Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Idaho wildlife managers called off a professional wolf hunter who has been killing predators inside a federal wilderness area. Department of Fish and Wildlife Monday said it was halting the hunt after nine…
The good news Idaho Parks Director Nancy Merrill had for lawmakers at the department’s budget hearing this morning: Idaho has sold more than 95,000 of its new parks passports in the first 12 months of sales, “bringing in over $1,077,000 – and that’s new money…
This afternoon’s joint House-Senate “listening hearing” on education issues has wrapped up with only half a dozen people testifying, in addition to three education stakeholder groups who gave a joint presentation endorsing all 20 of the governor’s school improvement task force recommendations. Senate Education Chairman…
In testimony at this afternoon’s “listening hearing” on education issues held by the House and Senate education committees: Don Keller, principal of Sage International School, said he believes one item in the task force recommendations “will address the majority of the other recommendations: The need…
Karen Echeverria, executive director of the Idaho School Boards Association, is making a statement on behalf of her group along with the Idaho Association of School Administrators and the Idaho Education Association, at this afternoon’s education “listening hearing.” “All three of our associations are in…
The House and Senate Education committees are opening a joint “listening hearing” this afternoon, to hear from the public on education issues, with the focus on the 20 recommendations from the governor’s education improvement task force. Comments will be limited to three minutes; the House…
Legislation to carry out Gov. Butch Otter’s proposal for a new $2 million state wolf control fund and oversight board was introduced in the House Resources Committee this afternoon but only on a close, 9-8 vote after lots of questions. The bill, brought by Sen.…
Idaho Senate Education Chairman John Goedde, R-Coeur d’Alene, said he would have supported state schools Supt. Tom Luna for re-election, but he understands Luna’s decision not to seek a third term. “I agree that certainly his efforts so far this legislative session have been characterized…
Idaho state schools Superintendent Tom Luna will not seek a third term, he announced this morning, saying he wants to take politics out of the process of putting into effect bipartisan school reforms recommended by a state task force. “I know it’s the right decision…
The Senate State Affairs Committee this morning, without objection, voted to introduce a new bill to allow concealed firearms on Idaho public college campuses under certain circumstances; the same panel has rejected such legislation in past years. “It’s an issue that relates to a fundamental…
State schools Superintendent Tom Luna has just announced that he’ll hold a news conference at 10:30 this morning to announce 2014 election plans; it will be in room WW 55 of the Capitol. Luna has hinted he’ll seek a third term, but hasn’t made a…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s latest campaign finance report shows that three billionaire Nevada casino operators who have been leaders in a push for online gaming in Nevada and New Jersey gave $60,000 to Otter’s re-election campaign, Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey reports; his full Sunday…
On tonight’s “Idaho Reports” program on Idaho Public Television, I join Jim Weatherby, Mike Ferguson, and hosts Melissa Davlin and Aaron Kunz for a discussion of the events of the legislative session’s third week, from budgets to listening sessions to candidate announcements; also, Davlin and…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gun-rights advocates are resurrecting a measure aiming to allow concealed weapons on Idaho university campuses. A bill is up for consideration Monday in the Senate State Affairs Committee. In 2011, that panel's members…
Randy Jensen formally announced his candidacy for state Superintendent of Schools today as a Republican; from the state Capitol steps, the longtime middle school principal and former Fulbright scholar said, “I will make decisions based solely on what’s best for kids in Idaho. … Now…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Three current workers and one former worker at Idaho's largest private prison are suing their employer, Corrections Corporation of America, in state court over what they say is a dangerous work environment. Mark…
From 2007 to 2012, traffic crashes in Idaho dropped by 18 percent, according to research by Scott Stokes, deputy director of the Idaho Transportation Department, while fatalities and serious injuries on Idaho’s roads fell 25 percent. “That is saving the lives of approximately 80 people…
Click below for a full report from AP reporter John Miller on the concerns raised at a Statehouse public hearing today about Optum, the private contractor that the state Department of Health & Welfare is paying $10.5 million a month to administer outpatient behavioral health…
Idaho Public Television now gets 62 percent of its operating budget from private donations, General Manager Ron Pisaneschi told the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee today. “High-quality programming translates into higher than average contributions levels,” he said. “We are doing considerably better than our peers.” Compared to…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A federal judge says a Boise-area hospital violated federal antitrust laws when it purchased Idaho's largest independent physicians' practice. U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill made the ruling Friday, ordering St. Luke's Health…
Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said the current federal lawsuit challenging Idaho’s constitutional ban on same-sex marriage is the reason he believes this year is not the time for a hearing on the “Add the Words” bill. “Why do they want to float something…
Backers of the “Add the Words” legislation, to add the words “sexual orientation” and “gender identity” to the Idaho Human Rights Act to ban discrimination in employment, housing and public accommodations, announced today that GOP leaders in both houses have informed them there will be…
Close to 30 people testified at today’s Health & Welfare listening hearing, and complaints about Health & Welfare behavioral health contractor Optum topped the list of concerns. “We had a client burn his family’s house down,” Nikki Tangen told lawmakers. “We can’t call Optum and…
Jim Baugh, executive director of Disability Rights Idaho, told the House and Senate Health & Welfare Committees today that legislation is needed to correct an unintended situation in which people with developmental disabilities are being pushed out of the supports they need to work. “What’s…
Complaints about Optum, an Idaho Health & Welfare contractor for outpatient behavioral health under Medicaid, have continued to mount at this morning’s public hearing on Health & Welfare issues. Doug Loertscher, who owns and operates two mental health agencies in Boise and Nampa, said contacting…
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