Two Idaho men have pleaded guilty to lesser charges to avoid a third trial for having assault-style weapons during a confrontation with federal agents near states' rights figure Cliven Bundy's ranch in 2014. Pleas on Monday by Eric Parker and Scott Drexler to misdemeanor charges...
The United States has helped create the current worldwide refugee crisis, former Idaho Supreme Court Justice Jim Jones said Monday, and it needs to step up to help solve it. “I think we have a lot of soul searching to do,” Jones told the 34th annual Frank Church Conference on public affairs at Boise State University; my full story...
Montana’s campaign contribution limits, which had been overturned by a federal judge in May of 2016, are justified, the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals ruled today. Montana Gov. Steve Bullock welcomed the ruling, saying the lawsuit “sought to open the floodgates of money in…
The judge deciding Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's punishment said Monday he is concerned that President Donald Trump's comments about the case could impact the public's perception of the military justice system. Sentencing was set to begin Monday for Bergdahl on charges that he endangered comrades by walking off his post in Afghanistan in 2009, but...
Health advocates who have been stymied by Idaho's Republican-dominant Legislature to expand Medicaid have filed paperwork for a ballot initiative. Deputy Secretary of State Tim Hurst said Monday that the state elections office received the ballot initiative proposal last week. The initiative must now be vetted by the Attorney General's office...
Among other comments from panelists at today’s Frank Church Conference at Boise State University, which is focusing on refugees, migration and national security: Jennifer Sime, senior vice president for U.S. programs for the International Rescue Committee, said in the years since the U.S. refugee resettlement…
Jan Reeves, director of the Idaho Office of Refugees, said Idaho’s refugee resettlement program, like those in many states, started with the fall of Saigon more than 40 years ago. “A very, very small minority of refugees worldwide ever have an opportunity to be resettled…
Former Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Jim Jones, speaking on a panel at the Frank Church Conference at Boise State University today, said he’s concerned that the nation is “turning inward as a country, taking away the welcome mat for immigrants and refugees.” He said…
Michael Young, senior advisor to Mercy Corps, told the Frank Church Conference at Boise State University today that the worldwide refugee crisis is being driven by an intense increase in conflict over the past decade. Yet, the number and scope of wars between countries has…
The world is seeing a surge in civilian casualties of war, from deaths and injuries to tens of millions of displaced civilians, Steven Feldstein, Frank and Bethine Church Chair of Public Affairs at BSU and a former deputy assistant secretary of state, told the opening…
Anne Helen Petersen, the senior culture writer for BuzzFeed, Idahoan and former professor at Whitman College, has a lengthy report out today on Republican politics in Kootenai County. The piece, headlined “Wackadoodles, Establishment Hacks, And The Big, Ugly, Local Battle For The Heart Of The...
North Idaho Sen. Bob Nonini, asked why he decided to join the now five-way race for lieutenant governor in 2018, went directly after one of the four Republicans already in the race. “I look at the candidates that are in the race, and there are no real strong conservatives, although Janice says she is,” Nonini said, referring to rival...
An Idaho inmate who was helping battle a California wildfire is back in custody after walking away from his inmate fire crew near Sonoma, Calif., the Idaho Department of Correction reports. Angelo Manuel Diaz, 37, was reported missing around 11:30 Friday night; a Napa County…
A federal judge has ruled that Idaho prison officials failed to enact court-mandated prison health care improvements for two years from 2014 to 2016 and that some of the officials did not read the court order outlining what was supposed to be done. U.S. District Judge David Carter said in the ruling...
A state-operated treatment center that houses adults with mental health and developmental issues was severely understaffed for half of this year, according to a state report. The report from an inspection conducted in July found that the Southwest Idaho Treatment Center in Nampa did not have the minimum number of required staff...
In response to a letter from the National Organization for Women’s Southwest Idaho chapter, Gov. Butch Otter today sent out this tweet: Idaho Governor @ButchOtter Please join Miss Lori and me in working to bring awareness to the #MeToo movement to stop sexual assault and...
Idaho’s unemployment rate continued its steady fall in September, dropping to 2.8 percent, the lowest rate since 1976. That marks the seventh consecutive monthly decrease in the state’s unemployment rate; it was down a tenth of a percentage point from than August. “Idaho’s labor force…
Idaho Sen. Cherie Buckner-Webb, the Gem State's only African-American state legislator, is giving the dinner keynote address tonight in Spokane at the fourth international conference sponsored by Gonzaga University's Institute of Hate Studies. Her talk is entitled "With Liberty and Justice for All." Here's my profile of Buckner-Webb from today's...
The U.S. Forest Service would get new rules to help fight wildfires in some of its most at-risk areas under a bipartisan plan introduced Thursday by Northwest senators. The proposal would try to reduce the catastrophic wildfires that have plagued Western states in recent years…
A three-term Idaho state lawmaker involved in an active criminal investigation resigned from office Thursday, the AP reported Thursday night. Republican Rep. Brandon Hixon of Caldwell submitted his resignation letter to Republican House Speaker Scott Bedke of Oakley and Gov. Butch Otter. "I hope that my efforts have helped improve the lives of...
The BSU School of Public Service’s second annual Treasure Valley Survey was released today, and it shows that while valley residents rate the quality of life here highly, a growing number want more mass transit options. Among the 1,000 people surveyed in Ada, Boise, Canyon,…
Idaho officials have paid $24,000 to settle a lawsuit filed by an eastern Idaho woman who said an Idaho State Police detective investigating her as part of a federal drug case coerced her into having sex. The Idaho Statesman reports...
Idaho will receive just over $1.2 million as its share of a multistate, $120 million settlement with General Motors over allegations it concealed ignition safety problems in its vehicles, Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden announced today. “General Motors and other automakers should keep their customers’…
The Lewiston Tribune reports today that a student has filed a federal lawsuit against the University of Idaho, charging that the school failed to accommodate and protect her after a sexual assault. According to documents filed in U.S. District Court of Idaho, the victim claims…
Federal officials have announced public meetings in Idaho to amend the 2015 sage grouse conservation plan. The BLM says meetings are set for Nov. 2 in Twin Falls, Nov. 6 in Idaho Falls, and Nov. 7 in Marsing. The Interior Department last week announced plans to amend the 2015 sage grouse plan that has been unpopular with Idaho officials...
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