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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
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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 …
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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 …
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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, …
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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
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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” …
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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 …
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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 …
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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 …
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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
Recent photos by Betsy
Recent videos by Betsy
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Idaho Capitol Tour
July 10, 2009 in Idaho Reporter Betsy Z. Russell narrates a series of photos she took on a tour of the under-renovation Idaho Capitol building July 10, 2009.

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