Here's a news item from the Associated Press: HELENA, Mont. (AP) — A federal judge in Missoula is dismissing a lawsuit launched by gun rights advocates and states seeking freedom from federal gun laws. The decision from U.S. District Judge Donald Molloy was expected since…
AP reporter John Miller has a look at the "cowboy cred" of the two leading candidates in Idaho's governor's race today, incumbent Gov. Butch Otter and Democratic challenger Keith Allred. "They have castrated thousands of calves," Miller writes. "They spend free time riding the range…
When Idaho Congressman Walt Minnick and his GOP challenger, Raul Labrador, each were asked for a one- to two-sentence statement of their campaign promises, this is what they each had to say:MINNICK: "I am running to continue working hard for Idaho veterans, seniors and families.…
The candidate for Idaho governor who was formerly known as Marvin Richardson - until he legally changed his name to "Pro-Life" - shared this with Eye on Boise today: "I believe that when you split atoms, you've murdered an atom, that God doesn't intend any…
Remember when Rep. Phil Hart's attorney, Starr Kelso, issued a statement last week charging that the House Ethics Committee's action against Hart, through its unanimous vote to recommend his removal from the House Revenue & Taxation Committee while he presses his own personal fight against…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The "firsts" keep coming for the Boise State football team. The third-ranked Broncos will be featured on the national cover of Sports Illustrated magazine this week. The Idaho Statesman reports that SI writer…
Idaho's homeowner's exemption from property tax will drop in 2011 to a maximum of $92,040, from the current $101,153. "The drop reflects the recent state of the housing market," said Alan Dornfest, property tax supervisor for the Idaho State Tax Commission. In 2006, Idaho lawmakers…
Idaho families saw their take-home pay drop nearly 5 percent last year – one of the steepest declines in the nation. New reports today from the U.S. Census Bureau show that median income in Idaho fell by 4.9 percent from 2008 to 2009. By comparison,…
Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred kicked off an "Education Matters" tour around the state today with sessions at a middle school in Rexburg and an arts center in Idaho Falls; he'll hit Twin Falls on Tuesday, Meridian Wednesday, Lewiston and Moscow Thursday, and more. Allred…
An Idaho fish farm in Buhl is facing up to $177,500 in fines for five years of violations of the Clean Water Act, the EPA reports today. The agency said the ARK Fisheries Tunnel Creek operation, which the operator says has capacity to raise up…
Been interviewing candidates in North Idaho contested legislative races today for the S-R's upcoming voter guide; among their comments: Rep. Mary Lou Shepherd, D-Prichard, said, "I think my district is very much gone Republican. As far as Shoshone County, I think they're hanging in there…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter's latest campaign commercial focuses on alternative energy, and claims Idaho's "among the leaders in the nation" because he's "made alternative energy research a top priority." But the Otter campaign could offer no documentation that Idaho's among the nation's leaders, and national…
Camille Wells, campaign manager for state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna's re-election campaign, had this statement in response to the teachers' rally on the Statehouse steps today for Luna's Democratic challenger, Stan Olson: “It’s no surprise that union leaders are supporting the Democrat candidate. Because…
Idaho schoolteachers are coming out in force behind the candidacy of just-retired Boise school superintendent Stan Olson for state superintendent of schools, against incumbent Supt. Tom Luna. At a rally on the Statehouse steps today, more than 100 teachers from 75 school districts around the…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has launched a new campaign commercial, this one focusing on alternative energy development in Idaho; you can see it here. Coming this weekend: A look at the claims in the ad. Click below to read a report from the Associated Press's…
Idahoans are dead-set against handing over selection of U.S. senators to the state Legislature, and Idaho Republicans are even more against the idea than Democrats or the state as a whole, according to the Idaho Newspapers Poll, a collaboration of seven Idaho newspapers. Yet that…
The Idaho Secretary of State's office says Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, has supplied the missing information from his campaign finance filings for a PAC he formed this year called "North Idahoans for Liberty," and it's closed the case without fining Hart. "Our main goal is…
Idaho GOP congressional hopeful Raul Labrador plans to travel to his native Puerto Rico next week to raise money for his campaign against Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick, the AP reports. A campaign flier says Puerto Rico Gov. Luis Fortuno is expected to attend a…
BOISE, Idaho (AP) — House Speaker Lawerence Denney says it "might be the best" for a lawmaker embroiled in a $700,000 tax dispute to be stripped of his assignment on a key legislative tax committee. A seven-member House ethics panel voted Wednesday to recommend Rep.…
As Idaho voters make clear their displeasure with cuts to public education spending, the men running to lead the state’s schools for the next four years are campaigning in relative obscurity, reports Ben Botkin of the Times-News in today's installment of the Idaho Newspapers Poll;…
Idaho Rep. Phil Hart's attorney, Starr Kelso, has sent out a defiant response to today's House Ethics Committee decision on Hart's behalf, arguing that the panel's decision "has no basis in law or procedure and exceeds the committee's authority." That's not what the Idaho Attorney…
Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, chairman of the special House Ethics Committee, said after the panel's meeting today that he's wondered why Hart delayed so long to file a state tax appeal that was due in December - he waited until March 31st - but decided…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the House Ethics Committee hearing today, in which the panel voted unanimously to recommend that Rep. Phil Hart, R-Athol, be removed from the House Revenue & Taxation Committee while he presses his own personal fight…
Rep. Dell Raybould then moved that the Ethics Committee recommend to the speaker to remove Rep. Hart from the House Revenue & Taxation Committee. Rep. George Sayler seconded the motion, and it passed unanimously.
Rep. Dell Raybould has moved to dismiss the complaint against Rep. Hart for abuse of legislative privilege. Rep. Rich Wills seconded the motion, and it passed on a 5-2 vote. Rep. George Sayler, D-Coeur d'Alene, joined the panel's Republicans in that vote. Now the committee…