A unanimous Idaho Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from Chandler’s, a steakhouse and seafood restaurant in Boise, over the state Tax Commission’s interpretation of a sales tax rule; as a result, Chandler’s will have to pay tens of thousands in back sales taxes, plus…
Hundreds of protesters filled the Jerome County Courthouse yesterday and spilled outside to speak out against a plan to rent space in the new county jail to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. County commissioners held a hearing on the proposal; just two people…
Longtime Idaho Sen. Shawn Keough, R-Sandpoint, has announced that she won’t seek re-election after her current term ends next year, and instead is endorsing longtime Bonner and Boundary county resident Jim Woodward for her seat. Woodward, a Republican from Sagle, owns and operates APEX Construction...
The U.S. Senate voted 97-0 today in favor of invoking cloture on the nomination of Judge David Nye to be Idaho’s next U.S. District Court judge, a procedural move that clears the way for a full Senate vote on the confirmation, likely this week. Idaho…
A wildfire burning in southwestern Idaho has grown to about 62.5 square miles overnight, forcing the closure and evacuation of Bruneau Sand Dunes State Park Sunday night and part of Monday. Kelsey Brizendine, fire information officer for the U.S. Bureau of Land Management, said Monday that the blaze is expected to grow...
The Idaho Judicial Council has cleared 5th District Judge Randy Stoker of any misconduct in his handling of the case of a Dietrich High School football player in a 2015 locker room assault on a black, mentally disabled teammate. John R.K. Howard, 19, was sentenced…
Brandi Irons has fought back against the drug addiction she’s faced since the age of 13, and after multiple relapses, she finally has her life on track. And she owes part of her current success to an unlikely source – Idaho First Lady Lori Otter, who, after hearing her story, offered to pay for Irons' college education...
The Idaho Department of Lands has released a map detailing recreation accessibility on the state's public endowment lands despite earlier political resistance from Idaho lawmakers. According to the agency, Director Tom Schultz requested the mapping of the state-owned land after the Idaho Legislature spiked a resolution urging the department...
Ahlquist alters his 'blueprint' plank on same-sex marriage; Idaho Fish & Game calls for public comment on wolf-baiting propoals; and Idaho SupCourt orders third trial for twice-convicted murderer inn 1983 case; my full Sunday column...
Moms with young children packed Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo’s Boise office on Thursday, sharing their health care stories along with milk and cookies and urging Crapo to oppose the GOP health care bill now under consideration in the Senate. The “mom-in” was intended to lobby…
Idaho’s state lottery turned over $48.5 million in profits to the state on Thursday, with the majority of that headed to the state’s public schools. The figure was down from last year’s record $49.5 million dividend, but still was $500,000 above forecasts. That’s because last year’s profits were boosted by the tremendous attention and sales...
A proposed Idaho Fish and Game rule that would allow the use of bait during wolf hunts is raising eyebrows; no other state allows that, and Idaho currently allows bait to be used only in the hunting of black bears. That practice is a controversial…
Republican U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador sent Idaho voters a campaign mailer asking for contributions to his gubernatorial bid ornamented with the state seal, even though the secretary of state's office says the seal should only be used for official state business. Labrador's fundraiser flier asked voters to give $50, $75, $100 or more...
A watchdog group and four southwest Idaho landowners have filed a federal lawsuit against Idaho officials contending a state-approved process forcing them to sell their natural gas and oil violates the U.S. Constitution, the AP reports. The lawsuit filed late last month names Idaho Department of Lands Director Tom Schultz and...
The strongest earthquake to hit Montana in more than half a century sent bartenders jumping over bars, food falling off grocery store shelves and awakened residents and dogs more than 30 miles from its epicenter. There were no immediate reports of injuries or serious damage from the magnitude 5.8 earthquake...
Idaho GOP candidate for governor Tommy Ahlquist has changed the wording on his website about his position on gay marriage, the AP reports today, deleting a promise to continue fighting legal same-sex marriage – which many read as a promise to take the state...
Idaho is now one of 44 states, including Washington, refusing to fully comply with a request to turn over extensive voter information to the Trump Administration’s election integrity commission, according to the latest tally by CNN, and Idaho officials aren’t enthusiastic about the request – in part because they say Idaho’s always safeguarded...
Idaho officials are considering altering rules for suction dredge mining on the South Fork of the Clearwater River just before the month-long season is set to begin, the Lewiston Tribune reports. At the Tenmile Mining District's request, regulators are looking at several conditions included in its permits to see if they can be clarified...
A drone flying illegally created a problem for crews fighting a wildfire south of Twin Falls, Idaho. The Times-News reports the lightning-caused fire burned grass and brush near Nat-Soo-Pah. Bureau of Land Management Twin Falls District...
How many calls about illegal fireworks came in to Ada County sheriff’s dispatchers about illegal fireworks on the Fourth of July this year? 266. That’s the tally from 12:01 a.m. July 4 to 10 a.m. today, the sheriff’s department reports. Over the holiday weekend, from…
You might have thought it was just July, but officially, in Idaho, it’s also Idaho Spirits Month. That’s spirits, as in vodka, rum, gin and brandy. Gov. Butch Otter issued a proclamation designating the month, and recognizing the “rapidly growing craft spirits industry comprised of small, family owned businesses...
The Idaho Supreme Court today overturned the murder conviction of twice-convicted Mark Henry Lankford, ruling that prosecutorial misconduct in his second trial for the 1983 murders of Robert and Cheryl Bravence violated his right to a fair trial; in a 3-2 decision, the high court…
Both Idaho’s and Washington’s populations are aging faster than the nation’s as a whole, according to the latest census figures, and that has implications for the economy and the labor market. “It’s going to have an impact on the need for services...
The panel that disciplines judges in Idaho regularly receives more than 80 complaints each year over alleged inappropriate conduct, but the independent council rarely finds enough evidence to warrant a harsh punishment, the AP reports. Judicial complaints are confidential, but earlier this year...
So, who is that little-known Democrat who filed back in March to run for Idaho’s 1st District congressional seat? After many weeks of trying to reach him, I received a call from Michael William Smith of Post Falls last week, and he filled me in; my full Sunday column...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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