The group of lawmakers charged with overseeing the troubled Idaho Education Network met today, but took no action, just meeting with lawyers behind closed doors, reports Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News; his full report is online here. The group, known as IPRAC, for IEN…
Your Health Idaho, Idaho’s health insurance exchange, reported today that it processed 74,689 enrollments in the first month of this year’s open enrollment period, including both new applicants and people renewing their coverage from last year. “There is a huge demand for health insurance in…
Wallace School District residents got a surprise in their property tax bills last month – a school bond payment that should have cost the average homeowner about $61 this year instead came out at $183. It was a mistake – the Idaho district had refinanced…
An Idaho man has been sentenced to 2 years' probation after Idaho Fish and Game officials said he illegally killed a grizzly bear, the AP reports. The Idaho Department of Fish and Game announced the conviction on Monday, saying it was the first time the…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho beer distributors are taking issue with a Boise brewpub now that the business has been purchased by Anheuser-Busch. The Idaho Statesman (http://bit.ly/1GLEvpb) reports the beer outlets contend that 10 Barrel brewpub is…
There was an odd moment late in today’s Land Board meeting, when the board had gone through an array of recommendations related to a consultant’s report on how to better manage the state endowment’s land assets; click below for the department's full announcement of those…
Plans for additional auctions of state endowment-owned cottage sites on Priest and Payette lakes won approval from the state Land Board today, calling for 60 lots a year to be auctioned for the next three years. A random drawing, conducted by the Idaho Lottery, was…
Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa says he’s attended more than 400 state Land Board meetings in the past 40 years; he’s retiring at the end of his current term and participated in his final one today. He lauded the board for sticking to its…
Outgoing Idaho state schools Superintendent Tom Luna had some parting words at his final state Land Board meeting today, as he ends his eight years in office. “Numerous times a year, I often press this board for larger and larger distributions (to schools ) –…
Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are asking people interested in becoming Idaho’s next federal district judge – replacing longtime U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge when he takes senior status next summer – to fill out a questionnaire and send it in to their…
Idaho’s state health insurance exchange, YourHealthIdaho, has extended the deadline to sign up for health insurance that starts Jan. 1 to Dec. 20, but people still need to sign up before midnight tonight to get tax credits that help cover the cost; then they can…
Knute Sandahl has been named Idaho’s new state fire marshal, effective next week, replacing former Fire Marshal Mark Larson, who retired in October. “He brings a wealth of experience and industry knowledge to his new position, and I am confident that he will continue to…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: POCATELLO, Idaho (AP) — A 1,000-pound cow being prepared for slaughter jumped a 6-foot fence and bolted through the streets of Pocatello before police shot and killed it following a lengthy pursuit. Pocatello Police Chief Scott Marchand…
Two bills sponsored by Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador, one extending grazing leases and the other transferring a shooting range from the BLM to Idaho County, have passed the Senate and are headed for the president's desk, Labrador announced today - though in the end, Labrador…
It was standing-room only in Sandpoint yesterday afternoon as 75-plus people filled the Sandpoint Library’s community room for a workshop on Idaho’s open meeting and public records laws – a record turnout for Sandpoint, which had half as big a crowd the last time IDOG’s…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: SANDPOINT, Idaho (AP) — City officials in Sandpoint are defending banning the public from a meeting about oil and coal train traffic attended by three area mayors, a state senator, county commissioner and officials from the Idaho…
Former state Sen. Mel Richardson, R-Idaho Falls, has died at the age of 86 after a battle with cancer, the Idaho Falls Post Register reports today. Richardson was a longtime radio and television personality in eastern Idaho, a former mayor of Ammon and an unsuccessful…
Eighty people filled a meeting room at the Coeur d’Alene Inn last night to learn about Idaho’s open meeting and public records laws, from county commissioners to newspaper reporters, school trustees to city clerks, state lawmakers to interested citizens. “The open meeting law is your…
In his keynote speech to the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho, Idaho Reports co-host Melissa Davlin reports, Gov. Butch Otter outlined his goals for the next four years, which include lowering the income tax to less than 7 percent across the board, and entirely eliminating the…
Idaho Reports co-host Melissa Davlin has this report on what legislative leaders had to say today in a lunchtime panel at the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho conference in Boise today, where they addressed transportation funding: Gas tax, user fees and general fund money are among…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Sherri Ybarra says she's staying mum on all things budget, policy and staffing until she's sworn into office on Jan. 5. The recently elected Republican is in the middle of transitioning to become…
Idaho state schools Supt.-elect Sherri Ybarra has named an interim chief deputy to join her administration when she takes office in January: Former Nampa interim schools Superintendent Pete Koehler, Idaho Education News reports. She also named a 16-person transition team to help her gear up…
The Idaho Media Initiative at Boise State University is inviting journalists to submit applications for one of five $2,000 reporting grants for public affairs reporting projects in 2015 that investigate Idaho public affairs issues that would otherwise go unreported, enhance learning opportunities for BSU journalism…
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter has announced seven finalists for an open City Council position, all of whom he will interview; the seven include former state Rep. Holli Woodings, D-Boise, who ran unsuccessfully this year for Idaho Secretary of State, garnering 43.8 percent of the vote…
At the Associated Taxpayers of Idaho conference today in Boise – a traditional run-up to the legislative session – Idaho Reports co-host Melissa Davlin reports that Lane Beattie, president of the Salt Lake City Chamber of Commerce, spoke on the importance of funding transportation. He…