Certainly there are some pretty cool ecological features to the new Banner Bank building that had its grand opening in downtown Boise today. The 11-story office tower has a unique water reclamation system that collects gray water and storm water runoff from seven acres of…
Former Congressman Larry LaRocco, who’s running against current Gov. Jim Risch for the lieutenant governor’s post in the November election, charged today that Risch is “taking Idaho voters for granted” by refusing to debate his opponent in a variety of settings, including the traditional “Idaho…
Republican Bill Sali and Democrat Larry Grant, both of whom are seeking the open 1st District congressional seat, will debate on the radio this Saturday morning in Boise, on Doug McConnaughey’s “AM Radio Saturday” program on KIDO-AM, NewsRadio 580 from 6-8 a.m. The two candidates…
Congressman Butch Otter put out a press release today saying he’s for expanding Idaho’s community college system and emphasizing math and science in Idaho schools. He didn’t say how he’d do that, however, beyond calling on “the corporate community – especially technology and health-care employers…
The Constitution Party candidate for governor formerly known as Marvin “Pro-Life” Richardson (and now legally just “Pro-Life”) reports that he’s headed off on a campaign tour – starting in Missoula, Mont. The candidate said he’ll campaign at the University of Montana, where his hope is…
When the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee comes to town next week for a two-day interim meeting, it’ll spend part of the two days touring various operations where state money is spent, from the Idaho History Center’s archives to a Meridian elementary school to several area state…
I was surprised to get a call from the head of special collections at the BSU library, where they’re cataloging some new document collections they’ve obtained from the state library. Included is a collection of documents regarding the Boise Redevelopment Agency from a key time,…
The IRS has something to tell you, as a prominent Idaho painter and his wife were sentenced today for obstructing federal tax laws. John Horejs of Burley and his wife, Elaine, falsely claimed they weren’t U.S. citizens, challenged the authority of the IRS to collect…
Marvin “Pro-Life” Richardson has now officially changed his name – to just “Pro-Life.” Richardson went to court yesterday in Gem County and got the change approved. Now, he said, he has no first name – just the last name of “Pro-Life.” It won’t change how…
Congressional candidates Bill Sali and Larry Grant clashed on everything from wages to health care to terrorism, as each sought to define himself in their first head-to-head debate Friday night in Coeur d’Alene. “If Mr. Sali goes to Congress, he moves his party to the…
Here’s what BSU political scientist emeritus Jim Weatherby had to say today about the decision of three prominent Republican candidates – governor candidate Butch Otter, lieutenant governor candidate Jim Risch, and state controller candidate Donna Jones – to skip the usual live statewide debate this…
Unlike Ada County’s commissioners, who spent thousands of taxpayer dollars fighting to defend themselves from fines over a violation of the Idaho Open Meeting Law, the county commissioners in Teton County have admitted a violation of the law – pointed out by their local newspaper…
Idaho’s top elected officials think the state should be charging higher rents for state-owned cabin sites at Priest Lake and Payette Lake. Because of that concern, the state Land Board on Tuesday voted against proceeding with a scheduled November auction for two new leases of…
A new bronze statue of explorers Lewis and Clark and Nez Perce Chief Twisted Hair, along with the chief’s young son Lawyer, was unveiled today on the grounds of the Borah Post Office, across from the state capitol. Boise author and historian Carol MacGregor, left,…
Congressional candidate Bill Sali held a press conference on the Statehouse steps to announce he’s endorsing legislation from an Iowa congressman to declare English the official language of the United States, require all official government business to be conducted in English, and require English tests…
Congressman Butch Otter lined up an on-the-clock engine company from the Meridian Fire Department, along with the chief and other officials, for a campaign press conference this morning just after the official state 9/11 memorial ceremony on the Statehouse steps. “Today, I’m announcing that as…
Talk about confusion. Last December, the Idaho Supreme Court declared the state’s system for funding school construction unconstitutional, and ordered the Legislature to make major changes. Controversial legislation was passed, and this spring, both sides in the 16-year-old lawsuit filed papers arguing whether they thought…
Former Idaho Congressman Larry LaRocco has passed the halfway mark in his bid to shake 25,000 Idahoans’ hands as part of his campaign this year for lieutenant governor. Tonight, LaRocco will hold a Boise fundraiser with U.S. Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., whom LaRocco described as…
The owners of the FMC Idaho LLC plant just west of Pocatello have agreed to pay an $85,000 civil penalty to settle federal Clean Air Act violations with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that included “excessive emissions” from the idled plant during its decommissioning.Jim Werntz,…
It’s so smoky and awful in Boise today, and it seems to be getting worse and worse. Today, Boise schools canceled all outdoor sports due to bad air quality, including three girls’ varsity soccer games. Football players at Boise High held a makeshift practice inside…
Bonny Moss, U.S. Attorney Tom Moss’s wife of 44 years, died Monday of a brain tumor. She was 65 and a native of Rexburg, who had worked as a schoolteacher and beautician and married Tom in 1961. The couple raised seven children and has 23…
Gov. Jim Risch, responding this morning to questions about his campaign’s terse announcement Friday that he’s refusing to participate in the “Idaho Debates,” sponsored by the League of Women Voters and the Idaho Press Club and broadcast statewide on Idaho Public Television: “We have agreed…
It’s kind of hard to keep an eye on Boise this morning, because the city is fading into invisibility under a thick layer of lung-burning, eye-stinging smoke. With forest fires burning all around, huge quantities of choking smoke are hanging over Boise, obscuring the skyline…
How is it that Cabela’s, the sporting goods retailer, could have gotten a ruling from the Idaho Tax Commission that it doesn’t have to charge sales tax on its Internet and catalog sales to Idaho residents even though it now has a store in Idaho,…
Gov. Jim Risch signed HB 1 into law this morning in his office, and he was all business – though an array of supportive legislators (plus state superintendent of schools candidate Tom Luna) were lined up behind him, Risch didn’t pause to provide them with…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
| Dec. 2006 | Nov. 2006 | Oct. 2006 | Sept. 2006 |
| Aug. 2006 | July 2006 | June 2006 | May 2006 |
| April 2006 | March 2006 | Feb. 2006 | Jan. 2006 |
