Legal-Courts
Five Voters Are Key To $781 Million Bond Deal
When a mere five electors cast their ballots in the May 21 election, they will determine one of the biggest financial decisions in Idaho history, totaling $781 MILLION dollars. According to the official ballot language, revenue and general obligation bonds total $325 million and at the estimated interest rate of 7%, homeowners will eventually repay [...]
Do Charter Schools Comply With Idaho Constitution?
The financial failure of the North Star Charter School in Eagle–and at least six other charters– has raised questions for which the GUARDIAN is finding it difficult to get answers. While these schools seem to be following the Idaho Code, there are some legitimate legal questions regarding the Idaho Constitution. These step children of traditional [...]
Sun Valley Junket MAY be Public Meeting
A Chamber of Commerce-sponsored junket to Sun Valley April 21-23 for Boise Valley politicos has the potential of creating a challenge to Idaho’s Open Meeting law and opening the private conference to all comers. The GUARDIAN has learned a quorum of Boise’s City Councilors–four members–have filed with the clerk to receive $885 in tax money [...]
Idaho Senator’s Wife Draws Ire Of U.S. Judge
In an order issued Monday, U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill suggested Renee McKenzie, wife of lawyer and Idaho Senator Curt McKenzie, may have violated Idaho Code by practicing law without a license. The judge characterized Renee McKenzie’s dealing with a prison inmate as a “side show” for the court, a “serious security risk for [...]
AA Faces 300,000% Rent Hike In Historic Fire Station
The local Grapevine Club of Alcoholics Anonymous is facing a 3000% increase in rent for its meeting and clubhouse space at 1518 W. Fort St. For more than 60 years Boise City has leased the facility for $1 a year. As of May 1, the City is demanding a monthly rent of $300, waiving rent [...]
Bonner County Violates Law In Effort To Skirt Voters
In the latest example of local officials skirting voter approval for debt in excess of a single year’s revenues, Bonner County finds itself crosswise of the Idaho Constitution. Instead of asking permission of citizens as prescribed in Article VIII, sec. 3 of the Idaho Constitution, Bonner Commishes simply took a lesson from their Federal counterparts [...]
Lawsuit Against Ada County Over Dynamis To Be Withdrawn
Counsel for the group suing Ada County over the Dynamis debacle have notified the GUARDIAN they intend to drop the complaint since it was against the former Ada Commishes and the new board has canceled the contract–at a cost of $2 million. In a statement they said, “The plaintiffs in the Idaho Citizens, et al., [...]
Lawmen Circle The Wagons In Anticipation Of Criminal Charges
Police and prosecutors are circling the wagons in anticipation of indictments against local coppers in the near future. The IDAHO STATESMAN ran a big rehash Sunday of the story posted last June by the GUARDIAN about the demise of Robert Berrier’s career in law enforcement following a forced resignation for sexual misconduct with a drug [...]
Star Fire Commishes Resign Amid Tangled Financial Web
The entire Star Fire District board of commissioners has resigned today in the midst of a tangled financial web that is bound to rival that of the Nampa School District mess, although over fewer dollars. Here is the official press release: Commissioners Gunnar Howarth, John Miller and Jeff Sedivec of the Star Fire Joint Protection [...]
State Seeks To Hide Security Video From Public Scrutiny
In what appears to be an overreaction to the armed guy prowling the legislative chambers with a troop of Boy Scouts, the Idaho department of Administration is pushing a bill in the legislature that would deny “security video” recorded by public agencies from public viewing. That means citizens of Boise wouldn’t get to see the [...]
Rich Wright Sues Ada County
Former Ada County “Director of Administration,” Rich Wright, his filed a $1.5 million wrongful termination suit against the county after the newly elected commishes eliminated his position in favor of a “chief of staff,” during their first meeting. Don’t look for the suit to go anywhere because the position amounted to a political appointment for [...]
PTSD, Mental Diagnosis Cloud Gun Issues
The DEATH of a U.S. military veteran allegedly shot by a former Marine suffering from PTSD in Texas put the issue of mental illness in the forefront of concealed weapons discussions. Former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle and his neighbor Chad Littlefield took former Marine Eddie Ray Routh to a Texas gun range to help him, [...]
Can One Forget Details Of First Booze Encounter?
Senior Mike Crapo got the standard penalty Friday for first time DUI (DWI in Virginia)–drivers license is suspended for one year, he was ordered to pay a $250 fine and attend alcohol awareness classes for 10 weeks. He begged forgiveness and apologized outside the Alexandria, Virginia court after the sentence was handed down. Idaho media [...]
Drug Trade Is Profitable For Those Who Sell
With Obama Care, Fiscal Cliff, Health Insurance Exchanges, Medicare Part A, B, C, Medicaid, Social Security Disability, Indigent Care, and more it’s no wonder we tune out when it comes to understanding who pays what and how much. There has been a string of settlements between drug companies and Idaho’s Attorney General over the past [...]
Name Your Favorite Stories For 2012
We trust everyone has opened their Christmas gifts, eaten a hearty meal and is now ready to reminisce about the past year’s news. Without a doubt the Ada-Dynamis energy to trash scandal has dominated the GUARDIAN posts, but there have been plenty of other misdeeds uncovered in government. You can use the search engine at [...]
Crapo Joins Politicos Bringing Shame On Idaho
Looks like Idaho Senior Senator Mike Crapo can expect lumps of coal in his Christmas stocking. Santa found out who was naughty and nice. The self proclaimed abstainer wasn’t watching traffic signals close enough. Crapo has joined the ranks of Idaho politicos who have brought shame to the Gem State with his Sunday morning drunk [...]
Citizens Group Takes Lead In Dynamis-Ada Scandal
Idaho Citizens for a Safe Environment and a Transparent Government, Inc. has taken the lead in prosecuting a civil action against Dynamis and Ada County following a 6,000 page report by a private investigator to the Bannock Prosecutor who is acting as a “special prosecutor” for Ada County. The report turns up no direct benefit [...]
Prosecutor Defers To Citizens Lawsuit To Answer Ada Commish-Dynamis Issues
The Bannock County Prosecutor has issued a press release which comes as no surprise regarding the conduct of the Ada Commishes in the Dynamis trash to enegy scheme. The GUARDIAN has held the position the major “illegal action” was the violation of the Idaho Constitution when they gave away $2 million to a private firm [...]
Ada Plays Hide N’ Seek With Public Records
Ada County continues its game of “hide n’ seek” when it comes to public records by telling the DAILY PAPER it will cost $110 to obtain copies of public comment submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission. The cover letter is a damning comment from P&Z about the process of approving the Dynamis trash to [...]
Idaho Has History Of Ignoring Citizens
It should have come as no surprise when the Garden City Council ignored the vote of the people and repealed an initiative requiring public approval regarding green belt use. Consider just these measures which come to mind: –Boise City refused to put the “Ten Commandments” monument removal on the ballot, despite a huge number of [...]
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