Author
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 […]
Idaho GOP convention committee approves rule to limit ‘crossover voting’
The delegates of the Idaho Republican Party attending the state convention will decide in the next two days whether to approve a rule disqualifying voters affiliated with other parties from registering as Republicans to vote in the party’s primary elections. The Idaho GOP closed its primary process starting in 2012 so that only registered Republicans […]
Sen. Jim Risch cosponsors a bill to block Biden from using federal property for abortion services
U.S. Sen. Jim Risch, R-Idaho, has joined Marco Rubio, R-Florida, and six other senators in proposing a bill to block the federal government from using federal property for abortion services. The Prohibiting Abortion on Federal Lands Act would prohibit the federal government from promoting, supporting or contracting with abortion providers or otherwise expanding access to […]
What’s next for Idaho’s abortion policies? Activists, new legislators want more restrictions
On the day the U.S. Supreme Court released its decision to overturn Roe v. Wade and return the regulation of abortion rights to the states, Idaho Family Policy Center President Blaine Conzatti told the Idaho Capital Sun that he was overjoyed, but that the work was not yet done. The Idaho Family Policy Center is […]