The Idaho House has voted 52-18 in favor of HB 26, the annual IRS conformity bill, though several members spoke out against conforming the state’s tax code with federal rules on grounds that a now-invalidated clause in the Idaho Constitution forbids same-sex marriage, which the...
U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson will step down on Feb. 25, according to Idaho Reports. She’s served as Idaho’s U.S. attorney for the past six years, and has worked for almost 20 years in the U.S. Attorney’s Office, writes Idaho Public TV reporter Seth Ogilvie in…
After her budget pitch to state lawmakers today, state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra said, “I felt very supported – they’re very supportive of education and our students.” “This is my third session,” she said. “It was relaxing, it was enjoyable.” The difference from her first…
Idaho lawmakers have ushered in the first tax cut proposals of the 2017 legislative session. House Majority Leader Mike Moyle says that he wants to exempt the first $750 of income from taxation, as well as reduce the top income and corporate rate from 7.4 percent to 7.2 percent. Meanwhile, Rep. Janet Trujillo, a Republican from Idaho Falls, has...
Legislative budget writers had sharp questions for the governor’s school budget analyst, David Hahn, this morning on Gov. Butch Otter’s recommendation to set aside $15 million for health benefits increases in the public school budget. “Would this be added to that budget – would this…
Overall, state school Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told JFAC this morning, she’s requesting more than $1.679 billion in state general funds for Idaho’s public schools next year (not counting services for the deaf and blind, which will be presented next). Her request reflects an increase of…
Idaho’s new teacher evaluation system is in the midst of being implemented, state school Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told legislative budget writers this morning. “Deciding on and designing a model is the critical first phase, but implementation is hard and requires dedicated resources over time, any…
“These students don’t see technology any more as a separate tool – it’s completely integrated into their lives and what they’re doing,” state schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told JFAC, as she outlined her request for an $8 million increase in state funding for classroom technology...
So many students have been taking advantage of advanced opportunities in school that state Schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra said she’s projecting a 71 percent increase in student participation in 2017. “In just one semester, we have already exceeded what was paid out in 2016,” she…
Reviewing the increases that the school budget received this year, state Superintendent Sherri Ybarra called the $27.3 million that lawmakers approved last year to increase discretionary funds to school district “a huge highlight.” She said it provided the crucial money school districts need for such…
State schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra told legislative budget writers this morning, “This year, we have an emphasis on return on investment.” She said, “Kindergarten through 12 education is what we do. … This plan embodies the governor’s task force recommendations, as well as the department’s…
The single largest piece of Idaho's state budget - the K-12 public schools budget - is up for its hearing before the Legislature's Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. State schools Superintendent Sherri Ybarra will be presenting it. You can watch live here.
Racing groups are urging an Idaho commission to sign off on a last-ditch effort to save their faltering industry after failing to convince the Legislature to reinstate lucrative betting machines known as instant racing terminals. John Sheldon, the operator of Les Bois, Idaho's largest horse racing track, told state racing commissioners Wednesday...
Legislation loosening the air quality standards for when field burning will be allowed in Idaho cleared a Senate committee Wednesday on a 6-1, party-line vote, after farmers from throughout the state spoke out in favor of it. You can read my full story here at…
Two newly appointed Fish and Game commissioners fielded questions from a Senate panel during an appointment hearing Wednesday, from depredation to auction tags. Idaho Falls Post Register reporter Bryan Clark reports that Gov. Butch Otter appointed the two, Jerry Meyers of North Fork and Greg…
Prospective police officers in Idaho would be barred from certification if they’ve used marijuana in the past year, rather than in the last three years, under rules that won support from an Idaho Senate committee on Wednesday; you can read my full story here at…
Idaho Fish & Game expects to spend $400,000 more than anticipated on emergency winter feeding of elk and deer this year, due in part to a major fire in August that burned crucial winter range in eastern Idaho’s Tex Creek Wildlife Management Area. The Senate...
The Senate engaged in fairly lengthy and detailed debate and questions and answers today before voting unanimously to accept back from its State Affairs Committee the contents of a sealed box containing all the documents relating to an unsuccessful formal contest of the election results...
After three hours of hearings on education programs related to the University of Idaho, including ag research and extension, Forest Utilization Research (FUR) and the Geological Survey, and on an array of health education programs including WWAMI and an array of medical residency programs that...
The Idaho State Lottery would no longer be exempt from the state's contracting laws under a new bill introduced to an Idaho House committee. Rep. Tom Loertscher, chairman of the House State Affairs Committee, said Wednesday that he was troubled to learn earlier this year that the lottery was...
The House State Affairs Committee today voted unanimously to introduce a resolution repealing all state rules and regulations regarding “historical horse racing,” betting terminals that resemble slot machines and play snippets of the end of past horse races to determine whether the player wins or…
Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, proposed legislation today to create a new public records exemption for identifying information about anyone who wins $600 or more in the state lottery; the winner could only be named if he or she submits written authorization. “This concern was brought…
University of Idaho President Chuck Staben told lawmakers today that as UI president, he’s focused on “growing the University of Idaho’s enrollment and on leading a change in Idaho’s college-going culture.” He said he’s seeing some success, in that 6.5 percent more new freshmen enrolled...
It’s another busy day at the Capitol today. This morning, University of Idaho President Chuck Staben goes before lawmakers for his annual budget hearing. The House State Affairs Committee will consider a proposal from its chairman, Rep. Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, to revise the definition of…
With two similar anti-abortion proposals in the works in Idaho - one from freshman Sen. Dan Foreman that would classify abortion as first-degree murder, and a petition circulating for a ballot measure that would do the same – Idaho Public Television reporter Melissa Davlin reports…
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