Budgets were set by the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning for another batch of state agencies, including public health districts, the Veterans Services Division, state medical boards, the Division of Human Resources, PERSI, the Commission on the Arts, state treasurer, lieutenant governor, and State Independent…
Today is the annual “Buy Idaho” show, when a huge array of Idaho products and businesses fill the first, second and third floor rotunda of the state Capitol to display their products and services – and hand out lots of free samples. Among this year’s…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho already has plenty of informal memorials to highway fatalities, erected by grieving family members. But the state isn't slated to get an official, state-sponsored program to honor those killed by drunk drivers,…
More Idaho high school students are taking Advanced Placement exams and scoring high enough to earn college credit, the College Board and the state Department of Education announced today. In 2012, 18.4 percent of Idaho’s public high school graduates had taken at least one AP…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The Nez Perce tribe's effort to win a liquor license for its new convention center on the Clearwater River squeaked through a committee to win a chance for a vote in the full…
Freshman Rep. Luke Malek’s bill to remove authority for urban renewal districts to enter into any property, including private homes, within the districts to make inspections has passed the House unanimously, 69-0, with no debate. “I don’t know that it’s ever been used, but it’s…
House and Senate Democrats came out strongly against SB 1108 today, the bill proposed by the Idaho Farm Bureau Federation to make it tougher to qualify an initiative or referendum measure for the Idaho ballot. “This bill is part of a troubling trend that makes…
The Senate State Affairs Committee has approved both SCR 112 and SJM 101 on voice votes, sending them to the full Senate for debate. Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, was the only one to ask to be recorded as voting “no” on SCR 112, and he…
In testimony on the anti-marijuana resolutions this morning: Coty Ternes of Compassionate Idaho told the committee that drug dealers don’t ask kids for I.D. when they sell them marijuana. “Get this out of the black markets,” he said, “get the money out of the hands…
More of the testimony this morning at the hearing on the two anti-marijuana measures: Nick Chaffin, a 16-year-old from Idaho Falls, said he’s concerned that celebrities are promoting marijuana use. “We are getting mixed messages as teenagers. We don’t understand if it’s good or bad,”…
Testimony is continuing in the Capitol Auditorium this morning on two anti-marijuana resolutions. Among those testifying: Darin Taylor, mayor of Middleton, spoke in favor of SCR 112 and SJM 101. “The source of my information is former recreational marijuana users,” he told the Senate State…
More than 50 additional people have now signed up to testify at this morning's hearing on two anti-marijuana measures, most of them opposed to the two resolutions. Among the testimony so far: Gari DeBoard told the committee, “I am a terminally ill patient. I will…
Sen. Chuck Winder, R-Boise, said the anti-marijuana measures were “brought to me at the request of the Association of Idaho Cities,” in line with a resolution that the cities association passed at its convention several weeks ago. “It’s patterned after the Association of Idaho Cities…
The Senate State Affairs Committee is meeting in the Capitol Auditorium this morning, where there’s a fairly large turnout from backers of two anti-marijuana measures, including teens from the Meridian Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council. Only about 10 people have signed up to speak against the…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
