The bodies were found in a home on the 1300 block of North Ninth Street Police Chief Gary Marshall said the case is being treated as a homicide although no suspects are currently in custody Officers were dispatched to the residence around 11:30 a.m following a report of a possible dead child they found the twins deceased in a shared bed and the incident is being handled as a homicide at this time," a news release stated The Idaho State Police Forensics team has been called in to assist with evidence collection Autopsies are scheduled for May 2 at the Ada County Medical Examiner's Office Police are conducting interviews as part of the investigation Marshall said that counselors will be available for the first responders who arrived at the scene and more information will be provided as it becomes available Idaho — An investigation is underway after 18-month-old twins were found dead in a Payette home on Thursday Police say they responded to a call of a possible dead child around 11:30 a.m and arrived to find twins both dead in a shared bed Police say that a family member found the twins and called 911 Payette Police are investigating the situation and say that they are currently treating the incident as a homicide Autopsies on the twins will be conducted in Ada County on Friday but police hope that Friday's autopsy will reveal more information Idaho News 6 will continue to keep you up to date as more information becomes available PAYETTE — A homicide investigation is underway after twin toddlers were found dead in a Payette home Thursday morning Officers from the Payette Police Department were called to a home on the 1300 block of North 9th Street around 11:30 a.m according to a news release from the department officers discovered two 18-month-old twins deceased in a shared bed,” the release says and the incident is being handled as a homicide at this time.” The Idaho State Police Forensics team responded to the scene to assist in evidence collection and police are conducting interviews No suspects had been named as of Thursday night and police did not say if anyone has been taken into custody Police Chief Gary Marshall told the Argus Observer that counselors will be available for first responders who helped at the scene SUBMIT A CORRECTION We hope you appreciated this story.  A small team of local journalists runs EastIdahoNews.com – not a big business or corporation Our stories are produced to inform and serve the public We don't have a paywall or require a subscription to use EastIdahoNews.com but there is a cost associated with bringing you stories every day Please consider supporting us just once for $1 or contribute a little more monthly or annually We sincerely appreciate your consideration © 2015 - 2025 EastIdahoNews.com LLC Mike Payette is bringing his "three-hour tour" this Friday, April 25, to the Parish Center for the Arts in Westford Payette's band will showcase "soft yacht rock music" from the 1970s and '80s featuring hits from artists like Michael McDonald and Kenny Loggins who was subbing for a musician in a tribute band expressed interest in creating a yacht rock show all contributing to the smooth sounds of the era Tickets are available for $18 for PCA members and seniors; $20 for non-members; and $25 at the door if available EBT/Card-to-Culture holders can purchase tickets for $15 with ID required at the door Attendees are encouraged to bring their own food and drinks for the event For tickets and more information, call 978-692-6333 or visit pcawestford.org or their Facebook page This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks The action you just performed triggered the security solution There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page I'm the Idaho News 6 neighborhood reporter dedicated to spotlighting stories and adventures from the Backroads of Idaho BANKS, Idaho — Banks is one of the most popular places in the Boise National Forest and heading into the summer kayakers and rafters will have a number of different amenities as officials combat the growth in the area The Boise National Forest installed a new wooden boat ramp at Banks with the outfitters and guides in mind They also installed a two-lane concrete boat ramp for the private boaters While anyone can use either of these ramps the design is to separate the user groups and help people get on the river The wooden ramp is ideal for paddle rafters that commercial operations use while the concrete ramp will allow private boaters to back their boats down to the water without having to deal with the potholes that have been there in previous years "I think we really worked with the outfitters and surveyed the public to try and to get as many ideas as we could," said Gabe Housh of the Boise National Forest "I hope this will really be an answer that helps people get in and out quicker lets people be safer while they are coming here and also makes boating funner than it already is." I love this time of year on the Payette River system because the crowds don't really show up until Memorial Day Weekend it will be busy for the rest of the summer after that The Idaho Department of Transportation is currently working on installing a traffic signal at the intersection but this is also the intersection of the experts only North Fork of the Payette River the South Fork of the Payette and the Main which is the most popular rafting section in the region "Our biggest visitation day last year was over 2,600 visitors on the Saturday of July 4 The Boise National Forest also manages the put-ins and take-outs up on the South Fork of the Payette River I've always appreciated the ramp at the put-in to the Staircase section that makes it really easy to launch into the river the Boise National Forest also fixed up the wooden ramp at Danskin the take-out for the canyon and the put-in for Swirly Canyon installed metal angles from a machine shop in Emmett and applied marine-grade coating to protect rafts but again also the outfitter and guides," said Davis Rafters also have a new ramp at the take-out of the Main Payette at Beehive Basin. That project was done by the Bureau of Land Management but the funding for all of these projects came from legislation from the first Trump administration "This project was funded through the Great American Outdoors Act which came about five years ago," said Housh "It has really helped our forest and a lot of forests around the country do some deferred maintenance on sites like this but could use a lot of love and were starting to fall into disrepair We have really been appreciative of that congressional funding to do projects like this one." Parking at these sites costs three dollars per day or people can purchase a season pass for $20 at Recreation.gov. Funds from this go towards maintenance during the year The Great American Outdoors Act also allowed the Boise National Forest to make improvements at another popular destination at Kirkham Hot Springs. We cover stories making an impact in Idaho Backroads. This is your home to stay on top of what is changing in Idaho Backroads and why it matters to you and your family. We want to hear from you! Click here and tell us what we should be covering in your neighborhood I'm your Idaho News 6 reporter for the South Boise and Kuna neighborhoods Idaho — The mother of 40-year-old Brent Sharrai who was arrested for allegedly creating an illegal explosive device on New Year's Day saying he was simply trying to celebrate the holiday they're just blowing everything out of the water," said Vonda Sharrai Brent Sharrai was taken into custody after officers responded to reports of a suspicious individual attempting to ignite something near train cars Authorities reported that they discovered fresh footprints in the snow leading to a homemade explosive device which was later detonated by the Nampa Bomb Squad Officers eventually tracked Sharrai’s footprints to a nearby property RELATED: Payette man arrested after police find explosive device in railroad car, Sharrai appeared virtually in Payette County Court on Monday for his arraignment facing charges of possessing illegal materials to make explosives Court documents obtained by Idaho News 6 showed Sharrai reportedly told law enforcement that he made his own firework "to get a bigger boom" while celebrating the New Year he was just making a little firecracker explosive sound and his son and his nephew," said Vonda Sharrai The Payette Police Chief says they do not believe Sharrai's actions were an act of terror but an isolated incident at a much smaller scale “People are making him look like somebody that he really isn’t His mother hopes an incorrect address on a search warrant will help his defense I just want all this crap to be behind us and for him to be home," she said ID (CBS2) — A power outage is currently impacting 296 customers in Payette County leaving 5.67% of the county without electricity Idaho Power has a crew working to restore power and hope to have power restored later tonight Idaho (CBS2) — Payette police officers were dispatched to the 600 Block of North 8th Street on Wednesday around 5:54 p.m regarding a suspicious individual trying to light something on fire near a parked railroad car Officers found fresh footprints in the snow and tracked them to a train car They located a suspected undetonated Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Officers followed the footprints to a camp trailer parked near a residence fled from the camp trailer on foot but surrendered after a short pursuit Sharrai was taken into custody on outstanding Payette County warrants and later booked into the Payette County Jail with additional charges for possession of a destructive device (felony) possession of a controlled substance (felony) possession of paraphernalia (misdemeanor) and resisting and obstructing officers The Nampa Bomb Squad helped render the device safe Union Pacific was also notified and all trains scheduled to travel through the incident site were put on standby for about five hours An FBI agent also responded to the scene to assist in the investigation The Nampa Bomb Squad used their specialized robot to remove the IED from the train car and safely detonated the device A search warrant was executed on the camp trailer Sharrai was in where items similar to the device found on the train car were located including controlled substances and paraphernalia Federal charges for possessing and manufacturing a destructive device are pending the FBI's investigation I'm the Idaho News 6 neighborhood reporter dedicated to bringing you the latest stories from Nampa Idaho — An uneventful arraignment occurred in Payette County where 40-year-old suspect Brent Sharrai did not attend his scheduled appearance The parents of the man accused of trying to set off a pipe bomb in a Payette