It seemed fitting that when Gov. Butch Otter spoke to the annual convention of the Idaho Licensed Beverage Association yesterday, the meeting was in the “Characters” lounge at the Red Lion Downtowner hotel. The first question the group had for the governor: Whether he’d support…
A federal judge presiding over an antitrust lawsuit between two major Idaho health care providers has declared that trial testimony and documents can remain hidden from public view, providing attorneys make a compelling case for secrecy. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill's Tuesday ruling came…
Here's a news item from the AP and Idaho Statesman: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Three federal agencies spent $392 million in 2012 to manage 32 million acres of Idaho public land, according to a report illustrating costs Idaho would face by assuming oversight of a…
Idaho’s state tax revenue surged nearly $16 million ahead of forecasts in September, beating the forecasted level by 6.4 percent. The extra revenue was enough to more than offset shortfalls compared to forecasts for the past two months, putting the state 1.6 percent ahead of…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A state lawmaker contends Idaho's tax collectors risk violating the U.S. Constitution by requiring same-sex couples who are legally married elsewhere to do extra work when filing state income taxes. Boise Democratic Rep.…
Idaho’s longtime tourism chief and its head of international trade were both laid off Monday, as state Commerce Director Jeff Sayer launched a reorganization of his 53-person agency. Karen Ballard, the state’s tourism division chief for the past six years and a tourism staffer for…
Longtime Idaho tourism chief Karen Ballard is out of a job as part of a reorganization at the state Department of Commerce. Ballard, who’s served as administrator of the state Division of Tourism for the past six years, has been with the department working on…
Idaho’s new health insurance exchange still is seeing frustrating computer system delays, but it’s accomplishing its other goals, state lawmakers heard this morning: In-state people are taking the calls from consumers, the state’s Department of Insurance is regulating the plans offered, and buyers are being…
State Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis and his wife, Marion, know grief, having buried their 23-year-old son a decade ago, reports AP reporter John Miller; they've come to know forgiveness, too. Davis and his family have decided not to oppose parole for their son's killer,…
Idaho’s premiums through its new state health insurance exchange so far are coming in below the average, Joy Wilson, director of health and human services policy for the National Conference of State Legislatures, told Idaho lawmakers this morning. “The rates vary tremendously from state to…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Most Idaho National Guard members furloughed due to the government shutdown will return to work this week. Col. Tim Marsano in a statement on Sunday says some members will return to work Monday,…
Idaho state Tax Commission David Langhorst says the commission wasn’t taking any policy stand when it adopted new rules this week that will have the effect of forcing Idaho same-sex couples legally married elsewhere to recalculate their federal income taxes from joint returns, in order…
Former Idaho Sen. Larry Craig should personally have to pay a “significant” civil penalty of $70,000 for his “serious violations” of campaign finance laws, the Federal Election Commission argues in a recent court filing, in proceedings stemming from Craig’s use of campaign funds to pay…
Idaho’s state Department of Lands received a payment of $943,000 today, right on schedule, from Beckley Media LLC, pursuant to a hotly contested auction last week for the rights to a two-year lease on state endowment lands that include the landing site of Evel Knievel’s…
St. John’s Cathedral in downtown Boise was filled this morning with hundreds of friends, relatives, colleagues and admirers of former longtime Idaho Secretary of State Pete Cenarrusa, who died Sunday at the age of 95; the funeral service drew an array of Idaho’s top leadership,…
An Idaho judge has dumped a complaint by an Internet entrepreneur and former Wall Street analyst accusing the Sun Valley resort and Twitter Inc. of stealing his handle, the AP reports. Leonard Barshack contended that he wasn't trying to impersonate the resort by long tweeting…
Gary Michael, former chairman and CEO of the Albertson's grocery chain, was appointed to the Idaho Lottery Commission today by Gov. Butch Otter; the commission had a vacancy due to the death of longtime commission Chairman Roger Jones of Glenns Ferry in August. Michael, 73,…
Alan Stephens, a longtime attorney in Idaho Falls, has been named to a new post as a 7th District judge by Gov. Butch Otter. “I was impressed once again by the quality and diversity of candidates put forward by the Judicial Council, including a prosecutor…
Idaho has changed its 2013 state income tax forms to require same-sex married couples who now will be filing joint returns at the federal level to recalculate their taxes and file separately for their state returns, the AP reports. "Your Idaho filing status must be…
Idaho’s longest-serving elected official, Pete Cenarrusa, is lying in state in the rotunda of the Capitol this afternoon, after his death at the age of 95. At the head of his casket, on a small table, is the straw hat that Cenarrusa liked to wear.…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Private prison giant Corrections Corp. of America says it will leave Idaho after more than a decade. The decision comes after the company wrestled with scandal and lawsuits surrounding its operation of the…
Legislative budget writers are hearing a presentation this morning on the education stakeholders task force recommendations, which have been endorsed by Gov. Butch Otter and state schools Superintendent Tom Luna. “If the recommendations were implemented today, it’s a range of $346 million to $406 million…
PERSI, the Public Employee Retirement System of Idaho, has seen its fortunes improve dramatically since the economic downturn, lawmakers learned this morning, and during fiscal year 2013, which ended June 30, PERSI reached an all-time high asset value in excess of $13 billion. Gains have…
After two days of operation of Idaho's health insurance exchange, Executive Director Amy Dowd is offering this advice to those who are experiencing delays once they hit the federal application website, to which they're routed from Idaho's Yourhealthidaho.org site: "For those who may be having…
The Idaho Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children, or WIC, has received contingency and reallocation funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture so it can continue to honor vouchers and offer clinical services through the end of October. The program, which serves…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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