Among other testimony at today's public hearing on redistricting in Sandpoint: Mike Keough, husband of state Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, delivered a letter from his wife, who's at a JFAC meeting today. "She's pleased that you have given the people in the area the opportunity…
Tom Dillon of Sandpoint, chairman of the Legislative District 1 Republican Central Committee, was the first to testify at this afternoon's public hearing on redistricting in Sandpoint. "Today I represent myself," Dillon told Idaho's bipartisan citizen redistricting committee. "I have some disagreements with Republicans on…
Boise blogger David Frazier reports on his Boise Guardian blog that a pro-megaloads group, the "Western Legacy Alliance," has been asked by the Idaho Secretary of State's office to cease using Idaho's official state seal in its materials, including newspaper ads that ran in the…
State schools Supt. Tom Luna said some concerns raised by local school officials about the new longitudinal data system are valid, but others aren't. He said school districts could choose whether to automate the process of entering data into the new system the first year.…
State Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna is now addressing JFAC about the new longitudinal data system, and his picture is very different than that offered by local school district business managers. “This is the first year ISEE has been operational,” Luna told lawmakers. “We are…
Lakeland School District business manager Tom Taggart, head of the Idaho Association of School Business Officials, told JFAC that district workers feel the new longitudinal data system and its problems is an “emergency” situation. “We think the entire process should be slowed down,” he said.…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is now hearing an update on the new student longitudinal data system, known as ISEE, or Idaho System for Educational Excellence. “The system is pretty well developed now and the department is transitioning off of federal funds,” explained legislative budget analyst…
The possible $50 million additional payout of discretionary money to Idaho schools, if state surplus funds hold up in June, will be “very significant,” said JFAC Co-Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert. “We were hoping it'll be a little higher,” he said. “It may be the very…
The final numbers aren't in yet, but the latest estimates suggest that, depending on what happens with state tax revenues in June, Idaho school districts and charter schools could get about $50 million in a one-time distribution of discretionary funds to satisfy federal maintenance-of-effort requirements…
Legislative budget analyst Paul Headlee told JFAC members this morning that of the $51.6 million in federal jobs funds that became available to Idaho school districts to save jobs, about $13.7 million have been drawn down by the districts, leaving $37.8 million; the funds can…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is gathered for its interim meeting and tour today, starting out at Columbia High School in Nampa. Nampa School District Superintendent Gary Larsen, asked by committee members how he'll cope with state budget cuts and new requirements to shift salary funds…
Comedian Jay Leno tonight returned to the story of Idaho state Sen. John McGee, proclaiming it one of his “favorite stories,” and recounting once again the DUI arrest and jackknifed SUV and cargo trailer two doors down from where it was taken from a stranger's…
Idaho's longitudinal data system for its K-12 public schools has been roundly panned in surveys of the members of the Idaho Association of School Administrators and the Idaho Association of School Business Officials. The business managers survey found that only 1 percent rated the state…
Gov. Butch Otter's budget director, Wayne Hammon, has a presentation about the state's fiscal picture that he's now sent to every state lawmaker and state agency director, and it may seem counterintuitive: Though Idaho's state tax revenues are now running $66.1 million ahead of forecast…
That really shouldn't be news, considering that today is June 21st, the official first day of summer. But it's been such a long, long wait through such an unseasonably cool, wet spring! Now the sun is shining, the roses are blooming, the trails are drying…
The death penalty is now off the table in the resentencing of convicted murderer Dale Shackelford, the Moscow-Pullman Daily News reports. The Idaho Supreme Court has upheld all convictions and sentences against Shackelford for the 1999 killing of his ex-wife and her boyfriend except for…
Oh, my. Idaho state Sen. John McGee's troubles made Jay Leno's monologue tonight. Leno asked, "Did you hear his excuse? He said computer hackers got into his bloodstream and put alcohol in there." Reflecting on the recent revelations about a New York congressman, a California…
A Boise couple who defrauded the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality of hundreds of thousands in federal grant funds – and while they were at it, damaged Idaho school buses and caused a need for thousands in costly repairs – was sentenced in federal court…
KTVB-TV is reporting that state Sen. John McGee's attorney, Scott McKay, said at McGee's arraignment this afternoon that a medical issue was involved in McGee's behavior over the weekend when, in a bizarre incident, he was arrested sleeping in a stranger's SUV, towing a cargo…
The Idaho Department of Health & Welfare is suspending payments to hospitals this week due to a budget crunch, the Twin Falls Times-News reported over the weekend; you can read their full story here. The suspension, which just puts off paying bills that still must…
Here's why Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo isn't among the Idaho GOP leaders on Mitt Romney's Idaho steering committee list: “He's not on that letter for Romney because he doesn't generally endorse,” said Crapo's spokesman, Lindsay Nothern. “He wasn't very active in the last go-round with…
Politico yesterday took a look at Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador as a possible “credible face for broader immigration reform” for the GOP. Reporter Marin Cogan writes, “Wading into the tricky politics of immigration reform would seem to be a dead end for any Republican these…
The list of top Idaho GOP elected officials on Mitt Romney's Idaho steering committee for his presidential campaign is so comprehensive that what stands out is who's not on it - 1st District Rep. Raul Labrador, and U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo. Labrador's spokesman, Phil Hardy,…
GOP presidential candidate and former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney is zipping through Boise this morning for a campaign fundraiser breakfast, but the event is closed to the press and his campaign won't talk about it. “It's a private fundraiser,” said campaign spokesman Ryan Williams. “We…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Republican Senator John McGee says he is embarrassed by his arrest on allegations he drove off in a stranger's vehicle and was driving under the influence of alcohol. The four-term Senator from…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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