Candidates forum being held tonight

An array of minority groups is joining with the Idaho Commission on Hispanic Affairs to host a candidates forum in Nampa tonight featuring the candidates running for governor and superintendent of schools, except for GOP Congressman Butch Otter, who’s running for governor.

Otter will instead be represented by his campaign manager, state Rep. Debbie Field, R-Boise. The Otter campaign said Otter couldn’t attend because he is in Washington, D.C., where Congress is in session.

The others seeking the two offices are Democrat Jerry Brady, Libertarian Ted Dunlap and Constitution Party candidate Marvin “Pro-Life” Richardson, running for governor; and Democrat Jana Jones and Republican Tom Luna, running for state superintendent.

The Brady campaign criticized Otter for not attending. “This fits right in with his pattern of ducking every opportunity for public debate that he doesn’t have the chance to manipulate,” said Michael Ames, Brady’s campaign manager.

– Betsy Z. Russell

Kootenai County

Train-truck collision victim identified

The driver killed in a truck-train collision Monday has been identified as 30-year-old Benjamin D. Hagen, of Hayden.

According to Idaho State Police, Hagen was eastbound on Hayden Avenue just after midnight Monday when he struck a northbound train at the crossing west of Highway 41.

Passenger Jesse Neff, a 29-year-old Pinehurst resident, was also killed.

Authorities believe alcohol may have been a factor.

– Taryn Brodwater

Boise

Slow gasoline price drop puzzles Wasden

Idaho Attorney General Lawrence Wasden wants gasoline distributors in the region to explain why Idaho’s prices at the pump are falling more slowly than in other Western states.

Wasden has sent letters to companies including Flying J, Shell, Sinclair, Tesoro and Chevron that question drastically falling wholesale prices elsewhere – even as Idaho’s wholesale prices have slipped only slightly.

In Los Angeles, wholesale prices have fallen nearly 22 percent, Wasden wrote, while they’ve slipped nearly 18 percent in Denver. Meanwhile, wholesale prices in Idaho are down just 4 percent.

Other states are also scrutinizing gas prices. On Friday, Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman told the state energy adviser and the Utah Department of Commerce to investigate the cost of gasoline in Utah, which Huntsman said is “remarkably high.”

According to AAA, the average price of regular gas in Idaho is $2.89, while the price in Utah is $2.87.

– Associated Press