As members of the Idaho House were sworn in this morning, one of them, Rep. Paulette Jordan, D-Plummer, was enacting a bit of Idaho history: She is the third member of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe to serve in the Idaho House. Those before here were…
Both the Senate and the House are convening their organizational sessions this morning, with the first order of business the swearing-in of all the state lawmakers. The Senate is planning something special: Outgoing Secretary of State Ben Ysursa will administer the oath of office. "That's…
Idaho has joined a 17-state legal challenge to President Obama's executive action on immigration, led by Texas Gov.-elect and current Attorney General Greg Abbott. “I joined this suit to strongly express my objections to this unconstitutional and misguided policy and its unilateral implementation,” Gov. Butch…
Sen. Todd Lakey, R-Nampa, has been elected Senate Majority Caucus Chairman, after a four-way contest in which he faced off with Sens. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise; Marv Hagedorn, R-Meridian; and Jim Rice, R-Caldwell. The position opened with the retirement from the Senate of Sen. Russ Fulcher,…
Idaho House Republicans have finally finished their leadership elections, and the outcome looks familiar: The same four leaders in office now will continue in the same posts. That means Assistant Majority Leader Brent Crane, R-Nampa, successfully fought off a challenge from Rep. Rick Youngblood, also…
The first leadership contest results are in tonight, from the Dems in both houses. The Senate results were no surprise: The same three leaders will continue in office, with Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, continuing as minority leader; Sen. Elliot Werk, D-Boise, continuing as assistant minority…
Kempf Kevin Kempf, a 19-year employee of the Idaho Department of Correction, was named the department's new director today by the state Board of Corrections. Kempf most recently was deputy director; he's worked as a prison guard, parole officer, investigator, warden and more. He replaces…
An article on the website Daily Kos today charges that Idaho’s official state website is being improperly used to drum up donations to GOP Rep. Raul Labrador. The article notes that a list of links to news for various government officials, including Idaho’s congressional delegation,…
Idaho’s newest state legislators are attending a “Law School for Legislators” today, with briefing from the Idaho Attorney General’s office on conflict of interest and ethics; from Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa on sunshine laws, campaign finance and working with lobbyists; and more. Deputy…
Police must get warrants before drawing blood from suspected drunken drivers who refuse to cooperate, the Idaho Supreme Court has decided in two Kootenai County cases. The opinions, including one issued yesterday, follow a national trend of courts limiting warrantless blood draws and suppressing evidence…
Though no battles are expected for the top leadership posts in either house this year, there will be leadership contests when the House and Senate Republican and Democratic caucuses meet behind closed doors tomorrow night to elect their leaders for the upcoming Legislature. Just one…
The 2014 Governor’s Awards in the Arts, a biennial tradition since 1970, were bestowed today at a ceremony in the Statehouse rotunda, with Gov. Butch Otter and wife Lori presenting the awards and Daniel Stern, former longtime music director of the Boise Philharmonic, founder of…
When it was time today for the portion of the orientation program for new state lawmakers where they hear from members of the media – a panel consisting of the AP’s Kimberlee Kruesi, Idaho Public TV’s Joan Cartan-Hansen and myself – legislative services director Eric…
Greg Morris, former executive director and founder of CATCH, which stands for Charitable Assistance to Community’s Homeless, has been hired as the new executive director of the ACLU of Idaho, the third person to hold that position in the group's two-decade history. The previous two…
Eighteen law enforcement officers searched two southwestern Idaho elementary schools for nearly two hours Tuesday morning after a second-grade student brought a toy gun to class, the AP reports. Canyon County Sheriff's spokesman Joe Decker said teachers called officers after a young student reported that…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: OROFINO, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service's new supervisor for the 4-million-acre Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest in northern Idaho says the agency might offer more trees for sale. Cheryl Probert says the Johnson Bar salvage and…
Idaho’s state Board of Education is inviting students to apply for the state’s Opportunity Scholarship, which can be for up to $3,000 a year, is renewable for up to four years, and is available based on financial need to Idaho high school graduates with a…
Idaho’s average gas prices have dropped below $3 a gallon for the first time since Feb. 8, 2011, the AAA of Idaho reports. The motorists’ group is calling the drop a “seasonal gift at the pump” for motorists. AAA’s Daily Fuel Gauge Report had Idaho’s…
As part of their orientation, Idaho’s newest state legislators are hearing a presentation today from Boise State University political scientist Gary Moncrief, an expert on legislatures. Among his revelations: Permanent legislative staff in Idaho is far lower than in most states. A 2009 survey by…
Nearly 20 new Idaho state legislators arrived at the Capitol today for the start of two and a half days of orientation and training, from administrative details to the workings of the state budget to ethics and campaign finance. “We’re so excited to have you…
Northwest Specialty Hospital in Post Falls is marketing itself to wealthy Canadians willing to pay out-of-pocket for a pricey operation, like a knee replacement, rather than wait years for the procedure under Canada’s national health system, Boise State Public Radio/Northwest News Network reports. And they’re…
The recovery of Redfish Lake sockeye salmon from the brink of extinction could become a model to prevent other extinctions, the AP reports; two fisheries biologists have a report in the journal Fisheries laying out how. A key strategy has been maintaining genetic diversity that…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: JEROME, Idaho (AP) — Idaho State Police say troopers have issued more speeding tickets since the speed limit increased to 80 mph along stretches of Interstate 84. Spokeswoman Teresa Baker says state police wrote 2,066 speeding tickets…
If newly re-elected 72-year-old Idaho Gov. Butch Otter didn't complete his full third term, Idaho's new governor would be Brad Little, the second-term lieutenant governor, rancher and former state senator who's been toiling full-time in the part-time, low-paid post since Otter appointed him to it…
Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson has sent a letter to U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell expressing strong concerns about proposed rules for commercial filming in wilderness areas, asking the Forest Service to make sure the final rule doesn’t place an undue burden on journalists, TV…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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