Gov. Butch Otter’s proposal to increase state funding for public schools next year by 7.9 percent is the biggest percentage increase the third-term governor has proposed for schools since he took office. For context, here are his past proposed school budget increases: Current year (Fiscal…
A potato genetically engineered to resist the pathogen that caused the Irish potato famine is as safe as any other potato on the market, the Food and Drug Administration says. In a letter Tuesday to Idaho-based J.R. Simplot Co., the FDA said the potato isn't…
The Senate Education Committee is hearing introductions and presentations from education stakeholder groups today; three of them, the Idaho Education Association, the Idaho School Boards Association, and the Idaho School Administrators Association, appeared together. “Over the past few years, we’ve worked very hard to find...
Here’s a news item from the Associated Press: BOISE, Idaho (AP) — The U.S. Forest Service says it's investigating after Idaho officials reported inadvertently putting tracking collars on four wolves during recent helicopter flights into a central Idaho wilderness restricted to putting collars on elk....
Idaho’s state agencies have been suffering from “wage compression,” Jani Revier, Gov. Butch Otter’s budget director, told lawmakers on the joint Change in Employee Compensation Committee this afternoon; you can listen live here. “Employees have not been progressing through the pay grade, and this has…
Idaho Rep. Pete Nielsen of Mountain Home has been cited with unlawful possession of an elk. The Republican lawmaker entered a not guilty plea on Wednesday in 4th District Magistrate Court. Officials...
With no discussion, the House State Affairs Committee has voted unanimously to introduce the second bill it’s considered this year, a proposal from the state Liquor Division to ban powdered alcohol. That move clears the way for a full hearing on the bill. Jeff Anderson,…
The first bill proposed to a legislative committee this session – a pipeline safety program fines bill from the Idaho Public Utilities Commission – has been rejected. As he began his presentation to the House State Affairs Committee this morning, Idaho PUC Commissioner Paul Kjellander,…
Idaho’s all-GOP congressional delegation gave President Obama’s final State of the Union address last night the thumbs-down, will all four issuing statements decrying the president and his message. “Instead of attacking Americans’ liberties, the President should work with Congress to secure our borders and protect…
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
