Archive for 2012
Lowe Got 3/4 Million Settlement
Betsy Russell of the SPOKESMAN reports former Idaho transportation director Pam Lowe ened up with $.75 million when she settled her suit with the state. Details of the detail were filed in U.S. District Court. A payment of $34,594.38 was recently paid from the Department of Administration to the law office of Holland & Hart […]
Alternative Energy Firms Don’t Have Power To Succeed
The thought of generating electricity using the natural power of the sun and wind struck a cord with environmentalists, investors, and legislators about 30 years ago. Federal and state tax dollars poured into the “alternative fuel” industry and laws requiring power companies to purchase the electricity from these sources came out of Washington and state […]
Battling Smoke And Flames With Words And Images
Flying into Boise Tuesday we noticed hundreds of black spots on the desert from past fires as well as the smoke we are all seeing and breathing. The task of protecting lives and property while battling wildfires has taken on a new face over the past decade or so, thanks to the internet, social media […]
Ada Over Extends Its Power To Power Power
The DAILY PAPER‘s Cynthia Sewell has once again done a great job digging through the trash at Ada County, this time to come up with details surrounding the pending $30 million tort claim filed last month. As the GUARDIAN reported on July 25, there just isn’t enough garbage to go around after county commishes cut […]
Dynamis Circles Wagons, Conservation League Opposes Waste-to-Energy Project
The GUARDIAN has been skeptical from the beginning about the so-called trash to energy plant proposed at the town dump. Now it looks like just about everyone is against the project. Conservatives and libertarians oppose the financing, the neighborhood greenies question the environmental issues and now the Idaho Conservation League is on record against issuing […]
Lowdown On Lowe Settlement
Still no official word on the amount of the settlement between former Idaho Transportation chief Pam Lowe and the state. She sued for unlawful dismissal and gender discrimination, but agreed to settle out of court. In response to a GUARDIAN (and other) record request, the State Controller’s office tells us: 1.) Currently, our system does […]
Yet Another Unintended Political Consequence?
One of the GUARDIAN’s political junkie readers has come up with an interesting twist on the recent appointment of a Boise County prosecutor to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of Dem Ron Twilegar, the itinerant lawyer who runs wherever he can find a vacancy. Twilegar is running as a Democrat for Ada County […]
Mayor Hotline Lists “Anonymous” Request For Radio Appearance By Mayor Or Councilor
The GUARDIAN used to post the weekly summary of the “Mayor’s Hotline” calls as they provided great fodder for the blog. City Councilors and department heads also got the same document which is a public record. A few years ago after we learned of Zamboni drivers going through the drive up line at Burger King […]
Proposed Brew Pub In State-Owned Building Illegal As Planned
Looks like the Oregon based brew pub set to go into a state-owned Boise commercial building has been cut off, at least temporarily. BOISE WEEKLY‘s Andrew Crisp has a good explanation. The short version is existing state laws preclude brewers from owning retail outlets that import beer from other states and also selling retail. The […]
Dynamis Deal Declared DOA in Wyoming
Once on the list of “projects underway, in the works, awaiting completion, etc.” a garbage to energy plant in Riverton, Wyoming has joined the list of failed projects for Dynamis–the outfit with a 30 year contract and $2 million in Ada tax money. Seems like any news about Dynamis and its principals is bad these […]
90% Of Priest Lake Cottage Leases Held By Non-Residents, 90% of Payette Sites Are Held By Idahoans
We got this note recently from a North Idaho reader following the Idaho Supreme Court decision which calls for open bidding on state owned cottage sites around North Idaho’s Priest Lake and Payette Lake near McCall. The Statesman and other media have reported frequently and rather sympathetically about lease rates being raised to a level closer […]
Claim On A Rotten Deal Filed Against Ada
A tort claim of $30 million–legal action required prior to filing a suit against local government–has been filed against Ada County by the energy firm currently generating electricity at the landfill by capturing methane gas created from rotting garbage. Through a couple of subsidiaries, Fortistar Methane Group has a contract to operate the gas-to-energy facility […]
Boise Budget Woes Worsen, Mayor Seeks Extra $$ For Unions
If we understand what the BOISE WEEKLY’S George Prentice has written, it looks like there is a shortfall of several million dollars in the proposed City budget, but Team Dave is seeking some extra bucks for the coppers and firefighters. The GUARDIAN has expressed concerns about inequities of our civil servants. The union members are […]
State Denies Request, Keeps Settlement Secret
The State of Idaho has refused to honor a request from the Boise GUARDIAN for the settlement agreement between former Transportation Director Pam Lowe and the State of Idaho. Lowe was terminated and filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court. The case was settled out of court and both sides have declined to reveal how […]
Thoughts On Movie Mass Murder Mania
Early reports of the tragedy in Aurora point to a deranged madman entering a theater during a Batman movie and opening fire on the audience. No indication of foreign terrorist involvement. –Sadly, one of the risks–and benefits–of living in a free society is people have access to guns and you can’t make every theater, retail […]
ITD Covers Up Expenditure Of Public Funds In Secret Deal
The State of Idaho has spent public money in a secret settlement deal over the firing of former Transportation Director Pam Lowe. The GUARDIAN is less concerned about the settlement than with the secrecy surrounding the agreement. When public money is expended, government has an obligation to disclose the recipient and the amount spent. Anything […]
Bike Group Forces Garden City Election
The Committee for an Open Greenbelt (COG) filed petitions today containing more than 130 signatures from Garden City residents on two initiative petitions seeking to overturn the Bike Ban. According to the group, once the signatures are validated the City Council must call for a special election. The election will apparently allow the residents of […]
Drug Firms Swallow Bitter Pill Over Pricing
Idaho”s Attorney General continues his winning ways against drug companies with his latest settlement claiming overcharges through false price statements. It may be time for some of the drug firms to take a pain pill. Prescription drug manufacturers Watson Pharmaceuticals, Inc. and Watson Pharma, Inc., agreed to pay $1,700,000 in a legal settlement resolving Idaho’s […]
Hoku On Trickle, Zonda Misses The Bus
The Pocatello Hoku plant that was set to make photovoltaic cells is in its death throes as the NASDAQ stock exchange has forced the firm to delist its stock which most recently has been listed for less than a dime. While it is sad to see any company go under, the GUARDIAN feels we don’t […]
Fire Season Is Not To Be Missed (Avoided?)
With wildfires burning all over the state it is hard to escape the effects. The Boise Valley is choked with smoke, retardant bombers thunder overhead, hotels are full of visiting firemen, and the sunsets are awesome. Outdoor activities are also being cut back as the DEQ issues warnings of poor air quality. Even a K.D. […]
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