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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Eye On Boise

The week that was…

A day after news of millions in federal stimulus funds came raining down on Idaho's state capitol, the local ski hill, Bogus Basin, was hit with a most welcome 10-inch dump of fresh powder. It also happened to be Valentine's Day. (Charlie Russell / Special to The Spokesman-Review)
A day after news of millions in federal stimulus funds came raining down on Idaho's state capitol, the local ski hill, Bogus Basin, was hit with a most welcome 10-inch dump of fresh powder. It also happened to be Valentine's Day. (Charlie Russell / Special to The Spokesman-Review)

The fifth week of this year's Idaho legislative session was a tumultuous one, opening with Gov. Butch Otter's return to the legislative battlefield after shoulder surgery, pushing for his transportation package, and closing with painful decisions on deep new state budget cuts. But just hours later, on Friday afternoon, news of millions in federal stimulus money came raining down on Boise, which could obviate the need for cuts in public schools next year. The next day, on Valentine's Day, a 10-inch dump of fresh power fell on Boise's local ski hill, Bogus Basin. Here's a link to the week in photos.

All those developments and more - except the powder day at Bogus - were discussed on Friday night's Idaho Reports program on Idaho Public TV, on which I joined BSU political scientist emeritus Jim Weatherby, Idaho Statesman editorial page editor Kevin Richert, House Assistant Minority Leader James Ruchti, D-Pocatello, and House Majority Caucus Chair Ken Roberts, R-Donnelly, along with host Thanh Tan, to discuss the week's events. Thanh also interviewed the House and Senate transportation chairs, Rep. JoAn Wood and Sen. John McGee. Click here to watch the show, and the online-only "After the Show" discussion.



Betsy Z. Russell
Betsy Z. Russell joined The Spokesman-Review in 1991. She currently is a reporter in the Boise Bureau covering Idaho state government and politics, and other news from Idaho's state capital.

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