News
Lt. Gov. McGeachin seeks Idahoans’ feedback for task force examining indoctrination in schools
Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin announced on her website Wednesday that she’s seeking feedback from Idahoans for her task force examining indoctrination and teaching social justice topics in Idaho public schools. Rep. Priscilla Giddings, R-White Bird, will serve as co-chairwoman of the task force, and the rest of the members of the task force will be […]
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 […]
House votes to override Little’s veto of one of the bills limiting emergency declarations
The Idaho House of Representatives voted Wednesday to override Gov. Brad Little’s veto of a bill that restricted gubernatorial authority and emergency declarations. Following a charged debate that lasted nearly two hours, the House voted 48-19 to override Little’s veto of House Bill 135. House Bill 135 is one of two bills relating to emergency […]
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 […]
Biden calls for paid time off for vaccinations as U.S. hits 200 million goal
WASHINGTON — Federal and state officials now face trying to reach Americans unable or unwilling to get the COVID-19 vaccine, after meeting President Joe Biden’s goal of administering 200 million doses within his first 100 days in office. To aid in that push, Biden on Wednesday called on employers to give their workers time off […]
Federal background checks on ammunition sales pushed by Democrats
WASHINGTON — Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida and Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut on Tuesday reintroduced legislation that would require instant background checks to prevent individuals with a criminal record from illegally purchasing ammunition. The measure backed by the Democrats, known as Jaime’s Law, is named in honor of Jaime Guttenberg, a student who […]
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 Legislature works a short day despite budget impasse
The 100th day of the 2021 Idaho legislative session came and went Tuesday without any meaningful progress toward passing a balanced budget and adjournment — but lawmakers did support a measure that would allow legislators to call themselves back into a special session. Now in the longest session of the past 10 years, both chambers […]
Haaland asks for federal funding for Interior to fight climate change, aid Native Americans
In her first congressional hearing as the leader of the Interior Department, Secretary Deb Haaland fielded questions from members of a U.S. House spending panel Tuesday on the major conservation and energy initiatives that President Joe Biden has outlined. She was noncommittal about some contentious and high-profile items of deep interest to Western states, like […]
From rotten teeth to advanced cancer, patients feel the effects of treatment delays
With medical visits picking up again among patients vaccinated against COVID-19, health providers are starting to see the consequences of a year of pandemic-delayed preventive and emergency care as they find more advanced cancer and rotting and damaged teeth, among other ailments. Dr. Brian Rah, chairman of the cardiology department at Montana’s Billings Clinic, was […]
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 […]