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Point of View: By Aaron Kunz

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By mid-August, the evening and morning temperatures at Stanley, Idaho hover around 31 degrees.  At least that’s what the built in temperature gauge on the green Idaho Public Television Tahoe told us.  The air temperature was colder than the water in the nearby Salmon River and Redfish Lake causing an early morning mist on the water surface.

Study: Changing climate could cut Western trout habitat in half

BOISE, Idaho—A new study shows a changing climate could reduce suitable trout habitat in the western U.S. by about 50 percent over the next 70 years, with some trout species experiencing greater declines than others. The results were reported by a team of 11 scientists from Trout Unlimited, the U.S. Forest Service Rocky Mountain Research Station, Colorado State University, the U.S. Geological Survey and the University of Washington Climate Impacts Group.

11th Circuit Court Finds Individual Health Insurance Mandate Unconstitutional

Photo courtesy of the Library of Congress.

BOISE, Idaho — The Atlanta based 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Friday that the individual mandate of the Obama Health Care Act is unconstitutional.  The decision sides with the argument raised by 26 states including Idaho that the individual mandate that requires people to enter into contracts with private insurance companies.  The three justices on the panel lead by Chief Judge Joel Dubina said that provision “exceeds Congress enumerated commerce power”.

Wildlife Organization Appeals Wolf budget “Rider” Claiming it’s Unconstitutional

BOISE, Idaho — Wolves were taken off the endangered species list in the northwest by congress in April after an attachment to the budget bill. 

Oregon Governor Signs Wolf Compensation Bill

BOISE, Idaho — Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber signed the state wolf compensation bill Tuesday. It creates a $100 thousand dollar fund to pay ranchers who lose livestock to the legally protected predators.

Judge Redden Rules on Federal Salmon Management Plan

Salmon swimming Middle Fork of Snake River near Dagger Falls (Photo: Aaron Kunz)

Federal Judge James Redden this afternoon[Tuesday] struck down the federal government’s plan for managing salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake rivers. Aaron Kunz reports.