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Legislative staffer who alleges assault by Idaho representative will be subpoenaed to testify publicly
The 19-year-old legislative staffer who alleges she was sexually assaulted by Rep. Aaron von Ehlinger will be compelled to testify publicly before the House Ethics Committee on Wednesday, according to representatives who have been assisting the teen. Members of the organization spoke during a press conference Tuesday morning about the 19-year-old and the overall issues […]
Bill aimed at social justice topics in schools headed to governor’s desk
The Idaho Senate passed a bill aimed at addressing social justice topics in public schools, potentially clearing the way for a $1.1 billion public school budget to pass the House of Representatives after it was voted down in early April. Senators voted 27-8 to pass House Bill 377, with one Republican voting against it. It […]
Data shows widening gap between Ada County’s commercial, residential property taxes
As debates over property tax relief have continued in the Boise area, legislators, city officials and residents alike have pointed to an increasing shift of the tax burden to residential homeowners over commercial properties. A dataset of residential and commercial property taxes obtained from the city of Meridian and reviewed by the Idaho Capital Sun […]
Public records show vast majority of constituents asked governor to veto initiatives bill
Gov. Brad Little received approximately 2,150 emails and 4,000 phone calls asking him to veto the bill that changes the requirements for gathering signatures to trigger a ballot initiative – a bill Little signed April 17. Per Idaho law, Little had five days from the time the bill was delivered to his desk to sign […]
Idaho House passes social justice bill on party-line vote
On a party-line vote, the Idaho House of Representatives passed a bill aimed at addressing social justice topics in public schools. House Bill 377 was introduced Wednesday by Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, and Sen. Carl Crabtree, R-Grangeville, and would prohibit certain principles from being taught in public schools or using public funds to promote […]
Nonprofit Jesse Tree creates security deposit assistance program with grant funding
Homelessness prevention nonprofit Jesse Tree has launched a Security Deposit Assistance Program with a $30,000 grant from the Idaho Women’s Charitable Foundation to help assist those losing their rental housing, according to a press release from Jesse Tree. The program applies to anyone in the Treasure Valley living in a form of rental housing, including […]
Legislative committee introduces bill addressing social justice topics in schools
A bill aimed at addressing social justice topics in public schools was among five bills introduced in the House Ways and Means committee of the Idaho Legislature on Wednesday afternoon, and the House Education Committee will consider it Thursday morning. Ways and Means is a committee that can be utilized toward the end of a […]
Idaho child care providers say grant dollars are key to survival
When the Boise School District shut down in March 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic began, Melissa Buck’s enrollment at the Vista Montessori School child care center went from 45 children to 12. She normally fields five to 10 inquiries a week for enrollment and quotes a yearlong waitlist for potential children from infants to age […]
Idaho schools chief names new deputy superintendent of operations
Joel Wilson, who leads the Butte County School District, will join the Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction’s office in July as deputy superintendent of operations, according to a press release from the state agency. Wilson replaces Tim McMurtrey, who has been in the position since 2015 and is retiring after 35 years in positions serving […]
Idaho bill that would double electric vehicle fees unlikely to move forward this session
A bill that would have raised electric vehicle registration fees from $140 to $300 per year appears to be dead for the session after concerns about its impact were raised by Idaho Power. The bill was introduced in early April through the House Ways and Means Committee by Rep. Joe Palmer, R-Meridian, who is the […]
Idaho one of 16 states with no tax policy review process, report shows
The Idaho Legislature is managing tax policy low on information and with no official process for reviewing exemptions and other tax policies, according to a recent Office of Performance Evaluations report. Representatives from the Idaho Office of Performance Evaluations presented findings from a request in 2020 made by Reps. Steve Berch, D-Boise, and Rick Youngblood, […]
Idaho governor signs into law legislation to raise bar on ballot initiatives
Gov. Brad Little has signed into law a bill that would change the requirements for gathering signatures to bring a ballot initiative forward to Idaho voters. Little confirmed he signed Senate Bill 1110 on Saturday in a letter to Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, who presides over the Idaho Senate. The bill requires organizers of a […]