Idaho briefs March 9, 2012

Hundreds protest ultrasound bill at Idaho Capitol

BOISE - Nearly 250 people descended on the Idaho Capitol to protest a bill requiring women to get an ultrasound of their fetus before they can get an abortion.

Gathered on the Capitol steps Thursday, the crowd waved signs and hammered Sen. Chuck Winder's proposed legislation, calling it a political tactic to shame and bully women already burdened with a difficult health decision.

Dawn Phipps, a 58-year-old mother of three from Boise, says she's outraged Winder's initiative is happening in Idaho, calling it demeaning and shameful to women.

Kyme Graziano - who shared a sign with her 16-year-old daughter, a Boise High School student - called the measure cruel and blasted it as step backward for women's rights.

The bill is due a hearing in the Senate State Affairs committee next week.

Bill provides students online course list

BOISE - Students required to take two credits online would be provided with a list of virtual courses to choose from, under a bill headed to the Idaho House.

Idaho is making online learning a high school graduation requirement under reforms approved last year. A task force created to help implement the changes recommended schools be provided with a list of online course providers and approved and contracted by the state.

The House Education Committee advanced a bill Thursday to create that course clearinghouse online, with a system for parents and students to rate the classes.

The bill says the state Department of Education can spend up to $500,000 next year to create the clearinghouse. That money would come from technology funding set aside in the public schools budget under the reforms.

- Associated Press