You're watching 6 on your side.
An extremely rare disease kills
four women in one Idaho town.
This year alone.
Find out if you're at risk and coming up.
Police cordon off downtown Meridian
after an armed bank robber takes the
money but leaves something behind
and still ahead in custody.
Police in London launched citywide
anti terror raids and say they've
got their men will have the latest
news from London. 6 on your side at 6 starts now.
A fatal and rare disease
strikes Idaho in a cluster.
Good evening and thanks for
choosing 6 on your side.
I'm Don Nelson and I'm Michelle Edmonds.
There's no known cause,
no known treatment.
Five women have been positively
diagnosed with Kreutzfeld Jakob disease
in Twin Falls and Minidoka counties.
Four of those women have died.
There's also another unconfirmed
case in the Boise area.
Six on your side's Heather Scald
spent time down in Twin Falls
today to investigate this.
Heather, this is so rare.
It certainly is, you know,
so severe that only one person
per every 1,000,000 worldwide every
year are diagnosed with this disease
and to have five women diagnosed with this.
Specifically in a concentrated
time and a concentrated area,
has health officials on high alert.
It's concerning to us and that's why
we're doing more investigation
of this particular incident.
This incident is one big question
mark for health officials.
The neurodegenerative disease is
swift, claiming its victims within
one year of initial symptoms.
They begin with lapses in memory,
blurred vision, sudden jerking,
and rigidity in the limbs,
followed by loss of movement and speech.
There are two primary forms of the disease,
one that strikes without any known ties.
The other linked to eating meats
contaminated with mad cow disease.
While the investigation is just beginning,
scientists have no reason to believe
the recent cases are associated with mad cow.
Still, to have the disease strike
all females is even more puzzling.
Usually you will see a few more men.
Then women with this particular illness.
And it is very clear this is not usual.
I mean, this is this is something
very rare that's happening,
though there are only 300 sporadic
CJD cases each year in the United States,
and also there's no telling why the
women contracted this sporadic farm.
As far as we can tell, they are not related.
Yeah, we know the number, we know the sex,
but we don't know who they are.
So connecting the dots to see if there is
a common denominator, we just can't
answer that question right now.
Yeah, you know, it looks like it's coincidence right now.
It could be correlated right now.
They're investigating any sort of any sort
of lead that could link them together.
It's really hard to tell.
And one of the very frustrating things
about this disease is, you know,
is largely undetected until the early 90s.
That's when there was an outbreak of mad cow disease.
Until then, you know, there's really no way
of absolutely being sure that is the disease.
The only way to know for sure is at the time
of death at an autopsy.
It's pretty bizarre.
All right, thanks Heather.
Meridian police closed down streets
after a bank robber leaves behind a suspicious package.
Six on your sides.
Michelle Stark is live in Meridian
with the very latest on this breaking news story.
Well, Don, things are definitely
getting back to normal downtown here.
You'll see traffic resuming behind me.
We're told by the Meridian Police Department
that the Boise Bomb Squad has finished up
inside the Idaho Independent Bank.
They've cleared away the suspicious package.
Here is what the scene looked like earlier today
after police issued kind of an evacuation.
We're told that several dozens of people
were kind of moved out of the area.
Police say that the man who robbed the bank
had walked in, showed the manager a gun,
showed him the suspicious device,
and then on his way out with the cash,
left the suspicious device on a desk.
That obviously gave him some time to make his getaway.
Now, police say it has been a very, very long day for them.
A crime that has definitely impacted a lot of people,
not just the customers of the bank
or the employees of the bank.
It has impacted a great amount of people in the city.
I spoke with a police officer here
who said that the suspicious package
was actually made to look like a bomb,
but it was, again, inactive, so they cleared it away.
The area is safe now.
Police, just looking again for that suspect,
they said it was a white male, medium height,
but so far, no strong leads.
Michelle, we know that there's a Boys and Girls Club
right down there.
Were they evacuated?
Yes, Michelle, actually several people were evacuated,
almost all of the restaurants
and other organizations around here.
Those particular children at the Boys and Girls Club
were moved across the street to a church,
but again, police have given the all clear down here,
so everything's kind of getting back to normal.
