Numerous children of members of the Followers of Christ in Marsing, Idaho have died of treatable causes since 2009, AP reporter John Miller reports; church members rely on faith healing, rather than medicine, to help sick members. Ada County Coroner Erwin Sonnenberg says autopsies of…
After hearing several questions about whether Idaho’s “rider” program, which incarcerates offenders in a special treatment program for a short time, then releases them on probation if they succeed or sends them to prison for their full terms if they fail, skews state’s incarceration rate…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on how the costs to the state and counties for Idaho’s unique catastrophic medical care program more than doubled from 2002 to 2013, and they’re expected to continue to mount if the program stays as-is. Alternatives…
House Judiciary Chairman Rich Wills, R-Glenns Ferry, cautioned that the justice reinvestment proposals would be phased in over five years, not done all at once. “What we are attempting to do this year is one year of a five-year program,” he said. “So while we…
More than two dozen legislators are among the audience in the Lincoln Auditorium this afternoon for the presentation on the justice reinvestment project; you can watch live here. The Council of State Governments and the Pew Trusts have worked with all three branches of Idaho’s…
Idaho Education News reporter Kevin Richert has an interesting analysis here of state schools Superintendent Tom Luna’s address to lawmakers yesterday, in which he pitched collection of online sales taxes as a way to ensure the state can afford to make improvements to its schools…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State lawmakers are considering making appreciation of Idaho an annual event. Rep. Linden Bateman proposed legislation to name March 4 "Idaho Day," addressing members of the House Education Committee with a miniature Idaho…
At the close of the dispiriting presentation on the trend in the state’s medical indigency/catastrophic health care fund program, JFAC Co-Chair Maxine Bell, R-Rupert, told CAT board Chairman Roger Christensen, a Bonneville County commissioner, “We appreciate having you as a partner. We probably don’t like…
Combined state and county costs for the medical indigency/catastrophic health care fund in 2013 came to $52.7 million. That’s up from $25.3 million in 2002. It’s slightly down from the prior year due to the federal PCIP program, a temporary program that covered some costs,…
As Idaho has moved to community-based treatment for people with developmental disabilities, rather than institutionalization, the state’s costs have dropped, legislative budget writers were told this morning. At one time, the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center in Nampa, formerly the Idaho State School and Hospital, which…
Legislative budget writers held hearings this morning on mental health services through the state Department of Health & Welfare, as they continued a week of budget hearings on health and human services programs. Taking center stage: A proposal from Gov. Butch Otter to establish crisis…
The Idaho Freedom Foundation now has six billboards around the state attacking lawmakers who voted in favor of setting up a state-based health insurance exchange, rather than allowing the federal government to operate an exchange for Idaho. They’ve also updated the look of the first…
Idaho Schools Superintendent Tom Luna and Richard Westerberg, head of the education stakeholders task force that produced 20 recommendations to improve Idaho’s schools, are making presentations to a joint meeting of the House and Senate education committees this afternoon in the Lincoln Auditorium; you can…
A legislative interim committee has unanimously endorsed a report calling for reforms to Idaho’s criminal justice system designed to address costly flaws in the system that are contributing to extra-long stays behind bars for non-violent offenders and for probation and parole violators. The full report…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials have received a new video of captured U.S. Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl that they believe was taken within the last month, showing that the soldier is alive. The video came to light…
The Senate Resources Committee, which last year refused to confirm Fish & Game Commissioner Joan Hurlock, gave a much different reception today to this year’s two new commissioners, Brad Corkill of the Panhandle and Mark Doerr of the Magic Valley. After Corkill, responding to senators’…
The Idaho Senate today honored U.S. District Judge Edward Lodge, the state’s longest-serving judge ever, with 50 years on the state and federal bench. Lodge, shown above at center, was in the gallery with family members and court staff. Senate Majority Leader Bart Davis, R-Idaho…
Gov. Butch Otter has named an eight-member working group headed by former House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, to study ways to improve operations at the Idaho State Tax Commission, including how the commission's rule-making process could be improved and whether restructuring is in order.…
Lewiston Tribune reporter Bill Spence reports that though oversized loads have been one of Idaho’s most controversial transportation issues the past few years, that wasn’t the case on Tuesday, when new rules for loads of up to 129,000 pounds sailed through a House subcommittee. Under…
Legislators shouldn’t be able to also hold any other elected positions, Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, said today, offering legislation to make that Idaho law. The House State Affairs Committee voted to introduce the bill, but several members said they saw problems with such a blanket…
When Idaho eliminated non-emergency adult dental coverage under its Medicaid program in 2011, it hoped to save money, but it didn’t. Instead, emergency room costs ballooned, with dental-related emergency room services more than doubling from $30,000 a month in 2011 to $65,000 a month today.…
GOP Sen. Jim Risch has posted the following statement on his campaign website, in response to the campaign announcement today from Democratic challenger Nels Mitchell: “Senator Risch has been working diligently for over five years to reduce the size of the federal government and its…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Nels Mitchell, who today launched his campaign against GOP Sen. Jim Risch. Mitchell said he’d make jobs his top priority, and pledged if elected to serve only one six-year term. “I…
Former Canyon County Prosecutor John Bujak was indicted by a federal grand jury today on charges of bankruptcy fraud, concealment of assets, making a false statement under oath, money laundering, and obstruction of justice. The charges center around a $25,000 Rolex watch that Bujak allegedly…
Gov. Butch Otter has named Patrick McDonald as the new state representative for District 15, replacing the disgraced Rep. Mark Patterson, R-Boise, who resigned. McDonald, a former U.S. marshal and Idaho State Police officer, will serve the remainder of Patterson's term; he'd previously announced he…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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