Twin Falls county commissioners have announced that they've decided not to file any further challenge to Idaho's new legislative redistricting plan, though they're not entirely happy with it. The county led an earlier challenge to the Idaho Supreme Court that overturned the previous plan submitted…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Legislative auditors found several problems with how Idaho Treasurer Ron Crane oversaw his office's accounting, including how he documented trips to New York City where some costs were found to exceed allowable limits.…
Current Idaho law bans tobacco products from being sold to children, but doesn't cover a new product called "e-cigarettes," electronic cigarettes that contain no tobacco, but instead allow users to inhale a nicotine-infused mist without creating smoke. Rep. Bob Nonini, R-Coeur d'Alene, lead sponsor of…
Two prescription drug manufacturers, Mylan Laboratories Inc. and Mylan Pharmaceuticals, have agreed to pay Idaho $625,000 in a legal settlement over allegations of overcharging the state's Medicaid program, without admitting wrongdoing. “This settlement addresses the harm incurred by Idaho’s taxpayers and the State,” said Idaho…
After four years of virtually no growth in Idaho's prison population, it's now growing again, state Corrections Director Brent Reinke told the House Health & Welfare Committee this afternoon. "We have really enjoyed this period of no-growth in the state of Idaho," the prisons chief…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — State senators today voted in favor of deleting a portion of Idaho's new education laws that defines an online course and says the instructor cannot be physically located in the same school in…
Four GOP presidential candidates have filed for Idaho's March 6 Republican presidential caucus, the Idaho Republican Party reports: Ron Paul, Mitt Romney, Rick Santorum and Newt Gingrich. The party today issued a "final call" for others who want to participate, with Chairman Norm Semanko saying,…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is recruiting candidates to replace Norm Semanko as Idaho's GOP party chairman, reports Idaho Statesman reporter Dan Popkey; Semanko defeated Otter's favored candidate, then-Chairman Kirk Sullivan, in 2008. "I was roundly criticized by all you guys that I couldn't control my…
Backers of a $1.25-per-pack increase in Idaho's cigarette tax, now 57 cents per pack, delivered more than 8,000 postcards in support of the move from Idahoans to state lawmakers today, for a total of nearly 20,000 this year. Susie Pouliot, head of the Idaho Medical…
Here's a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — Gov. C.L. "Butch" Otter backs taxing Internet sales to level the playing field between virtual businesses and brick-and-mortar establishments on Idaho's Main Street. Otter made the remarks to Idaho chamber of commerce leaders…
SCR 111, a resolution setting a long-sought minimum lake level for Cocolalla Lake in North Idaho, has been sent back to the Senate Resources Committee. "There's been some information that's come out, some folks have some concerns, and I think that it's only appropriate that…
The Idaho House has passed HJM 4, a non-binding memorial calling on Congress to add a third federal judge in Idaho, but only by a 47-21 vote and after objections on the floor to allowing a Democratic president to appoint another federal judge; you can…
Idaho's bipartisan citizen redistricting commission has submitted its new legislative district plan, approved on a unanimous 6-0 vote, to Idaho Secretary of State Ben Ysursa. Ysursa, joining the confab by phone from a meeting of the National Association of Secretaries of State, told the commissioners,…
Tops on the list of 2011 for Idaho's Department of Parks & Recreation: All 30 state parks remain open. Parks chief Nancy Merrill is giving her budget pitch to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee this morning. She said volunteers are contributing more than 86,000 hours to…
In response to questions from members of chambers of commerce around the state, Gov. Butch Otter this morning said the state recently had news from the feds that Idaho insurance companies actually would be able to participate in a federally operated insurance exchange, if the…
Idaho Gov. Butch Otter is addressing the Idaho Chamber Alliance this morning, and he told the group of business people from around the state, "I believe we're looking at a good year. I tried to get that across in my State of the State. ...…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
