Happy Monday and Happy Leap Day! Super Sub Taryn is in the house! I guess Friday must have gone OK because DFO has invited me back once again. In between baking bread, working with the roof repairman and tending a sick kid I will be bringing you all sorts of juicy news bits today.
Wayne Hoffman and the Idaho Freedom Foundation are coming under fire for their dual roles at the Capitol: Reporting and lobbying. Bill Dentzer/Idaho Statesman says "even like-minded lawmakers" are taking issue with the IFF.
A Shoshone County Sheriff’s Office employee has resigned in the middle of an investigation into missing evidence.The Sheriff’s Office discovered a “discrepancy” in inventory for the property and evidence room in November 2015, the office said in a Facebook post.
A woman in her 20s was diagnosed with the Zika virus in Spokane County, health officials said Monday. The Washington resident was infected while she was traveling out of the country, according to the Spokane Regional Health District. The woman was pregnant when the symptoms occurred.
Idaho’s House and Senate resources committees are holding a joint “informational meeting” today in the Lincoln Auditorium, to hear speakers from Utah, including two Utah lawmakers, talk about their efforts to take over federal public lands.
Paul Turner/The Slice asks: How would neighbors characterize you to news reporters if you were accused of a sensational crime? Mine: "She was always dressed for the gym, but rarely left home. She was so cheap she shared a newspaper subscription with the old lady next door. She was always last to bring her garbage can to the curb on trash day." You?
Rep. Pete Nielsen, R-Mountain Home, told KTVB-TV over the weekend that he was wrong when he said repeatedly last week that women who are raped or victims of incest are unlikely to become pregnant. "I was in error, and I regret it," he told the station on Saturday evening.
The Idaho Statesman reports on a Meridian man who was arrested and charged with felony witness intimidation for Facebook posts about an officer who had previously arrested him. Question from The Statesman: "How worried should the public be about saying something on social media that could send our lives into a tailspin — and land us behind bars?"
The House has voted 62-5 in favor of HB 524, Rep. Ken Andrus’ bill to strengthen penalties for torture of a “companion animal” in Idaho, such as a pet dog, cat, pony or rabbit, but only after Andrus assured Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, that the bill wouldn’t make it a felony to shoot a stray cat.
There must be something about HBO, like when you sub for DFO your pets are so dang excited that they just have to be in on the action. I promised no cat photos and I'll keep true to my word on that. First, I'm allergic...
The Idaho House has voted 66-1 in favor of the “Right to Try” bill proposed by Rep. Melissa Wintrow, D-Boise, that would allow terminally ill patients to use investigational drugs that haven’t yet gained full FDA approval, at their own risk.
In a Sunday editorial, The SR editorial board says Idaho lawmakers distrust women: "Through their ceaseless attempts to adopt unconstitutional anti-abortion laws, it’s become clear the majority of Idaho legislators do not trust women with this personal decision."
A first offense of being a minor in possession of alcohol or a minor consuming alcohol would be changed from a misdemeanor to an infraction, under legislation that cleared the House on a 65-2 vote today.
Cindy Hval reports on Spokane's black newspaper: As Sandra Williams sat by her father’s sickbed, the hours ticked by slowly. “Dad wasn’t much of a talker,” she said. It was enough for both of them to simply be together. But during those quiet hours, an idea took shape and sprang into life – Williams would publish a newspaper.
All nine of Kootenai County’s legislative delegation traveled home from Boise to update their constituents Saturday morning on the issues moving through this year’s legislative session. Lawmakers outlined what they are focused on and fielded questions ranging from increased healthcare premiums and education reforms to concealed weapon legislation.
Overall, the school budget set today reflects a 6.8 percent increase in state general funds, but it leaves several major pieces still to be decided, including Gov. Butch Otter’s proposed $10.7 million early literacy initiative, which has passed the House and awaits action in the Senate.
Whoever is manning the Benewah County Sheriff's Office's facebook page has a sense of humor. So do I. I've been enjoying the posts about their new K-9 Chihuahua attack unit, the donut trap set up in their parking lot and, most recently, their response to a citizen's question about police harassment.
The one big debate this morning during the setting of the public school budget came when Sen. Dan Schmidt, D-Moscow, tried to add $5 million to discretionary funds for school districts next year, beyond the amount needed to get them back up to the fiscal year 2009 level on a per-classroom basis.
Rep. Phylis King, D-Boise, brought props this morning to support her bid to fund part of the Idaho Commission for Libraries request for $183,700 for a STEM initiative. “This was put together by a 5-year-old,” she told JFAC. “It shows that Play-doh can conduct electricity. … This is completing a circuit.”
Today JFAC sets the budget for Idaho's public schools. Betsy Russell at SR's Eye On Boise blog brings you the play-by-play today on what's happening with the largest pie-piece of the state budget. First, reports Betsy, "JFAC is setting budgets for the state Commission for Libraries and the state Controller's office."
A newspaper drama that probably makes the job look more exciting than it really is (haven't seen it) took best picture at last night's Oscars. Leo FINALLY won an Academy Award. According to the AP, though, the night belonged to host Chris Rock who called it "The White People's Choice Awards." Question: Did you watch the Oscars?
A backcountry skier who’s a textbook example of preparedness tapped most of his expensive tools and training to survive an avalanche last month near Lookout Pass. Yet the ordeal came down to a free helicopter rescue service and a gutsy pilot – after dark with just minutes to spare in a blinding snowstorm.
D.F. Oliveria started Huckleberries Online on Feb. 16, 2004. Oliveria's Sunday print Huckleberries is a past winner of the national Herb Caen Memorial Column contest.
