Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
The Associated Press reports that Idaho lawmakers have introduced a bill to formally expand the secrecy surrounding executions. The measure, proposed by the Idaho Department of Correction, was introduced Wednesday in the Senate Judiciary & Rules Committee. Here's the full AP report: Idaho prisons department…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today’s presidential visit to Idaho, President Barack Obama’s first in his two terms as president. Obama brought his State of the Union themes of tax changes designed to strengthen the middle class and close loopholes…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
When Idaho Lt. Gov. Brad Little welcomed President Obama to Idaho this afternoon at the airport, he gave the president a copy of a resolution passed by last year’s Legislature and a letter signed by legislative leaders calling for the freeing of the Rev. Saeed...
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
President Obama has finished his speech at Boise State, descending from the stage to go down the line of the crowd in the front row, enthusiastically greeting people along the way, just as he did last night at his State of the Union address.
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
President Obama recounted his themes from last night’s State of the Union address, from the economic recovery to infrastructure investments to free community college. “Republicans were not applauding for many of these ideas,” he said amid some laughter. But he said when it comes to…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
“There’s not a liberal America or a conservative America,” President Barack Obama told a cheering crowd at Boise State University, “but a United States of America.” He said there were a number of reasons he wanted Boise to be his first stop on his tour…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
President Barack Obama has taken the stage, after an introduction from Boise State University sophomore engineering major Camille Eddy. The crowd is cheering enthusiastically.
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
“Isn’t this a grand occasion?” asked Rep. Linden Bateman, R-Idaho Falls, as he joined the crowd of several thousand awaiting President Obama’s speech at Boise State University. Asked why he wanted to come today, Bateman said, “I love my country. He’s the president of the...
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
Tess Gregg Worstell of Twin Falls just wowed the crowd at the Caven-Williams Sports Complex with her singing of the national anthem, hear voice clear, sweet and very strong - including on the high notes. The crowd roared its approval. Meanwhile, Air Force One has...
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
Outside the Caven-Williams Sports Complex at Boise State University, there’s a long and cheerful line of folks waiting to get in for President Obama’s speech this afternoon. There are signs promoting protection of the Boulder-White Clouds mountains and signs calling for freeing Boise Pastor Saeed…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
Idaho GOP Rep. Raul Labrador has issued a statement welcoming President Obama to Boise, saying he thinks the president “could benefit from listening to Idahoans.” Here’s his full statement: “I welcome President Obama to our great state today. I wish him well as he speaks...
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
During today’s brief Idaho House floor session, Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, thanked the majority for accommodating the schedules of legislative Democrats as they take time off this afternoon to head to Boise State University to hear President Barack Obama’s address; it’s the first time…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
Boise Mayor Dave Bieter will be on Air Force One with President Barack Obama when the official presidential plane arrives in Boise today for the president’s visit to Boise State University. Bieter’s office says Bieter was scheduled to be in Washington, D.C. all week attending…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
Lawmakers’ agreement last year to allow State Hospital South and State Hospital North to access up to $85,000 a year each in endowment funds for student loan forgiveness for physicians and other high-level medical professors who commit to come to work at the hospitals is…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
Idaho is in the final stages of negotiating a settlement agreement to the long-running Jeff D lawsuit over children’s mental health care in the state, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee was told this morning. As part of that, Gov. Butch Otter is recommending the state allocate…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
Idaho’s Suicide Prevention Hotline, to which the state has contributed $50,000 a year for three years as part of a public-private partnership, has likely saved at least 100 lives so far, lawmakers heard this morning. The hotline, which is now operational 24/7, has received a…
Wed., Jan. 21, 2015
The number of protective holds by law enforcement for Idahoans suffering mental health crises has continued to climb, lawmakers were told this morning, to a projected 5,432 in the current year, from 5,104 in fiscal year 2014. They’ve risen steadily from 3,745 in fiscal year...
Tue., Jan. 20, 2015
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter was supposed to have a surgical procedure called hip resurfacing today, but his office reports that his surgeon determined that a total hip replacement was necessary instead, to repair deterioration discovered in the governor’s left hip. The hip replacement surgery was...
Tue., Jan. 20, 2015
New North Idaho Rep. Sage Dixon introduced his first bill in the Legislature on Tuesday – to create a new specialty license plate to benefit the Friends of the NRA. The NRA actually already was the beneficiary of an Idaho specialty license plate, but it was discontinued in 2012 for lack of sales.
Tue., Jan. 20, 2015
A state Board of Education subcommittee is backing away from one of the 20 recommendations issued by Gov. Butch Otter’s Task Force for Improving Education, reports Clark Corbin of Idaho Education News. The proposal to change the way the state calculates school funding was studied…
Tue., Jan. 20, 2015
New legislation introduced in Idaho today could clear the way for Elio Motors’ new vehicle, which has three wheels, two seats one in front of the other, gets 84 mpg and sells for $6,800, to be operated in Idaho with a driver’s license. Without the…
Tue., Jan. 20, 2015
A highly pathogenic strain of avian flu has been confirmed in wild waterfowl in western and southern Idaho, the state Department of Agriculture announced today, and has spread to falcons and backyard chickens. The department has initiated a multi-agency investigation. Wild ducks in Gooding County;…
Tue., Jan. 20, 2015
There have been two patient deaths at Idaho assisted living facilities in the past year for which the state has received complaints; at one, in Idaho Falls, where an elderly woman with dementia wandered away from the facility and died, the facility received a serious…
Tue., Jan. 20, 2015
The state agency responsible for inspecting and certifying health care facilities, such as hospitals, nursing homes, and assisted living centers, has a huge backlog, including 135 complaints awaiting investigation, and is experiencing heavy turnover due to stress and an unmanageable workload, lawmakers heard this morning....
Tue., Jan. 20, 2015
As questioning began in the Medicaid budget hearing this morning, Senate Finance Chairman Dean Cameron, R-Rupert, told Medicaid Administrator Lisa Hettinger, “Your budget always gives me a headache. There is so much to grasp.” He had questions about a supplemental budget request for drug payments...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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