Living
Looking for ways to make the commute for your employees easier? These grants can help
Ada County Highway District’s Commuteride program announced a new grant aimed at helping small local businesses implement and maintain commute options in a press release Wednesday. The Commuteride Workspace Mobility Grant provides up to $3,000 in financial assistance to Ada County organizations with 100 or fewer employees. The grant funds can be used for amenities […]
‘It’s a challenge’: Short-term rental issues plague a small Idaho town near Yellowstone
Idaho’s picturesque views and endless supply of outdoor recreational opportunities have always attracted visitors — tourists and new residents alike. But the dynamic changed in the past decade, with the rise of third-party rental websites like Airbnb, VRBO and Vacasa. These short-term rentals and vacation homes opened up lodging to more visitors in some corners […]
Looking for a job? More than 120 employers will be in Caldwell on Wednesday
More than 120 Idaho employers with nearly 3,500 available jobs will participate in an outdoor job fair in Caldwell on Wednesday, the Idaho Department of Labor announced in a press release. The cities of Caldwell and Nampa, Boise State University, Amazon, the Community Council of Idaho, Knife River, CS Beef and others will be among […]
‘Thankful to God, I’m safe.’ Three refugees became Idahoans. Here are their stories
Idaho has welcomed thousands of refugees, from dozens of countries, for decades. That tradition slowed in recent years, as the Trump administration placed record-low caps on refugee admissions and temporarily banned travel from Muslim countries, and last year as the COVID-19 pandemic halted travel. President Joe Biden has lifted the cap, but warned that it […]
Settled into new homes, refugees in U.S. say they are working for a better life for all
Violence, persecution and wars amid a global pandemic added to the growing number of displaced persons around the world last year. The United Nations reports that 11.2 million people were displaced from their homelands in 2020, bringing the total number of displaced persons in the world to 82.4 million. Of those forced to flee their […]
As cities, counties change zoning codes, let’s consider how ‘lovably nonconforming’ housing may help
I have a special place in my heart for a type of buildings that might best be called, “Lovably Nonconforming.” These are buildings that wonderfully add to the fabric of our neighborhoods — and likely could not be built under today’s zoning codes. When we talk about how to preserve neighborhood character and create amazing […]
University of Idaho guarantees profit to Alaska Airlines to bring back direct Boise flights
Alaska Air announced Thursday it will add a direct flight between Pullman-Moscow Regional Airport and Boise beginning Aug. 18. The route has not been available as a direct flight for about a decade, according to a news release. The change is part of an agreement between Alaska Air and the University of Idaho, which is […]
Mayors of U.S. cities plead for federal funds to alleviate housing crisis
WASHINGTON — The mayors of cities in Ohio, Montana and Arizona stressed the need for affordable housing to be included in any congressional infrastructure package during a Tuesday hearing before the U.S. Senate Banking, Housing & Urban Affairs Committee. Mayors Daniel Horrigan of Akron, Ohio, Cyndy Andrus of Bozeman, Mont., and Corey Woods of Tempe, […]
Labor Secretary says Biden’s child care plan will help Idaho economy
Idaho is at a turning point. The pandemic brought to a head the state’s child care crisis. U.S. Department of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh told the Idaho Capital Sun last week that President Joe Biden has a plan to help — spending $225 billion to restabilize child care in the U.S., as part of a […]
Did you get a text about unemployment claims? Delete it, Idaho Department of Labor says
The Idaho Department of Labor is warning residents about unemployment insurance text scams that are an attempt to steal personal information to file fraudulent unemployment claims. According to the release, the Idaho Department of Labor has not been hacked or experienced a data breach. If you receive a text with a link regarding unemployment insurance, […]
Idaho’s urban areas are booming. One city’s population grew 7.5% last year.
About 10% more of Idaho’s residents live in the state’s urban areas than they did in 1980, according to the Idaho Department of Labor, and that trend of population growth is continuing. The state had the fastest growing population in the nation at 2.1% between 2019 and 2020, with much of that growth concentrated in […]
New federal broadband benefit could assist nearly one-third of Idahoans
Many Idahoans could be eligible for discounted broadband service through the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, according to a news release from the Idaho Department of Commerce. The $3.2 billion program launched in early May and provides temporary financial assistance of up to $50 per month for broadband internet service plans, or up to $75 per […]