The number of Idaho residents classified as homeless has declined since last year. A survey released last week shows that there are 1,781 homeless people in the state.

The Idaho Housing and Finance Association tracks the homeless population to determine how best to use federal funding and services. The association reported a 9.5 percent decline in homeless residents over last year. Idaho received $4.21 million in federal aid to help the homeless, but funding for 2013 will not be know until this summer.

The eastern counties in the state had the lowest number of homeless. The agency counted only 191 homeless in the counties of Lemhi, Custer, Butte, Clark, Jefferson, Madison, Teton, Fremont and Bonneville.

A new study has been released regarding companies that offer health insurance to employees. The news isn't good for Idaho. The state ranks among the lowest in the country.

A report released last week states that only 43 percent of Idaho companies provide their workers with health insurance. That makes it the fourth lowest nationally. Other states in the region, Montana and Wyoming, rank lower. It is, however, an improvement from last year's score of 41 percent.

The numbers get worse. Among small businesses with 50 employees or less, Idaho ranks second lowest with 28 percent of them offering health insurance. For companies that offer insurance for employee family members, the employees pay 31 percent of their premiums on average. This is the third highest employee contribution requirement in the nation.

The report was published by the University of Minnesota's State Health access Data Assistance Center. 

A former dispatcher and a current dispatcher at the Bonner County 911 Center in northern Idaho have filed legal notices announcing their intention to file lawsuits against the county for what they contend is a hostile work environment.

The Bonner County Daily Bee reports in a story published Thursday that former dispatcher Kellie Brownell and current senior dispatcher Diana Elsfelder filed the tort claims seeking $250,000 each.

Brownell says she approached county commissioners about the work environment with the result being the situation became worse.

Brownell and Elsfelder say they were subjected to disparaging remarks, segregated from other dispatchers, had their work shifts altered and training opportunities reduced.

County officials declined to comment.