Logan Ramsey
Editor-in-Chief
Local: The FBI’s new facilities have been officially completed
The FBI and its partners at the Department of Justice (DOJ) participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Nov. 18 for a new data center at the FBI’s facility in Pocatello, Idaho. The new data center will optimize infrastructure, information, and services by consolidating almost 100 data centers throughout DOJ. It substantially expands the footprint of the FBI’s existing Pocatello facility, which has been maintained for more than three decades. This expansion provides the FBI and DOJ with approximately 140,000 square feet of additional space, accommodating both data center and office space capacity. This consolidation will enable the FBI to reduce operational costs, create efficiencies (most notably through energy reduction), and modernize the technological architecture.
Courtesy of FBI press release
https://bit.ly/330qWUI
Regional: 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of Shoshone-Bannock Tribes
The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Nov. 15 that the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes have both adjudicatory and regulatory jurisdiction to impose a $1.5 million annual hazardous waste storage permit fee against the FMC Corporation for storing hazardous waste within the Fort Hall Reservation. In 1998, FMC agreed to pay annual storage of hazardous fees but that stopped in 2002 after FMC closed its plant in Pocatello. When FMC refused to pay the annual hazardous waste storage fee, the tribes filed a lawsuit to collect the fee. The tribes prevailed in tribal court and FMC appealed to federal court. The federal district court affirmed the tribal court judgment against FMC, and now the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has affirmed the district court award.
Courtesy of Shoshone-Bannock Tribes press release
https://bit.ly/2CTIkjt
Statewide: A Boise man pleaded guilty to a drive-by shooting in Idaho Falls
A Boise man pleaded guilty Wednesday, as part of a plea agreement, to the July drive-by shooting at an Idaho Falls skate park. Jeremy Duane Marston, 37, pleaded guilty to felony unlawful discharge of a weapon at an occupied vehicle and two felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. As part of a plea agreement, prosecutors dismissed two additional felony counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Also as part of the agreement, prosecutors agreed to recommend Marston spend five years in prison followed by a period of indeterminate time with sentences for each charge running concurrently. The plea agreement is non-binding on the court, which means the judge does not need to accept the terms.
Courtesy of Eric Grossarth of East Idaho News
https://bit.ly/2CVDxxX
National: Ten people have been shot and four are dead in a Fresno shooting
At least ten people have been shot, and four are dead after Fresno Police say at least two suspects opened fire as a family gathered at an east-central Fresno home Nov. 17. Officers were called to a home located about three blocks south of the Fresno Yosemite International Airport at 7:48 pm. Fresno Police say around 30 people were at the house having a party to watch a football game on television. The gathering was described as peaceful and quiet before the shots rang out. The other people inside the home, which included women and children, were not injured. Fresno Police Chief Andy Hall says the shooting was not random and noted that some of the members attending the party were linked to a “disturbance” last week, also described as a fight, but was vague on the details of that prior incident.
Courtesy of ABC30 Staff
https://abc30.tv/2pv4mGh
International: Deforestation in the Amazon rainforest has hit a new high in ten years
Brazil’s National Institute for Space Research, or INPE, released data Nov. 18 revealing that 3,769 square miles of rainforest were lost to deforestation in a 12-month period ending in July. That marks the highest rate of deforestation since 2008, and a nearly 30% spike over the rate recorded by INPE during the previous yearlong span. Brazil’s environmental minister, Ricardo Salles, vouched for the accuracy of the stark numbers and said authorities are considering new ways to combat the illegal logging and mining operations that he blamed for the rising tide of destruction. Those comments are unlikely to inspire confidence among critics of Salles or his boss, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, who has not yet commented publicly on the new set of numbers.
Courtesy of Colin Dwyer of NPR
https://n.pr/2r0I9An