That's good news tonight.
All right, Michelle, thanks for the live report.
A Meridian business owner had front row seats
during the event.
Harry's Bar and Grill sits across the street
from the Idaho Independent Bank.
The owner says he believes that closing down
the downtown core of Meridian on a Friday afternoon
was unnecessary.
You know what, the whole thing, like I said,
total overreaction has become a complete and total fiasco.
They've got the entire downtown part of Meridian blocked off.
No one really seems to know why.
The owner says they were offering special Bomb Squad
beers in honor of the occasion.
More arrests in England, the US moves toward saving more time
and protecting patients from doctors' mistakes.
Those are the stories, topping news from beyond Idaho.
Sirens signaling an arrest.
British police have arrested three more men,
but they're not saying if they're connected to last week's
botched terror attacks.
Some local media are reporting officers
captured the men who tried to blow up a bus
and a man pictured fleeing a subway station.
The Italian government says police there
have netted a fourth suspect in Rome.
Just when you figured out that whole spring forward fallback
thing.
A bill that will make sweeping changes in the energy field
is headed to the president's desk.
It includes a measure to extend daylight savings time
by four weeks.
After a four year stalemate, both houses of Congress
have approved President Bush's energy bill.
If the president signs the bill, our clocks
will spring forward three weeks earlier
and fall back a week later, starting in 2007.
President Bush did put his name on another law aimed
at reducing the number of medical mistakes today.
More people die that way than in car accidents, breast cancer,
or AIDS.
Some critics say, though, the bill is not
strong enough to help reduce the number of patients
injured or deaths from medical mistakes.
An injured Napa soldier is coming home tonight.
About two and a half months ago, Jason Beyer
was severely injured when his tank was hit by a roadside bomb
in Iraq.
He lost a kidney and his arm was left fractured.
Doctors have been rebuilding his arm,
and his grandmother says his recovery is a miracle.
She says he now faces a year of rehabilitation.
A Napa city councilman makes an announcement about his future.
Bob Schmidt is running for mayor.
He also said he's campaigning on, among other things,
to help stop gang violence in Napa.
He says every gang related shooting that occurs
is one too many.
I don't think we're being aggressive enough against it.
We're not speaking out as a city.
We're not saying we're not going to tolerate this anymore.
And I think it has to come from the top down.
That has to be something that we feel
and we believe in as a city.
And if I'm elected mayor, we will do that, I can assure you.
Schmidt says he also wants better communication
between Napa and Canyon County and a better long-term plan
for the city.
Attorneys for a teen convicted of killing her parents
have filed a tort claim against Blaine County.
This summer, Sarah Johnson was convicted
of shooting her parents to death in their Bellevue home
in 2003.
Her attorney says while she was awaiting trial
in the county's jail, she was raped by a male inmate
and that the sheriff's office was responsible for that.
Sarah Michael, the chair of the Blaine County Commissioner,
says the case is still under investigation
and has no comment at this point.
Build a bridge and they will come.
Motorists, that is, and hopefully.
There's a new deal between Ada County Highway
District and the Harris Ranch property owners
to build an East Park Center Bridge.
The agreement keeps both sides out of court.
The move could jumpstart developments
in the Barber Valley and ease traffic on Warm Springs.
The greatly needed project in our community.
And it was just through that desire
to want to get it done that we moved forward
and were able to get it done.
The agreement calls for a four-lane bridge
over the Boise River.
The project will cost more than $10 million
construction expected to start in 2008.
The Boise Police Department is reassessing officers
to patrol the streets.
The officers had been assigned to neighborhoods,
mounted horse patrols on the green belt,
and scuba diving.
They'll now be starting their new patrols next month.
The department says the move will help them deal
with the city's growing population.
An Idaho wildfire has doubled in size.
The Snake One fire has grown to 5,600 acres
since last night.
It's burning 21 miles northwest of Weezer.
Crews have 10% of it contained.
The fire is burning tall, dry grasses
in the steep terrain of the Snake River Canyon.
It started after a thunderstorm moved
through the area which started the trees on fire.
Help fill a bus to find the fire.
