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Eye On Boise archive for May 2009

SATURDAY, MAY 30, 2009

Candidate files for bankruptcy 

An early announced candidate for governor of Idaho on the GOP ticket has filed for bankruptcy for his development business, according to the Associated Press, and is trying to sell properties in Wyoming to cover his debts. According to the AP report, which originated with…

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FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009


Manning: 'Department is running pretty well' 

Idaho Transportation Board Director Darrell Manning declined to say what the board addressed in its closed session on personnel issues this morning, as rumors spread around the state that ITD Director Pam Lowe might be leaving the department. "I don't want to discuss anything like…

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Who Lowe is

Pam Lowe, director of the Idaho Transportation Department, is a professional engineer who was ITD's first female district engineer when she was named to that post in 2000. She first joined ITD in 1993 as a construction associate; became planning services manager in 1995 and…

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Special ITD board meeting, no action

The Idaho Transportation Board held a special meeting this morning for a closed-door executive session on "personnel issues," but when they emerged, they took no action. "The board had an executive session on personnel," said spokesman Jeff Stratten. "I do not sit in on those…

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THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009

WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 2009

TUESDAY, MAY 26, 2009

Tuthill will open own engineering firm  

Idaho Department of Water Resources Director Dave Tuthill, asked why he made the decision to retire at the end of June, said, "It's a good time for the agency and a good time for me, too. ... I've been eligible for full retirement since last…

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More worked for less

The highest-paying sectors of jobs in Idaho in 2008 - management of companies, mining, and utilities - employed just 6 percent of the state's workers, while the lowest-paying sectors - accommodation/food services, and arts/entertainment/recreation, employed 10 percent. This according to the Idaho Department of Labor,…

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Tuthill to retire from Water Resources

Idaho Department of Water Resources Director David Tuthill will retire on June 30, after 33 years with the department, to "pursue a career in the private sector," according to an IDWR news release. Tuthill served as manager of the department's western regional office, adjudication bureau…

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Why he didn't veto it 

After House Education Chairman Bob Nonini declared on the floor of the House that Gov. Butch Otter's executive order for new accountability measures at the Idaho Transportation Department was “not worth the piece of paper it was printed on,” there was much speculation that Otter…

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SATURDAY, MAY 23, 2009

FRIDAY, MAY 22, 2009

THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009

Idaho's invasive species sticker has been required since 2009 on all boats that launch in Idaho, to help fund a fight to keep invasive quagga and zebra mussels out of the state's waterways. The stickers cost $5 for non-motorized craft, $10 for boats registered in Idaho, and $20 for boats registered elsewhere. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

That's the sticker... 

Swung by the Idaho parks & rec office and purchased my invasive species sticker, which I then plastered onto my sailboard. Now we'll see if it sticks. They were plenty busy, but it was a breeze picking up the $5 sticker (for non-motorized craft; Idaho-registered…

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Teens can learn about space, aviation

Idaho teens ages 14 to 18 have until May 30 to apply to attend the Aviation Career Exploration (ACE) Academy, run by the Idaho Transportation Department's Division of Aeronautics. During the four-day academy, which runs from June 29 to July 2, the teens will get…

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WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2009

Idaho has the best ... drivers?

According to a new national survey by GMAC Insurance, Idaho drivers are tied (with Wisconsin) for best in the nation in their driving knowledge - performance on the written test for a driver's license. This isn't new drivers; it's existing ones. The annual survey polled…

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TUESDAY, MAY 19, 2009


Gov. Butch Otter presides over a meeting of the Idaho Land Board on Tuesday. At the far left is Secretary of State Ben Ysursa; at right is state Controller Donna Jones. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Decision delayed on river dispute

What often is a routine transaction for the state Land Board - turning over title to newly uncovered land along a river to the adjacent landowner when the river's channel moves - turned into a big controversy when the state was looking at a parcel…

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Tamarack Resort head Jean-Pierre Boespflug addresses the Idaho Land Board on Tuesday. Boespflug said the troubled ski and golf resort may have a buyer. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Possible buyer for Tamarack? 

The failed Tamarack Resort near Cascade could have a buyer in the offing, Tamarack chief Jean-Pierre Boespflug told the state Land Board today. "We do have a very difficult situation," Boespflug told the board. The ski and golf resort boosted employment in Valley County by…

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Idaho Gov. Butch Otter speaks at a rare meeting of Idaho's Constitutional Defense Council on Tuesday. At right is state Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs.  (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Gov, pro-tem grudgingly agree to payment 

Gov. Butch Otter and Idaho state Senate President Pro-Tem Bob Geddes, R-Soda Springs, led the opposition in a rare meeting of the Constitutional Defense Council this morning to paying court-ordered attorney fees in a case that the state mostly lost, but partly won; the case…

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MONDAY, MAY 18, 2009

SUNDAY, MAY 17, 2009

Gov. Butch Otter vetoed dozens of hard-fought, successful budget bills this year to make his point to lawmakers that he wanted action on his transportation proposal. (Betsy Russell / The Spokesman-Review)

Otter's hard line softens over time 

When Idaho Gov. Butch Otter was a legislator back in the ’70s, he was precisely the sort of outspoken, no-new-taxes, shrink-government conservative as those in the House who stymied his transportation initiative this year. Now he can’t understand why the young lawmakers don’t get his…

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FRIDAY, MAY 15, 2009

Idaho launches seat belt enforcement push 

Starting on Monday, more than 50 Idaho law enforcement agencies will launch a 14-day crackdown on seat belt usage, a push that will extend through the Memorial Day weekend. According to the Idaho Transportation Department, 105 Idahoans who weren't wearing their seat belts were killed…

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Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.



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