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Betsy Z. Russell

Betsy Russell is a reporter for The Spokesman-Review in the Idaho department. She covers Idaho news from the state capitol in Boise.

How to contact Betsy

Email: bzrussell@gmail.com
Phone: 208-336-2854
Fax: 208-336-0021

Recent stories by Betsy

Rainy day higher ed fund sailing along

March 21, 2010 in Idaho Voices on Page I1 BOISE – Idaho lawmakers say they want to protect state colleges and universities from future state budget swings by creating a special reserve fund – though there’s hardly any money …
Sali back at Capitol to testify, endorse

March 20, 2010 in Idaho on Page B1 BOISE – Controversial former U.S. Rep. Bill Sali resurfaced in Idaho politics on Friday, testifying against child immunizations at a state House committee he once chaired and scheduling a Statehouse … 2
Dozens file candidacy for Idaho offices

March 20, 2010 in Idaho on Page B3 BOISE – Idahoans will have a full slate of candidates to choose from in both their May 25 primary election and the general election in November for offices including governor, … 1
Sali resurfaces, criticizes immunizations

March 19, 2010 in Idaho Former Idaho Congressman Bill Sali resurfaced in Idaho politics today, testifying against child immunizations at a state House committee he once chaired and scheduling a Statehouse announcement on this final … 6
Deal trims some rules on sewage

March 19, 2010 in Idaho on Page A1 BOISE – A North Idaho lawmaker’s proposal to eliminate all of the Panhandle Health District’s sewage rules – including those that protect the aquifer that provides the Inland Northwest’s drinking …
Benewah, tribe solve policing stalemate

March 18, 2010 in Idaho on Page A5 BOISE – Benewah County and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe have reached a deal on policing on the reservation, just in time to head off state legislation that was up for …
Priest Lake cabin lots will see rent increase

March 17, 2010 in Idaho on Page A1 BOISE – Rents for state-owned cabin sites at Priest Lake will go up an average of 9 percent each year for five years starting in 2011, a 54 percent increase …
Idaho calling for expanded states’ rights

March 16, 2010 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and GOP lawmakers are calling for amending the United States Constitution to broaden states’ rights. “Too often, we find ourselves bemoaning the erosion of … 3
Idaho measure would alter age-of-consent law

March 16, 2010 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – If a 16- or 17-year-old girl has consensual sex with her 18- or 19-year-old boyfriend, the boy shouldn’t have to fear felony charges and being branded a sex …
Law signed just in time for March Madness

March 14, 2010 in Idaho Voices on Page I1 BOISE – Idaho officials can soon stop being “shocked, shocked!” that gambling is going on – in the form of office pools or penny-ante poker games. Gov. Butch Otter has …
False work documents targeted

March 13, 2010 in City on Page B3 BOISE – Legislation aimed at fighting employment of undocumented immigrants cleared an Idaho Senate committee on Friday, but only after a two-hour hearing that drew extensive testimony opposed to the …
Tax collection emphasis OK’d

March 13, 2010 in City on Page B1 BOISE – Idaho’s budget outlook for next year is looking a bit brighter, after legislative budget writers on Friday decided to hire more state tax auditors to bring in an …
Cross-deputization bill on hold, for now

March 12, 2010 in Idaho on Page A7 BOISE – Idaho lawmakers are stepping up the pressure on Benewah County and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe to reach a cross-deputization agreement, after a four-hour hearing Thursday that left some …
Idaho lawmakers ponder taxing online sales

March 11, 2010 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Two lawmakers from the same North Idaho district are at opposite ends of a legislative battle over taxing Internet sales, which Idahoans already are required by law to … 1
Idaho public TV cuts scaled back

March 10, 2010 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Idaho Public Television’s budget was trimmed Tuesday, but the damage was far less than Gov. Butch Otter called for earlier. Otter not only supported the plan, he’ll appear …
Panel kills immigration legislation

March 9, 2010 in Idaho on Page A6 BOISE – Idaho lawmakers balked Monday at sweeping immigration legislation that sought to penalize employers who hire illegal workers and enact an array of other provisions, from penalizing “sanctuary cities” … 1
Idaho bill challenges federal law

March 7, 2010 in Idaho on Page B1 BOISE – Idaho lawmakers are gearing up to declare guns and ammunition made in the state exempt from all federal laws, including registration. “This is automatically going to end up …
Lawmaker wants gold, silver standard for state

March 7, 2010 in Idaho Voices on Page I1 BOISE – If Challis Republican Lenore Barrett has her way, electronic transactions in gold and silver will become an alternative form of legal tender for paying bills or taxes in … 1
Roads bond plan clears committee

March 6, 2010 in Idaho on Page B1 BOISE – A squabble between Panhandle lawmakers nearly killed a highway bonding program Friday, as half of North Idaho’s delegation fought for full funding for a U.S. Highway 95 construction …
Idaho lawmakers consider coinage

March 5, 2010 in Idaho on Page A7 BOISE – Idaho could soon begin minting its own silver currency. Silver medallions, proposed by state Rep. Phil Hart, are being pushed as a way to jump-start Idaho’s economy and … 1