Sen. Jim Hammond, R-Coeur d'Alene, has decided not to seek re-election to the Idaho Senate. “I've made that decision,” Hammond confirmed this afternoon. Meanwhile, Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, has decided to seek Hammond's Senate seat. Hammond, a third-term senator, is the current chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee; Nonini, who's in his fourth term, is the chairman of the House Education Committee/Betsy Russell, Eye On Boise. More here.

Question: Nonini is quoted as saying that he's done some heavy lifting on education reform and that his experience would be valuable in the Senate. Is that the kind of heavy lifting that voters wanted?