Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The state Department of Education has hired a program specialist to help implement sweeping changes for Idaho's public schools. The agency says Travis Drake came aboard last Wednesday and will help carry out…
Opponents of proposed megaloads on U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho have filed a petition for reconsideration of hearing officer Duff McKee's recommendation to the Idaho Transportation Department that permits for the giant loads be approved, saying they "believe there are several clear errors of…
When Joseph Duncan received three death sentences and nine life terms in federal court in Idaho for his murderous 2005 attack on the Groene family in North Idaho, U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge ordered two extensive mental evaluations that delayed Duncan's death penalty sentencing trial…
U.S. Attorney for Idaho Wendy Olson is making the emphatic point that the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruling today does NOT overturn Joseph Duncan's death sentence; instead, it reverses U.S. District Judge Lodge's order waiving Duncan's right to appeal, ordering Lodge to hold a…
U.S. Attorney for Idaho Wendy Olson said in a statement, "Since his arrest in July 2005, Joseph Edward Duncan, III, has been found competent by every court or jury to have considered the issue. He has three times pleaded guilty to murder charges or offenses…
Here's a link to the 9th Circuit ruling out today on Joseph Duncan, which orders U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge to hold a competency hearing to determine if Duncan was competent to waive his right to appeal his death sentence. If the answer is yes,…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals has thrown out the death penalty of Joseph Edward Duncan III, saying he should have been given a competency hearing before he was allowed to waive…
A team from Discovery Education is now addressing the "Students Come First" Technology Task Force, headed by Hall Davidson, a former middle school teacher and now director of global learning initiatives for the Silver Spring, Md.-based company. Davidson said, "Kids really have changed." They learn…
Idaho's Students Come First Technology Task Force is now hearing from representatives of the Denver Public Schools Instructional Management System. "As much as we love the technology piece, it's really not about technology, it's really about teaching," Jason Martinez told the group. "What we hope…
Idaho state Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, said he supports the new recommendation for two online courses for high school graduation, down from state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna's original proposal of eight. "It wasn't eight for very long," Goedde said, noting, "Then it went…
The online presentation from Maine about that state's student laptop program was interrupted by another videoconference back there, and various interruptions from tech people, including one who said he had "hard muted" one of the sources because "it sounds like we're in a math class."…
"Students Come First" Technology Task Force member Christine Donnell asked Maine educational technology coordinator Steven Garton, "We have encountered some resistance to this legislation. ... Can you help us learn from your experiences, how we can overcome these bumps in the road?" Garton responded, "This…
The "Students Come First" technology task force now is hearing an online presentation from the head of the Maine Learning Technology Initiative, Steven Garton, on how that state's laptop computer program for every student has worked. State Sen. John Goedde, R-Coeur d'Alene, who is chairing…
Idaho's tech-focused "Students Come First" school reform plan originally envisioned requiring all Idaho students to take eight online classes to graduate from high school, though that number was later dropped to four, and then left open; Gov. Butch Otter has expressed interest in students taking…
As the "Students Come First" Technology Task Force begins its meeting this morning in the state Capitol Auditorium, facilitator Lauren Morando Rhim reminded members to turn off their technology items, like smartphones, to focus on the business at hand. A committee member, Keven Denton, suggested…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