train car were audibly frustrated Sharrai has been in custody since his New Year's Day arrest after someone called Payette police to report a suspicious person attempting to light something on fire around some train cars RELATED: Payette man arrested after police find explosive device in railroad car. able to find footprints leading to a train car that was parked near that location," said Payette Police Chief Marshall they observed a device that they described as an improvised explosive device that had not been detonated." Sharrai told officers he made his own firework for New Year's celebration "to get a bigger boom." After falling asleep before midnight he chose to light his firework the next night whose bomb squad helped detonate the explosive said the pipe was about eight inches long and three-quarters of an inch wide I spoke with Sharrai's family outside the courthouse who offered some insight into what they say he was using to make his homemade explosive "You can get them at any firework stand," said Sharrai's ex-girlfriend Sharrai's parents said he has multiple behavioral diagnoses and described him as a child in an adult's body They also worry recent events in New Orleans and Las Vegas are blowing Brent's case out of proportion Payette Police Chief Marshall said his department feels this case is in no way connected to terrorism and was an isolated incident everybody's on high alert," Marshall admits we're able to determine that this was not that severe of an event but we have to handle it as though it is until we know otherwise." I'm the Idaho News 6 neighborhood reporter dedicated to bringing you the latest stories from Caldwell Sonia Craig's husband noticed their working dog It wasn’t long before Sonia spotted a trail of blood and there are no tracks leading to the road in the snow He was exactly where he should have been," said Sonia Craig Oscar had everything he needed to signal to night hunters that he was a Livestock Guarding Dog Craig can't understand why anyone would take the life of her trusted partner Payette County Sheriff Andy Creech confirmed that an investigation into the killing is underway "The Payette County Sheriff's Office takes all animal cruelty cases seriously and will continue to investigate any leads that come in We've opened an investigation into this incident and are asking anyone with information to contact our office," Creech said Craig is seeking more than just answers — she wants justice. She has launched a campaign offering a $9,000 reward, thanks to generous contributions from a GoFundMe campaign. This is about finding the person who killed Oscar," Craig said She and her family have worked to preserve critical evidence for the investigation we've been really conscious of the chain of custody We're making sure we do everything we can so the case isn't compromised We won't let this case fall apart," Craig said Craig is also calling on lawmakers to pass stronger laws to protect working dogs Oscar’s death is not the only tragedy in recent months. In September, another livestock guard dog,Ellie, was also shot in Twin Falls. "I don't know how much common sense we need to get I have text messages from people losing guard dogs We trust them with our entire herd of sheep," Craig said Idaho — A UTV (Utility Task Vehicle) is now sitting at the bottom of Payette Lake two persons were driving a Razor UTV on the frozen surface of Payette Lake near McCall when the ice broke and their vehicle fell into the freezing waters Officials were already busy assisting "an unfortunate soul who fell through the ice" when they saw the UTV driving across the lake along with another Razor both of the vehicle's occupants escaped as their Razor plunged into the water They declined medical attention reports McCall Fire & EMS The officials want this harrowing incident to serve as a reminder that "no ice is 100% safe." McCall Fire & EMS recommends always doing your due diligence before venturing out onto icy bodies of water If you witness someone fall through the ice call 911 and wait for trained professionals to extract the submerged individual Idaho (CBS2) — The Payette Avalanche Center says avalanche danger is considerable at all elevations The only way to survive and navigate the dangerous avalanche conditions is to stay off slopes steeper than 35 degrees and away from their runout You may trigger a three to four-foot-deep persistent slab avalanche but there may be no warning signs until too late The Poetry Out Loud competition is not unique to Idaho; it happens in states and countries all around the world hundreds of students from across Idaho showed interest in the state competition Rebecca Martin from the Idaho Commission on the Arts sat down with our Morning Edition host, George Prentice and they were joined by a very special guest from New Plymouth High School ID (CBS2) — A UTV fell through the ice on Payette Lake on Saturday prompting the city to remind the public to exercise caution around the frozen body of water first responders arrived quickly and both the driver and passenger managed to escape the vehicle safely and the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has been notified of the incident McCall's Water Systems Manager has assured the public that there is no concern for the city's drinking water The Legacy Beach water intake is inactive and will remain so throughout winter Idaho Fish and Game and the City of McCall are planning to submit a funding proposal for a project to improve conditions at an existing access area on the North Fork Payette River in McCall.  