Stories from Sunday, April 11, 2021

BOISE, Idaho (AP) _ Lawmakers amended a bill that would ban the state, public health departments and even school districts from requiring masks to add a penalty on Friday. The amendment in the Idaho House means the legislation now says that if a political subdivision enacts a mask mandate, any public health order or emergency declaration that the entity is operating under will be terminated...

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (AP) _ Idaho Bureau of Laboratories Director Christopher Ball has said concerning coronavirus variants are likely spreading across the state, despite efforts to vaccinate residents. COVID-19 vaccines currently being distributed are believed to be effective against the strains; however, the continued spread intensifies pressure to speed up the vaccination efforts, the Post Register reported Tuesday...