Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the news from today's megaloads hearing, including ITD's contention that it wouldn't be "practical" to require the giant loads to be cut down and run on routes other than scenic, winding U.S. Highway 12 -…
The megaloads contested-case hearing has wrapped up for the day, at 4:30 p.m. Boise time, and will take up again tomorrow morning at 9; ITD official Regina Phipps will continue her testimony then. The hearing is scheduled to last all week and possibly into next…
Gov. Butch Otter has issued this statement in reaction to the recovery of the body of miner Larry "Pete" Marek, who had been missing for more than a week after a cave-in at the Lucky Friday Mine in North Idaho: “With the news of Mr.…
Regina Phipps, vehicle size and weight specialist for the Idaho Transportation Department, is the next witness called at the contested case hearing on U.S. Highway 12 megaloads, which is scheduled to run all week and possibly into next week. Among the issues that have been…
With the wintry conditions, Brundage Mountain got 3 inches of snow this morning and has announced it'll extend its "bonus" late-season weekend openings through May 15 - and maybe even further, if conditions warrant. “We have an extremely healthy snow base, and it actually continues…
Under questioning from Laird Lucas, attorney with Advocates for the West representing megaloads opponents, ITD official Reymundo Rodriguez said the department was advised the ExxonMobil is reducing the loads already in Lewiston so they can travel by a different route, rather than on U.S. Highway…
The contested case hearing for the Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil megaloads has taken back up, with Michael Sasser, attorney for Mammoet Transportation, the trucking contractor for Imperial/Exxon, continuing the questioning of ITD official Reymundo Rodriguez. Sasser put a copy of the over-legal permit up on the screen…
The opponents of the Highway 12 megaloads have called their next witness, but he's also an ITD witness: Reymundo Rodriguez, the ITD's motor carrier services manager. So ITD attorney Tim Thomas will conduct the direct examination, and the megaload opponents will do the cross-examination. Rodriguez…
Peter Grubb, co-owner and operator of the Riverdance Lodge and ROW Adventures, a whitewater rafting and fishing outfitter, is the next witness called at this morning's contested case hearing on the 200-plus proposed megaloads that Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil wants to haul across U.S. Highway 12 in…
The contested case hearing on the proposed 200-plus megaload shipments of oil equipment across U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho has opened at the ITD headquarters this morning, with retired Judge Duff McKee, second from left, presiding as hearing examiner. The first witness is Ruth…
House Minority Leader John Rusche, D-Lewiston, a pediatrician, is praising GOP Gov. Butch Otter's veto of HB 298, the grandson-of-nullification bill on health care reform, saying, "Gov. Otter prevented legal mayhem - for that he is to be thanked." He has concerns, however, about the…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
