White House delays airport control tower closures

The terminal and control tower at Idaho Falls Regional Airport

The Associated Press reported today the Obama administration is delaying the closing of 149 airport control towers, including the ones in Idaho Falls and Pocatello, until mid-June in order to deal with legal challenges.

The FAA said today the closures will be delayed until June 15. Trade groups representing companies that operate the towers under contract for FAA filed a lawsuit Thursday in federal court in Washington.

The first 24 closures had been scheduled for Sunday. FAA officials said the closures are necessary to accommodate automatic spending cuts brought about by the March 1 sequestration.

The agency says about 50 airport operators and communities have also indicated they may want to pay for operation of the towers themselves, and more time is needed to work out those details. Earlier this week, Idaho Falls Regional Airport Director Craig Davis said he would be shifting money in the airport's budget from maintenance and other areas to keep the tower operating through Oct. 1. After that, it would be up to the City Council to decide whether to keep the tower in operation. The annual cost of operating the tower is close to $425,000, he said.

Technology Council to host develop.idaho conference April 17 in Boise

The Idaho Technology Council's develop.idaho 2013 conference is being held April 17 at Boise State University's Stueckle Sky Center.

The only event of its kind in the state, this half-day, industry-led event was created to connect software developers, designers, entrepreneurs and students with Idaho's brightest software leaders and special guests.

"Find Your Platform" is the theme of the event. Organizers say it is about showing how software companies are not only solving specific problems but building integrated solutions that serve a wide customer base.

The conference, from 1 to 5:30 p.m., is being sponsored by the Perkins Cole law firm. Cost is $20 for ITC members and $25 for non-members. Students are admitted free. Ticket prices go up $5 after April 11. To purchase a ticket, go to this link: https://itc.memberclicks.net/index.php?option=com_mc&view=mc&mcid=form_137481

The keynote speaker will be Mikkel Svane, CEO of Zendesk, which was launched in October 2007. Svane's career in high ech dates back to 1995, when he launched one of Denmark's first horizontal community portals. Less  than a year later the portal was acquired by a Danish newspaper and Svane founded Caput, a software company specializing in standard software components for community building and social networks.

Biographies of all the speakers can be found here: http://software.idahotechcouncil.org/developidaho-2013-speaker-bios?

Immediately following the develop.idaho conference, at 6 p.m., Tech Cocktail Boise will be hosting a mixer and start-up showcase.

From TSR to Gold's Gym

Looks like work has finally begun on the remodeling of TSR into Gold's Gym. Bob Roberts, who owns the Gold's in Twin Falls as well as here, filed plans with Ammon in March 2011 to remodel the TSR building at 2363 Eagle Drive, but the project was in limbo for more than a year. Once the project is finished, the facility will have 30,760 square feet on the main floor for its gym and locker area and 2,995 square feet on the mezzanine. Thanks to Jeff Foster for giving us the heads up that work is underway.

From T.G.I.F. to Mattress Firm

Workers at the site said the Matteess Firm store on Hitt Road, formerly T.G.I.Fridays, is going to open sometime around April 10. Those of you asking why we need another mattress store in the same vicinity as three others need to ask yourselves what would be the purpose of building it somewhere far away. In most towns, Lowe's and Home Depot are next door to each other. This is how American retail operates.

Plaza Lanes a shell of its former self

There wasn't much new to report today, so we hit the streets to take some pictures. Obviously the old Plaza Lanes on North Yellowstone is about ready to be torn down. Once the site is cleared, Tacoma Screw Products will be building its third Idaho store. Construction should start in about a month.