On tonight's “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public Television, I join Jim Weatherby, Kevin Richert and host Greg Hahn for this year's final show, in which we discuss the school reform turmoil and referendum campaign, wolves, nullification and more; also, Greg interviews state Superintendent of Schools…
Here's the latest Rex Rammell news, via the Idaho Falls Post Register and the Associated Press: A state judge has delayed the poaching trial of former gubernatorial candidate Rex Rammell to investigate if Rammell broke another law when he handed out leaflets to potential jurors…
The third ConocoPhillips megaload is scheduled to leave Lewiston on Saturday and head across U.S. Highway 12 en route to Billings, Mont., the Idaho Transportation Department announced today. This comes as an Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil megaload remains parked 5 miles this side of the Montana border,…
An array of national experts on redistricting and state politics will speak at a free conference Saturday at the state Capitol sponsored by Boise State University. It's the second piece of a two-part series; the first, on April 16, focused on redistricting in Idaho. At…
Wild stuff continues to come out in the Edgar Steele murder-for-hire trial in federal court in Boise; here' s a link to today's full story from S-R reporter Meghann Cuniff, which includes testimony from Steele's wife, Cyndi, the victim of the alleged plot; she defends…
Idaho State Police Capt. Lonnie Richardson told a hearing officer at the Highway 12 megaloads contested-case hearing today that ISP has received "intel" about "people who may want to interfere with the loads." He said, "There are organizations who would like to disrupt the movement…
At the contested-case hearing on Highway 12 megaloads today, Janice Inghram of Grangeville, who has a photography and video business in the area with her husband, testified that as the three megaloads that already have traveled proceeded along the route so far, she experienced six…
The "test validation module" for 200-plus Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil Highway 12 megaloads will stay where it is - in a chain-up area at milepost 169.1, about five miles west of the Montana state line on Highway 12 - until at least Monday night, ITD has announced,…
U.S. Interior Secretary Ken Salazar and U.S. Bureau of Land Management Director Robert Abbey joined Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson today for a tour of the National Interagency Fire Center, from which nationwide wildland firefighting operations are coordinated, and a briefing on this year's fire season.…
A federal judge has sided with the Associated Press and rejected Corrections Corp. of America's request for a sweeping gag order in the lawsuit over prison violence at Idaho's privately-run state prison, the Idaho Correctional Center south of Boise. Click below for a full report…
The Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil "test module" that's demonstrating how the biggest megaloads will fare on U.S. Highway 12 won't travel tonight after all, ITD has announced, because forecasts call for snow near Lolo Pass. Weather permitting, the giant load, now stopped just short of the pass…
Today's testimony in the Highway 12 megaloads contested-case hearing has wrapped up, but lawyers aren't done questioning ITD motor vehicle administrator Alan Frew, who'll be back for more in the morning. Here, the lawyers huddle to go over tomorrow's schedule at the conclusion of today's…
The first day of the Edgar Steele murder-for-hire trial in federal court today was a doozy. After opening arguments, initial witnesses included Larry Fairfax, the hit man-turned-FBI-informant, who told the court, "Mr. Steele was getting agitated, and he said if i didn't take care of…
The Idaho Education Association filed a lawsuit in 4th District Court in Ada County today challenging the constitutionality of SB 1108, the bill to remove most collective bargaining rights from Idaho teachers, and related "trailer" bills including one adding an emergency clause to that measure.…
Alan Frew, motor vehicle administrator for the Idaho Transportation Department, has been called to testify at today's contested-case hearing on the proposed Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil megaloads on U.S. Highway 12. Frew is the one who signed off on the memorandum of decision to grant the permits.…
There's pretty wild stuff coming out in federal court in Boise today at the Edgar Steele murder-for-hire trial; you can read about it at S-R reporter Meghann Cuniff's "Sirens and Gavels" blog here. In federal prosecutor Marc Haws' opening argument, he told the jury it'll…
Among documents shown as exhibits in the contested-case hearing on Highway 12 megaloads today is a 2009 report from Mammoet Transportation, the hauler for Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil, provided to the Idaho Transportation Department, on the route for a "test validation module" that's currently traveling across the…
Asked about the incident in which the ExxonMobil "test module" for its megaloads transport knocked out power to two Idaho towns, ITD District 2 maintenance engineer Doral Hoff said the load immediately was pulled over at a nearby turnout and the road was closed. "We…
After a two-week delay, the "test module" for Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil's giant loads of oil equipment traveled more than 100 miles on U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho last night, ITD reports, and reached a chain-up area near the Idaho-Montana border. The megaload arrived at milepost…
ITD District 2 Maintenance Engineer Doral Hoff is testifying at the megaloads contested-case hearing this morning, answering questions from ITD attorney Tim Thomas about the transportation plan that the Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil's hauler, Mammoet Transportation, submitted to ITD. "The main purpose of the transportation plan is…
ITD reports that a "test module" for Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil's giant loads of oil equipment will begin traveling on U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho again tonight, after stalling for two weeks. The rig was halted at milepost 61 after causing a power outage April 11…
The contested case hearing on Imperial Oil/ExxonMobil's plan to run 200-plus giant megaloads of oil equipment across scenic U.S. Highway 12 in north-central Idaho has wrapped up its second day, after a full day of testimony. In the morning, ITD employee Regina Phipps was questioned…
It may seem awfully wintry for late April, but ITD is sticking to the calendar - studded snow tires must be removed in Idaho before this Sunday, May 1. Violations can bring an infraction fine of $62. Idaho allows studded tires only from Oct. 1…
Idaho military families are being invited to sign up for free or low-cost family summer camps, day camps and outings, through the "Operation: Military Kids" program sponsored in part by the University of Idaho. The camps are open to all branches of guard, reserve, active…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: LEWISTON, Idaho (AP) — The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is being sued by five former workers who say they were laid off because they were closer to retirement and had higher wages than their colleagues.…