The Canyon County Hunger Coalition has set up shop
at the Canyon County Fair.
Their goal is to fill a small school bus
with over 1,600 pounds of canned food.
They're asking for your help.
Bring your food down here.
We need to feed all these people.
We want to get all the kids fed so that they're not
going to be hungry anymore.
We want to fill up our barrels so that we can fill up
our school bus and then just distribute it
through all our food pantries so that the people who
don't have a place to make their food
can just come and eat.
All the food is being fed.
Just come and eat.
All the food donated at the fair will stay in Canyon County.
Organizers want to remind you, you
can always donate canned food at any food pantry in the area.
Great way to do it.
Well, Idaho 10th graders doing a lot better
when it comes to reading.
Well, what that means for graduation,
we'll tell you what that's all about.
And an Idaho company is getting a new owner.
We'll tell you who when Six on Your Side returns.
Hot temperatures producing lightning
across portions of Idaho.
That may last for a while.
A view from the Albertson Six on Your Side tower
on the Top to Grove Hotel shows gusty winds still
blowing in downtown Boise.
We'll talk about what you can expect for your holiday,
I should say your weekend plans.
That's coming up shortly in Weather.
During patio pleasure summer clearance sale.
Every summer product must be sold now,
including all spas, casual furniture, and pool tables.
Plus, you'll get no payments, no interest for 12 months.
Slate pool tables are clearance priced from just $12.99.
Top brand spas are priced from just $24.99.
Overstocked outdoor aluminum casual furniture sets
are priced from $5.95.
Plus, you'll get no payments, no interest for 12 months
during the summer clearance sale,
only at Patio Pleasures.
Scott K. exclusively from Lee Reed,
Idaho's diamond jeweler.
Cucumber eye treatment, $45.
Avocado hair infusion, 72 bucks?
Citrus extract pedicure, oh you folks ought to shop
at Albertsons, you could be saving a fortune on this stuff.
This week at Albertsons, fresh boneless petite sirloin steaks,
$2.97 a pound, any size package.
Fresh raspberries, blackberries, or blueberries,
two containers for $3.
And get 50% off select varieties of stofers
or lean cuisine frozen dinner entrees.
Oh no thanks, I've got my own.
Albertsons, helping make your life easier.
You've got the look I like, I like the way you look.
You've got the style I like, you really got me hooked.
I really like your look, you've got the look I like.
At Ross, you'll find the looks he likes, the looks she likes.
At prices everyone likes, way less than you pay at the mall.
You've got the look I like, I like the way you look.
Ross, there's no comparison.
It seems all Idaho 10th graders are doing better in school.
Good, that's according to new results released today
at the State Board of Education.
This brings Idaho standards achievement tests.
It suggests minority groups are doing better.
We're starting to see some progress in closing the gap
between some of the minority groups and the white groups
in terms of their performance, specifically the Hispanic
and the Native American groups.
Idaho 10th graders must be proficient in reading,
math and language usage in order to graduate.
A Treasure Valley electronics business is being sold
to a California company.
Extended Systems announced it signed a $71 million deal
with Sybase.
The deal is expected to close late fall or early winter.
Extended Systems was founded in 1984 in Boise
and has 180 employees in North America and Europe.
On the stock watch, the Dow lost 65, the Nasdaq dropped 14.
Here's a look at Idaho's top stocks.
It's Macy's Reinvent Your Home Sale, the newest
and best cookware and electrics, inspiring ideas
for your bed and bath.
Going on now, Macy's way to shop.
The Macy family, Meridian Ford making friends since 1960.
I see you in one place, so many possibilities.
ATVs provide wonderful outdoor recreation,
but they can also easily spread noxious weeds.
I'm Roger Batt with the Idaho Weed Awareness Campaign.
An ATV can pick up noxious weeds in one area
and spread them to the next area in which it is being used.
When you're finished writing, make sure your ATV
is free of weeds and weed seed.
Cleaning your machine is important in stopping the spread
of noxious weeds like yellow star thistle.
To find out how you can help prevent spreading weeds
to wildlife lands, call this number or log on to our website.
