News
‘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 […]
Ammon Bundy announces Republican run for Idaho governor
Ammon Bundy, the politically conservative activist who is banned from the Idaho Capitol and was renounced by the Republican Party, announced he is running for Idaho governor before a crowd of several hundred people on Saturday evening at Julius M. Kleiner Memorial Park in Meridian. “My friends, I am not afraid to fight for you […]
Are you a young person passionate about education? This advisory council seeks applicants
The first cohort of Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Sherri Ybarra’s Student Advisory Council is open for applications, according to a release from the Idaho State Department of Education. Ybarra’s goal is to gather a panel from across the state that represents Idaho’s diversity in grade level, background, interests, culture and school size, among other […]
Idaho unemployment down to 3% in May
Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped slightly, from 3.1% in April to 3% in May, according to a press release from the Idaho Department of Labor. The state’s overall labor force grew by one-tenth of a percent, the second consecutive month of labor force gains. Six industries saw significant job losses, including natural resources (-2.5%), […]
Biden public lands nominee opposed by GOP over link to 1989 tree-spiking in Idaho
Republicans in the U.S. Senate are ramping up opposition to President Joe Biden’s pick to lead the Bureau of Land Management after a conservative news site and other news reports detailed her connection to an Idaho tree-spiking scheme three decades ago. Without GOP support, Montana’s Tracy Stone-Manning would need the votes of every Democrat in […]
Idaho Rep. Russ Fulcher announces kidney cancer diagnosis
Rep. Russ Fulcher, who represents Idaho’s First Congressional District, announced on his Facebook page Thursday that he has renal cancer, which affects the kidneys. “No one likes to hear the ‘C’ word, especially when having a discussion with their physician, but as many of you have previously experienced … sometimes it happens,” Fulcher wrote. According […]
Biden administration rewriting policies to protect endangered species
WASHINGTON — The lesser prairie-chicken, a rare dancing grouse once abundant on the Great Plains, could benefit again soon from the protection of the U.S. government. So could the rusty patched bumblebee, a black-headed pollinator that at one time ranged from Georgia to Maine and across the Midwest. The Biden administration is rewriting how it […]
Given short notice, Treasure Valley cities to remain open for new Juneteenth holiday
With short notice mere hours after President Joe Biden signed a law making June 19 a national holiday, the mayors of Boise, Nampa and Meridian announced city operations would be open as normal on Friday, while the state’s executive branch agencies will be closed. June 19 is celebrated as the end of slavery in the […]
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 […]
President Joe Biden signs law making Juneteenth a new federal holiday
WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden on Thursday signed into law legislation declaring a legal public holiday annually on June 19, the date of the end of slavery in the U.S. known as Juneteenth. “Throughout history, Juneteenth has been known by many names — Jubilee Day, Freedom Day, Liberation Day,” Vice President Kamala Harris said at […]
Idaho Gov. offers paid time off for COVID vaccine, calls on businesses to follow suit
Idaho Gov. Brad Little is taking the lead on offering paid time off to employees who get the COVID-19 vaccine. “This morning, I informed Idaho state employees we’re offering them a new benefit – four hours of paid leave if they have received or choose to receive the safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine!” Little said […]