State Government
Idaho To Get Additional Area Code–986
After 68 years—that’s correct 68 years–with a single 208 area code, Idaho will have an additional telephone area code of 986. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission decided Monday to assign the new number to all NEW phone services…that way existing numbers will not change, regardless of location. The hitch is we will all have to […]
AG Busy Investigating Misdeeds Of County Officials
The Idaho Attorney General’s office recently announced investigation of Canyon County Sheriff Kieran Donahue and the arrest of the former Boise County Clerk as part of the “Rice Bill passed by the Idaho Legislature in 2014. The AG is no longer investigating the Canyon County Sheriff. The case has been referred back to the Canyon […]
Clegg Favors $100,000,000 Third Runway At BOI
Incumbent Boise City Council candidate Elaine Clegg issued a press release today in which she favors a third runway for Boise’s airport at a cost of $100,000,000 to resolve jet noise concerns of homeowners living near the airport. From the CLEGG CAMPAIGN Boise City Council member Elaine Clegg responds to Bench neighborhood jet-noise concerns I […]
Foothills Levy Nothing But A Slush Fund
Question: Shall the City of Boise City, Idaho protect clean water and drinking water, wildlife habitat, critical open space, and native plant species, and enhance recreation opportunities and trails through the establishment of a fund from a temporary override levy enabling the purchase of property and improvement projects in areas such as the Boise Foothills […]
More Politicos Living High
Here is a great story from the IDAHO REPORTER–the publishing arm of the IDAHO FREEDOM FOUNDATION. A number of Idaho lawmakers and public officials won’t say who paid their tab to attend a posh weekend getaway in Sun Valley last month. The group of the unwilling includes some of Idaho’s most powerful officials, including Senate […]
All Bets Off For Idaho Horseless Racing
The Idaho Supreme Court Thursday issued an order compelling Secretary of State Lawrence Denny to certify the Idaho Legislature’s repeal of the so-called “instant racing” law which permitted the use of what most people recognize as slot machines. What this means is Gov. Butch Otter’s veto of the repeal was invalid due to late filing […]
Political Birds Feather Their Own Nests
We often have a feeling of helplessness when it comes to Idaho politicians. As a group they resent the citizens and work hard at limiting any “power to the people.” For example, only the legislature can change the retirement system and they are the prime beneficiaries. “Forgettaboutit.” To recall an elected official in Idaho it […]
Doldrums, Apathy, Smoke, Limit Guardian News
We probably owe loyal GUARDIAN readers an apology and explanation for the dearth of posts during the past month or so (for non-library types, DEARTH: a scarcity or lack of something). To be frank, we haven’t had much to say. The fires are burning, the smoke comes and goes, and it takes the TV “chief […]
Ed Super Wants Rules For Candidates Stricter Than President or Governor
Sherri Ybarra, Idaho’s Superintendent of Education, has announced plans to make it more difficult to run for her elected office than it is to run for Governor, President, Congress, or be appointed to the Supreme Court of the U.S. She is offering up legislation that would change the rules of candidacy. The qualifications bill would […]
Ada Treas Files Criminal Complaint Against Commishes Over Reorganization Of Trash Authority
The criminal division of the Idaho Attorney General’s office has declined to prosecute Ada County’s three Commissioners following a criminal complaint filed by Ada County Treasurer Vicky McIntyre claiming a conflict of interest over trash billing and other issues with Republic Services, the county contracted trash collector. During one interview with AG investigators over an […]
The exciting Topic Of Taxes!
It’s about as interesting as watching paint dry, but somebody has to discuss taxes. Any way you cut it, local property tax bills are likely to go up this year in Ada County. First off, the ASSESSED VALUE of most property has increased. That figure is used as the basis by cities, the county, ACHD, […]
Land Board To Get Out Of Business
Five years after the GUARDIAN first broke the story of the Idaho Land Board going into the business of running businesses, the Board has voted to divest itself of more than 20 commercial real estate parcels, most of them in downtown Boise. The big story back then was a STORAGE business. The poster child property […]
Horseless Racing Repeal Veto Challenged In Supreme Court
The Coeur d’Alene Indian tribe has challenged Gov. Butch Otter’s veto of a law passed to repeal the slot machine gambling at Idaho race tracks during the last session. It sounds convoluted at best, but legislators during the 2015 session voted overwhelmingly to repeal a 2013 approval of so-called “instant racing, or historic video racing.” […]
Ada Property Values Up About 6%
Ada County tax assessment notices have hit mailboxes of property owners and there shouldn’t be too much sticker shock. The median increase was just under 6%–this means that half the values increased more than 6% and half less than 6% (or decreased). It also means there could be some really big increases or decreases. We […]
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 […]
Horseless Racing Dead Heat At The Wire
As of 1:30 p.m. today, it looks like the politicos are whipping a dead horse over repeal of the so-called instant racing bill. The Guv apparently vetoed the repeal bill in secret Saturday and waited until Monday to reveal his decision. BETSY RUSSELL has a story which indicates the horseless racing issue is down to […]
Ada Commishes Jockey For Horseless Racing Veto
All three Ada Commishes signed onto a full page ad in the Wednesday Statesman calling for Gov. Butch Otter to veto the repeal of horseless racing on slot machines at the County-owned Les Bois Park and two other locations in Idaho. The legislature approved something called “instant racing or historical racing” in 2013. The practice […]
ISP Brass Tarnished With DUI Charge
Kudos to the Idaho State Police with their press release today detailing the arrest of one of its top command officers for DUI. A difficult issue to face, but better to be open than attempt a cover-up. Here is the release: MERIDIAN – Idaho State Police have placed Major Clark Rollins on administrative leave following […]
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 […]
Who Needs A Stinking Badge?
The recent shooting of a man in Bonneville County by a bounty hunter/bondsman brought to mind the famous line, “Badges? We don’t need no stinkin’badges,” from the “Treasure of Sierra Madre” movie. A witness said the bondsman displayed a badge to keep himself from being shot by an armed citizen (her husband). In the movie, […]
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