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Idaho Supreme Court says new ballot initiative law violates state constitution
In a new ruling Monday, the Idaho Supreme Court blocked the implementation of a new ballot initiative law that opponents said would have made it nearly impossible to bring a ballot initiative or referendum forward. Writing for a majority of the court, Idaho Supreme Court Justice Gregory W. Moeller wrote that the ballot initiative law […]
McGeachin’s education task force will accept public comment this week
For the first time, Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin’s education task force will accept public comment during the group’s final meeting Thursday at the Statehouse. Created by McGeachin in April, the task force was designed to “examine indoctrination in Idaho and to protect our young people from the scourge of critical race theory, socialism, communism and […]
Census 2020 data illustrates Idaho’s urban, rural divide
Although Idaho was the second-fastest growing state in the country and home to one of the United States’ fastest-growing cities, U.S. Census Bureau data shows how unequally divided that growth was. While Meridian was highlighted as the fourth-fastest growing city in the country from 2010-2020, Meridian wasn’t even the fastest growing city in Idaho. A […]
Land board pushes for increased funding to fight Idaho’s historic wildfires
The Idaho State Board of Land Commissioners voted Tuesday to ask the Idaho Department of Lands to increase its requests for resources and funding to battle wildfires over the next three years. Led by Attorney General Lawrence Wasden, commissioners asked the Department of Lands leaders to incorporate each of the recommendations from a three-year […]
Native American tribes ask to be included in Idaho redistricting process
Representatives from Idaho’s Native American tribes asked Monday to be included in the state’s redistricting process, which is expected to kick off next month. The request came during the first 2021 meeting of the Idaho Council of Indian Affairs, which is made up of state legislators, tribal members and a representative from Gov. Brad Little’s […]
New 2020 Census data shows Meridian was one of the 10 fastest growing cities in the U.S.
Meridian was the fourth fastest-growing city in the country over the past decade, with its population increasing by more than 56% to reach 117,634 people, according to new 2020 U.S. Census Bureau data released Thursday. That’s up from a population of 75,092 in 2010. “I don’t think it’s much of a surprise; all of the […]
With the clock ticking, Idaho’s redistricting process is about to get under way
Idaho is about a month away from beginning a redistricting process that will have far-reaching effects on politics and elections in the Gem State for the next decade. Idaho’s Citizen Committee on Reapportionment is expected to convene its first meeting in September to begin the process of redrawing legislative and congressional boundaries. The process […]
Six months before they can officially file, Republican’s 2022 election races are already red hot
The campaign trail is crowded at the top of the ticket with almost a dozen candidates challenging the incumbent governor just as Idaho moves into state fair season. But here’s the thing. They’re not running for election this year. They’re already running for next year. With six months remaining until the official window for filing […]
McGeachin’s education task force discusses calls to disband State Board of Education
Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin’s education indoctrination task force held its third meeting of the summer Thursday at the Idaho Statehouse but still has yet to allow any public testimony. But task force members did receive their first challenge and some pushback for surrounding themselves with people they agree with. Nafees Alam, a professor of social […]
Defensible space: Wildfire experts say planning, preparation can reduce the risk of losing homes
Brett Van Paepeghem doesn’t mince words when he talks about the potential consequences of this fire season. “It’s frightening,” Van Paepeghem said in a telephone interview. “The drought, the heat, the forecasts; all of it is kind of a recipe for disaster. It’s scary. We’re sitting in, potentially, one of the worst fire seasons I […]
Are we loving Idaho’s nature to death? Why some have hope for outdoors with record use
Outdoor guide Ryan Bentley spent a recent day cleaning up a section of beach along the Payette River with some students participating in an outdoors program he runs. Bentley, who is based in Horseshoe Bend, spends about 300 days a year outdoors guiding clients from the high alpine of the Cascade Range to the lowlands […]
It’s official — Idaho ends budget year with record surplus of nearly $900 million
The state of Idaho closed the books on the 2021 budget year on June 30 with a record surplus of nearly $900 million on hand, Gov. Brad Little announced Tuesday. Now that June revenue numbers are finalized — and again beat state forecasts — Idaho officials know that they closed out the 2021 fiscal year with […]