Arrow-right Camera
The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise archive for April 25, 2011

MONDAY, APRIL 25, 2011

In this April 11, 2011 photo, activity around the Imperial Oil test module increases as crews prepare to depart from the Port of Lewiston in Lewiston, Idaho. The module, which is 250 feet long, 30 feet tall, 24 feet wide and weighs almost 500,000 pounds, will be the first of many the oil company hopes will travel the route on its way to the Kearl Oil Sands project in Alberta, Canada. (AP Photo/Lewiston Tribune / Kyle Mills)

Big loads, big issues... 

Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the news from today's megaloads hearing, including ITD's contention that it wouldn't be "practical" to require the giant loads to be cut down and run on routes other than scenic, winding U.S. Highway 12 -…

Continue reading this post »


Megaloads hearing wraps up for the day

The megaloads contested-case hearing has wrapped up for the day, at 4:30 p.m. Boise time, and will take up again tomorrow morning at 9; ITD official Regina Phipps will continue her testimony then. The hearing is scheduled to last all week and possibly into next…

Continue reading this post »


Otter on Marek: 'A tragic loss'

Gov. Butch Otter has issued this statement in reaction to the recovery of the body of miner Larry "Pete" Marek, who had been missing for more than a week after a cave-in at the Lucky Friday Mine in North Idaho: “With the news of Mr.…

Continue reading this post »


Regina Phipps, vehicle size and weight specialist for the Idaho Transportation Department, testifies at a contested case hearing on Monday; Laird Lucas, right, attorney for megaloads opponents, is questioning her. (Betsy Russell)

Megaloads hearing examines precedent... 

Regina Phipps, vehicle size and weight specialist for the Idaho Transportation Department, is the next witness called at the contested case hearing on U.S. Highway 12 megaloads, which is scheduled to run all week and possibly into next week. Among the issues that have been…

Continue reading this post »


Brundage to extend skiing to May 15, a record

With the wintry conditions, Brundage Mountain got 3 inches of snow this morning and has announced it'll extend its "bonus" late-season weekend openings through May 15 - and maybe even further, if conditions warrant. “We have an extremely healthy snow base, and it actually continues…

Continue reading this post »






Megaloads contested case hearing opens Monday morning at the Idaho Transportation Department. Retired judge Duff McKee, second from left, is presiding as the hearing officer; the first witness is Ruth May, operator of a bed-and-breakfast on Highway 12; she's at right. (Betsy Russell)

Megaloads hearing opens...

The contested case hearing on the proposed 200-plus megaload shipments of oil equipment across U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho has opened at the ITD headquarters this morning, with retired Judge Duff McKee, second from left, presiding as hearing examiner. The first witness is Ruth…

Continue reading this post »


Rusche: Otter veto 'prevented legal mayhem'

House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, a pediatrician, is praising GOP Gov. Butch Otter's veto of HB 298, the grandson-of-nullification bill on health care reform, saying, "Gov. Otter prevented legal mayhem - for that he is to be thanked." He has concerns, however, about the…

Continue reading this post »

Eye On Boise

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