Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: TWIN FALLS, Idaho (AP) — A mule deer that grew to trophy proportions because it lived inside Twin Falls city limits where hunting is illegal and became something of a celebrity has been poached. The Times-News reports…
Crazy day at the Statehouse this morning, with lots happening. While JFAC was grilling Otter Administration officials about the troubled Idaho Education Network this morning, the House State Affairs Committee was debating introducing bills on abortion and concealed guns. New state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra…
Lawmakers had so many questions about the troubled Idaho Education Network that this morning’s hearing on the state Department of Administration budget went 40 minutes over its planned time, prompting the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee to put off its hearing on the Capitol Commission budget to...
Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, like Senate Education Chairman Dean Mortimer before him, questioned why the state would seek a “bridge contractor” to provide a service identical to the current Idaho Education Network for another year. “I think we all recognize that there’s a…
Rep. Jason Monks, R-Meridian, asked state Admin Director Teresa Luna if Idaho might have to pay back the millions in e-rate funds it received over four years before the feds cut them off in November of 2013. Luna said it’s possible. “We have heard of…
The Otter Administration’s proposal for the Idaho Education Network is to allocate $10.5 million in state general funds for the IEN next year – the full cost, assuming that no federal e-rate funds can be obtained. “Should e-rate funding be realized, there would be an…
Among the questions from lawmakers about the Idaho Education Network at this morning’s budget hearing: Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, said his local school district gets good broadband service outside the IEN. He questioned “why we need the statewide network model, when there are other models…
Former Senate Education Chairman John Goedde told JFAC, “Let’s talk about a path forward. … We issued an invitation to bid on the 3rd that will address the intermediate challenge that we’ve got.” That’s for a “bridge contractor” to run the IEN for one year,...
State Admin Director Teresa Luna turned over the podium to former Sen. John Goedde to present the Idaho Education Network portion of her budget presentation; Goedde began by disputing a recent service audit of the IEN...
Idaho Department of Administration Director Teresa Luna is on the hot seat this morning, presenting the department’s budget to lawmakers – along with the troubled Idaho Education Network high school broadband service. Luna’s presentation to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee puts everything else first – the...
Legislation that’s set for possible introduction in the House State Affairs Committee on Thursday morning would take Idaho’s ethics laws, its Public Records Law, and the Idaho Open Meeting law and move them into a single new title of state law, Title 74, to be...
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Some lawmakers cast doubt Wednesday on whether the state can reach its goal for 60 percent of Idaho's young adults to have a postsecondary degree or certificate by 2020. State Board of Education…
It's "Pie Day" today, when the Idaho Coalition of Home Educators brings large quantities of homemade pie, along with displays from and about home-schooled students, to the state Capitol. The annual event, in the fourth-floor rotunda of the capitol, is scheduled to run until 2:30…
A group of 17 North Idaho community leaders, including Coeur d’Alene Mayor Steve Widmyer; former Mayor Sandi Bloem; Ron Nilson, president of Ground Force Worldwide, a Post Falls manufacturing firm; Mark Browning, vice president of North Idaho College; and former Kootenai County Sheriff Rocky Watson;…
Idaho would give college scholarships to high school graduates who earn college credits while still in high school, under legislation proposed today by freshman Rep. Ryan Kerby, R-New Plymouth, a longtime local school district superintendent. Taking college classes in high school increases the rigor of...
Idaho is shopping for a “bridge contractor” to run the troubled Idaho Education Network high school broadband service for 2015-16, Idaho EdNews reporter Kevin Richert reports. The state sent out a 31-page “invitation to bid” for the one-year contract yesterday, Richert writes; his full report…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Boise State University has hired the director of the Harvard Innovation Lab to lead the school's College of Innovation and Design. The Idaho Statesman reports (http://bit.ly/16njPsm) that 45-year-old Gordon Jones will start as…
Idaho is on track to take over primacy for the National Pollution Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, for the EPA, state Department of Environmental Quality Director Curt Fransen told lawmakers this morning, but there will be costs to the state. Idaho is currently one of...
Idaho’s agricultural exports have more than doubled in seven years, state Department of Agriculture Director Celia Gould told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. “That’s astounding,” she said. “Agriculture generates more sales in Idaho than any other single industry. It touches every single person in…
Four bills that the Idaho Department of Lands says will bring Idaho’s rules for oil and gas leasing up to national standards cleared the House Resources Committee today, the AP reports. The measures, HB 47, 48, 49 and 50 now head to the full House…
School district in Idaho’s timber country are bracing for a big hit, if Congress doesn’t act to keep payments from what’s left of the old Craig-Wyden timber replacement money, the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determinaion Act, flowing, reports Kevin Richert of Idaho EdNews. The…
Freshman Rep. Eric Redman, R-Athol, gave the opening prayer in the House this morning, as the regular chaplain was away. Redman said his message was for all representatives, Republican and Democrat alike. “I believe you all are here to sincerely serve the constituents in your…
Idaho’s Wolf Depredation Control Board had its first budget hearing this morning, and reported that it didn’t spend the full $400,000 it was allocated for its first year, but it did contract with USDA Wildlife Services to kill 31 wolves, all of which were attacking...
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's $2.4 billion dairy industry is no longer at risk of losing its operating permits if caught illegally dumping waste into streams and waterways. The Senate Agricultural Affairs Committee approved new rules Tuesday...
Idaho is one of just six states that charges sales tax on prescription glasses, lobbyist Kris Ellis told the House Revenue & Taxation Committee this morning, and Idaho’s optometric physicians think it’s time to exempt glasses and contact lenses from the sales tax. All other...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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