Today I complete a full week of unpaid furlough, my second this year. These are difficult times in the newspaper business, and like everyone at my paper, I'm doing my part (we also took 7 percent pay cuts this year). It's been an interesting week.…
The Treasure Valley shimmered under a winter sunrise this morning, as seen here from Bogus Basin Road. But despite today's sunny skies, a cold snap is on the way. The wind chill is expected to drop to zero overnight tonight, according to the National Weather…
Certainly, it's not good economic news that Idaho's unemployment is breaking more and more records. Last week, the $16.2 million in unemployment insurance benefits paid by the state broke the previous weekly record, which was set the first week of April, and the year-to-date figure…
Here's how Democratic gubernatorial candidate Keith Allred responded, in a recent interview, to a question about whether his run on a partisan ticket will destroy The Common Interest, the nonpartisan citizen advocacy organization he's worked for five years to build:"If I run and win, I…
Perhaps the oddest thing about Keith Allred, the newly announced Democratic candidate for governor of Idaho, is that he's not a Democrat. He's not a Republican either. Instead, the 45-year-old former Harvard professor and expert mediator is a passionate advocate for a grand experiment in…
The Idaho Republican Party put out a press release today headed "Allred deceives public," saying that when it tried to file an IRS complaint against The Common Interest over founder Keith Allred's email to members informing them he was running for governor, it could find…
The Idaho Republican Party has put out a news release saying it plans to file a complaint with the IRS against Keith Allred for the Dec. 10 letter he emailed out to members of his citizen advocacy group, The Common Interest, informing them that he…
Fired ITD Director Pam Lowe's wrongful-termination lawsuit against the state is being removed to federal court, as a result of a move by the state of Idaho today. The state's appointed special deputy attorney general for the case, attorney B. Newal Squyres of the firm…
Pete Cenarrusa, Idaho's longest-serving elected official, is turning 92 and has released his memoirs, "Bizkaia to Boise: The Memoirs of Pete T. Cenarrusa." The longtime Idaho secretary of state and former lawmaker and speaker of the House will hold a book signing on Wednesday, from…
AP reporter John Miller reported over the weekend that three House Republicans are working on legislation to cut Idaho's individual and corporate income tax rates, even as the state struggles to balance its budget in the face of falling tax revenues at the existing rates.…
Former House Resources Committee Chairman Cameron Wheeler, R-Ririe, now a state Fish & Game commissioner, resigned from the board of The Common Interest yesterday after founder Keith Allred told him he was running for governor as a Democrat. "Common Interest was nonpartisan, and that was…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on Keith Allred's filing to run for governor today, which stunned Idaho's political establishment. Allred's been distinctly nonpartisan in his political activity to date. Now, he's filed as a Democrat to run against GOP Gov. Butch…
Idaho's State Board of Education has voted 5-1 to waive its 10 percent cap on tuition and fee increases for state colleges and universities for one year. The lone dissenter was board member Ken Edmunds. We know this thanks to the very efficient Twitter posts…
Asked for its response to Keith Allred filing initial paperwork today to challenge Gov. Butch Otter in 2010, Otter's re-election campaign issued the following statement: "With the Legislature convening in about a month, the Governor is working on finalizing his state budget and preparing his…
Mike Ferguson, Gov. Butch Otter's chief economist, had some rare good economic news today: In a presentation to the Boise City Club, he said the most recent data suggests Idaho has hit bottom and is ready to begin emerging from the current recession. "What we've…
Keith Allred has filed his initial paperwork to explore a run for governor as a Democrat, taking on GOP Gov. Butch Otter. Former state Rep. Margaret Henbest is his campaign treasurer. "In working with him in the Legislature with the Common Interest, I have great…
Actress and author Christina Crawford, daughter of actress Joan Crawford and author of the book "Mommie Dearest," has been appointed to the Benewah County Commission by Gov. Butch Otter.Otter named Crawford, who now operates the Seven Springs Country Inn near Tensed and who has served…
Keith Allred, founder of the non-partisan The Common Interest citizen group in Idaho and a Harvard professor and mediator, is expected to file initial paperwork today to begin exploring a run for governor of Idaho as a Democrat. "He is not a candidate because he…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — After spending $310,000 in private donations to remodel and furnish the governor's mansion, a five-member panel is now investigating whether to unload the vacant hilltop home. The Governor's Housing Committee decided late Monday…
Rep. Raul Labrador fired back at Sen. Mike Jorgenson's criticisms of him on immigration, saying he's working with Rep. Phil Hart on an immigration bill now that "would actually penalize employers who knowingly hire illegal aliens," among other provisions. Jorgenson criticized Labrador for voting against…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's developments in the 1st District congressional race, in which Rep. Raul Labrador formally entered the GOP primary race while Sen. Mike Jorgenson called on him to withdraw. Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, backs GOP rival Vaughn…
As the candidates in the GOP primary race for the 1st CD continue to try to out-conservative each other, Rep. Raul Labrador's campaign has put out a statement from "Conservative Representative Jim Clark," a Hayden Lake Republican and chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, backing…
Among those posing for pictures with Raul Labrador after his 1st CD announcement this morning were several other lawmakers who are supporting him: Sens. Russ Fulcher and Shirley McKague, both Meridian Republicans; and Rep. Cliff Bayer, R-Boise. "I'm supporting my House colleague. I think he…
Sen. Mike Jorgenson, R-Hayden Lake, put out a press release this morning calling on Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, to withdraw from the 1st District congressional race, just as the GOP candidate was formally announcing his candidacy. "Raul Labrador is an immigration attorney and admits to…
It's been snowing like mad on and off all morning in Boise, and some roads are slick. But here's the odd thing: It's sunny up at Bogus Basin, our local ski resort, which still doesn't have enough snow to open. That's not how it's supposed…
