Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — A bill to block the use of eminent domain by cities to create hiking trails, bike paths and greenways has cleared a House committee. The Idaho Statesman in Boise reports (http://bit.ly/1GsLh3O) that the…
The hearing on SB 1011, the bill to repeal instant racing, has wrapped up at 6 p.m.; so far today, 18 people have testified, 16 against and two in favor. It’ll continue tomorrow morning at 8:30 a.m.; Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, said there are still…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) - Idaho House leaders have unveiled their proposal to pump $84 million each year into transportation funding, the third sweeping piece of legislation introduced this week hoping to address Idaho's multi-million dollar transportation shortfall.…
Here’s some truly sad news: Bogus Basin has just announced that this will be the last full week of skiing for the season at the non-profit Boise ski resort, which normally stays open until early April. Bogus will be open weekends only starting this Saturday,…
Testimony is continuing this afternoon on SB 1011, the bill to eliminate instant racing in Idaho; here are some of those who have spoken: Ada County Commissioner Jim Tibbs spoke against SB1011. “Historical horse racing is about the only means that has been discovered to...
The House State Affairs Committee has resumed its hearing on SB 1011, the bill to ban instant racing in Idaho, in the Lincoln Auditorium this afternoon; you can watch live here. However, before it started, Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, said there will be no committee…
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho senator says his rewritten proposal to allow people to use oil extracted from cannabis plants still faces opposition from the governor's office, despite being reworded as one of the strictest proposals…
The last person to testify at this morning’s portion of the hearing on SB 1011, the bill to eliminate instant racing in Idaho, was Idaho Racing Commission member Fred Snook of Salmon, an attorney and former magistrate judge who has served on the commission since…
As this morning’s instant racing hearing wrapped up – it’ll continue this afternoon at 4 – Rep. Brent Crane, R-Nampa, quizzed Louis Cella of Race Tech LLC about whether a possible compromise might be to allow the gambling machines, but make them play the full…
The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee announced today that it won't set the public school budget tomorrow after all, as scheduled, due to the delay with the teacher career ladder bill, which is on hold in the House Education Committee. The budget-setting has been pushed back until…
Louis Cella of Oaklawn Park in Arkansas and Race Tech LLC, the manufacturer of the “instant racing” machines now in use in Idaho, started off his testimony to the House State Affairs Committee today by assailing Helo Hancock, legislative liaison for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe,…
This morning’s hearing on the SB 1011, the bill to repeal instant racing in Idaho, will be continuing this afternoon at 4, House State Affairs Chairman Tom Loertscher just announced. With that, he’s asked anyone who’s from out of town and/or can’t return at 4…
Idaho Education News reports that House Education Chairman Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, says his committee will "continue to hold" HB 222, the $125 million teacher career ladder bill, and a new bill is forthcoming. EdNews reporter Clark Corbin, who’s covering the Ed Committee meeting this morning,…
Rep. Lynn Luker, R-Boise, told Coeur d’Alene Racing General Manager Doug Okunewicz he was here two years ago when the “historical racing” law was proposed to lawmakers, and he read from testimony of then-Racing Commission Director Doug Lamb, saying bettors using the machines would study…
Doug Okuniewicz, general manager of Coeur d’Alene Racing and the Greyhound Park and Event Center in Post Falls – which has 35 “instant racing” betting machines – told the House State Affairs Committee this morning, “We ordered our machines back after the bill was passed....
Helo Hancock, legislative liaison for the Coeur d’Alene Tribe, told the House State Affairs Committee this morning, “I’m here on behalf of the Coeur d’Alene Tribe because there has been an unrivaled expansion of casino gambling in Idaho under the guise of wagering on a...
House State Affairs Committee Chairman Tom Loertscher, R-Iona, played a trumpet flourish like that heard at the start of a horse race to open today’s hearing on SB 1011, the bill to eliminate “instant racing” in Idaho. “We welcome all those who have come near…
It's a super-busy day at the Idaho Capitol today. This morning, the House State Affairs Committee will hold its hearing and vote on the Senate-passed bill to eliminate so-called "instant racing." The House Education Committee meets at 8:30 and holds the fate of the teacher-pay…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
