The developer of a proposed residential treatment center for troubled teens with emotional or substance-abuse problems has won a $4 million jury verdict against Boise County for scuttling the project after neighbors opposed it. A federal jury ruled that the county violated the Fair Housing…
It's the silver anniversary of Idaho's free ski and snowshoe day at state parks and park-and-ski areas. On Saturday Jan. 8th, Nordic skiers and snowshoers will be able to use the parks and park-and-ski lots for free to access the trails, from Priest Lake to…
Tickets go on sale today for the Inaugural Ball, a once-every-four-years public event that celebrates the inauguration of the new governor and includes a "grand procession" of elected officials in the state capitol. This affair is separate from the pricey political events also typically held…
The Associated Press reports today that public records it obtained under the Idaho Public Records Act show Idaho State Tax Commission Chairman Royce Chigbrow intervened on behalf of clients of his son's accounting firm, over the objections of Tax Commission employees, bringing the clients significant…
The powerful joint committee that writes all budget bills in the Idaho Legislature is also the only committee that's never taken public testimony - but it will this year. With huge budget challenges facing the state, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee is scheduling two public hearings…
If Idaho County residents take the advice of failed gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell and start illegally killing wolves, law enforcement will step in. "I think it's pretty clear to say that if there's a federal law that is violated, then the federal law will have…
Spokesman-Review columnist Shawn Vestal, in today's paper, interviews Rep. Tom Loertscher, chair of the House Ethics Committee, about the Phil Hart case and why Loertscher was the lone vote against looking further into the latest ethics complaint against Hart. First, there's that business of Loertscher…
The Capitol Hill newspaper "Roll Call" reports today that Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick says he's "gone for good" from elective politics. “I think I’m done with elective politics,” he told the newspaper. “I’m not sure what I’m going to do, but I think it’s time…
Idaho Congressman-elect Raul Labrador has been assigned to the Committee on Natural Resources and the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform for the 112th Congress, assignments he welcomed. “I ran for Congress to serve Idaho and to restore the people’s faith in government. These two…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Securities and Exchange Commission has charged an Idaho company with fraudulently raising money to build a $10 billion nuclear power plant. The SEC on Thursday also asked a court to freeze the…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: GRANGEVILLE, Idaho (AP) — A failed Idaho gubernatorial candidate has told a crowd they should take matters into their own and start killing wolves. The Lewiston Tribune reports that Rex Rammell spoke to a crowd of more…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on U.S. Magistrate Judge Ron Bush's preliminary ruling in favor of fired Idaho Transportation Director Pam Lowe on a key point underpinning her wrongful-firing lawsuit, her argument that she wasn't an "at-will" employee who could be…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A federal judge has sided with former Idaho Transportation Department Director Pamela Lowe in a proposed ruling, setting the stage for her wrongful firing lawsuit against the state to proceed. But U.S. Magistrate…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's preliminary injunction blocking new state cabin-site leases from taking effect at the end of this month. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden sought the injunction, arguing that the state's whole system for renting out cabin sites…
The attorney representing the state Land Board today was none other than Merlyn Clark, the attorney who's been recently in the news as the state's hearing officer on the Highway 12 megaloads case, a decision that's now pending in his hands. Clark argued in court…
Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa, who sat through the court hearing today in which fellow Land Board member Lawrence Wasden won a preliminary injunction halting the signing of new cabin-site leases, emerged from the hearing frustrated. Ysursa chaired a Land Board subcommittee that's been…
After a judge's ruling today to grant the preliminary injunction he sought against the state Department of Lands, Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said, "We welcome the court's decision. I certainly look forward to working with my colleagues on the Land Board to try and resolve…
Deputy Attorney General Clay Smith said in court today that the case involves "an exceedingly unusual situation," and 4th District Judge Deborah Bail agreed. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden went to court to block a decision made by the state Land Board, on which he serves;…
Attorney General Lawrence Wasden argued that the entire state law on which Idaho has based its cabin-site rents for state endowment lands - a 1990 state law that requires the state Land Board to charge "market rents," while eliminating the requirement that cabin-site leases be…
Fourth District Judge Deborah Bail, ruling from the bench, today granted a preliminary injunction barring the state Department of Lands from entering into proposed new leases with hundreds of cabin owners on state-owned cabin sites on Priest and Payette lakes, in response to a constitutional…
It turns out that eating a particular yogurt a day for two weeks won't solve intestinal problems after all, and drinking a particular dairy drink won't give you immunity from colds or the flu. Now The Dannon Company Inc. will pay Idaho $425,000 as part…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: GRANGEVILLE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho's top fish and game official has pleaded guilty to one count of trespass to hunt and ordered to pay a $500 fine. Idaho Fish and Game Director Cal Groen told a judge…
As Congressman-elect Raul Labrador continues to round out his new congressional staff, he announced today the hiring of Jason Bohrer, who most recently worked as legislative counsel for Sen. Jim Risch, as his legislative director. “I am delighted Jason has decided to join my staff,”…
The Idaho Statesman's Dan Popkey reports this morning that Congressman Walt Minnick's concession on Twitter made Twitter's list of the "10 Most Powerful Tweets of 2010," ranking No. 8. The tweet, sent by campaign manager John Foster around 2 a.m. as Election Night stretched into…
For the fourth time in a row, Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo has been selected to chair the Senate Republicans' Committee on Committees - yes, that's really what it's called - to handle GOP committee assignments for the 112th Congress. "Mike is a trusted advisor and…
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