🌱 Escaped Inmate + Teachers Leaving + Expanded Vet Cemetery

Happy Thursday, neighbors! Here's everything you need to know today in town.

The Boise Daily opens with an inmate on the run after walking away from a women's facility. Teachers are apparently considering leaving their chosen career in droves and Boise has a new planning director on the way. The veteran's cemetery is needing to expand and an abortion bill has been killed in the legislature.

First, today's weather: An a.m. flurry; mostly cloudy. High: 35 Low: 24.

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Here are the top stories in Boise today:

1. Crystal R. Morford did not wish to wait for a parole hearing. KTVB-TV staff report the 23-year old was last seen getting into a car outside of Boise, leaving the South Boise Women's Correctional Center and now considered an escapee. (KTVB.com)
2. Lawmakers were recently informed over half of current educators in the state are considering leaving the profession. The information came from Idaho Education Association president Layne McInelly as reported by Boise State Public Radio's George Prentice. McInelly spoke with Prentice with the full transcript of the conversation included in the link. (Boise State Public Radio)
3. Boise will soon have a new planning director straight from Atlanta. BoiseDev reporter Margaret Carmel writes the city has hired Tim Keane as the capital city's next planning director. Keane is currently Atlanta’s Planning and Community Development Commissioner. (boisedev.com)
4. With growth comes new issues. CBS2 reporter Kristen McPeek reports the Idaho Veterans Cemetery is looking to expand. The cemetery currently sits on 25 acres. (idahonews)
5. The Idaho Senate State Affairs Committee killed a bill modeled after the Texas abortion-banning measure according to Boise Weekly's Landen Kelly. Planned Parenthood lauded the unsuccessful advancement with caution and an urgent plea to remain vigilant. (boiseweekly)

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Today in Boise:

• The Boise State University Recreation Center offers a workshop with Elayne Fluker on how to uncover limiting beliefs and blind spots you may have about support, and she will demonstrate how these beliefs and blindspots may be holding you back at work and in life. (10 am)
• The Canals Connect Community Coalition is a big-tent space for interested non-profits, businesses, residents and others coalesce once-a-month to talk and strategize about how to help advance urban pathways in the Treasure Valley utilizing irrigation infrastructure. (Noon)
• The Forge International School will hold a school-wide spelling bee on Thursday. (1:30 pm)
• Join Venture College for the first of two Idaho Entrepreneur Challenge (IEC) workshops this spring. (5 pm)
• The Household Hazardous Waste Collection site for Thursday is located at 711 Mountain Cove Rd. in Boise. (Noon)

From my notebook:

• US National Weather Service Boise Idaho: "With the quieter weather as of late, here's a glance at the current liquid inside the snowpack for Oregon and Idaho basins. Values shown are the percentages compared to average for this date. #IDwx #ORwx" (Facebook)
• Boise Weekly: "The Idaho Freedom Foundation to Hold Education Rally at The Basque Center The Idaho Freedom Foundation, a libertarian/conservative "think tank" started in 2009 has had a lot of influence in local politics." (Instagram)
• Blue Galleries at Boise State: "The Blue Galleries are open this week Tuesday- Friday 11am-6pm. A detail from @ralanyoung Richard A. Young - A Delicate Balance “The Road Home”, mixed media on wood, 2021" (Instagram)
• Zoo Boise: "We’ve had several people asking us why Boise Bill didn’t make a prediction this year. Boise Bill asked us to post this message to his fans: Honestly, it’s a lot of stress having the whole world depend on you to predict the weather." (Facebook)
• Boise Little Theater: "We are unfortunately writing to share with you, our valued patrons, that two cast members of “Noises Off” by Michael Frayn have tested positive for COVID-19 and are now under quarantine." (Instagram)

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You're officially in the loop for today. I'll see you soon!

— John Braese

About me: Welcome to the Boise edition of patch.com. I am the community editor in this exciting endeavor for the Boise area. I was born and grew up in Boise, attending Bishop Kelly High School before graduating from Borah High School more than a few years ago. I have seen Boise grow substantially in the last few years, but still maintain my hometown appeal. I want to hear about what is important to you and the stories you wish to see on patch.com. Feel free to reach out to me via email at john.braese@patch.com or drop me a phone call or text at 208 954-9585.