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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

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Salamander Now State Amphibian

Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter, center, poses for a picture with Ilah Hickman, second from right, and other state lawmakers while signing law allowing the Idaho giant salamander to be Idaho's official state amphibian in Boise today. Hickman lobbied the Idaho Legislature to pass her law for nearly five years before winning enough support in both chambers. (AP Photo/Ryan Struyk)

Ilah Hickman and her friends got to take “selfies” with the governor today, after he signed into law HB 1, the 14-year-old’s long-sought bill to designate the Idaho giant salamander as the state amphibian. “There ya are, kiddo, it’s all done,” Gov. Butch Otter told Ilah after signing the bill, adding, “Good job!” Afterward, the Otter posed for pictures with Ilah and her family and friends, at one point putting his arm around her shoulder and telling her, “You didn’t think I was going to veto it? No, no, you didn’t”/Betsy Russell, Eye on Boise. More here.

Question: Do you know someone as persistent at this girl?



D.F. Oliveria
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.

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