Helo Hancock, legislative director for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe, told the redistricting commission tonight that the tribe is the largest employer in Kootenai County, with nearly 2,000 employees, 60 percent of whom are not Indian. "The tribe has a very significant and important interest in…
Republican James McMillan of Wallace told the redistricting commission that tonight may be the only time he agrees with Wallace Democrat Jon Ruggles - both expressed concerns about the large new District 7 proposed in legislative district Plan L-83, which includes Shoshone County. Others questioned…
Longtime Coeur d'Alene City Councilman Al Hassell told Idaho's bipartisan citizen redistricting commission that according to the latest census, Coeur d'Alene's population is now 44,137 - almost exactly the perfect legislative district population size of 44,788. "This makes your work quite easy, I think, keeping…
State Rep. Dick Harwood, R-St. Maries, told Idaho's citizen redistricting commission at its hearing in Coeur d'Alene tonight that his current district is "gerrymandered" - including moving one woman's ranch into District 1 because she didn't want to be in District 2. "There was a…
At last night's Idaho Redistricting Commission hearing in Idaho Falls, among those testifying was Idaho Falls retiree Carrie Scheid, who told the commissioners she was upset to see that in L-83, the plan agreed on by the former redistricting commission after its deadline passed, Senate…
The Idaho Supreme Court has made it official: The current legislative district plan now in effect in Idaho is unconstitutional. In its written order, issued today, the high court canceled plans to hold oral arguments on that issue on Oct. 12, as "no parties came…
An array of female state government officials, including state Controller Donna Jones, state Department of Agriculture Director Celia Gould, state Appellate Public Defender Molly Huskey, state Historical Society Director Janet Gallimore, and many more, are gathered in the Capitol Auditorium for today's second annual "Women's…
Gov. Butch Otter and First Lady Lori Otter are inviting people to their second annual "Women's Day at the Capitol" today, from 3-6 p.m. in the Capitol Auditorium. The governor called it "kind of an offshoot to Capitol for a Day, as we go around…
Idaho Sens. Mike Crapo and Jim Risch are introducing compromise legislation with a bipartisan group of senators to continue funding for the Secure Rural Schools program and the Payment in Lieu of Taxes program for the next five years. Among the other original co-sponsors: Senate…
I was out of town the first part of this week, and caught something special Wednesday morning: The year's first snowfall at Lake Tahoe, shown here. After our warm, summery September, the season really is changing now, as Boise's chilly rain today attests. It must…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
