Idaho Reports, the weekly legislative program on Idaho Public Television, will be a full hour this year, which is good news for a show that happens to be the longest-running legislative program in the West. Click here for a cool history of the show, which…
When Paul Kjellander, head of the Idaho Office of Energy Resources, briefed a legislative interim committee this morning about the wide-ranging work on options for Idaho's energy future being done out of his office by the Strategic Energy Alliance, an effort launched by the governor…
Rep. Eric Anderson, R-Priest Lake, says Idaho's efforts to keep invasive quagga and zebra mussels from getting into the state's waterways appear to be succeeding. "We were very successful this year," he told the Legislature's interim committee on energy, environment and technology. "We seem to…
Here's a news item from AP: State wildlife officials say the first wolf hunting tag ever printed in the state has sold for $8,000 to the highest bidder. The high bid came from North Carolina resident Jonny Morris, the founder of Bass Pro Shops. Morris…
University of Idaho Professor Jay O'Laughlin just told the Legislature's energy, environment and technology interim committee that woody biomass - converting mill or forest residues into thermal and electrical energy - provided 4.7 percent of the energy consumed in Idaho in 2007, and 1.8 percent…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has opened the door to delaying the next scheduled increase in the state's grocery tax credit, possibly saving the state from another $15 million-plus in budget cuts next year that could otherwise hit public schools. "There's cost vs. value there," Otter…
In his latest "Project 60" message, Gov. Butch Otter touts the recent $5 million state grant to Micron for an LED project, and praises various Idaho companies that are innovating or expanding. "It doesn’t matter if you sell alfalfa or write software, it takes innovation…
Well, that was pretty awful. I don't know if the H1N1 is really worse than seasonal flu, because I've gotten a flu shot every year for at least the past 10 and haven't had the seasonal flu. But I sure don't remember anything quite this…
Idaho's state budget news is bleak, lawmakers heard as they gathered today for the interim meeting of the Legislature's joint budget committee: One in five Idaho school districts has declared a financial emergency. State prisons are managing 500 more offenders than a year ago, with…
Based on estimates of federal funding levels for Medicaid once the federal economic stimulus boost is gone, Idaho's Medicaid program is looking at having to cut costs by $387 million - about 23 percent of the Medicaid program. Various savings efforts already are under way.…
Idaho's state Department of Correction is managing 500 more offenders now than it did a year ago, with $28 million less in funding, Corrections Director Brent Reinke just informed JFAC. The department, he said, is working "to really try to do a much better job…
The first report to the feds on Idaho's federal stimulus money spending is out, and it shows that the money spent so far, $12.8 million, has created or preserved 492.58 jobs, Gov. Butch Otter's budget director, Wayne Hammon, informed lawmakers this morning. That means it…
JFAC has begun reviewing the health insurance benefits for state employees, including part-time workers who are facing big cuts next month. Legislative budget analyst Keith Bybee told the lawmakers that the executive branch is making the changes for part-timers as of the Nov. 14 payroll.…
One in five Idaho school districts have declared financial emergencies, legislative budget analyst Paul Headlee just informed lawmakers on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee. He said 23 school districts, 20 percent of Idaho's 115 districts, made the declaration as permitted by HB 252, legislation that passed…
As state agencies look at budget cuts and how to replace federal stimulus money once it's gone, they've also been asked to look for possible new revenue sources other than the state general fund, legislative budget director Cathy Holland-Smith told JFAC as she wrapped up…
A fairly long list of supplemental appropriation requests is looming for lawmakers to consider, for everything from rising caseloads in foster care to a $13.5 million Medicaid shortfall. Those are items that need to be funded in the current year. One item on the list…
How bad will the state budget cuts ahead be for next year? "It's not going to be nibbling around the edges any more," legislative budget director Cathy Holland-Smith cautioned lawmakers this morning. "We just don't have that type of flexibility. We're talking about significant changes…
The Idaho Legislature's joint budget committee has begun its interim meeting this morning at the Stueckle Sky Center at BSU, starting with an update from legislative budget director Cathy Holland-Smith on the state of the general fund. Overall: Not so good. The state faces a…
Thousands of Idaho college students who were scheduled to receive $500 "Promise Scholarships" this year will get just $400 instead, under a plan that's up for final approval Thursday by the state Board of Education. The same tough times that have driven the state to…
Idaho has reached a $13 million settlement with drug manufacturer Eli Lilly & Co., the state's biggest financial recovery under the Idaho Consumer Protection Act aside from the 1998 tobacco settlement. The state sued the pharmaceutical manufacturer over its marketing of Zyprexa, an anti-psychotic drug,…
State schools Supt. Tom Luna says Idaho's public schools need a 9.2 percent increase in state general funds next year, just to keep even and fund student growth. In a budget request for fiscal year 2011 that Luna's scheduled to present to the state Board…
University of Idaho President Duane Nellis has announced his plan for the 6 percent mid-year budget cut at the university ordered by Gov. Butch Otter. The U of I considered furloughs, but decided against them for now. Much of the UI's $7.1 million in cuts…
With mid-year budget holdbacks hitting, lawmakers on the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee will gather for their interim meeting this week to examine what's going on with the state budget, impacts of cuts already approved earlier this year and more. Among the agenda items for the two-day…
Idaho state officials flew on a state plane for a lobbying tour of phosphate mines last month, with a mining industry group footing the bill, the Associated Press reports, though the Idaho Transportation Department doesn't allow private groups to charter state planes. Lt. Gov. Brad…
The $54 million transportation funding compromise that ended Idaho's second-longest legislative session this year has now shrunk to about $28 million, far less than Gov. Butch Otter said was needed right away to keep Idaho's roads up to par. First, a joint legislative task force…