Hispanics are Idaho’s largest minority group, at 11.9 percent of the population in 2011, and that population is growing fast. From 2000 to 2010, Idaho’s Hispanic population increased by 73 percent, or more than 74,000, Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs Director Margie Gonzalez told JFAC…
Idaho’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation now has 400 people on a waiting list for extended employment services for the disabled, with the average wait time about a year and a half. These are people with intellectual or developmental disabilities. “They can get work and work…
Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell in December to 6.6 percent, the lowest rate in nearly four years and two-tenths of a percentage down from November, the Idaho Department of Labor reports. This time, the improved numbers weren’t just due to people giving up on…
Controversy over Gov. Butch Otter’s appointment of Joan Hurlock of Buhl to the Idaho Fish & Game Commission is delaying the Senate confirmation hearing on the appointment, with Senate Resources Chairman Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, scheduling a hearing tomorrow for Otter’s other June 2012 appointee,…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A federal judge has rejected a request that the courtroom be closed for part of a convicted murderer's mental competency hearing. The Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/ts2JbV) reported U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge made the…
Groups that serve the deaf and hard of hearing across Idaho have displays in the 4th floor rotunda of the state Capitol until noon today as part of a legislative breakfast sponsored by the state Council for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing. Steven Snow,…
After Col. David Brasuell presented the budget request to JFAC this morning for the Idaho Division of Veterans Services, Sen. Sheryl Nuxoll, R-Cottonwood, asked about the division’s excess funds, for which Brasuell had outlined an evaluation process the department is working through to determine the…
Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey reports today that just two months after legislative leaders affirmed their decision to remain among 17 states that don’t archive video of floor proceedings and make the footage available to the public, they’re now rethinking that decision. Idaho Public Television,…
Idaho has the 16th lowest smoking rate in the nation, the head of the Division of Public Health at the state Department of Health & Welfare told lawmakers yesterday. “However, we still have 17.2 percent of our adult population smoking,” Elke Shaw-Tulloch told JFAC. And…
The Idaho Education Association has released a report on its recommendations to improve public schools in Idaho, a year in the making from the IEA’s Education Excellence Task Force, which included a dozen top teachers from around the state. The recommendations range from making preschool…
Idaho’s Council on Domestic Violence and Victim Assistance, which is funded almost entirely by a $3.6 million federal grant, worked with 21,631 victims in 2012. Director Luann Dettman said, “Violence is preventable when we act.” Idaho saw 22 people die in domestic violence incidents in…
JFAC this morning is continuing its full week of health and human services budget hearings; up first this morning was the Indirect Support Services division of the state Department of Health & Welfare. Budget writers quizzed H&W Deputy Director David Taylor about past years’ audit…
Twin Falls Times-News reporter Melissa Davlin reports that a “quiet wave of kindness” is sweeping through Idaho’s Capitol. The reason: Senate President Pro Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, is asking friends and colleagues to do 37 small acts of kindness in memory of his son, Ritchie…
House Majority Caucus Chairman John Vander Woude, R-Meridian, said freshman Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d’Alene, made a poor comparison when he linked prostitution to abortion, saying both are “a woman’s choice.” Said Vander Woude, "Rarely when a woman becomes a prostitute, is it because of…
Freshman Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Coeur d’Alene, was surprised to learn that there’s a news story out about a question he asked this morning regarding abortion and prostitution – and that it’s going viral. He attended an ACLU breakfast presentation in the Capitol this morning, and…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A lawmaker from northern Idaho drew audible gasps when he asked representatives from the American Civil Liberties Union-Idaho if their pro-abortion rights stance also means that they support prostitution. Rep. Ron Mendive, R-Coeur…
Bonner County Magistrate Judge Barbara Buchanan has been appointed a district judge by Gov. Butch Otter, making her the first woman to be appointed to the 1st Judicial District bench. Buchanan, a Sandpoint resident and Moscow native, will be the only district judge serving Bonner…
The Senate State Affairs Committee has voted to accept new rules for the state Capitol grounds and surrounding areas, but to reject sections limiting events and exhibits to certain hours and locations, along with a section limiting amplified sound. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho…
After an hour and a half of questions, the Senate State Affairs Committee has now voted unanimously in favor of one of the three rules dockets before it, the one that deals with rules for use of the interior of buildings in the Capitol Mall,…
Psychiatric hospitalization, which includes community hospitalization for individuals committed to state custody but not yet placed in state hospitals along with State Hospital South and State Hospital North, is recommended for a 2.5 percent funding increase next year by Gov. Butch Otter, to $30.9 million,…
Legislative budget writers, continuing their hearings this week on Health & Welfare division budgets, are looking this morning at mental health, substance abuse treatment and related topics. Mental health services, including both adult and children’s mental health, is recommended by Gov. Butch Otter for $32.9…
Members of the Senate State Affairs Committee, including Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho Falls, an attorney, are grilling ACLU attorney Richie Eppink this morning about constitutional questions with the state’s proposed new Capitol grounds use rules. Under the rules, Eppink said, “Two people gathered…
After years of relentless growth, Idaho lawmakers received a budget request for the state’s Medicaid program Tuesday that’s nearly flat in state funds, and just a 7.6 percent increase overall - even though the program is expected to add roughly 70,000 new recipients next year…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Attorneys for the nation's largest private prison company have asked a federal judge in Idaho to throw out a lawsuit from inmates who say the company uses gangs to run a Boise-area prison.…
1s tDistrict Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador was scheduled to meet with House Speaker John Boehner today, but Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey reports that both are mum about what was said – or if the meeting even happened as planned. Meanwhile, Boise State University political…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| Jan. 2013 | ||||
| 31 | 30 | 29 | 28 | 25 |
| 24 | 23 | 22 | 21 | 18 |
| 17 | 16 | 15 | 14 | 11 |
| 10 | 09 | 08 | 07 | 06 |
| 05 | 04 | 03 | 02 | 01 |