Avonlea's Hot August Night Summer Clearance Sale is here,
and we've got some cool deals for you.
Spring and summer yard flags 50% off.
Sterling silver rings 25% off.
Magnetic bracelets, three for $20.00.
And discontinued Italian charms, only 99 cents.
Spring porcelain dolls are 25% off
and assorted garden decor is 50% off.
For unique gifts, decor, service and price,
shop Avonlea's Summer Clearance Sale August 1st through the 20th.
Avonlea, gifts of the heart for your home.
This portion of 6 On Your Side Weather
is brought to you by United Water.
Life is greener when you water wisely.
Now your TrueView Forecast with Idaho's first
AMS certified chief meteorologist Scott Dorval.
We'll expect hot temperatures to last through the weekend coming up.
If you have outdoor plants, it's going to be hot just about everywhere,
except about 5,500 feet, drop back down to the 80s
and maybe even some upper 70s.
And we still have the chance, like today,
for some of those isolated showers and storms.
In fact, here's a view from the Albertson 6 On Your Side tower camp
from the Top of the Grove Hotel.
And look at that crane south of Boise there working on the A Street Marketplace.
And it always looks windier than it really is there because that's below,
that's a good 150 feet at least above the ground.
And so, still breezy there, the winds were real gusty earlier.
Temperature at 91 in Boise, Napa and Caldwell.
Temperatures had dropped as winds were gusty,
but now are beginning to climb just a little bit.
In fact, current conditions show that we have an east-southeast wind in Boise
at 18 miles per hour, so still breezy at the airport, not as bad.
Downtown, the winds will probably become less and less,
although we may have just a few puffs of wind,
some higher winds just a little bit later on this evening.
Let's take a look at Live Doppler 6,
and you'll see our temperatures are still again in the 80s
and some 90s showing up, 82 in Twin Falls.
How about Sun Valley? It was in the 80s earlier today, down to 57 degrees.
Watch the temperature drop here over the last hour
as showers and storms have been moving through.
So you've got a cool evening in store now for Sun Valley and lightning strikes.
Hopefully the rains falling here will put out any fires that are started
from some of these strikes, but we're getting strikes to the south and to the west.
Look at this little line right here.
That's gusty winds heading out of that storm system that came on through Boise.
In fact, I'm going to look at that from our tower cam coming up in just a second.
First of all, what about the lightning?
Actually, let's go right to the forecast.
How about for the weekend, for the mountains?
Saturday, Sunday, and Monday, the threat for lightning does exist,
and look at this at 4,500 to 5,000 feet, still in the upper 80s to near 90.
Lows in the 40s and 50s.
You'll get some sunshine mixed with late-day clouds with a chance for a storm coming in.
Here's a view from the tower cam.
Again, looking to the south, notice the flag.
If you look real close, it's blowing from west to east.
I'm going to put this in motion and watch what comes in from the southeast.
Here comes the dust cloud right there, and the flag shifts directions.
Winds gusted up to 40 miles per hour, lowered visibilities down to a mile.
And if you watch real quick here as I put this in motion,
you'll see the crane kind of move to the right as they were working,
kind of lost control for a second, but brought it back.
Very low visibility, strong gusty winds, and even had a few drops of rain on the lens.
Lots of lightning showing up today.
This will be repeated for the next few days, and eventually the dry air will come in from the west.
So your exclusive Magic Valley Choo View forecast for tomorrow and pretty much for Sunday as well.
Similar, 89 to 95, a few drops of rain are likely.
Maybe a brief heavy downpour and some locally gusty winds,
but you're going to get some sunshine in there as well.
Our Central Mountain forecast calling for temperatures, generally speaking, in the 80s.
Now, the valley conditions tomorrow will be right around 100.
Same thing on Sunday. A late-day storm is still possible.
And staying in the 90s for the next five days and even the next 10 days.
We're talking about temperatures maybe even above 100 next week.
Don, Michelle, more hot weather and probably more lightning strikes.
Looks that way. Thanks, Scott.
Will Henneke and for Joe Hughes.
And Boise Hawks are in town, what, through Sunday? It's going to be hot.
Breezy conditions can make for some fun times out at the park.
