The state Board of Education met today and voted to back an increase in WWAMI medical school seats for Idaho from 20 to 40, at a rate of increase of 10 a year. WWAMI is a collaboration that allows students from Wyoming, Alaska, Montana and…
The Twin Falls Times-News reports that a fight may be brewing over the startup of the Idaho Education Network, a $50 million statewide broadband network to serve local schools. Lawmakers unanimously approved the concept last year, but haven't yet approved funding, but state Department of…
House Transportation Committee members are still weighing the findings of the big performance audit of the Idaho Transportation Department, and how to respond to them. "If we all agree that ITD needs more money, there's no way we can put off doing that," Rep. Scott…
There's a near-capacity crowd at the somber hearing this afternoon in the House Health & Welfare Committee, even though the most controversial of the rule changes being considered there already has won approval from the Senate Health & Welfare Committee; rules stand unless they're rejected…
Here's a sign of the times: Legislation that makes a one-word change in the law regarding annual adjustments in the homeowner's exemption from property tax won unanimous approval in the House today. The reason for the change? As House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, explained…
Senate Minority Leader Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, announced today that he won't be able to return before the end of the legislative session this year. Stennett, who is undergoing treatment for brain cancer, said it was "very disheartening to not participate this session." Though his prognosis…
Of the 41 undergraduate and graduate degree programs that the University of Idaho is proposing eliminating, few are popular, acting UI President Steven Daley-Laursen told JFAC this morning. "We have only 55 applications now on the table for entrance of new students," between the 41…
Milford Terrell, president of the state Board of Education, told legislative budget writers this morning, "We all are quite well aware of the economic times in which we live. I don’t need to remind you folks here in this committee of how difficult it is…
Here's a link to the latest episode of Idaho Reports, and also to the "after the show" online discussion in which I join Lt. Gov. Brad Little, BSU political scientist emeritus Jim Weatherby, AP reporter John Miller and host Thanh Tan to discuss the goings-on…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
