Kevin’s blog
Expert analysis and the latest news from award-winning journalist Kevin Richert.
Madison County: A closer look at a coronavirus hotspot
Cases are growing rapidly in the eastern Idaho county. And weeks after the Madison School District opened for face-to-face learning, the case numbers are skewing younger, the Post Register reported Saturday.
This week’s coronavirus trendline (9.18.20 edition)
After a steady dropoff over the past four weeks, new coronavirus case numbers crept back upward this week. Cases numbers increased sharply at Boise State University and across much of Eastern Idaho.
NNU reports slight enrollment increases
The Nampa-based private college opened for face-to-face learning on Aug. 31. So far this semester, six students have tested positive for coronavirus.
Conservative group takes transgender athletes case to appeals court
A federal judge placed Idaho’s transgender athletics ban on hold in August.
Tromp: Job cuts, program cuts inevitable at Boise State
“We have yet to see the full breadth of economic impact from these uncertain times,” the Boise State University president said in a letter to faculty and employees Tuesday.
U of I to open Boise campuses Sept. 28
Meanwhile, the U of I reported 12 new cases for the seven-day period ending Monday, including “a small cluster of positives in a residence hall.”
Lawmakers push West Ada to fully reopen
“We understand that you are concerned about the risks,” the 13 lawmakers said in a letter to trustees. “However, we believe that the benefits to our students and families outweigh the risks.”
This week’s coronavirus trendline (9.11.20 edition)
For the fourth successive week, new coronavirus case numbers dropped in Idaho, falling to their lowest numbers in more than two months. Testing numbers also dropped sharply. As of Friday afternoon, the state and its seven health districts reported 35,275 confirmed or probable coronavirus cases, a 5 percent increase in the past week. New case…
C of I reports another enrollment increase
In all, 1,114 undergraduates are enrolled at the Caldwell-based private college, which shifted back to online learning for the fall.
Campus coronavirus update: Case numbers decrease at U of I
However, the University of Idaho’s positive test rate increased — as the university moves from widespread student testing to targeted “surveillance testing.”