The Deinhard Lane River Access site is on approximately 0.75 acres of land owned by the City of McCall and a small beach which can be used as a primitive non-motorized boat launch.  The North Fork Payette River from Payette Lake downstream to Lake Cascade is designated as a non-motorized waterway by the Valley County Waterways Ordinance non-motorized boating on this section of river is popular during spring for slightly larger crafts and in summer for tubing put-in/take-out accessibility is difficult particularly for the slightly larger crafts using the site in the spring and use contributes to bank erosion.   This project aims to improve user accessibility provide necessary services to keep the waterway healthy and reduce resource damage occurring from current use.  The Deinhard Lane River Access Project is listed as a recommended improvement in the City of McCall’s 2023 Parks Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan To provide any questions, comments, or concerns about this project, please contact Jordan Messner, Regional Fisheries Manager, Idaho Department of Fish and Game – McCall Regional Office at Jordan.messner@idfg.idaho.gov Buy Licenses Hunt Planner Hunter Ed Fishing Planner IFWF Hunt Report Report Wildlife Crime Volunteer! Report Roadkill Idaho — The water levels on the South Fork of the Payette River came up on Monday giving kayakers flows they would normally see in the summer paddlers wouldn't have been able to navigate the river because of ice a rain and snow event coupled with warm temperatures provided a break from winter so my road is all mud and three-foot-high snow berms so it is nice coming down and getting on the water," said Andrew Chamberlain I paddled the Staircase section of the South Fork of the Payette with a crew on Wednesday This five-mile run is a local favorite because it provides easy access and it’s the right level of challenging without being too scary," said Chamberlain "I’ve been running it for like 17 or 18 years as there is still snow on the ground and along the banks of the river The water is also freezing cold after melting Paddlers use safety gear every time they hit the water and that also includes a dry suit that has changed the game for boating in cold weather environments Paddlers layer up just like we would if we were hitting the slopes and everyone in our crew had pogies to protect their hands — except me since I've just never liked how they felt while gripping the paddle "The only thing that got cold was my right thumb." There was some nervous energy as we approached Staircase and Slalom rapids because not only was it our first time in our boats in a while but none of us wanted to flip or swim because while the drysuit keeps you dry I know from experience being in the water still feels really cold super smooth with good lines," said Chamberlain I personally have a cutoff level around 45 degrees This also marks the first time the river got this high this early since 2018 I expect the water levels to fall back down; in fact it has already dropped to 1428 cubic feet per second it will be a big water season as all the snow at higher elevations remains and a Payette man is in custody after Payette Police say officers found an "undetonated improvised explosive device (I.E.D)" near a railroad car Officers were dispatched to the area of the 600 Block of North 8th Street just after 5 p.m officers say they observed fresh footprints in the snow and were able to track them to a train car The Payette Police Department says officers followed the prints to a camp trailer parked near a residence in the 600 Block of N later identified as 40-year-old Brent Sharrai attempted to flee on foot but surrendered after a short pursuit Idaho News 6 learned through public court documents that Sharrai told officers on the scene that he was attempting to make fireworks for New Year's Eve but then fell asleep Detectives also say they found meth and paraphernalia Sharrai was booked into the Payette County Jail and charged with possession of a destructive device Payette Police say assistance was requested from the Nampa Bomb Squad to ensure safe disposal of the device The Nampa Bomb Squad used a specialized robot to remove the IED from the train car before detonating it in a controlled explosion An F.B.I agent also responded to assist with the investigation Union Pacific was notified and all trains scheduled to travel through the incident site were put on standby for roughly five hours Sharrai's arraignment is scheduled for 1:30 p.m Idaho (CBS2) — According to a recent news release Idaho State Police (ISP) is investigating a vehicle collision from Sunday at the South US95 and SW 1st Avenue intersection in Payette County The release says a Kia Forte traveled northbound on US95 while a Chevrolet Silverado traveled southbound The Silverado turned east onto SW 1st Avenue and collided with the Kia The crash also impacted a Subaru Legacy that stopped on SW 1st Avenue a 29-year-old man from Fruitland and one juvenile passenger were transported to a local hospital by ground ambulance A 29-year-old female passenger and a second juvenile passenger were transported by air ambulance to a local hospital Emergency responders cleared the scene and assisted those