Federal Magistrate Judge Ron Bush raised questions at a court hearing today about whether fired ITD Director Pam Lowe actually was a classified state employee entitled to specific hearings and appeals; whether her lawyers' arguments in her wrongful-firing case would have entitled her to serve…
The political war of words between the state's top party leaders continues today, with Norm Semanko, Idaho Republican Party chairman, issuing a statement sharply critical of Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Keith Roark's guest opinion last week, which was entitled, "You Have Been Invited to Leave…
The Idaho Association of Commerce & Industry, the influential lobby group that represents the state's largest businesses, sent out a guest editorial last week warning Idahoans to beware of "candidates of every political persuasion" who call for promoting small businesses. "In reality, the real cynical…
A white paper from Boise State University's public policy center, which analyzed the results of immigration questions in the most recent statewide BSU Public Policy Surveys in 2006 and 2007, found strong concern among Idahoans about illegal immigration: 54 percent said undocumented immigrants reduce the…
The Syringa Networks lawsuit against the state Department of Administration over the award of the multimillion-dollar Idaho Education Network contract to Qwest has been dismissed, as 4th District Judge Patrick Owen granted the state's motion for a summary judgment. "It does appear that Syringa was…
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred has scheduled a series of "town hall" meetings starting Monday in Sandpoint, where he'll answer questions from the public in a format similar to that of the Boise City Club, where volunteers collect written questions from the audience and a…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the news from the latest campaign finance reports in the 1st District congressional race, in which incumbent Congressman Walt Minnick has a million-dollar cash advantage over his Republican challenger, Raul Labrador. Labrador's reaction? "I've been…
Idaho state Rep. Phil Hart’s tax problems appear to be worse than previously disclosed. When federal tax liens filed against Hart's various business entities are combined with the hundreds of thousands in liens the IRS has filed against him personally in his ongoing fight over…
Republican congressional challenger Raul Labrador has just filed his campaign finance report, showing he raised $101,616 from May 6 to June 30, spent $78,246, and has $68,789 on hand for his campaign. Incumbent Congressman Walt Minnick raised $291,966 during the same period, spent $93,778, and…
GOP congressional hopeful Raul Labrador has released results of his campaign's internal poll showing Democratic Congressman Walt Minnick leading him by 10 points, 37 percent to 27 percent, with 26 percent undecided. "I have to say that I am very heartened by this polling data,"…
A fisherman on a tributary of the Wood River west of Hailey encountered an aggressive bat last weekend, and is now being treated for rabies after the bat tested positive for the fatal viral illness. It's the second rabid bat of the season identified in…
Plans to truck huge loads of oilfield equipment bound for Canada through the scenic Lochsa River corridor from Idaho through Montana are being challenged in both states. The Missoula County commission wants Montana's Transportation Department to do a more extensive environmental impact statement of Imperial…
The police department of the largest city in the state is banning texting while driving for its officers on patrol, an interesting move after the Idaho Legislature this year failed to pass such a ban for all Idaho drivers, even with an exemption in it…
Idaho Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, denied the ethics charges against him Wednesday in a formal response to a special House Ethics Committee, and decried the complaint against him for citing "news accounts" and "perceptions." "I have no hesitancy in accounting for, and defending, all of…
Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, has filed his response to a House Ethics Committee's charges against him; click here to read his response. In an email with his response, Hart wrote, "I want you to know that this part of the process of governance does not…
Idaho Senator Mike Crapo today offered this tribute on the passing of Idaho Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Vernon Baker of St. Maries: “Mr. Vernon Baker, an Idahoan, received the Congressional Medal of Honor 50 years after his honorable service in World War II. He…
S-R reporter Becky Kramer has a fascinating story today about how the man accused of stripping millions of dollars from health insurance funds for retirees of the Bunker Hill Mine and Smelter in North idaho in the early 1990s has resurfaced as the treasurer of…
Here's a news item from The Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A libertarian activist who once called Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter "obscenely handsome" is being treated for cancer at a Houston clinic. Ralph Smeed, from Caldwell, is tolerating his medication, according to an e-mail…
Independent gubernatorial candidate Jana Kemp had this response this morning to Gov. Butch Otter's comments yesterday about the state budget at fiscal year-end:"While the Governor and Legislature did a good job focusing on realistic revenue numbers and budgeting accordingly, what’s missing is the action toward…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: MOSCOW, Idaho (AP) — Moscow police say a University of Idaho senior died of respiratory arrest, apparently due to alcohol poisoning after a night of drinking to celebrate his 21st birthday. Emergency personnel responded to a report…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how Idaho closed the books on a tough budget year today. Overall, revenue for the fiscal year that ended June 30 was $86.5 million below the state's official forecast, at $2.26 billion - lower even…
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred has issued a response to Gov. Butch Otter's press conference today on the state budget, saying "Otter's still missing the point." Allred said he agreed that the Legislature was right to hold the line on spending in the 2010 fiscal…
Gov. Butch Otter, joined by several lawmakers including the vice-chairs of the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee, called a press conference in his office today to announce year-end budget numbers that he said showed he and the Legislature acted responsibly in their budgeting decisions this year. "The…
Three North Idaho lawmakers who joined Gov. Butch Otter for a press conference today on state revenues also expressed concerns about the GOP platform loyalty oath, as did the governor. Sen. Joyce Broadsword, R-Sagle, said, "I swore an oath to uphold the Constitution of Idaho…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is the latest high-ranking Idaho Republican to say he won't sign a loyalty oath to the state GOP platform that was approved at the recent state party convention. "I understand the motivation behind that," Otter said, "but obviously there are things…