AP reporter John Miller has this overview of GOP leadership battles in the House and Senate, which will be decided in party caucuses on Wednesday night: "Secret balloting on Wednesday evening is set to determine if Idaho Senate Republicans will turn to conservative newcomers for…
There's a really stunning video story out from the Associated Press about Idaho's privately operated prison, the Idaho Correctional Center south of Boise, where surveillance videos show an inmate being brutally attacked by another inmate while guards do nothing to stop the attack, even when…
The Joint Legislative Oversight Committee voted unanimously today to work with the chairs of the House and Senate health and welfare committees to introduce legislation in January to reform Idaho's emergency medical services, which a new performance evaluation found are now a disjointed patchwork of…
The Idaho Fish & Game Department issued this news release just now about Rex Rammell, the quirky former elk rancher whose run for governor in the Republican primary this year won him 26 percent of the vote, finishing second to incumbent Gov. Butch Otter in…
When it comes to emergency medical services like paramedics and ambulances, Idaho has a "disjointed assortment of agencies providing services from a mix of resources," according to a new legislative performance evaluation unveiled today. Those range from cities, counties and fire departments to ambulance districts,…
Associated Press reporter Rebecca Boone reports that the FBI is investigating Idaho's private-run state prison. Here's her report: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — U.S. Attorney Wendy Olson says the U.S. Department of Justice is looking into allegations of criminal conduct among the staff at Idaho's only…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho prosecutor has declined to pursue a criminal case stemming from allegations that Idaho State Tax Commission leaders gave politically connected taxpayers inappropriate settlements. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press,…
Idaho Transportation Director Brian Ness has decided to hold full contested-case hearings on the ConocoPhillips proposal to haul four megaloads of oil refinery equipment across U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho, as recommended by a state hearing officer. "I have reviewed and accept the decision…
A coyote that was acting strangely in the around the Capitol and North End areas of Boise was hit with three tranquilizer darts on Friday, but still evaded capture and remains on the loose, the Idaho Fish and Game Department has announced. Fish & Game…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is en route back from a two-hour meeting this morning in Denver with the governors of Montana and Wyoming and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar, which Otter attended at Salazar's invitation. Otter in October pulled his state out of participating in…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter joined Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer, Wyoming Gov. Dave Freudenthal and U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar at a meeting this morning in Lakewood, Colo. to discuss the status of wolf management in the three states - a meeting Salazar called. Afterward, the…
Idaho’s newest congressman-elect is a 42-year-old attorney and former state lawmaker, but he’s also still paying off thousands in student loans. “It’s how I got through law school,” said Idaho Rep.-elect Raul Labrador. The Project on Student Debt, a nonprofit research group funded by the…
Idaho Congressman-elect Raul Labrador, after a week of new member orientation in Washington, D.C., pronounced the experience "amazing." "I just felt the entire week like it was such a privilege to be there, and I was just in awe that the people of Idaho had…
Thanks to concerns from Idaho state legislators, Idahoans now may legally sell up to six rattlesnake skins a year, and the state’s Fish and Game Department is looking into whether to allow Idaho hunters to salvage some road-killed animals. “I’m all for it,” said Rep.…
Today was the first time since 1994 that Bogus Basin ski area has opened on Thanksgiving Day, and it was a particularly nice one. It was c-c-cold, the powder was fresh, the sun was peeking out and snowflakes were sparkling in the air. Eager skiers…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's ruling from a state hearing officer that residents and business owners along scenic U.S. Highway 12 who object to giant mega-loads of oil equipment traveling the route and blocking both lanes have a right…
A business group that actively supports the prospect of megaloads of oil equipment traveling on U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho has issued a statement that it's "concerned" over a hearing officer's ruling today that opponents of the loads have a right to be heard…
Hearing officer Merlyn Clark, in his 20-page ruling, detailed how ITD reviewed the proposal for the four ConocoPhillips megaloads and determined they could travel safely - but he also found that the three opponents who sued to block the loads clearly have a "direct and…
Linwood Laughy and Borg Hendrickson, two U.S. Highway 12 residents who were among those who sued to block megaloads of oil equipment two lanes wide from traveling the route, had this statement today in response to the hearing officer's decision:"We feel that it is good…
Adam Rush, public involvement coordinator for the Idaho Transportation Department, said ITD Director Brian Ness "can accept, reject, modify or hold the recommendation" from hearing officer Merlyn Clark for full contested-case hearings on permits for four ConocoPhillips megaloads on U.S. Highway 12. "He'll certainly take…
The Idaho Transportation Department just announced that its hearing officer, Merlyn Clark, has ruled that opponents of the four proposed ConocoPhillips megaloads on U.S. Highway 12 have a right to contest permits for the loads. ITD Director Brian Ness "will review the recommendation," the agency…
No word yet from ITD on the hearing officer's decision on the four ConocoPhillips megaloads proposed for U.S. Highway 12, but apparently the decision has gone against the company, and in favor of holding full contested case hearings. ConocoPhillips just issued this statement:"We are disappointed…
Gov. Butch Otter, in response to yesterday's action by his transportation funding task force, says he won't propose any transportation funding increases in 2011. Otter, in a news release, said the task force called for "delaying revenue enhancements for now."In its all-day meeting yesterday, the…
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on today's final recommendations from Gov. Butch Otter's transportation funding task force, which were 18 months in the making. House Tax Chairman Dennis Lake, R-Blackfoot, cast the only vote against the task force's final resolution. "I…
The governor's transportation funding task force also has agreed to support a legislative task force's recommendation to permanently restore to the Idaho Department of Parks & Recreation the 3 percent share of gas taxes that it's long been receiving for trails, reflecting the amount of…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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