As the legislative task force looking at how to replace the millions of dollars the Idaho State Police and state parks will lose in a year when their gas tax funding shifts to roads, it started off this morning with a review of where state…
Idaho Fish & Game has completed an extensive, year-long "creel survey" to measure fishing activity and fish harvest along the Boise River through the heart of the city, in response to concerns raised about possible overfishing. The result: It's pretty much all good."Observed harvest rates…
It's nothing new for the University of Idaho to have some students arrive late for school in the fall because it's still fire season, and they're off fighting wildfires - 11 students delayed their return to classes last year for that reason. With classes starting…
When I left Boise a week ago, it was 100-plus degrees. While I was gone, it turned unseasonably cool and rainy with flash flooding, and now it's settling down somewhere in between. Among the news developments of the week (I'm still catching up): On Tuesday,…
Here's what I've been up to this week while I'm on vacation - one of my favorite pastimes, windsurfing in the Columbia River Gorge. It's warm and windy here, and getting windier. I'm very happy. Back on Monday.
It wasn't what you might think that made Ray Smelek decide to bring Hewlett-Packard's printer division to Boise in 1973, launching a high-tech industry in the Idaho capital city that transformed the city's economy. "From a personal point of view ... it seemed like a…
Today marks my 18th anniversary with The Spokesman-Review. Though things have changed quite a bit since I joined the newspaper as its Idaho editor in 1991, we're still in the same business - reporting the news. We just do it in a lot of new…
When Ron "Pete" Peterson announced his candidacy for governor today at a Boise bikini bar, there wasn't exactly a crowd on hand, but the few people there were mostly supportive. "I think it's wonderful," said a dancer named Tawni, who slipped off her 8-inch-high stilettos…
Both of Idaho's U.S. senators, Republicans Jim Risch and Mike Crapo, said today they'll vote against confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Sonia Sotomayor. Differences on 2nd Amendment/gun rights issues were among the top concerns the two cited; both met with Sotomayor personally. “There is…
Idaho Supreme Court justices had sharp questions today for Michael McNichols, the Lewiston attorney who represented District Judge John Bradbury before the high court, challenging a move by the state Judicial Council to suspend him for not living in his district. Bradbury maintains he does…
When Eye on Boise asked him why he thinks Idahoans are still buying lottery tickets despite the downturn, Idaho's biggest-ever lottery winner, Brad Duke, who won $220.3 million in a Powerball drawing in 2005, said, "There's always the chance, there's always the hope. I suppose…
Though the economic times are grim, there's one way Idaho's still making money: By chance. Idaho's state lottery announced today that its revenues for the recently concluded fiscal year set a record for the seventh time in eight years, coming in 2 percent over last…
A committee of top real estate professionals was asked to review how Idaho could update its rules for transfers of state endowment lands to match "modern business practices," and this morning, the panel presented its recommendation to the state's top elected officials. Among them: Eliminate…
Here's a link to my full story on Idaho's child immunization dilemma: The state has the lowest child immunization rate in the nation, but budget cuts that hit July 1 are making it more expensive and more difficult for Idaho families to get shots for…
The Idaho Transportation Board just voted unanimously to fire director Pam Lowe. Deputy Director Scott Stokes was named the interim director while a new director is sought, with the search focusing both inside and outside ITD. Board Chairman Darrell Manning said, "The board determined this…
It's a bit of an oddity that Idaho's state legislator who's been a key instigator of programs targeting aquatic invasive species, including quagga and zebra mussels, has the same name as the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife aquatic invasive species coordinator. So at this…
The 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver will be an economic boon at a time when one is badly needed, Canada's minister of state for sport told officials from throughout the region today. "It's put us in a very strong position," Minister Gary Lunn told 500…
The Pacific Northwest, on both sides of the Canadian border, is the “Middle East of North America” when it comes to energy resources, experts say, and it will eventually supply both nations with an array of fuels, from wind, geothermal and biofuels to oil, coal…
In his luncheon keynote speech today at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region's big annual conference, Idaho Gov. Butch Otter said the best answers come from groups like PNWER, which brings together state and provincial officials from both the United States and Canada to address regional…
Legislators from both the U.S. and Canada will have a chance to learn all about current energy issues through a new Legislative Energy Horizon Institute launched today at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region summit meeting in Boise. Gov. Butch Otter joined University of Idaho President…
Idaho’s state Capitol has been closed to the public for renovation for more than two years, but workers now say it’ll definitely reopen in time for January’s legislative session. It's been on a tight schedule from the start, with completion set for mid-November, just in…
Idaho Supreme Court Chief Justice Dan Eismann has been named to the National Drug Court Hall of Fame, the highest honor given by the National Association of Drug Court Professionals, which represents more than 2,300 drug courts nationwide. As a district judge, Eismann founded the…
If the Idaho State Police had to just absorb the funding cut when it loses gas tax funds a year from tomorrow, ISP would have to lay off 204 people, Lt. Col. Kevin Johnson just told a legislative task force. "On the patrol side we…
When the legislative task force ended up with time for some comments from the public this morning, off-road enthusiast Tom Crimmins of Hayden Lake was the first to step to the podium. "I recognize that you have a difficult task and challenge ahead of you…
Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Eagle, spoke out sharply after Sen. Dean Cameron's opening remarks at a legislative task force meeting this morning, objecting to Cameron's statements that the task force can't simply shift funding for state parks and the Idaho State Police to the general fund…
