Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — More gifted Idaho high school students are one step closer to having an expedited path to one of the state's public universities under a bill approved by the Senate. The Senate signed off on a bipartisan bill Friday that makes permanent a pilot program offering high-achieving students college scholarships equal to about $1,400 if they graduate early from high school. That bill will now move to the House. Republican Sen. Steve Thayn, of Emmett, said over $40,000 in scholarships was dispersed last year. He said Idaho saved $150,000 that year because the state's cost of educating one student annually is higher than the average award. Thayn said the measure also benefits local districts by providing them a portion of the state's savings to use for other expenses.