Betsy Z. Russell

Don't think Idahoans don't care about racism, bigotry and hate. From North Idaho's flourishing human rights groups to the governor's office in Boise, Idahoans are sending the message that they won't stand for discrimination.

With $250 million in prison construction needs looming over the state, Idaho is starting to look into letting private firms build and run its prisons. "Obviously, the big benefit to the state at this point is offsetting the tremendous capital construction cost," state Corrections Director Jim Spalding told the Board of Corrections on Friday.

Boise and Idaho's capitol are nestled in a valley. Photo from Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau

Idaho Land Board members, not convinced Monday that a controversial land swap is a good deal for the state, instead ordered extensive studies of how much the state stands to make by selling, trading or keeping the land. Board members also hinted that the state should sharply increase its rents for cottage sites at both Payette and Priest lakes.

Why should Idaho have millions of dollars of its school endowment fund tied up in grazing land that returns only 60 cents an acre, when it could be making a killing for schools on timber and commercial development? That's what state Controller J.D. Williams wants to know. Williams sits on the state Land Board, which oversees the 2.4 million acres of land that the state holds in trust for the sole purpose of making money for schools. He envisions a more lucrative real estate portfolio, with office towers, timberlands and industrial parks. The first move toward changing the mix, a controversial land deal the board will consider Monday, is raising troubling questions.

The pundits have been pontificating like mad all week down here. And pondering. And pooh-poohing. The point of contention: What does it mean that Bill Levinger, a candidate who spent most of the campaign in a psychiatric ward, drew 32 percent of the vote against U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth?

U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth and Democratic challenger Dan Williams are looking ahead to a lively race after both defeated little-known opponents in Tuesday's primary. Chenoweth's GOP challenger, Nampa physician William Levinger, received a surprisingly strong share of the vote, but Chenoweth said his showing doesn't concern her.

Copyright 1996, The Idaho Spokesman-Review Idahoans would easily pass an initiative to raise the minimum wage, but the tax-limiting One Percent Initiative is too close to call. Those are among the findings of a statewide poll conducted last week by Mason Dixon Political Media Research for The Idaho Spokesman-Review and two television stations. The poll asked 802 likely voters for their feelings on six possible ballot issues, and found wide variation between men and women and between older and younger voters.

Three people running in Tuesday's primary election are guaranteed to win, and won't appear on any general election ballot in the fall. That's because the primary is the final election for two Supreme Court justices and an appellate judge. All three are running unopposed, and write-ins are illegal. "They usually don't get a lot of opposition," said Ben Ysursa, chief deputy secretary of state. But it has happened. Two years ago, former Idaho Attorney General Wayne Kidwell ran against Supreme Court Justice Cathy Silak. He lost. All three positions are non-partisan, and all three judges - Supreme Court justices Gerald F. Schroeder and Linda Copple Trout and Jesse R. Walters, chief judge of the state Court of Appeals - are running for six-year terms. The Court of Appeals hears appeals from district courts, as assigned by the Supreme Court. While people can seek review of Appeals Court rulings, the Supreme Court doesn't have to hear them. The Court of Appeals has three judges who review cases as a panel. Based in Boise, they may hear arguments anywhere in the state. The other two judges are Karen Lansing and Darrel R. Perry. The Supreme Court is Idaho's court of last resort, hearing appeals from other courts, claims against the state, death penalty appeals and more. The other three justices are Chief Justice Charles McDevitt, Justice Byron Johnson and Silak. The Supreme Court meets in Boise, Coeur d'Alene, Lewiston, Twin Falls, Pocatello and Idaho Falls. Ysursa said the outcome of the three races this year was decided when the filing period for candidates closed without any challengers coming forward. "They're going off as prohibitive favorites, since there's no opposition and no write-ins allowed."

Sen. Clyde Boatright, R-Rathdrum, has raised $3,680 toward his re-election bid, nearly all of it from political action committees and businesses. Boatright's top contributions were $500 each from Timber-PAC and the Idaho Hospitality and Sports Committee, which is affiliated with Coeur d'Alene hotelier and businessman Duane Hagadone.

Copyright, 1996, The Idaho Spokesman-Review Most Idahoans think Gov. Phil Batt is doing a good job, according to a new statewide poll. The poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Political Media Research for The Idaho Spokesman-Review and two television stations, found that 8 percent rate Batt's performance as excellent and 45 percent say it's good. When the excellent and good ratings are combined, Batt's 53 percent matches former Gov. Cecil Andrus' performance ratings in similar polls in 1992 and 1994.

Rep. Hilde Kellogg, R-Post Falls, has drawn on her support from business to raise significantly more money than any other North Idaho legislative candidate. One week before the primary election, Kellogg's Republican challenger, Jay Jump, has raised just $50.

Copyright 1996, The Spokesman-Review U.S. Rep. Helen Chenoweth is facing a tougher re-election campaign than Sen. Larry Craig, according to a new statewide poll. The poll, conducted by Mason-Dixon Political Media Research for The Idaho Spokesman-Review and two television stations, shows Chenoweth favored by 43 percent to Democrat Dan Williams' 36 percent - even though 47 percent of voters said they'd never heard of Williams.

Paradis

Prison guards laughed when reporters covering Don Paradis' commutation hearing griped about the poor cellular phone reception in the building. The hearing was at Idaho's Maximum Security Institution, where the thick concrete walls are interlaced with tons of heavy steel reinforcing.

After 16 years of legal proceedings, Don Paradis finally took the stand himself Wednesday to plead for his life. "The truth is all I have," the convicted murderer told the Idaho Commission of Pardons and Parole. "As they say, I've had a lot of time to think about it." Paradis, sentenced to death for the 1980 murder of Kimberly Anne Palmer, has maintained his innocence throughout, though he admits going to the Post Falls area with two other men to dump the bodies of Palmer and her boyfriend, Scott Currier.

Paradis, front left, sits before the Idaho Parole Board on Wednesday. Illustration by Zella Strickland/Idaho Statesman (appeared in Spokane edition only)

Ron Rankin says it's only fair that some of the contributors to his One Percent Initiative campaign are from Spokane. "They're people that own property in Idaho, but they don't get to vote in Idaho," Rankin said Monday. "So they're concerned about their property taxes, but there's nothing they can do about them except support us."

Idahoans are getting more conservative, according to Boise State University's annual public policy survey. The survey, which polled 592 Idahoans from all regions of the state, found that 56 percent described themselves as conservative when it comes to economic issues. Thirty-one percent said they were moderate; only 13 percent chose liberal.

Pastor Tom Blackburn: "I could not believe Idaho would execute someone when there were all these questions." Photo by Betsy Russell/The Spokesman-Review

1. Don Paradis 2. Gibson

Idaho is the only state in the nation to authorize non-physicians to do laser surgery on eyes, and a coalition of Idaho doctors charged Thursday that the state has placed patients at risk. "This is clearly a public health issue," said Dr. David Anderson, president of the Idaho Medical Association.

Idaho Democrats and labor leaders got nowhere with legislation to raise the state's minimum wage, so now they're taking their pitch to the people. Between 29,000 and 41,000 Idahoans earn $4.25 an hour or less, according to the state Department of Employment. About two-thirds of those people work in food service, and just over a quarter are in retail sales.

Conservative columnist George Will criticized Idaho Sen. Larry Craig in an article in this week's Newsweek magazine, saying Craig's support for a $20 million sheep industry program conflicts with his rhetoric about limiting government. The article, titled "Political Dissonance," used Craig and the sheep program as an example of a mentality in Congress that "involves the unsleeping pursuit of advantages for friends, and slothful refusal to think about what are and are not proper functions of government."