K12 Inc., the Virginia-based public virtual school operator, has been sued in federal court in a shareholder class-action suit charging that the company violated securities laws by making false statements to investors about its students' performance on standardized tests, the Washington Post reports. The newspaper…
Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene, says the main reason he won't seek a fourth term in the Senate is that he wants to stop spending so much time away from his wife, kids and grandkids. "I'm missing my grandkids' plays and baseball games," he said.…
On a 5-4 vote, the Senate Transportation Committee has killed SB 1229, the bill to let trucks go 75 mph on Idaho's freeways, the same as cars; you can read my full story here at spokesman.com. "There was some great testimony here today," said Sen.…
At the hearing today on the bill to let trucks drive 75 mph on Idaho's freeways, Caldwell trucking company general manager Deborah Johnson said she agrees that differing speeds between cars and trucks can cause problems. "Our trucks have been rear-ended many times," she said.…
As the Senate Transportation Committee opens its hearing this afternoon on SB 1229, Sen. Jim Hammond's bill to let trucks drive 75 mph on Idaho's rural interstates, Hammond sounds resigned to the bill likely not passing. "The primary issue that brought this forth was safety,"…
Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene, has decided not to seek re-election to the Idaho Senate. "I've made that decision," Hammond confirmed this afternoon. Meanwhile, Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, has decided to seek Hammond's Senate seat. Hammond, a third-term senator, is the current chairman of…
The House has voted unanimously, 68-0, in favor of HB 405, to ban the sale of nicotine-containing e-cigarettes to minors, but only after much debate and strong opposition from Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries. Harwood cast the only "no" vote, but then, at the last…
Former state Rep. Gary Ingram, a Republican who represented Kootenai County in the state House from 1973 to 1980, is back today, as a substitute for Rep. Kathy Sims, R-Coeur d'Alene. Ingram will serve today, Friday and Monday; Sims returns on Tuesday from an out-of-state…
North Idaho Sen. Steve Vick wants Idaho to enact a constitutional amendment to require two-thirds votes in both the House and Senate to pass any tax or fee increase. Vick noted that 16 states have such requirements; all were enacted by voters through initiatives or…
The House Education Committee has voted 11-6 to kill HB 411, the bill to expand and change Idaho's' community college boards. Before the vote, Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, told the committee he's received more than 40 emails from people who want more representation from…
HB 411, a proposal from Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, to expand the boards of all three of Idaho's community colleges from five to seven members and impose specific residency requirements on the two new members is drawing strong opposition this morning from all three…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Lawmakers plan to take a second look at Treasurer Ron Crane's bid to expand his office's authority to run financial-literacy workshops, following an audit questioning his use of taxpayer funds and staff time…
Today, legislative budget writers are hearing all the different slices of the state budget that cover substance abuse treatment services, including Health & Welfare, Corrections, Juvenile Corrections, drug and mental health courts, and the Office of Drug Policy. Overall, this year's state appropriation for substance…
Rep. Frank Henderson meant it a year ago when he decided to give up his coveted seat on the Legislature's budget committee to focus more on economic development. The Post Falls Republican sponsored legislation that passed the House unanimously yesterday that he says will directly…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
