The U.S. Forest Service on Wednesday issued a notice of non-compliance to the Idaho Department of Fish and Game, the AP reports, after the state agency violated an agreement by using a helicopter in a central Idaho wilderness to put tracking collars on wolves. The…
Reps. Ron Nate and Heather Scott have released their draft legislation on “constitutional carry,” or allowing people to carry concealed guns without a concealed-weapons permit. The draft just adds this line to the list of places where current concealed-weapon permit requirements don’t apply: “Outside the confines of any building within city lim...
Gov. Butch Otter has sent out a guest opinion to Idaho newspapers touting his Primary Care Access Program, the $30 million initiative he’s proposing this year to provide some basic primary and preventive care to the 78,000 Idahoans who currently fall into a coverage gap...
After much testimony and debate, the Senate Resources Committee has voted to approve a DEQ rule setting new water quality standards. Based on new surveys, it raises the expected level of fish consumption for Idahoans to 66.5 grams per day, which is equivalent to a…
A group of 43 Micron Technology employees has become the state’s largest group winner of a Lottery prize, with the 43 co-workers splitting a $50,000 win in last week’s record Powerball drawing. The Idaho Lottery announced the win today; it was one of four $50,000…
Idaho’s state appellate public defender’s office could serve as a model as lawmakers look to reform the state’s county public defender system, Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Jones told the Senate and House today in his “State of the Judiciary” address. “I was pleased…
Today's annual "Buy Idaho" show has brought dozens of Idaho businesses to the state Capitol, where they're offering displays, information, free samples and more on the first, second and third floors of the Capitol rotunda. The show is free and open to the public and…
The state agency responsible for inspecting and certifying health care facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living centers, still has a backlog, even after four new surveyor positions were added last year, legislative budget writers learned this morning. “It seems like we’re not…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter's proposal to provide basic medical coverage to people who fall in the so-called "Medicaid gap" has been split into two separate bills. That means the policy will have…
State Tax Commission Chairman Ken Roberts presented the annual IRS conformity bill to the House Rev & Tax Committee this morning; it was introduced, but only after lots of questions. The bill has a big fiscal impact: $17.2 million for the current year, fiscal year 2016; and $28.7 million for next year, fiscal year 2017. It ...
Idaho’s two state mental hospitals have seen an increase in the acuity of their patients’ conditions, “increased dangerousness,” Ross Edmunds, state Division of Behavioral Health administrator, told legislative budget writers this morning. That’s requiring more use of seclusion, restraint and one-to-one monitoring. As a result,…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
