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Eye On Boise

TUESDAY, DEC. 5, 2006

Negotiations still under way on fuel taxes and tribes

Idaho’s Indian Affairs Council, which includes state legislators and representatives of the state’s five recognized Indian tribes, met today at the state capitol, with council Chairman Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, and council Vice Chairman Chief J. Allan, head of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, presiding.…

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FRIDAY, DEC. 1, 2006

Judge says school lawsuit NOT over

Fourth District Judge Deborah Bail issued a ruling today in the long-running school lawsuit saying that the case is not over and the state is not off the hook for allowing schoolchildren across the state to go to deteriorating and even unsafe schools. School districts…

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THURSDAY, NOV. 30, 2006

Board pushing for more scholarships

The state Board of Education voted unanimously today for a $10 million plan for need-based scholarships for Idaho college students, an area where Idaho lags far behind most states. Idaho offers about $17 per student in need-based aid, compared to a national average of $387.…

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WEDNESDAY, NOV. 29, 2006


Legally, not all hogs and kisses

When might justices of the Idaho Supreme Court write about a “butt load of money” or about how a “seller may poop away a security interest in goods”? When they’re writing about a case involving “Hogs N Kisses LLC,” of course. The court’s recent 4-1…

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MONDAY, NOV. 27, 2006

From Zamboni caper to first snow

With a light coating of snow frosting the city, Boise is coming out of a long holiday weekend that started with the entire country chortling over its turkey about Boise’s great Zamboni caper, and included the Boise State Broncos winning a spot in the Fiesta…

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MONDAY, NOV. 20, 2006

Luna taps educators, controller for guidance

State Superintendent of Schools-elect Tom Luna – the first non-educator ever to be elected to that post – has asked three Idaho school district superintendents and the state controller to help him transition into the office, now held by Democrat Marilyn Howard. Luna named Boise…

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FRIDAY, NOV. 17, 2006

Historical society audit shows overpayments

The Idaho state controller’s office has released its audit of travel records of former state Historical Society Director Steve Guerber, who resigned recently after a legislative audit of just a small portion of the agency’s records showed $700 in improper travel or meal payments to…

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TUESDAY, NOV. 14, 2006

Malmen to be Otter's chief of staff

Governor-elect Butch Otter has named his chief of staff: Jeff Malmen, who filled the same role for former Gov. Phil Batt and has been chief of staff in Otter’s congressional office for the past six years. Malmen also has served as executive director of the…

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FRIDAY, NOV. 10, 2006

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 8, 2006

The results are in

The Idaho Secretary of State’s office has posted near-complete unofficial election results now, with just one precinct of 955 missing. By the time you click on this link, that one may have been added too. The final results show Republicans expanding their lock on state…

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TUESDAY, NOV. 7, 2006

MONDAY, NOV. 6, 2006

Getting ready to vote...

But need more info? Here’s a look back at some of our major coverage of the top races in Idaho this year. Read all about it, make up your mind, and don’t forget to vote.Governor’s race Series on where all the candidates stand on major…

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FRIDAY, NOV. 3, 2006

Prop 2 opponents crowd governor's office

Gov. Jim Risch stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Sen. David Langhorst, D-Boise; Nampa Mayor Tom Dale; and Sen. Brad Little, R-Emmett, today to speak out against Proposition 2 on Tuesday’s ballot, the anti-takings initiative. The room was packed with Prop 2 opponents, including representatives of chambers of…

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Latest poll has Brady, Grant leading

Likely the final public poll before Tuesday’s election came out today, sponsored by the Idaho Business Review and KTVB-TV, and it shows Democrat Jerry Brady leading Republican Butch Otter in the race for Idaho governor, 41-36 percent, with 20 percent still undecided, and Democrat Larry…

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THURSDAY, NOV. 2, 2006

WEDNESDAY, NOV. 1, 2006

On the 'their-ad-is-wrong' front

It’s gotten to the point where I can’t keep up with all the attack ads and the counter-charges about the attacks being inaccurate. So with apologies to the many I’ve no doubt missed, here’s a roundup:Idaho Superintendent of Schools Marilyn Howard said a radio attack…

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TUESDAY, OCT. 31, 2006

Two felony charges of misuse of public money

The criminal complaint unsealed today in the University Place case charges former UI financial vice president Jerry Wallace with two counts of misuse of public money by officers, a felony. The complaint charged that Wallace falsified accounts and loaned or appropriated UI money “on behalf…

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Uh, whose idea was this anyway?

Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney, a Republican who may run for president in 2008 and would become the first LDS president if elected, stopped off in Boise this morning for a rally for Republican candidate for governor Butch Otter. Romney gave a stirring, patriotic talk to…

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MONDAY, OCT. 30, 2006

Casey overcomes misgivings, endorses Luna

Retired Coeur d’Alene High School principal Steve Casey, who lost to businessman Tom Luna in the GOP primary election for school superintendent in May, endorsed Luna today despite earlier expressing misgivings about Luna’s qualifications for the job. “We did have some spirited debates along the…

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Who made that claim about me? Oh, it was me...

Apparently when congressional candidate Bill Sali made that reference to people seemingly claiming he has a position on Proposition 2 when he maintains he doesn’t (an interesting boast), those claims he was referring to came from his own campaign. “No matter what anyone else claims,…

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Part 2: Where they stand on education

Education is the single largest piece of Idaho’s state budget, and the Idaho Constitution makes it a top priority for the state. Yet Idaho ranks near the bottom of states in per-pupil expenditures for schools, and last winter, the state’s Supreme Court declared the system…

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Eye On Boise

News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.