BOISE (AP) —The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has become the first circuit in the nation to order a state to pay for an inmate's gender confirmation surgery, ruling Monday that a three-judge panel decision will stand.

Idaho Gov. Brad Little says he will ask the U.S. Supreme Court to hear the case.

A three-judge panel of the appellate court first ruled in August that the state must give 32-year-old inmate Adree Edmo gender confirmation surgery, agreeing with a federal judge in Idaho that denying the surgery amounted to cruel and unusual punishment, a violation of the Eighth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.

The state then asked the full appeals court to reconsider the case — but the court voted against the move this week. (cont.)

By DANA HERNANDEZ
Sho-Ban News
BOISE — Shoshone-Bannock Tribal member, Toni Rodriguez, daughter of Jesse Rodriguez and Teresa Adakai recently won the Idaho State 2020 Power Lifting Championship in Boise.

Rodriguez competed in three power lifting categories. She benched 237 pounds on the bench, 363 pounds in the squat, and 407 pounds in the deadlift. There were five women in her weight class and 20 overall in the women’s open division. She was also the only Native American female to compete. She received best overall female lifter, while taking first place in her categories. She has been competing competitively for four years. (cont.)

By ROSELYNN YAZZIE
Sho-Ban News
POCATELLO — Shoshone-Bannock tribal member and published author, Dr. LaNada War Jack gave a presentation at Idaho State University on Thursday, February 13 to speak about Understanding the Struggle for Survival and Preservation of the Environment.

She was introduced as the first Native American student at UC Berkley in 1968. She graduated with honors as an independent major of Native American Law & Politics. 

War Jack thanked those in attendance and for coming to celebrate her first book, titled “Native Resistance, An Intergeneration Fight for Survival and Life.” (cont.)