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Kootenai County reduces public services amid 911 operator shortage
The Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office announced in a press release Tuesday that its 911 center is at critical staffing levels and will shift non-emergency calls to voicemail for the time being to handle as many emergency calls in a timely manner as possible. According to the release, the center is approved for 25 emergency communications […]
Idaho’s abortion trigger ban clock starts now — ban will take effect Aug. 25
Although the U.S. Supreme Court issued its opinion overturning Roe v. Wade on June 24, the court did not complete its official judgment until today, meaning Idaho’s trigger law banning nearly all abortions will now go into effect on Aug. 25. According to the text of Senate Bill 1385, the trigger law takes effect 30 days […]
Longtime Boise attorney replaces Democratic candidate for Idaho attorney general
Boise attorney Tom Arkoosh announced Tuesday morning he is the new Democratic nominee for Idaho attorney general, following Steve Scanlin’s withdrawal from the race on July 18 citing personal reasons. According to Idaho Code, the state central committee of a candidate’s corresponding party can fill vacancies for candidates for state office as long as it […]
Judge grants sentencing delay for former Idaho legislator convicted of rape
Fourth District Judge Michael Reardon granted a request Monday to delay sentencing on a felony rape charge against former Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger pending his motion for a new trial or acquittal in the case. A jury found von Ehlinger guilty of rape in April following a four-day trial, and his sentencing was scheduled to […]
First round of grant funding open to expand child care access across Idaho
The deadline to apply for the first round of child care expansion grants from the Idaho Workforce Development Council is Aug. 1, and council Executive Director Wendi Secrist expects the $15 million in available funding this fiscal year to quickly disappear. During the 2022 legislative session, the Idaho Legislature approved $15 million from state fiscal […]
Shelter director says North Idaho delegate was behind flyers distributed during GOP convention
The executive director of Valley House Homeless Shelter in Twin Falls, John Spiers, confirmed by email on Wednesday that the person who dropped off alternate flyers for a campaign event during the Idaho Republican Party’s convention was David Reilly, a delegate from Kootenai County. According to the shelter, Reilly dropped the flyers off on Thursday […]
Former Idaho legislator asks to delay sentencing for rape charge
Former state Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger, R-Lewiston, has requested that his sentencing for a felony rape charge scheduled on July 28 be delayed pending his request for a new trial and other motions before the court. Von Ehlinger’s attorney, Jon Cox, filed the motion to delay sentencing on Monday. “This motion is based on the […]
No exception for life of mother included in Idaho GOP’s abortion platform language
Correction: This article has been updated to reflect that the platform and resolutions as adopted by the convention delegates are now officially in effect. Only rules adopted by the delegates will need approval from the state central committee in January. By a nearly four-to-one margin, Idaho Republicans at the state party’s convention in Twin Falls rejected […]
Rep. Dorothy Moon becomes new chairwoman of Idaho Republican Party
Rep. Dorothy Moon, R-Stanley, will be the new chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party, one of few women to ever lead the party in its history. Delegates selected Moon by a vote of 434-287, and cheered loudly for her when she came on stage. Moon narrowly lost her bid to be Idaho’s next secretary of […]
At convention, Idaho GOP delegates approve rule limiting primary voter affiliation
Delegates at the Idaho Republican Party Convention in Twin Falls on Friday overwhelmingly voted in favor of a rule that would disqualify certain voters from voting in the party’s primaries. The proposed rule was drafted by Branden Durst, a former Democratic legislator who joined the Republican Party in 2020 and ran unsuccessfully as a Republican […]
‘Pizza for the hungry’ GOP flyers cause confusion for people facing homelessness in Twin Falls
Individuals not affiliated with Idaho Republican Party Chairman Tom Luna’s campaign for a second term distributed flyers advertising free pizza to local shelters for people facing homelessness, causing confusion at a campaign event on Thursday night, party officials said. Luna’s event, called “Pizza and Patriots,” was advertised to all delegates at the Idaho Republican Party […]
At Idaho GOP convention, lobbyist advocates for state-sponsored Christian education
The Idaho GOP convention began Thursday with a lobbyist arguing for more Christian control over childhood education. Idaho Family Policy Center President Blaine Conzatti made a case to a classroom full of Republicans — gathered Thursday for the Idaho Republican convention at the College of Southern Idaho — for a Christian approach to government on […]