Boise Briefing: Suicides Down, Boise River Up; Merritt's

Boise Briefing offers a story many will find shocking-suicide rates across the nation are down, even with the troubles caused by the pandemic. On the opposite, river flows on the Boise River are increasing as irrigators call for water. An outdated law regarding rape of a spouse has been updated while Boise City is considering changes to pet laws. Finally, Merritt's has been serving hungry people on State Street for 42 years and appears will go another 42.

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1. In what will come as a shock to many, suicides across the US actually dropped last year as reported by KTVB-TV. In a year in which many people thought the pandemic would push rates higher, the number of suicides actually fell nearly 6 percent.

2. With irrigation season approaching, the flows of the Boise River are gradually being increased per a story by the Idaho Press. On Wednesday, the flow increased from 250 to 500 cubic feet per second and Boise residents should be careful around riverbanks as the water is cold and fast.

3. Also in the Idaho Press, the Idaho House voted to repeal a portion of an Idaho law granting exceptions to the criminal definition of rape when the alledged suspect is married to the victim. Already passed by the Idaho Senate, the bill is now waiting for the governor's signature. the bill updates a 1977 law stating “no person shall be convicted of rape for any act or acts with that person’s spouse".

5. Residents of Boise love their pets. The city is now looking at some changes to the animal code according to the Idaho Statesman with one of the biggest changes affecting how you are allowed to interact with animals.

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