Commentary
If Senate Bill 1357 passes, students like me will not want to come to Idaho
Simply put, if Senate Bill 1357 passes, students will not want to live in or contribute to our beautiful state of Idaho. Way back in 2021, I found myself on a Zoom call with the University of Idaho’s LGBTQA Office Director Julia Keleher eight time zones away while I was deep into my master’s program […]
Unconstitutional legislation seeks to subvert Idaho ballot initiative rights, yet again
Idaho legislators sought to undermine the constitutional right of Idahoans to run initiatives by enacting a 2021 law making it virtually impossible to get the required signatures. The Idaho Supreme Court struck the law down, based on its determination that the law violated the Idaho Constitution. The court said that the initiative is a fundamental […]
Happy National Sunshine Week. We can all call for more transparency in government.
Happy birthday, James Madison. Happy Sunshine Week/Freedom of Information Day to all the rest. March 16, Madison’s birthday, is celebrated as National Freedom of Information Day, honoring the man who wrote the First Amendment. The week of March 16 is celebrated as National Sunshine Week (this year March 10-16), calling for more transparency in government actions. Each […]
Idaho should consider bringing transparency to college costs and data on in-demand careers
Is the cost of college still worth the price? According to the Education Data Initiative, the average student loan debt in the United States currently totals $37,338. The average student borrows more than $30,000 to pursue a bachelor’s degree. And more than 45 million Americans have student loan debt. High school students considering whether it is […]
Idaho Talking Book Service gives joy of literature to those facing obstacles in traditional reading
From Special Olympians to great scientists to achievers of all types who don’t fit the traditional mold, I have always had an interest in promoting access for those who are differently abled. Step into the world of words without the constraints of traditional print. For those facing the challenge of reading large fonts or grappling […]
717 bills have been drafted. Not one fixes the disenfranchisement of thousands of Idaho voters.
Idaho legislators have been working at a breakneck pace this legislative session. Since Rep. Julianne Young, R-Blackfoot, introduced on Jan. 9 the first bill of the session, which would have replaced the term “fetus” with “preborn children” in Idaho law, lawmakers have worked to draft 717 bills – and counting – in 2024. That’s a […]
What is ‘normal’ earthquake activity in Yellowstone National Park?
In the monthly seismicity reports for Yellowstone, it is common to read the statement, “earthquake activity in Yellowstone remains at background levels.” In fact, in the United States Geological Survey monthly activity reports, there is an alert level assigned to each volcano, Yellowstone included. The “normal” alert level is associated with a “non-erupting volcano that […]
Rewilding the Lower Snake : How cultural values of a free flowing river exceed those of a reservoir
The Seattle Times asked the question that if the Lower Snake River Dams were removed and salmon response didn’t meet expectations – then what? The answer encompasses more than benefits to migrating salmon – a functional waterway can have immense value. The lower Snake River is destined for rewilding for many more reasons than ensuring […]
It is hard to recruit district court judges in Idaho. Senate Bill 1347 will make it even harder.
Every business, interest group, civic organization, legal group, education entity, government agency and living-and-breathing human being in the Gem State should take heed of the chronic shortage of experienced and competent lawyers seeking to be district judges. It has become harder each year to recruit good candidates for district court positions because of a variety […]
Idaho legislators should think about the unintended consequences of killing diversity programs
Although proponents of Senate Bill 1357 claim the measure will save the state more than $3 million by killing university diversity programs, the unintended consequences could cost the state a lot more. The measure, by Sen. Brian Lenney, R-Nampa; Sen. Scott Herndon, R-Sagle; and Rep. Elaine Price, R-Coeur d’Alene, would prohibit any Idaho college or […]
Several Idaho Senate resolutions call for attention on the national debt
Every U.S. state except for Vermont has a requirement to pass a balanced budget. This important fiscal requirement is essential to maintaining fiscal health and a strong economic outlook. Unfortunately, there is no requirement for Congress to adopt a balanced budget. As a result, it is no surprise that the nation’s fiscal outlook is teetering […]
Entangling public funds with religion is Idaho history not worth repeating
In this state, people across the political spectrum agree that things are best done The Idaho Way. In the case of potentially sending taxpayer dollars to religious schools, our state’s history is far more instructive than looking to other states’ experiences to understand the consequences of entangling public resources with religion. In Idaho, the wounds […]