Both of Idaho’s federal magistrate judges, Ronald E. Bush and Candy Wagahoff Dale, have been reappointed to the federal court for a second eight-year term, the court announced today. The reappointments followed a review process by a merit review panel, as required by federal law,…
Here’s a link to my full story at spokesman.com on Idaho Gov. Butch Otter’s proposal today for a new $30 million program to provide basic preventive medical care to the estimated 78,000 Idahoans who now fall into the “gap” population, making too much to qualify…
Senate President Pro-Tem Brent Hill, R-Rexburg, said he’s been involved in meetings over the summer to try to find a compromise between the “Add the Words” proposal to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity, and concerns about religious liberty. “I...
Though minority leaders have some reservations, Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed new $30 million Primary Care Access Program is drawing support overall from legislative leaders. “Not doing anything is not an option, as far as I’m concerned,” said Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum. “It’s unfortunate…
Legislative leaders from both parties are now addressing reporters at the AP Legislative Preview this morning, and there’s much agreement on a top priority: Education funding. “Staying on track from where we started last year – that seems to be a foregone conclusion,” said House...
Here are some more topics Gov. Butch Otter addressed at this morning’s AP Legislative Preview: OTTER PAC: “I have had tremendous support from folks in the Legislature, at the local level, at the county precinct level. My effort is to help those folks in operations…
Gov. Butch Otter has been declining to answer questions that go directly to what he’ll be presenting to lawmakers in his State of the State message on Monday. Among them: Whether he’ll push to increase higher education funding as he has for K-12 funding, and…
Here are some more issues Gov. Butch Otter has addressed this morning in response to questions from reporters at the AP Legislative Preview: PLANNED PARENTHOOD: Otter acknowledged that lawmakers have called for moves against the organization, including an investigation. “We have had legislators and a...
Gov. Butch Otter has announced that Megan Ronk will be the new director of the Idaho Department of Commerce. “She’s been there a long time,” he said. “She’s prepared to hit the ground running. I have every confidence, because of her past performance, that I…
Here’s what the House and Senate Health & Welfare chairs had to say about Gov. Butch Otter’s gap-population health-care proposal today: Rep. Fred Wood, R-Burley: I want to thank the governor of the state of Idaho and Director Armstrong for bringing this initiative. We do...
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter told reporters at the AP Legislative Preview this morning that he’ll propose a new $30 million program to lawmakers this year to provide preventive, primary medical care to the estimated 78,000 Idahoans who now fall into the “gap” population, making too...
It’s a busy day at the Idaho Capitol today. This morning, Gov. Butch Otter will address reporters at the annual AP Legislative Preview, as will legislative leaders from both parties; Otter is expected to announce his health initiative to address at least some services for…
Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador is drawing attention today for defending the armed protesters who took over an eastern Oregon wildlife refuge as “peaceful” practitioners of “civil disobedience.” At a “Conversations with Conservatives” event on Capitol Hill today hosted by the Heritage Foundation, Labrador was asked...
Idaho’s new standardized test — the SBAC — could face an important midterm this legislative session, reports Kevin Richert of Idaho Education News. Known as the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium exam, for the multistate compact that created and devised it, the test went through a...
When the Idaho Republican Party holds its state central committee winter meeting this Friday and Saturday, 13 proposed resolutions will be considered by the resolutions committee on Friday, though only those approved there would proceed to a full central committee vote on Saturday; typically only...
Idaho Republicans will soon be asked to approve an array of resolutions, which include proposed measures such as radically changing the structure of committees inside the Idaho Statehouse and ensuring that all bills receive a legislative hearing...
Should any legal gun owner in Idaho be able to carry a concealed gun without a concealed weapons permit? Two state lawmakers think so, and are working on legislation they call “constitutional carry” that they plan to introduce within the first weeks of this year’s…
Conservation groups are asking the federal government to continue keeping a close eye on gray wolf populations throughout the northern Rocky Mountains because states are aggressively seeking to kill more wolves. According to the petition filed Tuesday, the five groups are seeking an additional five years of monitoring from the U.S. Fish and Wild...
Idaho’s all-GOP congressional delegation today blasted President Obama’s executive action on gun control, which includes expanding background checks, hiring more ATF agents and expanding research. 1st District Rep. Raul Labrador said Obama has “subverted our Constitution,” and Sen. Jim Risch branded the move “unconstitutional lawmaking.”…
Two anti-Islam speakers have reserved the Idaho Capitol auditorium and invited every Idaho legislator to a talk on refugee resettlement during the opening week of Idaho's legislative session. Legislative leaders say any group can do this, within certain guidelines, though the Senate president pro-tem says...
Total state education funding has finally inched above pre-recession levels, reports Idaho Education News, but still, more school districts are relying on extra help from local taxpayers. This year, 94 of Idaho’s 115 school districts will collect voter-approved supplemental property tax levies totaling more than…
Harney County Sheriff David Ward, in a press conference this afternoon in Burns, Ore., said two ranchers from the county turned themselves in to federal authorities in California early this afternoon, as scheduled. Armed protesters who’ve come to the remote Oregon county and taken over…
It didn't take long today for much of the distinctive Simplot home atop its prominent green hill in Boise to disappear, as the Simplot family moves to demolish the long-vacant structure, once targeted to be Idaho's official governor's mansion. The family of the late billionaire…
Idaho’s population growth outpaced the national rate from mid-2014 to mid-2015, the Idaho Department of Labor reports today, though it’s still well below the 2 percent-plus rates from the mid-2000s. The latest U.S. Census data shows that Idaho’s population grew 1.2 percent during the time…
The Simplot family has just announced that it will demolish the late J.R. Simplot's longtime hilltop home, starting today. "The home has been vacant for more than a decade, and the family has decided that it's in the best interest to remove the home rather...
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