Idaho News

Senior citizens and low-income taxpayers of any age can find free income tax return preparation sites by going to a new web site, according to the Idaho State Tax Commission.

From left, the alpha female , a sub-adult wolf, alpha male and a 2011 pup from the Imnaha pack.

The 12-mile stretch of Idaho 21 between the Grandjean Junction and Banner Summit closed today at 1:50 p.m. for an avalanche, the Idaho Transportation Department announced.

Idaho Department of Health and Welfare officials are looking for ways to use a 620-acre campus that was once home to more than 1,000 people institutionalized at the Idaho State School and Hospital.

Tears and cries of outrage erupted from a crowd numbering around 300 after a party-line Senate committee vote Friday rejected changes to the state's Human Rights Act meant to protect gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people from workplace and housing discrimination.

President Obama announced yesterday that ten states will receive flexibility from the federal education law, NCLB .

A landmark $25 billion nationwide mortgage settlement is expected to affect thousands of Idahoans.

A proposed bill in the Idaho House of Representatives would force the state's land board to sell the Affordable Self Storage self-storage facility it purchased with controversy in 2010.

Under one, drawn by Lt. John Mullan, the entire North Idaho Panhandle would have become part of Washington.

The University of Idaho has watched its budget shrink over the past four years. In all, its lost $30 million in state funding.

Idaho State Tax Commission Chairman Bob Geddes resigned his state post this week and will return to Monsanto, his former employer.

A violent bar fight at a South Lake Union restaurant escalated into a shooting early Saturday that left three men hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, officials said.

"The use of tanning beds by minors in the state of Idaho and across the United States has led to a rising epidemic of skin cancer and other dermatology-related health issues," reads the measure's statement of purpose.

Yesterday I was on a panel speaking to a session of the Idaho Association of Counties Midwinter Conference, and during a discussion of election laws, the assembled county officials sent a remarkably strong message: They want vote-by-mail to improve how Idaho's elections work.

Instead, being on the correct side of hot button issues such as abortion, guns and more wilderness became the goal of what other Idahoans perceived as a party growing out of touch and into the hands of the "wine and cheese" liberal set as represented by multi-millionaires living in Blaine County." From the mid 90's on, he continues, Idaho Democrats ... (more)

MERIDIAN A recent inattentive driving fatal crash and a proposed texting while driving measure that is making its way through this year's Idaho Legislature are putting the issue of distracted driving on the forefront.

Business and agricultural groups told the House and Senate tax committees, in a rare joint hearing today, that restoring university research and development budgets, adding incentives for job creation and eliminating Idaho's $130 million personal property tax would all help boost Idaho's economy.

Former state and U.S. Rep. Bill Sali sought the Idaho Legislature's assistance in promoting a private foundation created recently by him and his wife.

Travis Manning, author of the article below Why do Idaho charter schools have 10% fewer Brown students than White? announced his candidacy for the open legislative seat in District 10, Canyon County. Speaking last night at a gathering of Democrats at the Caldwell Public Library, he detailed his reasons for stepping into the fray, including the fact that "absolute power corrupts absolutely," referring to the antics of the Idaho GOP.

State Senator Shirley McKague, who has served in the Idaho Legislature since 1997, announced today that she will not run for re-election to the Idaho Senate later this year.