The Idaho Transportation Department has issued the first two permits for “mini-megaloads” of oil equipment to travel up U.S. Highway 95 from Lewiston to Coeur d'Alene, where they'll turn onto I-90 to Montana and Canada; read my full story here at spokesman.com. The two could…
Idaho Sen. Jim Risch visited the Guantanamo Bay detention facility on Monday, and he said today that he believes it should stay open indefinitely, and the detainees there should be held indefinitely - though President Barack Obama pledged shortly after he was elected to shut…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Administrators for the Idaho Legislative Services Office and the Department of Finance have approved cash bonuses for dozens of staffers at the close of the fiscal year. Records obtained Friday by The Associated…
Idaho's unemployment rate fell for the second straight month in May, but it's not all good news – employers are hiring at rates below the seasonal norm, and certain key sectors are way off – manufacturing payrolls are stuck at 1991 levels, construction employment is…
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson says a proposed USDA rule to limit potatoes, corn, green peas and lima beans to one cup per week in school lunches was "senseless" and costly, and he's hailing the passage in the House today of the fiscal year 2012 agriculture…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A federal grand jury has indicted two Idaho men accused of using Molotov cocktails last month to destroy government vehicles and a private business building in Payette. The eight count indictment was issued…
Leslie Clement, Medicaid administrator for Idaho's Department of Health & Welfare, is being promoted to deputy director overseeing Medicaid, Behavioral Health and Managed Care Services, replacing Deputy Director Dick Schultz, who is retiring after 33 years with the state. Daily administration of the Idaho Medicaid…
Idaho Rivers United has filed an amended complaint in its lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service over megaloads in the wild and scenic river corridors of the Lochsa and Middle Fork Clearwater along U.S. Highway 12; now, in addition to the Forest Service, the group…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's Idaho Transportation Board action to eliminate the 10-minute limit on traffic delays from oversize loads traveling Idaho roads, including giant megaloads. The rule change takes effect July 1.
The Idaho Transportation Board has voted unanimously to eliminate the 10-minute limit on delays from oversized loads traveling Idaho roads. "We don't like any more delays than we have to have, but sometimes it becomes necessary to move big equipment," said ITD Board Chairman Darrell…
The law that the ITD board says it's implementing with this morning's rule change is HB 228, which says that oversize farm tractors and other agricultural implements can be on the roads when they're being moved to repair shops or to or from sale, rather…
The Idaho Transportation Board this morning is poised to eliminate the 10-minute rule for traffic delays by oversized megaloads, as part of an obscure agenda item related to a new law regarding farm tractors on roads. "Whenever they have a rule change on a particular…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A group that opposes an oil company's plans to haul 200 huge loads of oil field equipment from Idaho and through northwestern Montana argues that the state didn't adequately analyze the impact of…
The citizen redistricting commission has opened its public hearing this afternoon in Idaho Falls; it runs from 2-4 p.m., and you can listen live here (incidentally, I couldn't get the streaming to work in Mozilla this afternoon, for some reason, but it's working fine in…
An eastern Idaho house that's infested with so many snakes that the ground around it appears to move has been abandoned by its traumatized residents, who were told when they bought it that the snakes were was just a story invented by the previous owners…
The Idaho Statesman's Dan Popkey reports today that some members of the Students Come First Technology Task Force got an unwelcome surprise in subcommittee meetings of the group this week - the consortiums their school districts are forming to offer distance-learning classes over the Idaho…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on this morning's visit from former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise to boost state schools Supt. Tom Luna's "Students Come First" school reform plan; Bush proclaimed Idaho's new laws requiring…
Idaho Statesman publisher Mi-Ai Parrish has been named the president and publisher of the Kansas City Star, the McClatchy Co., which owns both papers, announced today. Parrish, 40, has been the Statesman's publisher since 2006. You can read the Star's full story here, and the…
After their address to Idaho's school technology task force, former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise joined Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and Idaho schools Supt. Tom Luna for a press conference. Luna said, "There's no better example of education reform…
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, leaving a press conference in the lower level of Idaho's state capitol, passed the lobbyist room, which, since the capitol renovation, is located in a former vault, still with its historic (but no longer locking) vault door. Bush had to…
Former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise said, "I happen to believe that every child needs a mobile Internet access device." But, he said, "It needs a strategy behind it." He praised Idaho's approach of giving the devices to teachers first. "That makes a lot of…
As members of Idaho's school technology task force get the chance to question former governors Jeb Bush and Bob Wise, the first question was from state Sen. Melinda Smyser, R-Parma, a school board member, who asked "what one thing made the difference in making it…
Former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise told Idaho's school technology task force, "This is the choice: We're either boldly innovative, or we're badly irrelevant." he said, "You already demonstrated your capacity to be boldly innovative. You have the chance to be the leader not only…
Here's a link to the "10 elements of digital learning" established by the Digital Learning Council, headed by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise. Bush, who served two terms as governor of Florida ending in 2007, is known for…
The nation is facing "three looming crises," former West Virginia Gov. Bob Wise told Idaho's school technology task force this morning: Declining state revenues; mounting teacher shortages, including in specific subject areas; and a growing demand for an increasingly educated workforce. "At the same time…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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