You get those fly balls blowing around. You get infielders running this way,
infielders running that way, trying to track down the ball,
outfielders trying to track down fly balls.
It can definitely make things fun out at the park.
The Boise Hawks continuing to roll.
We'll talk about the surging baseball team that calls the valley home.
And we'll get you caught up on some basketball players with local ties
who didn't spend their summer floating the river.
Six On Your Side Sports is next.
Tonight, 2020 unlocks the secret lives of children
and the dark, dangerous games they play when adults are out of sight.
Children, even as young as nine,
and you just won't believe what they're doing for fun.
Don't miss this 2020 tonight.
Now, some people who listen to the river talk about the river.
The river is more than just a radio station.
You know, some good tips, some good information.
It's kind of my way of keeping in touch with the community.
New music, new ways of thinking.
I always find out about the greatest things that are going on around town.
Throw in a little bit of National Geographic, a little bit of Wired magazine,
and butter it over with some Austin City limits, and you have the river.
It's music, and it's more than music.
Listen to 94.9, The River.
Regular summer?
A more summer.
It's a very special summer from More Furniture for Less.
It's the Great Summer Sale.
Sale prices throughout the entire store.
Great summer savings on leather.
Kids and teens. Simmons Mattressuit.
Great sale prices at the Great Summer Sale.
Plus, for the first time ever, we're giving away in-store instant rebates.
The Great Summer Sale.
Great summer savings at More Furniture for Less.
It's great!
Hey, Mr. Opportunity again.
If you're one of those people who likes to have choices,
then you are going to love my next two words, Honda Clearance.
Because it's your opportunity to pick the Accord, Civic, Odyssey,
or any other Honda you want for a deal that's very nice.
Come on, Honda plus Clearance.
Do I have to draw you a picture? You get it?
The 2005 Honda Clearance.
Now you can lease a top-of-the-line Pilot EX for $2.69 a month
for well-qualified customers.
I'm Mr. Opportunity. I'm back.
I'm knocking.
If this is the kind of traffic you get at your house,
you need to call or come by the Pergo Design Gallery.
Pergo's a floor that'll hold up to dogs' toenails and kids' toys and dirty shoes,
and just a damp mopping and it looks brand new.
So if you're tired of having your carpet steam-cleaned
or cleaning vinyl on your hands and knees,
come by the Pergo Design Gallery and check out our over 60 wood and tile designs.
Our summer sale makes your new Pergo floor even more affordable.
So call or come by the Pergo Design Gallery in Meridian.
Sign up for your free estimate.
You're watching 6 On Your Side, brought to you in part by Michael's Furniture Showplace,
locally owned and operated for over 44 years,
just off the connector at the River Street exit.
6 On Your Side has the sports you cheer for.
Here's Will Hennke.
The Boise Hawks now stand alone in first place
in the Northwest League's East Division as they prepare for tonight's game
against the Vancouver Canadiens.
Tonight's win over the West Division leading Canadiens, coupled with a Tri-City loss,
gave sole possession of the top spot to the Hawks.
On the other side, the Canadiens have come crashing down,
losers of five straight after they won 24 of their first 32 ball games.
The cooling down has been accelerated by a suddenly surging Boise team.
Talking with some of the guys in the dugout, whatever,
we're trying to ask ourselves, you know, why is the record like how it is?
And their stats aren't unbelievable, you know, with hitting or with pitching,
but they just, you know, they just do the small things right to win ball games.
So that's important to kind of show them, all right, we're here to play,
we're going to compete and win some ball games.
The hot Hawks and the cool Canadiens tonight at 7.15.
Highlights coming up at 10 o'clock.
One of the Valley's most anticipated subplots for the upcoming high school football season
is already over before it even had a chance to begin.
Bishop Kelly star quarterback Cody Hawkins says he's going to walk on at Boise State.
For those of you new to the area or who live under a rock,
he's the son of BSU head coach Dan Hawkins.
After a spectacular junior season leading the Knights to the 4A state championship,
the race for Cody's services looked to be a wide open race,
including prominent schools like Oregon and Wisconsin,
but in the end a chance to play for dear old dad as a walk on,
turning down significant scholarship offers was too good for Cody to pass up.