involved Traffic was blocked for approximately three hours Idaho State Police are investigating the incident Idaho — The North Fork of the Payette is an infamous river that attracts kayakers from all over the world It's a training ground with fifteen miles of class five whitewater — and it's right in our backyard "My fiancé and I moved here five years ago because of this river," said Ryan O'leary "We wanted to move to Idaho to enjoy beautiful and having this an hour from the doorstep is unbelievable." The North Fork is running around 3,000 cubic feet per second as paddlers have an opportunity to get on this expert run at higher flows than they would normally see later in the summer when the warm water attracts kayakers when other rivers around the west dry up it is definitely a different beast early in the season with the cold water and it makes it feel a little bit harder," said local paddler Kyle Irby O'leary and their friend from out of state This trio took on the Lower Five of the North Fork and it just feels great when you get through it." The upper two sections are even more ferocious than the Lower Five it's always a treat to have the river flowing at this level "I love it at this flow because none of the lines change a lot pushier and a lot bigger," said O'leary "You definitely don’t want to be upside down and you definitely don’t want to be swimming." just about all the rivers in our area are flowing high unless you have the proper equipment and skills Most of the incidents that have happened in the last few years have happened at high water Undergraduate researcher Ashley Payette is majoring in wildlife ecology and conservation in the College of Agriculture undergraduate researcher Ashley Payette tells Nevada Today about her experience working with Assistant Professor Brad A exploring policymaking decisions in wildlife laws a faculty member in the political science department The opportunity was as exciting as it was nerve-wracking I feared my lack of experience with political science would mean I was underqualified to work alongside faculty and political science was only a side passion I recently began to explore Upon returning to school in the spring and meeting the PREP program staff They understood the fear of tackling research for the first time and were so supportive in the learning process Johnson was especially helpful as he gave me a lot of freedom in deciding what I wanted to research He prioritized making the PREP program the most beneficial for my professional development and exploring my passions I explained my interest in political science to Dr Johnson but informed him that I wasn’t sure where to go with it or how to connect it to wildlife; he was more than happy to help me figure this out we delved into his ongoing projects – I explored everything from analyzing AI in public comment to the difference in department titles between county governments What really caught my eye was the way that politics are discussed I became aware that language used by officials is often not accessible to their constituents discouraging citizens from being involved in local government This piqued an interest in the way that interactions perceptions and feelings between citizens and government affect policymaking I grew curious about the impact that peoples’ attitudes about wildlife had on the implementation of wildlife laws Johnson saw my interest in this and encouraged me to explore it further so I began literature review on the subject We noticed that there is not much research on this topic which excited us even further to explore issues that have not yet been examined Johnson and I bridged the gap between my interests in wildlife and political science to propose the research question ‘How do city councils address wildlife’ Our purpose in the project is to understand how wildlife is discussed on the local government level so we may improve the way officials approach management techniques and his continued support has always encouraged me to try things on my own The PREP program has taught me a lot about the research process I love the work that I do so much that I decided to continue it this semester and now plan on declaring a minor in the subject I recommend branching out and applying for opportunities even if you don't think you'll get it I almost didn’t apply to PREP because I was unsure that I would be accepted but I am so happy that I overcame my doubts and put my best foot forward I learned that I'm capable of more than I thought and I feel confident in my skills for future endeavors – everything is a learning opportunity to improve myself You don’t know what you are capable of until you try Ashley Payette is a second-year University student majoring in wildlife ecology and conservation with a minor in social justice She is a resident assistant in Great Basin Hall in the College of Agriculture Biotechnology and Natural Resources Living Learning Community Ashley hopes to continue to  conduct research and intern for a conservation organization She plans to attend graduate school to lead a career in wildlife management and policy Leading with safety: professor of microbiology and immunology recognized for displaying excellence in lab safety and research team voted recipient of 2025 Excellence in Laboratory Safety Award Engineering faculty developing wearable tech that could treat depression Electrical & Biomedical Engineering