May it be a good year...
I’m very pleased to report that Charlie is now (finally) out of the ICU and is doing much better. This is the view of the mountains from his new room at St. Al’s. Happy new year, everyone…
Eye On Boise archive for Jan. 1, 2017
SUNDAY, DEC. 31, 2017
THURSDAY, DEC. 28, 2017
When life knocks hard...
We all know that getting older kind of sucks. That’s pretty much a given, and widely acknowledged among those of us who have reached middle age. But life has a way of knocking hard and waking us up. Just in the past two years, three...
TUESDAY, DEC. 19, 2017
Time for a break…
Well, that’s it for me for a little while. I’m off ‘til Jan. 2nd. Will catch up when I return…
Labrador votes yes on tax plan, misses others for fundraiser
U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador cast a yes vote for Congress’ tax plan overhaul in Washington D.C. after missing several votes the day before to attend a gubernatorial campaign event in Idaho. The Republican congressman attended the fundraiser Monday and then flew back east that night to make Tuesday’s vote. Labrador declined to comment...
Labrador, Simpson laud GOP tax bill as it passes House
The U.S. House voted 227-203 in favor of the GOP tax bill today, and Idaho Reps. Raul Labrador and Mike Simpson both lauded the bill; the Senate is expected to vote later today. “Any time we can allow hard-working Idahoans to keep more of their...
Developer buys building back from state for nearly $1M less than he was paid in 2013
An eastern Idaho real estate investor is almost $1 million richer, thanks to the state Land Board’s changing policies on real estate investments. In 2013, Gary Voigt of Idaho Falls sold an eastern Idaho office building to the state for $6.1 million. On Dec. 6, he bought it back for $5.3 million. State officials say the transaction still was...
Man wins tied southern Idaho election following recount
A southern Idaho city has filled a council seat after an election that ended in what officials thought was tie and was followed by a coin toss and a recount. The Times-News reports Minidoka County officials recounted ballots Monday, finding Dick Galbraith had won the seat on the Heyburn City Council by one vote...
Idaho lands nation's first International Dark Sky Reserve
A giant chunk of central Idaho with a dazzling night sky has become the nation's first International Dark Sky Reserve. The International Dark-Sky Association late Monday designated the 1,400-square-mile reserve. The area's night skies are so pristine that interstellar dust clouds are visible in the Milky Way...
Land Board approves cottage site leasing plan for coming years, anticipates most to be auctioned
Idaho’s state Land Board voted unanimously this morning to approve a cottage site leasing plan for the next three years, which anticipates many of the remaining state-owned cottage sites at Payette and Priest lakes will be auctioned off. The new plan, which covers 176 leases…
MONDAY, DEC. 18, 2017
Rep. Giddings receives stay in property tax case for military service
Idaho state Rep. Priscilla Giddings has requested and received a stay until April 1, due to military service, of an Ada County notice ordering her to repay the county about $1,200 for claiming a homeowner’s exemption there in 2016 – while also claiming to live in Idaho County, which she represents in the Legislature. Giddings cited a federal law...
Boise Democrat to challenge Simpson for congressional seat
A Boise Democrat will challenge Republican U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson for Idaho's 2nd Congressional District in 2018. The Post Register reports that Aaron Swisher announced Saturday he plans on challenging the GOP incumbent in the upcoming election. Swisher, an economist...
Idaho victims' rights proposal would cost state $553,000
Advocates of a proposal seeking to expand the rights of crime victims in Idaho say the statewide cost would be less than 1 percent of what the state already spends on public safety each year. Research economists with the firm ECONorthwest released their analysis of the proposal Monday. According to the firm, it would cost the state $553,000...
9th Circuit Judge Randy Smith to take senior status in 2018
Idaho Judge N. Randy Smith, who serves on the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals, has announced that he’ll take senior status on Aug. 11, 2018, his 69th birthday – which will give President Trump the opportunity to appoint another appellate judge. Smith said he...
