New rules for naming state parks would severely limit business' ability to acquire naming rights, but don't entirely rule out corporate names, the AP reports, though parks officials repeatedly assured lawmakers that wouldn't happen...
The national director of the U.S. Bureau of Land Management is headed to Boise tomorrow to discuss rehabilitation after the Soda Fire; Neil Kornze announced that the huge range fire that burned 285,000 acres in southwestern Idaho is currently the BLM’s highest rehabilitation priority. Meanwhile,...
Talking about the 15 years of compromise it took to enact the Boulder-White Clouds wilderness bill, which in the end was supported by an array of groups ranging from conservationists to county commissioners, ATV’ers to ranchers, 2nd District Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson said today, “Is…
Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is addressing the Idaho Environmental Forum today on how the Boulder-White Clouds became a wilderness. “A gentleman a couple weeks ago, who is not really a fan of wilderness, came up to me and said, he was a little upset by…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An inversion trapping smoke from a group of fires in northern Idaho near Kamiah has slowed the flames and given firefighters a chance to strengthen fire lines. Officials say crews on Tuesday are…
The Idaho Department of Insurance has set up a new Wildfire Claim Information website offering tips for Idahoans on filing an insurance claim and rebuilding after a fire, along with consumer tips on how to file a claims and how to deal with adjusters and…
Idaho will auction 38 state-owned lots at Priest Lake this week; last year, the state auctioned 59 lots at Priest with lake homes on them. Nearly all of those sales were to cabin owners who bought the ground under the cabins they already owned at the appraised value, which averaged nearly half a million dollars...
The giant Soda Fire southwest of Boise is now 95 percent contained, but BLM officials are asking the public to stay out of areas impacted by the wildfire for public and firefighter safety – and especially not to go out to the fire scene for…
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has extended its statewide air quality advisory through the weekend, due to continuing smoke impacts from wildfires. “Air quality remains in the moderate to unhealthy categories throughout most of the state. Although changing weather may bring intermittent periods of…
More than 200 people, mostly loggers from north-central Idaho, went through basic fire line training in Orofino this week offered by the Idaho Department of Lands. The course they took included fire behavior and how to utilize a fire shelter...
Evacuations have been ordered in northern Idaho as a group of wildfires that has already destroyed 42 homes threatened more residences Friday despite nearly 800 firefighters trying to beat back flames. Fire managers...
Double Down Betting Bar & Grill in Idaho Falls, one of three locations in the state that operates controversial slot machine-like “instant racing” machines, has submitted an application to the city of Idaho Falls to move from its in-town location to the city-owned Sandy Downs…
Seventy-one fire managers and specialists from Australia and New Zealand are scheduled to arrive in Boise on Sunday for a day of training on current wildfire behavior, and then to be assigned to the various large fires now burning in the West. “We are very…
In Troy, the school year is on hold, with the first day pushed back from late August to Sept. 9. The high school football team isn’t practicing, and might or might not take the field this season. And teachers are in limbo, not sure if…
A divided Idaho Supreme Court today overturned a lower court ruling that upheld the city of Challis’ decision to incur $3.2 million in public debt for repairs and improvements to its city water system without a public vote, finding that two of the three projects…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: WASHINGTON (AP) — The lawyer representing Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who left his infantry post and was held by the Taliban for five years, says callous statements Donald Trump is making about his client are threatening the…
Gov. Butch Otter has activated Idaho National Guard personnel and equipment to support firefighting efforts on the Clearwater Complex fires in north-central Idaho, sending a Blackhawk helicopter and crew. “The devastation caused by the Clearwater Complex fires has caused untold hardships and loss for individuals and families...
The city of Boise has adopted a new voluntary “green building code,” and says all city-owned construction projects will follow it, starting with a new library branch in Bown Crossing and two new fire stations that voters approved last November. “Buildings are responsible for more…
The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality has issued a rare statewide air quality advisory, with smoke from wildfires pushing air quality into at least the moderate to unhealthy range everywhere in the state, and in some areas near the north-central Idaho wildfires, into the “very...
Idaho County Commissioner Jim Chmelik’s crusade to press the federal government to transfer federal public lands to the states is arriving in the Treasure Valley next week, when Russ and Kara Fulcher will hold a fundraiser at their home for Chmelik’s new corporation, the Western...
Presidential candidate Rand Paul has scheduled three “Stand with Rand” rallies in Idaho next week, one at the Shuler Performing Arts Center at North Idaho College on Aug. 26 at 6:30 p.m.; one at the BSU Student Union Aug. 27 at 11:30 a.m.; and one…
The Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security has sent out a list of relief organizations helping victims of wildfires across Idaho, which are seeking cash donations. “While we understand and deeply appreciate the intentions behind donations of food, citizens are being encouraged to donate cash,” said…
With no debate, the state Land Board has unanimously approved distributions from the state endowment to its beneficiaries next year – the largest of which is the state’s public schools – that reflect a 12 percent increase. Public schools will get $36,724,800 in fiscal year…
Idaho’s state Land Board got a grim assessment of the ongoing fire season this morning, particularly as it affects lands within the state Department of Lands’ fire protection responsibilities – which include the raging Clearwater Complex fires in north-central Idaho. “We had over 150 fire...
Over the past year, Idaho had to replace two of the milepost signs along Highway 95 just south of Coeur d’Alene that marked milepost 420 because they kept getting stolen, thanks to the number’s drug culture association with marijuana. So now, Idaho’s 420 mile markers…