Idaho's permanent endowment fund, whose earnings benefit public schools and universities, has been battered by the market in recent years. But there was relatively good news this week: For the fiscal year that ended July 1, the fund was down just 17.9 percent. That may…
Gov. Butch Otter today approvingly called the Idaho Lottery "probably the clearest form of self-taxation that we have in the state." Here's a link to the governor talking about how much the lottery has raised for schools and state buildings in Idaho in the past…
When Eye on Boise asked him why he thinks Idahoans are still buying lottery tickets despite the downturn, Idaho's biggest-ever lottery winner, Brad Duke, who won $220.3 million in a Powerball drawing in 2005, said, "There's always the chance, there's always the hope. I suppose…
Though the economic times are grim, there's one way Idaho's still making money: By chance. Idaho's state lottery announced today that its revenues for the recently concluded fiscal year set a record for the seventh time in eight years, coming in 2 percent over last…
A committee of top real estate professionals was asked to review how Idaho could update its rules for transfers of state endowment lands to match "modern business practices," and this morning, the panel presented its recommendation to the state's top elected officials. Among them: Eliminate…
Idaho's congressional delegation - Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch and Reps. Mike Simpson and Walt Minnick - has issued the following joint statement about the capture of an Idaho soldier, Hailey native Pfc. Bowe Bergdahl, by Taliban forces in Afghanistan:“Out of respect for Private…
More lieutenant governors are succeeding and becoming governors this year than in recent history - think Alaska, Utah, Illinois - prompting renewed attention to just who the lieutenant governors are, and whether they're ready to govern. Idaho's Brad Little says Gov. Butch Otter is training…
Here's a link to my full story on Idaho's child immunization dilemma: The state has the lowest child immunization rate in the nation, but budget cuts that hit July 1 are making it more expensive and more difficult for Idaho families to get shots for…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's firing of Idaho Transportation Director Pam Lowe, something that's been the topic of rumor for months but became reality today. ITD Board Chairman Darrell Manning, asked about Lowe's comments today, said, "Considering that she's…
Ousted Idaho Transportation Director Pam Lowe says her performance evaluations and feedback from the state Transportation Board about her performance as director have all been positive, and she's not been given any indication why they wanted to get rid of her. "Darrell Manning asked me…
The ITD's new interim director, L. Scott Stokes, is well-known in North Idaho from his decade-long service as the district engineer for ITD's District 1, based in Coeur d'Alene. Stokes became the the transportation department's deputy director in February of 2007; he started with ITD…
Click below to read about how Idaho ended up cutting state funding for child immunization, an area in which the state now ranks the lowest in the nation and that was a top priority for past governors to improve, and how that's affecting Idaho families…
The Idaho Transportation Board just voted unanimously to fire director Pam Lowe. Deputy Director Scott Stokes was named the interim director while a new director is sought, with the search focusing both inside and outside ITD. Board Chairman Darrell Manning said, "The board determined this…
The Legislature's joint Health Care Task Force has just voted unanimously to request the governor and the Health & Welfare Department to shift funds within the department to restore Idaho's child immunization program through Jan. 1. Sen. John McGee, R-Caldwell, said, "Based on the conversation…
Sen. Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, said when the Legislature went along with the governor's proposal to cut state funding for child immunizations, it didn't intend to create the current situation. "We made decisions during the Legislature based on information that hasn't ... quite worked as anticipated,"…
The amount Idaho's saving by cutting state funding for child immunization in this year's state budget: $2.8 million. Jane Smith, administrator of the state Division of Health, said the exact appropriation was $2,856,100, but that might have been a little on the low side because…
Dr. Stephen Ryter, medical director of Blue Cross of Idaho, a pediatrician, told the Legislature's Health Care Task Force, "We are No. 50 out of 50, as far as immunizations go." He said, "People don't think these diseases exist any more." Yet, he said, "I've…
Quizzed by lawmakers as to why Gov. Butch Otter, in his budget recommendation this year, called for cutting state funding for child immunizations - a cut the Legislature approved, but thought would be offset for a year by stimulus money, which didn't come through -…
Idaho's child immunization rate for the measles is lower than that of Indonesia, Pakistan or Croatia, and its rate for polio is below that of Botswana, Latvia and Sri Lanka, the Idaho Legislature's Health Care Task Force was told just now. Now, on top of…
Lawmakers from states and Canadian provinces throughout the Northwest are sending a sharply worded letter to the U.S. secretary of the interior and the Canadian minister of fisheries and oceans, seeking much more aggressive measures to contain quagga and zebra mussels once they've invaded an…
It's a bit of an oddity that Idaho's state legislator who's been a key instigator of programs targeting aquatic invasive species, including quagga and zebra mussels, has the same name as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife aquatic invasive species coordinator. So at this…
The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will be an economic boon at a time when one is badly needed, Canada's minister of state for sport told officials from throughout the region today. "It's put us in a very strong position," Minister Gary Lunn told 500…
The Pacific Northwest, on both sides of the Canadian border, is the “Middle East of North America” when it comes to energy resources, experts say, and it will eventually supply both nations with an array of fuels, from wind, geothermal and biofuels to oil, coal…
Officials and experts from two nations say a United States border policy driven by concerns about terrorism and problems at the U.S.-Mexico border is disrupting operations at the nation's borders with Canada - and hurting Pacific Northwest communities. "We've got a much more open border…
The mama grizzly bear that attacked an eastern Idaho hunter after his hounds surrounded her and her cubs has been located, and either the hunter's brother missed when he fired his pistol at the bear, or any wound she suffered was minor. Idaho Fish &…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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