Health group warns of individual mandate repeal's impact in Idaho
Close the Gap Idaho is speaking out against the GOP tax plan’s repeal of the individual mandate to purchase health insurance, saying new data estimates 74,000 Idahoans would lose their health insurance as a result. “Eliminating the requirement to purchase health coverage without a broader…
SUNDAY, DEC. 17, 2017
Idaho businesses line up against non-compete law; 'lie of the year'; and Veyo's replacement; my full Sun. column...
More than 100 Idaho business leaders, ranging from high-tech CEOs to small-business owners to engineers, marketers and manufacturers, have signed a letter to Gov. Butch Otter and the Idaho Legislature calling for the repeal of a 2016 noncompete law that sharply limits the rights of employees who move to new firms...
FRIDAY, DEC. 15, 2017
Ahlquist clarifies breaching dams stance after forum
Idaho gubernatorial candidate Tommy Ahlquist's campaign said Friday the Republican businessman has always been against breaching dams along the Snake River despite not stating that position when asked at a recent sportsmen's forum. In an opinion piece published earlier this week, Ahlquist said he would fight to protect Idaho's waters for farmers...
The week that was...
Tonight’s “Idaho Reports” on Idaho Public Television examines the uncertainty over NAFTA is affecting Idaho agricultural producers; Idaho’s challenges in increasing the percentage of those who go on to higher education after high school; and the upcoming “respectful workplace” training all Idaho state lawmakers will…
ITD says its DMV drivers license computer system has been fixed, full service restored to counties
ITD announced this afternoon that it has corrected the issues in its driver’s license computer system and restored full service to county offices across the state. The problems caused slowdowns and shutdowns of driver’s licensing services over the past two weeks. “A delay of any…
Regan's Kootenai County road-easement case goes to Idaho Supreme Court for 3rd time
The Idaho Supreme Court heard arguments Friday in a Kootenai County road-easement case that already has prompted a change in state law, but still has left plaintiff Brent Regan without access to a private road he claims he long used as a secondary access to his sprawling property...
Idaho officials work to restore driver's license services
Idaho Transportation Department officials say they are working on fully restoring driver's license services two weeks after computer outages left hundreds of residents unable to renew licenses. The Post Register reports a recent software update to the department's computer systems caused driver's license services to shut down across the state...
THURSDAY, DEC. 14, 2017
ITD Board allocates rest of GARVEE bond proceeds to I-84 in Canyon County
The Idaho Transportation Board today voted to allocate an additional $86 million to widen I-84 from Franklin Road in Nampa into the city of Caldwell, on top of $150 million in GARVEE bonds already allocated to the I-84 Nampa-Caldwell corridor and additional state and federal…
Crapo, 1st CD candidates address net neutrality decision
We asked members of Idaho’s congressional delegation today for their comments on the FCC’s net neutrality decision; Sen. Jim Risch was traveling and couldn’t be reached for comment, and neither 1st District Rep. Raul Labrador nor 2nd District Rep. Mike Simpson responded. Sen. Mike Crapo said, “I opposed the decision of the FCC to reclassify...
Idaho company faces fine after FedEx workers exposed to radiation
U.S. officials want to fine an Idaho company that sent radioactive materials across the country that leaked from lead containers and exposed FedEx workers. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission on Thursday announced a proposed $22,400 fine for Idaho Falls-based Qal-Tek Associates...
Boise High uncovers hidden paintings from the '40s during gym remodel
Boise High School uncovered two paintings portraying Native Americans during a remodeling and expansion project of its 1936 gym. The Idaho Statesman reports crews were able to salvage one image that officials say was likely painted in the 1940s. The paintings were signed by R. Brown and were found behind a trophy cabinet...
WEDNESDAY, DEC. 13, 2017
Discussing Russia probe Labrador suggests Dems, press have undermined American democracy
Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador today sharply questioned Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who oversees the investigation into whether President Donald Trump’s team assisted Russian meddling in last year’s campaign, joining other GOP members of the House Judiciary Committee in suggesting the probe is driven by...
News, happenings and more from the Idaho Legislature and the state capital.
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