News
Analysis: How critical race theory turned into a political ‘bogeyman’
Originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on July 1, 2021 Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin’s task force on school indoctrination meets at the Statehouse on June 24. Nik Streng/Idaho Education News As education culture wars consumed the Statehouse this spring, the running joke was that Idaho educators were scrambling to Google to figure out what “critical race theory” […]
GOP furor over ‘critical race theory’ hits college campuses
Professors say the Republican effort to root out “critical race theory” is taking a toll on college campuses around the nation — places where academic freedom is supposed to encourage thought, discussion and analysis. Much of the “critical race theory” uproar to date has centered on teaching in K-12 schools. But several high-profile incidents, combined […]
Idaho begins new fiscal year eyeing record $800 million-plus budget surplus
Barring an unexpected last-second meltdown, the state of Idaho likely ended its budget year Wednesday with a record surplus in excess of $800 million. State officials won’t know for sure for a few days, but Idaho Division of Financial Management Administrator Alex Adams said that as of Friday, revenue sources were tracking ahead of projections […]
‘We all have to do better’: White House urges locals to boost eviction diversion programs
WASHINGTON — With a national moratorium on evictions set to expire at the end of next month and delays in federal assistance for struggling renters, the Biden administration says it wants to help state and local officials aid Americans on the brink of eviction. To that end, the administration on Wednesday highlighted efforts in Michigan and […]
U.S. House backs select committee to probe Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted Wednesday to establish a select committee to investigate the Jan. 6 insurrection, in which a mob of pro-Trump supporters attacked the U.S. Capitol. In a 222-190 vote that was almost entirely party-line, just two Republicans joined Democrats in passing the resolution, which calls for a probe into “one of […]
Biden, Western governors plan for ‘severe’ wildfire season in White House briefing
For years, American presidents have held annual meetings with Federal Emergency Management Agency officials to plan ahead for the Atlantic hurricane season. In an era when the catastrophic impacts of climate change are accelerating from coast to coast, President Joe Biden on Wednesday convened a first-of-its-kind meeting to make similar preparations for what is shaping […]
President Biden didn’t invite Idaho’s governor to wildfire meeting
Idaho has among the worst wildfires in the nation. It is home to the National Interagency Fire Center, which coordinates wildland firefighting for the U.S. And experts predict this year’s droughts and record-high temperatures may bring more fires. But as President Joe Biden hosts a meeting of Western governors today to talk about this year’s […]
U.S. House votes to scuttle statues of Confederate leaders, bust of Dred Scott author
WASHINGTON — The U.S. House voted Tuesday to remove from the Capitol a bust of the late Supreme Court Chief Justice Roger Taney, a Marylander who wrote the now despised Dred Scott decision — as well as evict statues and busts of men who fought for the Confederacy or served in its government. The legislation […]
Little, Republican governors call on Biden to oppose adding justices to Supreme Court
In a letter released Tuesday, Idaho Gov. Brad Little joined 19 other Republican U.S. governors urging President Joe Biden to oppose adding any additional seats to the U.S. Supreme Court. “The Supreme Court is essential to the preservation of our democracy and in the absence of understanding from the Biden administration, governors are stepping up […]
Republicans push back against federal approval for changes in state voting laws
WASHINGTON — Republicans during a U.S. House Judiciary panel hearing on Tuesday argued that a bill that would reinstate a preclearance section of the 1965 Voting Rights Act is unnecessary because there is no discrimination in voting. The top Republican on the panel, Rep. Mike Johnson, (R-La.), said that the legislation is not needed and […]
New membership program grants access to museums, historical sites in Idaho
Idahoans interested in the history of the state and its people now have a new opportunity to visit nine historical museums and sites through a new membership benefits program. The Reciprocal Membership Pilot Program is intended to encourage and expand access to Idaho history for those who purchase or renew their annual membership with partnering […]
Idaho Supreme Court hears arguments in Reclaim Idaho ballot initiative case
One of the central questions in an Idaho Supreme Court hearing Tuesday morning was whether a new ballot initiative law places too severe a burden on Idahoans’ rights to bring a ballot initiative forward. Idaho Supreme Court justices spent almost 90 minutes hearing oral arguments over Zoom in the case of Reclaim Idaho’s lawsuit against […]