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The latest on the Key Bridge collapse, New York puts forth legislation to get clean energy projects on the grid and Wisconsin and other states join a federal summer food program to help feed kids across the country.

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Republicans float conspiracy theories on the collapse of Baltimore's Key Bridge, South Carolina s congressional elections will use a map ruled unconstitutional, and the Senate schedules an impeachment trial for Homeland Secretary Myorkas.

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As ID Redistricting Sprints to Finish, Latinx Coalition Urges Engagement

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Wednesday, September 29, 2021   

BOISE, Idaho - Redistricting is happening fast in Idaho, and one group wants to ensure the state's Latinx voices are heard in this process.

The coalition Contamos Idaho began with outreach on the 2020 census and now is informing folks about how they can provide input as lawmakers draw new voting districts.

"This is a once-a-decade process that for many is 'inside baseball,' " said Dr. Alex Zamora, who co-chairs the coalition, "and we want to remove that barrier for just the average citizen to understand what this is, what the implications are and how they can be engaged."

Contamos Idaho has been holding online training sessions, showing people how to provide feedback to the Idaho Commission for Reapportionment. Idaho's Hispanic and Latino populations have grown by 36% in the past decade.

The commission started public meetings under a tight timeline soon after detailed census data was released in August. It has meetings scheduled through Oct. 12.

Maria Gonzalez, the other co-chair of Contamos Idaho, said the quick turnaround on meetings was an early barrier that could prevent people from getting involved. She said the timing of meetings also is an issue, since many were held early in the day.

"The other issue for the efforts within the Latinx community," she said, "has been that 1 in the afternoon, right, is not as accessible for many, especially those who are working 8 to 5, or 8 to 6 in the evening."

Gonzalez said when drawing lines for voting districts, it's important for the commission to keep communities whole.

"You do not want to dilute any community of interest to ensure representation, present and future," she said.

Zamora added that people need to be engaged in this process, and that it shouldn't be rushed.

"We understand that there's a timeliness associated with this, as there is a law that it has to be done within 90 days," he said. "But we certainly can't sacrifice thorough engagement for the sake of being timely."

He noted that the public can continue to send feedback to commissioners on its redistricting plan, even after its last scheduled meeting, Oct. 12.


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