Idaho is the fourth-fastest-growing state, according to 2010 Census results released today, even though the state's population growth in the past decade was slower than the previous decade. Idaho gained 21 percent more residents for a 2010 population of 1,567,582, which is 273,629 more than…
Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch said today that legislation to remove wolves from endangered species protection likely won't be considered again this year, after an effort they joined today failed. The two joined senators from Wyoming and Utah to offer a bill for…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the state Land Board's decisions today about state-owned lake cabin sites at Priest Lake and Payette Lake. The state will take public comments for 90 days, starting Thursday, on a plan to get out of…
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said the lawsuit in 4th District Court in which he challenged proposed cabin-site leases still is alive, despite today's Land Board action; it will look first at the constitutionality of the entire state law under which Idaho has been leasing…
Secretary of State Ben Ysursa's motion, setting cabin-site rents for 2012 and the following nine years at 4 percent of current value, has passed unanimously. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden said the motion will increase revenue to the state endowment beneficiaries by $5.7 million over the…
Secretary of State Ben Ysursa has now moved to set state endowment cabin-site rents at 4 percent of value for 2012 and the following nine years, after a one-year freeze next year. Attorney General Lawrence Wasden seconded the motion. Ysursa said it supersedes the board's…
With the state facing an injunction against proposed new cabin-site lease terms, the state Land Board has just voted 4-1 to approve a one-year extension of current lease terms for state endowment land cottage sites on Priest and Payette lakes. That leaves rents at 2.5…
Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden moved, and Secretary of State Ben Ysursa seconded, to adopt the state Lands Department's recommendation: A 90-day public comment period on a plan to dispose of the state's lakefront cottage sites over a number of years. The motion passed unanimously.
The proposed plan before the Land Board to dispose of leased-out lakefront cottage sites anticipates current lessees having three options: Join in an exchange, enter a voluntary public auction with credit for the value of their improvements and the opportunity for installment payments, or continue…
Idaho should "dispose of the cottage sites in an orderly and expeditious manner," according to a report now being presented to the state Land Board. However, Lands Department staffer Kate Langford said first, the department is recommending opening a 90-day public comment period - starting…
After state endowment manager Larry Johnson concluded, "There is no compelling fiduciary reason for the Land Board to increase the distribution rate" to endowment beneficiaries - the largest of which is the state's public schools - state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna said he had…
The state Endowment Fund Investment Board is recommending that the state stick with its current distribution rate of 5 percent for payouts to endowment beneficiaries, including public schools, rather than increase it. "Our past experience leads to caution," endowment manager Larry Johnson told the Land…
The state Land Board has convened in the Idaho Capitol Auditorium this morning, with agenda items including addressing the issue of the "split estate" - the situation in which the state owns lakefront cabin sites, but private owners own the cabins they build and use…