Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An eastern Idaho woman who was briefly charged with having an illegal abortion is suing in federal court, contending that Idaho's so-called "fetal pain" law and other abortion bans violate the U.S. Constitution.…
Associated Press reporter John Miller reports that Reps. Grant Burgoyne, D-Boise, and John VanderWoude, R-Nampa, are planning to work on revised legislation to limit the state Land Board's endowment land investments, out of concern over competition with the private sector. "There's clearly an area where…
After Democratic redistricting Commissioner Julie Kane presented some concept maps to other commissioners regarding North Idaho, Co-Chairman Allen Andersen said, "I think there has been some presentation of some potential maps that might address some issues we've been talking about. I think we have another…
Republican redistricting commissioners had a surprising bit of news for their Democratic counterparts this afternoon: They're not ready to submit a new redistricting plan this afternoon, as planned. "We have not yet come to a consensus on this side of the aisle to present one…
Idaho's redistricting commissioners invited Secretary of State Ben Ysursa to address the commission this afternoon and let them know if they can file their final redistricting plan over the Labor Day holiday weekend. "Any time that you come up with a plan and want to…
The Idaho State Police has issued a statement acknowledging that it arrested six anti-megaloads protesters on Aug. 26, after those people failed to disperse after repeated warnings, though other protesters did leave. "A large number of people lined the streets within the City of Moscow…
The Idaho Department of Finance is warning that a mortgage-modification scam is targeting Spanish-speaking Idahoans, promising to lower monthly mortgage payments but instead just charging an upfront fee of $1,995. The company is calling itself Freedom Companies Inc., Freedom Financial Mortgage, and several other names…
Redistricters have now voted 5-1 to schedule meetings for both Tuesday and Monday, Labor Day, with the hope that those final meeting days won't be needed. Democratic Commissioner George Moses voted no, and urged the commission not to schedule a meeting on the day set…
The redistricting commission has been visiting this morning with Assistant Chief Deputy Attorney General Brian Kane about legal questions, on everything from its deadline to what makes a redistricting plan defensible in court. It's also reviewed several new legislative and congressional plans submitted by the…
Idaho wages slipped during the recession compared to other states, the Idaho Department of Labor reports, with the average wage falling from 37th in the nation in 2008 to 38th in 2010, and the median wage falling from 35th to 39th. In 2010, the latest…
Idaho Statesman columnist Dan Popkey reports that Idaho Sen. Jim Risch spent Monday morning at the Ada County courthouse after being called for jury duty - but was excused after he explained his schedule to 4th District Judge Darla Williamson. Risch told Popkey that the…
Idaho's bipartisan citizen redistricting commission is back in session this morning, with a looming deadline: 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 6, according to the Idaho Attorney General's office, which responded to a request from the commissioners with a legal opinion stating that this morning. The…
The University of Idaho asked a court on Monday whether it can release employment records for the late Ernesto Bustamante, a former assistant professor who killed himself last week after murdering a graduate student, 22-year-old Katy Benoit. The university joined with media outlets including the…
Of all the odd things to find in my mailbox over the weekend, there was a letter from Gov. Butch Otter, addressed to Ben Ysursa, who happens to be Idaho's secretary of state, but at my address. Since it's a federal crime to open someone…
Idaho's second-ever wolf hunting season opens tomorrow, running from Aug. 31 through Dec. 31 in the Island Park and Beaverhead wolf management zones, Aug. 30-June 30 in the Lolo and Selway zones, and Aug. 30-March 31 in the remaining nine zones. Click below for Idaho…
Lawmakers on the Natural Resources Interim Committee have raised an array of questions about management of state endowment lands. Among them: Sen. Jeff Siddoway, R-Terreton, asked state Superintendent of Schools Tom Luna if Idaho might not have been better off to sell some of the…
Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa told the Legislature's Natural Resources Interim Committee today that after watching the process for the past 37 years, "I think we're at an interesting intersection, crossroads ... of the three branches of government dealing with endowment property." The executive…
Former state Controller J.D. Williams told lawmakers today, "Every dollar that we can make for these endowment lands and the trust fund is a dollar that does not have to come from taxpayers. The more we make, the more it grows and the less taxes…
The Legislature's Natural Resources Interim Committee is taking a course in "Trust Law 101," starting with a presentation from University of Idaho professor and author Jay O'Laughlin. Idaho's state endowment is a trust for which the Land Board holds a fiduciary duty, O'Laughlin told lawmakers.…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is promising more of the same from his administration: tight budgeting that may underestimate state revenues, forcing budget cuts that later prove unnecessary, to avoid mid-year holdbacks. That approach attracted criticism this year after Otter and state lawmakers discounted economic forecasts…
1st District Idaho Congressman Raul Labrador issued this statement on the Jeremy Hill grizzly bear shooting case in North Idaho: "Only Jeremy knows the threat this bear posed to his family and property. No one from D.C. or Boise was present to know the circumstances…
Both of Idaho's U.S. senators have now weighed in on the case of Jeremy Hill, the North Idaho man who's charged with killing a two-year-old male grizzly bear on his property on May 8; Gov. Butch Otter already wrote a letter to Interior Secretary Ken…
The Associated Press reports that a federal appeals court in Helena, Mont. today rejected a request by environmental groups to halt wolf hunts that are scheduled to begin next week in Idaho and Montana. Click below for the full AP report.
Here's a link to my full story at spokesman.com on the vote today by a subcommittee of the state Board of Education to approve a two-online-course requirement for high school graduation in Idaho, starting with next year's freshmen (the class of 2016). The move came…
After a state Board of Education subcommittee approved a couple of changes to wording regarding students who fail online courses and alternatives for districts, the new online-class graduation requirement will now head to the State Board of Education, which will consider it in a special…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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