Assistant Professor Jihwan Yoon’s device would deliver radiofrequency pulses to brain regions involved in mood regulation and cognitive function Honoring faculty through awards and fellowships Doctoral student and professor selected for prestigious International Science Education Institute chosen to participate in the 2025 Abell Institute 2025 Three-Minute Thesis competition finalists announced A peek into Nevada Woman Filmmaker of the Year’s newest documentary Reynolds School of Journalism students awarded over $184,000 in scholarships More than 60 students were honored at the annual Savitt Awards Banquet Neighborhood ‘ambassadors’ needed to help prepare communities for wildfire Reno and the Nevada Division of Forestry holding informational meeting May 7 Giving Day: The Wolf Pack Way raises over $750,000 Extension offers Home Horticulture Certificate Program Program provides information for home gardeners and those interested in becoming Master Gardeners College of Education & Human Development hosts first-ever Student Teaching Welcome Celebration Students discover where they will be student teaching in Fall 2025 Sanford Center for Aging impacts older adults in northern Nevada Sanford Center shares data and programs in the community College of Business celebrates student success and research excellence Annual banquet honors outstanding students Reno programs offer locally grown plants to support local horticulture programs Kelsie Rose is an Executive Producer at Idaho News 6 Idaho — The Payette County Sheriff's Office is asking for help identifying a suspect after authorities say a shot was fired on I-84 on Thursday morning Victims reported to the Sheriff's Office that the driver of a dark newer model Subaru Outback drove alongside them The Sheriff's Office says the suspect is a bald If you have any information contact the Payette County Sheriff's Office at (208) 642-6006 ext the new institute advances vaccine development—including efforts toward an HIV cure By: Linda Just the endgame in aesthetic-driven architecture appears to be the pursuit of effortlessness But it is a paradoxical condition: Achieving that appearance requires considerable time and resources near-encyclopedic knowledge of the subject in question and the confidence to land the metaphorical plane the deft transformation of countless assembled variables into a single is demonstrated aptly in the Ragon Institute Payette’s most recent addition to Kendall Square This LEED Gold Certified and LBC Red List Free project, which was completed in fall 2024, serves as the home for its namesake institution, including the research facilities for collaborating partners from Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Harvard University. The Ragon Institute draws from this consortium of field leaders in its focused mission to study human immune systems and aid in the prevention and cure of infectious diseases particularly HIV-AIDS and SARS-CoV 2.  Though the fluted facade detailing of its headquarters nods to the neoclassical vernacular of other notable medical buildings of its institutional partners The V-shaped primary volume occupies its tricky corner lot comfortably with a triptych of orthogonal elevations designed to match the heights of directly adjacent neighbors.  The fluting is achieved with 12 aluminum profile modules arranged variously over a triple-glazed curtain wall The flutes are also not merely decorative; their patterning is a product of comprehensive solar studies and the gradation patterns are both informed and related to the spatial arrangement of each floor plate They also integrate ventilating grilles for the substantial mechanical systems where the air handlers are concealed within a roof-level well notes that “when we first started having building science as part of our day-to-day design strategies—in terms of considering glazing ratios which would have been seen as an encumbrance on design—we began to recognize beauty differently You’re no longer seeing solar mitigation on a south-facing wall as a troublesome issue to resolve The complete effect of this draped volume maintains a dynamic held aloft on a plinth of Vals quartzite coursework and curtain wall that steps back from the sidewalk.    The building features sophisticated and compartmentalized mechanical systems for high degrees of air exchange; heroic structural engineering to minimize vibration that would disturb the calibration of sensitive lab instruments; and hygienic material selections social inflections that shine most brightly as innovation.  Since Payette is a prominent forerunner in the design sectors of biomedicine and laboratory research—known for its integrated practice methodologies and technically performative detail-oriented design across scales—it was approached to assist in the preliminary stages of the project’s program tailoring it from a synthesis of extensive postoccupancy feedback archives and observations of Ragon’s researcher habits.  Each office floor’s layout reflects a deliberate and expert interpretation: Based on Payette’s prior user surveys growing institutional understandings of different effective working modalities the building occupants have options for group and individual work.  