He begins his senior year at Bishop Kelly in about a month.
Speaking of the blue and orange, former Boise State basketball star Jermaine Blackburn
had a very good run at the NBA's Rocky Mountain Review this summer.
The review is a summer league for rookie prospects and free agents
hoping to catch the eye of NBA scouts.
Seems Blackburn did just that, playing for the Seattle SuperSonics entry in the league,
averaging seven points per game.
Now he'll have to wait and see if the Sonics or another team come calling
with an invitation to training camp.
Also suiting up for the Sonics was former University of Idaho
and Idaho Stampede player Keneal Dickens.
Keneal has already had a cup of tea in the NBA last season.
Like Blackburn, Dickens averaged about seven points per game
in the Rocky Mountain Review for the Sonics.
Another player with local ties who had a strong showing in the NBA summer league
is former Idaho Stampede star Sam Clancy.
Clancy averaged 15 points per game for the New Jersey Nets
in the Las Vegas summer league, also chipping in six rebounds per game.
The big fellow was the CBA's most valuable player as a member of the Stampede last season
and is a very strong bet to land somewhere in the NBA this upcoming season.
Regional youth baseball tournaments continue tonight around the Valley
as host Meridian is playing in the 12-year-old Cal Ripken Regional Tournament
right now at Fuller Park in Meridian.
Also, host team Nampa in action tonight at 8 o'clock at Rodeo Park
in the 13- to 15-year-old Pacific Northwest Babe Ruth Regional Tournament.
Also tonight, the Monsters of Destruction monster trucks out at Idaho Motor Speedway.
They get going around 7 o'clock off of Highway 16 on Chaparral Road
with another show tomorrow night at 7.
So if baseball ain't really your cup of tea and watching cars run into each other
and mash stuff is, head out Highway 16 towards Emmett,
take a left on Chaparral Road and you'll be there.
The ground will be shaken.
Thanks, well we'll be right back.
This portion of Six on Your Side is brought to you by Champion,
helping make your house more like a home.
I'm Kevin Berlison. Come in this weekend and let us show you how easy
a home improvement project can be.
Did you find a shirt for the wedding?
Yeah, it was on sale.
It's Macy's Reinvent Your Home Sale with sensational savings on our entire stock of furniture.
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United Water reminds you to water your lawn deeply and less often
so more water soaks into the root zone.
If your lawn partially dries out before watering again, it actually stays healthier.
A conservation tip from United Water.
Life is greener when you water wisely.
Hey, Carl here with Superior Satellite.
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Pain can take away the good times. You hurt and it's just no fun.
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During Patio Pleasures summer clearance sale.
Every summer product must be sold now.
Including all spas, casual furniture sets and slate pool tables.
Plus get no payments, no interest for 12 months.
Only at Patio Pleasures.
Did you just get home? Here's your rush hour recap.
It has been called a human form of mad cow disease.
Now five people in Twin Falls have tested positive in the last seven months.
Experts say this kind of cluster is extremely rare.
Meridian came to a standstill after an armed robber left a suspicious package in a bank.
Happened only a few hours ago. He got away with cash.
And all four London July 21st bombing suspects now in custody.
Two bombing suspects picked up during a raid in London.
Another in Rome and the fourth was already behind bars.
Tonight's ABC's 20-20 comes here to the Treasure Valley to report on a story every parent needs to hear.
13-year-old Chelsea Dunn from Napa died in her bedroom in April.
Her parents say she was playing a deadly game.
Was she hanging from the closet? With a belt around her neck?
From the door of the closet.
Tonight, 20-20's Deborah Roberts investigates how children are dying from self-sufficiency.
That comes your way tonight at 9 o'clock.
And some updates on some fire, Scott.
I'm going to talk about the Double Mountain Fire in Mount Here County.
We mentioned it. Here's the location. It's about 10 miles west of Adrian, 15 to 20 miles south of Vale.
Now up from 1,200 acres to 7,000 acres and wild, erratic winds are causing this fire to expand.
We'll keep you posted and update you tonight at 10.
Okay. We'll see you then. Good night.