Former state Sen. Jack Noble, who resigned from the Idaho Senate in 2005 in an ethics scandal, is in trouble again, this time being dunned for failing to provide workers compensation insurance for workers at his now-defunct Idaho dairy. The bankrupt Noble reportedly has moved…
Back in August, the governor’s Division of Financial Management estimated that state tax revenues would be down 4.9 percent from last year, a significant drop – but now the figure’s larger. State chief economist Mike Ferguson would only say yesterday that it’s worse; revised revenue…
Idaho’s annual Change in Employee Compensation report, which was required by law to be submitted to the governor and Legislature today, shows that state employee wages still lag 15 percent behind market rates, and calls for 5 percent raises, to be distributed by merit, to…
Idaho Democratic legislative leaders aren’t disagreeing with Gov. Butch Otter about the need for new budget cuts, but have issued a statement calling for “responsible, targeted cuts that protect critical services to middle-class Idaho families.” House Minority Leader Wendy Jaquet, D-Ketchum, and Senate Minority Leader…
As he closed his press conference this morning after announcing new state budget cuts, Gov. Butch Otter said, “Thank you all very much for being here this morning.” And then he added, with a rueful chuckle, “Maybe this is a bad time to say it,…
The timing just worked out that way – Gov. Butch Otter will be announcing new state budget cuts today at an 11 a.m. press conference, and then at 5:30, the governor and first lady will host a ceremonial tree lighting with singing, cookies, Starbucks coffee,…
The headline: “Risch: ‘I have no future political plans’” The date: Nov. 10, 1988, shortly after longtime state Sen. Jim Risch, the president pro-tem of the Senate, was booted out of office by Ada County voters. The byline: By Betsy Z. Russell, The Idaho Statesman.That’s…
It reads in some ways like a confession before going to his execution, but it offers no insight into the killer’s crimes. Instead, the eight-page affidavit that condemned killer Joseph Duncan filed in federal court late today deals mostly with the killer’s religious views of…
A 67-year-old Las Vegas man has been sentenced to three months in prison, three months home detention and five years of probation for collecting his mother’s PERSI retirement benefits for nearly three years after she’d died. Vernon Geier, who pleaded guilty to interstate theft from…
U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge, after quizzing condemned killer Joseph Duncan repeatedly about whether he wants to appeal his death sentence and about whether he gave his standby attorneys permission to file an appeal for him, declared himself satisfied that Duncan, at this point, doesn’t…
Standby defense attorneys for condemned killer Joseph Duncan say the U.S. District Court in Boise has no business holding a hearing on Monday on whether Duncan wants to appeal his death sentence or not, because jurisdiction over the case now falls with the 9th Circuit…
U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge has issued an order setting a hearing for Monday morning on killer Joseph Duncan’s appeal of his death sentence, to determine whether Duncan is actually appealing or not.Though his standby attorneys filed a notice of appeal on Monday, federal prosecutors…
Killer Joseph Duncan has filed a letter with the federal District Court in Boise addressed to Judge Edward Lodge, regarding the notice of appeal filed for him Monday by his standby attorneys. “Dear Sir,” Duncan wrote. “This is to inform the court that if any…
Federal prosecutors are trying to strike the notice of appeal filed by stand-by attorneys for admitted multiple murderer Joseph Duncan, saying Duncan never wanted to appeal his death sentence and the attorneys acted without his permission. “The decision to appeal is solely that of the…
The news from the state Endowment Fund Investment Board, which reported to the state Land Board today about the endowment’s investment earnings, was anything but sunny. The fund lost 13.8 percent in October, and as of Oct. 31, had lost 21.9 percent of its value…
Despite at least two proposals in the last couple of years for new commercial nuclear power plants in Idaho, don’t expect to see one in the next decade, a nuclear industry expert told a Boise forum today. If you look out 15 years, it “might…
This must be the new spirit of bipartisanship and unity that we’ve been hearing about nationally since the election: A joint news release that went out Friday afternoon was headed, “Crapo, Simpson, Bieter help retain rail jobs.” The occasion: A federal waiver was denied for…
A new national survey ranks Washington fourth in the nation for governmental integrity, openness and accountability – and Idaho 44th. The survey, conducted by the Chicago-based Better Government Association, compared open records laws, open meeting laws, whistleblower laws, campaign finance requirements and conflict-of-interest laws, to…
I asked new Congressman-elect Walt Minnick how long he’d like to serve in Congress if it were entirely under his control. Here’s his response:“I, in all honesty, cannot answer that … not until I get there, find out the extent to which I’m effective and…
In a memo sent to all state agencies today, there’s clear warning that an additional 1.5 percent of the state budget that’s being held in reserve after September’s 1 percent holdback may well be on the chopping block very soon. “I am asking each of…
All recreation-related fees will be waived for veterans, military personnel and their families at federal recreation facilities on public lands tomorrow in honor of Veterans Day. That includes lands under the management of the Forest Service, the BLM, the National Park Service, Fish and Wildlife…
BSU political scientist Gary Moncrief, who studies elections, had this to say when asked why GOP Congressman Bill Sali lost in Tuesday’s election: “I think it’s largely a referendum on Sali. You know that district – there’s no way a Republican should lose that district.…
Idaho GOP Sen. Mike Crapo sent out the following statement:“President-elect Obama has brought a lot of energy into the political process, and his election is historic,” Crapo said. “As we face the significant challenges in our financial markets and economic outlook, I look forward to…
Though only two precincts remain uncounted, GOP Congressman Bill Sali isn’t ready to concede defeat. “Well, I’d certainly rather be here talking about the stunning victory last night,” Sali said at a GOP press conference today. “Unfortunately, it’s a little close right now. There’s still…
While change swept the nation in Tuesday’s election, it didn’t happen in the election for the Idaho Legislature. Only one sitting Idaho legislator was defeated on Tuesday (Democrat Jerry Shively of Idaho Falls, who lost narrowly), and every seat in the 105-member Legislature was up…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
