Idaho's dominant Republican establishment appeared headed for a rare rebuke from voters Tuesday, as school-reform measures pushed hard by state schools Superintendent Tom Luna and GOP Gov. Butch Otter trailed at the polls at press time. The three measures, Propositions 1, 2 and 3, became…
Freshman GOP Congressman Raul Labrador appears headed toward a second term, with a big lead over Democratic challenger Jimmy Farris and two other candidates. With 34 percent of the vote in the 1st Congressional District counted, Labrador had 64 percent to Farris' 31 percent. Libertarian…
With 20 percent of the vote counted, all three school reform referendum measures continue to trail, with Proposition 3, the technology measure, faring the worst, losing 64.1 to 35.9 percent. Here's the current tally: Proposition 1: 45.3 percent yes, 54.7 percent no Proposition 2: 44.5…
South Dakota, like Idaho, also had a referendum measure on its ballot regarding teacher contracts; that state's measure asked voters whether they wanted to keep a law their Legislature passed phasing out tenure and imposing a merit-pay bonus system along with a scholarship program. With…
Opponents of the "Students Come First" school reform measures are celebrating at their own election-night party at the Red Lion Downtowner hotel. The early numbers show a win for the opponents. "If we pull this off, it's going to be an affirmation of what we've…
At the Idaho Democrats' election-night watch party, the festivities spill into several rooms, including the pool deck at the Boise Hotel & Conference Center, formerly the Holiday Inn. The Dems are celebrating the re-election of President Barack Obama, who's defeated GOP challenger Mitt Romney. A…
The very first smattering of election results has come in, and with just 9 of 967 precincts reporting, all three "Students Come First" school reform propositions are trailing. The early tally: Proposition 1: 46.1% yes, 53.9% no Proposition 2: 44% yes, 56% no Proposition 3:…
It's early yet, but folks are gathering at both the Idaho Democratic Party election-night watch party at the Boise Hotel and Conference Center, and at the Riverside Hotel, where the Idaho Republican Party is holding its election-night watch party. Gov. Butch Otter welcomed the shoulder-to-shoulder…
Love this AP photo by Adam Eschbach of the Idaho Press-Tribune, showing Dora Winter of Nampa after an "I Voted" sticker was placed on her forehead at her polling place, Karcher Church of the Nazarene, today. Idahoans are voting in great numbers today, in addition…
There was a half-hour wait to vote at my polling place this morning; one guy ahead of me in line gave up and left. A young mom with first-grader in tow waited all the way through the line, only to find out she wasn't in…
This is apparently the year of the referendum across the nation - the National Conference of State Legislatures reports that there are more popular referenda on the ballot this year than any year since 1920. (There are also 42 initiatives, which are laws proposed by…
In the fourth Idaho Student Mock Election, high school seniors across the state cast online ballots last week, and today the results are out: The students narrowly picked Mitt Romney for president and backed two state constitutional amendments, but overwhelmingly turned thumbs down on the…
Idaho voters are riled up and ready to vote, with a contentious school-reform debate reverberating in the state's airwaves and decisions looming on every seat in the Legislature, key local races, two constitutional amendments, Congress and more. Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa is predicting…
I was contacted in April by State Legislatures Magazine, which is published by the National Conference of State Legislatures, about writing a piece about Idaho's school-reform fight for their fall issue, a big-picture piece looking at how the reforms came to be introduced, what they…
The latest TV commercial in favor of Propositions 1, 2 and 3 comes from "Yes for Idaho Education," and features a message strikingly similar to that in a September statewide ad from "Parents for Education Reform." The look is different, with video of teachers and…
It turns out that the "buyout" clause in the $182 million laptop contract is not what the State Department of Education originally described - a cost that "is only paid if the contract is severed for some reason" and "may or may not be paid."…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) ― Idaho State coach Mike Kramer has suspended a player who complained Kramer pushed him to the ground during practice on Oct. 3. Idaho State officials confirmed Thursday that Kramer suspended wide receiver Derek…
Idaho Public TV's "Idaho Reports" program will air an election special tonight focusing on the ballot measures before Idaho voters on Tuesday. Greg Hahn is the host, and he'll interview state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna and Centennial High School teacher Cindy Wilson on the…
Idaho's fight over three school-reform ballot measures has set a record for campaign spending on ballot measures in straight dollars, reports Idaho Statesman columnist Dan Popkey, eclipsing the 1986 battle in which voters affirmed the Legislature's passage of the Right to Work law. Between all…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) ― Amid a campaign secrecy dustup, millionaire Idaho businessman Duane Hagadone took back money from a group that was reporting it publicly and gave it to another that fought to keep its donors hidden.…
The latest campaign ad in Idaho's school reform fight features Gov. Butch Otter endorsing Propositions 1, 2 and 3 in a positive, feel-good message. "Education in Idaho is at a crossroads," the casually dressed governor says in the commercial, which is running statewide, including in…
Documents obtained by the Associated Press reveal the most detail to date about the conduct of former state Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, in the sexual harassment case that led to his resignation from the Senate. They include descriptions of McGee engaging in sexually inappropriate behavior…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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