Five to 10 percent of Idaho has no broadband services available, Rep. George Eskridge, R-Dover, told the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning, and it’s mostly the remote parts of rural Idaho. He compared the situation to the days when the federal Rural Electrification…
Senate Local Government & Taxation Committee Chairman Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, brought legislation to the House Rev & Tax Committee this morning to remove regulated utilities and railroads from the partial personal property tax exemption on business equipment that lawmakers enacted last year. “Bottom line is…
Seventy percent of Idaho’s 143 public libraries are the only source of free interstate access in their communities, Idaho Commission for Libraries Director Ann Joslin told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. “In Idaho, residential broadband continues to lag the national average,” she said. “Our…
Mercy for Animals, the national group that took the hidden-camera video that showed workers at a southern Idaho dairy beating, kicking and jumping on cows and led to criminal charges against the workers, has issued a statement today decrying the introduction of legislation yesterday to…
On top of the $14.45 million that’s already been requested, Idaho could be forced to pay back $13.5 million received from federal “e-rate” funds since 2009 if a federal review nixes the contract for the Idaho Education Network, state Department of Administration Director Teresa Luna…
Numerous people with disabilities, advocates and care providers gathered in the Statehouse today for an advocacy day, with displays in the rotunda and more. At a news conference this morning, advocates announced “Steps to Rebuild Medicaid,” a plan that taps funds identified in former chief…
Idaho’s 25 cents a gallon gas tax would rise by 6 cents to 31 cents a gallon, under legislation introduced today at the request of the Idaho Trucking Association. Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence reports that the bill was presented by trucking industry lobbyist Skip…
On Monday, dozens of angry suction dredge miners from around the state gathered at a joint hearing held by the House and Senate Resources committees in the Lincoln Auditorium, to complain about a new EPA permit that’s been required for suction dredging in Idaho since…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill aimed at creating a little breathing room for payday loan borrowers who get in a bind is headed for a full hearing. The proposal, sponsored by Twin Falls Republican Sen. Lee…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: NAMPA, Idaho (AP) — A former inmate at a Nampa facility run by the Idaho Department of Juvenile Corrections has filed a tort claim contending that he was sexually abused by female staffers. The Idaho Press-Tribune reports…
Senators and representatives got a close look at an Idaho historical artifact today: A large, ornate silver loving cup presented to the state in 1903 for Payette Valley farmers’ “magnificent fruit exhibit” at the National Irrigation Congress that year, an exhibit that included 63 varieties…
Paulette Jordan, a former Coeur d’Alene Tribal Council member who ran for the House as a Democrat in 2012, is filling in for Rep. Shirley Ringo, D-Moscow, through Friday. Jordan was sworn in Wednesday morning. “I had some family business I needed to attend to,”…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's $2.5 billion dairy industry wants to put people who film their operations surreptitiously in jail for up to a year, a bid to block animal-rights groups from spying on farms in hopes…
The Senate just suspended its rules – a rare move at this point in the session, but common later on – to immediately take up HB 385, a bill from the State Board of Education to address a situation in the Salmon School District. There,…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A dispute that erupted last year when former Republican Rep. Mark Patterson was allowed to carry a concealed weapon even after his permit was revoked has lawmakers trying to change Idaho's guns laws.…
The House Health & Welfare Committee has passed HB 395, to restore non-emergency dental services to adults on Medicaid, after a hearing this morning at which people with disabilities and their advocates traveled from Moscow, Jerome and Pocatello to plead for the change. Idaho eliminated…
Idaho’s judicial branch is making its budget pitch to state lawmakers this morning, and it’s a significant one. The court system is preparing for the rollout of a new court technology system over the next five years, and has a one-time funding request for next…
Longtime Post Falls businessman Patrick Whalen announced today that he’ll challenge Sen. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d’Alene, in the May GOP primary. “The Senate seat is an important leadership position that should be at the forefront of North Idaho’s economic development effort,” Whalen said in a…
With no discussion or debate, a Senate committee today printed one of the more anticipated education bills of 2014, reports Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News. Dubbed the “Student Data Accessibility, Transparency and Accountability Act of 2014,” the bill sets guidelines for protecting student information,…
The House Health & Welfare Committee voted along party lines today against printing and introducing legislation from Rep. John Rusche, D-Lewiston, to expand Medicaid in Idaho, something Rusche called “a missed opportunity.” All Democrats on the committee backed introducing the bill; all Republicans opposed the…
More than 500 people filled Idaho's state Capitol Wednesday to speak out against legislation designed to protect freedom of religion - by allowing Idahoans to refuse service to those they object to on religious grounds; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com. In…
Idaho is moving to make "revenge porn" a felony, as the state's anti-video voyeurism law has proven unusable against this latest form of online crime. That's according to Rep. Luke Malek, R-Coeur d’Alene, who introduced his bill today. Times have changed since Idaho enacted the…
A new version of the $2 million wolf-control fund bill has been introduced this afternoon in the House Resources Committee, but there were still lots of “no” votes. Rep. Terry Gestrin, R-Donnelly, supported this one though he opposed the earlier version – which was introduced…
Idaho State Police say they didn't conduct an investigation following revelations that private prison company Corrections Corporation of America understaffed a prison and gave the state falsified documents to hide vacancies, the AP reports, and instead relied on a report from a forensic auditing firm.…
On a day when lawmakers heard hours of passionate testimony against a proposed religious-freedom bill, another House committee quietly introduced legislation from Rep. John Gannon, D-Boise, to limit the “faith-healing” exemption in Idaho law if a child’s life is at risk. “It was just total…