or a pass to all of the games.

Pet of the Day

Awww meet Kaleb. Owner Kathleen King says Kaleb is a 9-year-old yellow lab with soulful brown eyes and a loving disposition and a big appetite. Despite losing 50 lbs. his nickname is Big Man. 😍

Submit your pet’s photo here, and we may feature it Monday-Thursday! Plus, our friends at Zamzows will send along a prize to the winning pet (owners)!