Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State officials say bridges designed to last up to 60 years will have to hold out twice that long without an increase in transportation funding. That's what Idaho Transportation Director Brian Ness told…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the tribal policing issue that's back before lawmakers, after a deal that averted legislation last spring fell apart. "That agreement was not signed, which necessitates coming back before the Legislature and asking for a resolution…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State officials say motor vehicle fatalities across Idaho declined in the past year, dropping to the lowest level since 1975. Idaho Transportation Department Deputy Director Scott Stokes told lawmakers Thursday there were 211…
As top ITD officials, including Director Brian Ness, Deputy Director Scott Stokes and the state Transportation Board, make presentations to a joint meeting of the House and Senate transportation committees this afternoon, lawmakers asked about the megaloads that ITD just approved to travel on U.S.…
Two years ago, Idaho legislators passed a law that exempts anyone under age 16 from having to have a driver's license to operate an off-highway vehicle, ATV or motorbike on national forest roads. Now, the Forest Service is doing a review of safety issues on…
Representatives of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region group, or PNWER, are in Boise today and tomorrow, and they're pushing to expand exports to boost the economies of both the states and the Canadian provinces in the region. Among the ideas: Expanding capacity for wheat storage…
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe is back before Idaho lawmakers this year, after Benewah County reneged on a deal last spring that prompted the tribe to drop legislation on policing that lawmakers were on the verge of passing. "Obviously we were extremely disappointed," said Helo Hancock,…
The answer to Idaho's higher education funding conundrum - more students, less money - can't just be raising tuition rates further, state Board of Education President Richard Westerberg told lawmakers. "Longterm in Idaho, we cannot continue to raise tuitions at the rate we have in…
Idaho State Board of Education President Richard Westerberg told lawmakers this morning that the state board's goal is 60 percent by 2020 - that 60 percent of Idahoans who are ages 25-34 should have some sort of post-secondary degree or credential. "Our society, our global…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — It's been more than a century since Harry Orchard planted the bomb that killed former Idaho Gov. Frank Steunenberg outside his house in Caldwell on Dec. 30, 1905. But historians requesting a copy…
State schools Supt. Tom Luna has gotten lots of questions from members of the Senate Education Committee about his education reform plan. Among them: Lots of questions about his proposal to give every 9th grader a laptop; questions about whether his proposal to require school…
State schools Supt. Tom Luna is at the Senate Education Committee this afternoon, taking questions from committee members about his reform plan. Sen. Mitch Toryanski, R-Boise, said, "In my district we had a town hall meeting yesterday, and about 90 percent of the time that…
The House GOP caucus is worried about state tax revenues, according to Caucus Chairman Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, and discussed the issue at length in its closed-door caucus today, which ran for an hour. "There's certainly some cautionary approaches that we're going to take," Roberts said.…
Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls, says he's been getting heat ever since the last legislative session about last year's hastily enacted "conscience" law, which is aimed at letting health care providers decline to provide abortion-related services if they violate their conscience, but also takes in…
House Republicans have gone into their first closed-door caucus of the session, though House Democrats already have held several closed-door gatherings. The majority caucus will last 'til about noon, which would be about 45 minutes, though House GOP Caucus Chair Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, termed that…
Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Daniel Eismann is delivering his "State of the Judiciary" address to the House and Senate today; here, he's speaking in the House. "In spite of the challenges resulting from the economic downturn, the judiciary is still fulfilling its constitutional responsibilities…
One in three Idahoans received help from the state Division of Welfare in 2010, from food stamps to Medicaid to Aid to the Aged, Blind and Disabled. Russ Barron, division administrator, told members of JFAC and the Senate and House health and welfare committees this…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The economic downturn has left deep scars on Idaho's public services for the mentally ill, including efforts to help some of the state's most-vulnerable children. Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's recommended budget for the…
Members of JFAC and the House and Senate health and welfare committees got a chance this morning to ask questions of state Medicaid administrator Leslie Clement, after her presentation on Monday of the Medicaid budget. Half an hour was allotted; there were so many questions…
Key Idaho lawmakers raised serious questions Tuesday about state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna's sweeping education reform plan, which he detailed to nearly half the Legislature in a massive joint committee hearing. Luna's plan relies on raising class sizes and employing fewer teachers, administrators and…
ITD now says the ConocoPhillips megaloads won't start moving until Feb. 1, rather than on Monday. The agency earlier today said the loads could start rolling Monday, but then it learned that Conoco wouldn't be ready by then, so it changed the permit date to…
The legislative task force on alternative funding for ISP and state parks has voted unanimously to propose a $10 vehicle registration fee increase to make up the Idaho State Police's lost funding when it loses gas tax funds. The $10 per vehicle increase would raise…
A legislative task force that's been looking into alternative funding sources for the Idaho State Police and the state parks trails program - rather than gas tax funds that long have gone to the two programs - has voted unanimously to permanently restore the trails…
Idaho State Tax Commission whistle-blower Stan Howland is now speaking in the Senate flex room, room WW17 in the Senate wing, on the lower level of the state Capitol. At least half a dozen legislators, from both parties, are among those in the audience. "Auditors…
Ski patrollers on Idaho's slopes are concerned that a quirk of Idaho law might make them guilty of practicing medicine without a license when they help injured skiers, so the Senate's majority leader has introduced legislation carving out a legal exception to make sure that…
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