Here’s an area where Idaho apparently is on the cutting edge: The Kootenai River Inn & Casino in Bonners Ferry has installed 50 slot machines that accept and pay out in Canadian currency, which it says makes it the first dual-currency casino in the nation....
An environmental group has filed a federal lawsuit contending that 26 dams operating in Idaho, Oregon, Washington and Montana are harming bull trout and violating the Endangered Species Act. The lawsuit filed by the Alliance for the Wild Rockies on Monday in Portland, Oregon, names the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation...
Let’s say, as a recent op-ed piece in the Idaho Statesman by Idaho Freedom Foundation Vice President Fred Birnbaum claimed, that comparing percentage increases in state general fund spending in Idaho to percentage increases for other states shows whether Idaho’s spending is growing too quickly...
The J.A. & Kathryn Albertson Foundation has offered to help fund an Idaho legislative committee’s efforts to update the state’s school funding formula, the AP reports; no amount has been disclosed. "We're still trying to figure out what we want to do," said Sen. Chuck…
Home prices in Ada County hit a record high in June, with the median sales price for new and existing homes hitting $253,000, beating the previous record that was set in July of 2006. Median prices have jumped 10 percent from last year at this…
Idaho’s gas prices are the eighth-highest in the nation, 24 cents over the national average, reports AAA of Idaho. But they’re also running 59 cents per gallon lower than a year ago, are at the lowest level for July since 2005, and have been stable…
A federal judge has ruled that the U.S. Forest Service didn't properly consider how exploratory drilling for a potential open-pit molybdenum mine could harm a rare plant found in central Idaho mountains. U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge in his ruling Monday halting the drilling directed the federal agency to re-evaluate...
An interim legislative committee charged with updating the complex formula through which Idaho divvies up its state funding to schools and school districts across the state is meeting today. This morning was spent on recaps and reports on efforts thus far and the committee’s charge,...
Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador’s Democratic challenger, James Piotrowski, issued a statement today highly critical of Labrador’s “First Amendment Defense Act,” saying the measure would “open the door to unprecedented discrimination against Idahoans and millions of other Americans.” The bill is designed to protect against any…
A House committee is holding a hearing today on Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador’s “First Amendment Defense Act,” which seeks to protect people who act because of their religious views about same-sex marriage or extra-marital relations from any federal penalties, including loss of federal grants, contracts,...
The Idaho Child Fatality Review Team has published its third annual report, this one reviewing child deaths in 2013, and it found five more Idaho children died because their parents’ religious beliefs prevented them from seeking medical treatment. That brings the total over three years...
An interesting tidbit: In Lt. Gov. Brad Little’s filing with the Idaho Secretary of State’s office to form a campaign committee for a run for governor in 2018, he had to name a campaign committee treasurer. His choice? Vicki Risch. She’s the former Idaho first…
An Idaho judge says Blaine County School District must find a way to lower the fee for fulfilling a public records request submitted by a citizen coalition earlier this year. Fifth District Judge Robert J. Elgee ordered the district to recalculate the costs of processing the request by finding the lowest-paid person to do the work...
Federal agencies are seeking public comments and negotiations are gearing up over how much sport, commercial and tribal fishing should be allowed in the Columbia River and its tributaries, the AP reports, as part of a long-term agreement to start in 2018. The current agreement,…
With a legislative interim committee set to gather this summer to examine solutions for Idaho’s health insurance coverage gap – in which 78,000 mostly working Idahoans make too little to qualify for subsidized coverage through the state insurance exchange, but too much to qualify for...
Idaho, which not long ago ranked first in the nation for the percentage of its workers earning minimum wage or less, ranked 9th in 2015, the same ranking it held in 2014. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 15,000 of Idaho’s 458,000 hourly…
From my Sunday column: Idaho's sales tax ranks low, at 37th-highest in the nation, according to a new ranking from the Tax Foundation. A push to ban sales of illegal aerial fireworks - now allowed if the purchaser promises to use them out-of-state - is gaining support. And Lt. Gov. Brad Little's gubernatorial run draws ag support...
Idaho officials are seeking public comments on rules for hunting grizzly bears in the eastern part of the state. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game says comments are being accepted through July 27 on rules that would limit Idaho hunters to one grizzly per lifetime. The estimated 700 grizzlies around Yellowstone National Park are listed as...
Eight inmates at Idaho’s then-privately run state prison who sued Corrections Corp. of America after they were jumped, stabbed and beaten by a prison gang – charging that poor management and understaffing at the CCA-operated lockup led to the attack – will get a trial…
An array of Idaho state and business leaders launched the “Engage Cuba Idaho State Council” today, following the lead of 10 other states pushing for Congress to end the travel and trade ban on Cuba. Gov. Butch Otter, who led a state trade mission to...
Gov. Butch Otter has appointed Michael Boren of Boise, chairman of Clearwater Analytics, to the Idaho Parks & Recreation Board; Otter also is calling for applicants for another vacancy on the board representing North Idaho. Boren replaces Susan Buxton, who stepped down in January when…
Idaho 1st District Congressman Raul Labrador, who will be going to the national GOP convention in Cleveland as a Ted Cruz delegate, called today for Donald Trump to choose Cruz as his running mate. Labrador said that would take “the two guys who got about...
The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee has postponed for a week its meeting that had been set for Thursday morning, at which the nomination of David Nye to be Idaho’s next federal district judge was among the agenda items. No explanation was offered for the postponement…
Boise Fire Chief Dennis Doan says he’s drawing support for his push to close a loophole in Idaho’s fireworks laws that allows illegal aerial fireworks – those that shoot into the air and explode – to be sold in Idaho, as long the purchaser signs…
The nomination of Idaho Judge David Nye to be the state’s next U.S. District Judge is on the agenda for the Senate Judiciary Committee’s meeting this Thursday. However, that doesn’t necessarily guarantee a vote on Thursday; the committee’s rules allow any new business appearing on…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| July 2016 | ||||
| 31 | 29 | 28 | 27 | 20 |
| 19 | 18 | 15 | 14 | 13 |
| 12 | 11 | 08 | 07 | 06 |
| 05 | 01 |
