Education
CWI Has Multiple Venues
“Chicago Sam,” a long time GUARDIAN reader, compiled some info gleaned mostly from the College of Western Idaho website which reveals the institution has multiple venues either owned, or leased in Canyon and Ada Counties. He offers a summary along with the owners of leased parcels to the best of his ability to obtain the […]
Former CWI Foundation Member Attorney Of Record For Land Seller
The College of Western Idaho provided a copy of the sales agreement between CWI and the Bob Rice family trust in response to a GUARDIAN records request. Here is the sales Purchase Agreement-3150 W Main Street which includes a “free return” clause. We found it interesting that a former CWI Foundation board member, Gregory Byron, […]
CWI Board Chair Admits Appraisal Mistake
Mary Niland, chairperson of the College of Western Idaho board, told the Idaho Statesman Thursday, “If I had it to do all over again, I would have looked at the tax assessment and would have asked for the appraisal. All I can tell you is we didn’t think about it. It was a mistake, and […]
CWI Claims Exemption From Property Appraisal
When the College of Western Idaho announced plans to acquire land on West Main in Boise along the river owned by the family of former car dealer Bob Rice, we were a little concerned about the $8.8 million price tag. The Ada County Assessor is required to value land at “market value.” County records show […]
Getting Smarter Cheaper
It may not have blue turf, but CWI is moving to Boise along with about every other institution of higher learning. The school is growing faster than a seal pup and the trustees voted to buy the old Bob Rice Ford land along the Boise River at Main Street. The financing for construction will require […]
Some Growths Can Be Cancer
Growth for the sake of growth spawns GROWTHOPHOBES. We growthophobes welcome anyone willing to pay their fair share of taxes and fair wages. In recent months the GUARDIAN and Mrs. GUARDIAN have been wracked with guilt and ridiculed by friends for our practice of taking “Sunday Drives,” to places like the Riverside Restaurant at Horseshoe […]
CWI Bursting At Seams, May Seek Tax Hike
Boise City and College of Western Idaho officials have met to discuss their violation of a conditional use permit which allowed 420 students at the “Boise Campus” located in the Black Eagle Business Park at Overland and Maple Grove Roads. It turned out the school’s Boise facility has nearly six times –some 2,400 students– the […]
CWI Outgrows Big Brother BSU
While enrollment at Boise State University has flattened, the folks at College of Western Idaho are scrambling to accommodate fast paced growth. BSU revenues are slowing to about a 1% annual growth rate, down from 4% in past years, prompting administrators to cut back on spending to save more than $7 million. Meanwhile CWI is […]
Boise City Opens Investigation Of CWI
Yellow streets are public, red are private, green is parking. Boise’s Planning and Development Services has opened an investigation of the College of Western Idaho after it was brought to their attention the community college has potentially violated a conditional use permit at its “Ada County Campus” on the corner of Maple Grove and Overland. […]
Legislator Fails Sex Ed 101
Idaho Rep. Vito Barbieri will forever be known as “Wrong Hole Vito” after he questioned a physician during a House State Affairs Committee hearing Monday. Legislators were considering a bill to ban doctors from prescribing abortion-inducing medication via telemidicine. According to published AP reports, Barbieri asked Dr. Julie Madsen if doctors could conduct a remote […]
No Logic When It Comes To Guns
The annual “silly season” is upon us when it comes to gun laws. A bill currently before the Idaho legislature would make it legal for all citizens to carry concealed guns. Currently only folks with a permit and elected officials can carry concealed without a permit. When it comes to guns, Idaho laws and public […]
Final Round Of Top Cop Q&A
The final round of questions and answers from retiring Boise PD Chief Mike Masterson is presented here. He will leave in January, becoming the second longest serving chief in the department history. GUARDIAN readers have provided significant input for the department over the years and the chief has been an active commenter. Question relating to […]
Consultant: State Should Avoid Commercial Property
Four years after the GUARDIAN revealed the Idaho Land Board was operating a commercial storage business, a consultant has concluded the state should stay out of commercial investments. “It’s the concentration issue, the lack of diversity,” explained consultant Janet Becker-Wold of Callan and Associates. “If something happens to that property, then your whole portfolio can […]
Are Ability AND Integrity Impossible For Politicos?
We often hear the lament, “I am not voting because it is always the lesser of two evils.” A story in the Saturday DAILY PAPER by reporter Katy Moeller seems to enforce the evil issue. Seems that Ada Coroner Candidate Dotti Owens “forgot” about criminal charges for fraud and a bankruptcy when she completed a […]
Balukoff Wants Tight State Rules, But Don’t Impede Local Leaders Wishes On Tax Breaks
Last week we posted a piece after having a coffee chat with A.J. Balukoff, the Boise businessman who is running as a Dem for the office of Governor. We talked about various tax breaks, including the practice of the Idaho Land Board owning businesses and leasing tax exempt state-owned buildings to commercial businesses. Balukoff suggested […]
Meridian Minority of Minority Prevails
Rebranding the Meridian School District to be called the West Ada District apparently didn’t help when it comes to bond debt votes. Voters in the district turned down a proposed $104 million bond debt which requires a 2/3 majority, or 67% approval. The tally was 63 % in favor and 37% opposed. Opponents of the […]
BSU Coaches SWAT Exercise Video Disappears
After the Idaho Statesman’s Chadd Cripe and the GUARDIAN posted links Tuesday to a YOU TUBE video showing BSU coaches brandishing assault weapons at a Boise police SWAT training facility, the video has suddenly been removed from the YOU TUBE site “by the user.” We talked to United Dairymen of Idaho spokesperson Cindy Miller Wednesday […]
BOISE SWAT COPS Train BSU Coaches
Timing is everything, especially in sports like football. The release of a YOUTUBE video is probably not good timing for the Boise State Bronco football coaching staff in light of recent civil unrest in Ferguson, Missouri and national debate over the “militarization of police” throughout the the USA. A GUARDIAN reader called our attention to […]
Idaho Dem Guv Candidate Says State Should Not Own Business
The GUARDIAN had a chance Tuesday to ask Democratic gubernatorial candidate A.J. Balukoff about his thoughts on state ownership of businesses. The State of Idaho owns and operates “Affordable Storage” at 450 South Maple Grove, competing with local businesses in a tax-exempt facility. The businessman and Boise school board member was direct with his answer […]
Boise Coppers “Absorb” BSU Costs
Boise coppers will be seeking additional funds from Boise State University as part of a contract renewal to provide police at BSU. The new deal will see the Boise Police Department continue to provide “customary and usual duties,” including investigation and enforcement, traffic control and accident investigations. But the contract would bump up the hourly […]
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