Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d’Alene, is the new chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee. He said he’ll be the first transportation chair from North Idaho in some time. “It’s exciting to have that position and be able to advocate for our roads issues up there,” Hammond said. “We’re the third-largest county in the state. We need to continue to advocate for our needs up there, so it’ll be great to have a platform to do that”/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

• 3 new committee chairmen in Idaho Senate/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise
• 6 of 7 Senate leaders are new to their jobs/Brad Iverson-Long, Idaho Reporter
• Demo Smith will fill Sayler's spot on next Hart ethics panel/Dustin Hurst, IReporter
  

Question: What do you make of Jim Hammond's appointment to chair the Senate Transportation Committee?