Thoughtful spatial curation is also evident in the labs which are the most active programmatic elements of the project three discrete but related activities occur at any given point in the day: writing Each activity has its own associated equipment designers at Payette noticed that tissue culture lab work—typically relegated to insular contained spaces—was surprisingly social and collaborative despite its attention-focused nature.  Recognizing the well-documented, biophilic benefits of daylight and external views on concentration and alertness Payette proposed locating the Tissue Culture Labs along the building’s exterior wall The facade’s triple-paned glazing and solar shades ensure this area is still fully climate-controlled but they offer the benefit of direct access to view and daylight for user well-being in the space the lab team most commonly uses.  That public-facing character extends from the landscape into the first floor of the building and childcare facilities—in addition to loading and trial patient intake which are adjacent but accessed by separate entrances These auxiliary spaces support the institution’s staff (on-site childcare in particular makes a life-changing impact for scientist-parents grappling with the profession’s unpredictable extended hours in the lab) but they also host community functions and public events during off-hours The daycare also maintains open spots for neighborhood families to enroll a strong sense of culture and community is a benefit inside an organization With both the executive conference room and canteen the Ragon Institute’s leadership wanted to provide spaces for collective debriefing and to stimulate and support collegial exchange These are further enhanced by access to outdoor terraces that bring in nature but also remind the institution’s faculty to reflect on their broader social connection to the neighborhood seen below and in the distance.  “It’s become part of the commonplace rigor of doing architecture I think Ragon is a particular example of the building functioning as a singular organism There’s this dynamic relationship between the skin and the floor plate—it’s telling a story that unfolds as you navigate the site: of the shape and social geometry of the building and the purposeful position it holds in the community regarding what it’s making,” adds Sullivan.  reaffirm faith in the impact and importance of thoughtful design gestures at any scale Would you like to comment on this article? Send your thoughts to: [email protected] The adaptive reuse market designed by Clayton Korte and Emmer & Rye Hospitality Group aims to create a sensory (and low waste) grocery experience JFAK’s Homeless Navigation Center blends modular housing dignified alternative to traditional shelters Subscribe to our mailing list to receive the latest updates subscription deals delivered straight to your inbox One of the largest onion processing plants in the U.S. was fined for violations of the Fair Labor Standards Act Ontario Partners LLC had to pay more than $260,000 in back wages for 76 workers and a roughly $44,000 fine for failing to pay overtime to its H-2A temporary agricultural workers Department of Labor's investigation also found the company was overcharging for housing while providing unsafe transportation and unsanitary living quarters companies that show they cannot find locals to fill positions can hire foreign temporary agricultural workers Wage and Hour Division District Director at the federal Department of Labor said the violations by the company were willful “Farmworkers provide essential labor that helps feed millions of Americans and have rights regardless of the country they call home,” she said “Agricultural employers who benefit from the H-2A program must provide safe transportation pay the wages they promised and the costs of transportation to and from the U.S. “Employers have obligations to disclose the terms and conditions of employment to those workers ahead of time and they have to be as specific as possible,” she said Walum added foreign born or local temporary employees are considered vulnerable So they're not necessarily understanding all of the rights that may be available to them.,” she said “They're paid relatively low wages for the work that they're performing.” The Department of Labor hires interpreters to make sure they can fully investigate violations involving foreign workers with half of the field investigators being bilingual Walum added the use of the visa program is growing exponentially in Idaho Idaho is outpacing Oregon in the number of H-2a workers employed in that state and certainly per capita where Idaho is one of the top in the nation.” the state employed 7,200 people through the program Idaho — A 15-year-old student was arrested on Oct following an investigation that found he had plans to use a firearm at school the sheriff's office launched the investigation on Sept 19 after Oregon State Police provided the office with information The 15-year-old suspect lives in New Plymouth but was a student in the Ontario School District with the threats focused on Ontario schools — no specific threats were made toward schools in the New Plymouth School District The juvenile made his first appearance at the Payette County Magistrate Court on Oct The student was charged with violations of the Terrorist Control Act (Felony) Aggravated Assault – Attempt to Commit Violent Injury (Felony) Possession of Sexually Exploitative Material (Felony) and Threatening Violence on School Grounds (Misdemeanor) PCSO says they will not be releasing further information