Grassroots campaign

BOISE - When Jimmy Farris first came back to Idaho to run for Congress, he was best known for his career as a professional football player.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Lessons lost

BOISE - Idaho teachers are leaving the profession in bigger numbers, with more than 1,800 making their exit last year, but at the same time, more individuals are getting certified to become educators, the state Department of Education said Friday.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Boo Boo getting better

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Light at the end of the tunnel?

BOISE - Public schools chief Tom Luna detailed Thursday a proposed budget for next year that increases teacher base pay by $14.8 million, restoring the last of funding that was being shifted from salaries to help pay for his education overhaul.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

State agency says school laptop program on track

BOISE - State officials negotiating to supply every high school teacher and student with a laptop under Idaho's contested education reforms report that they're still on track to get the program started this fall - even after hitting a snag last month.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Swarming invasive insect found in Idaho

BOISE - An invasive insect commonly found in south-central Europe has been detected in southwestern Idaho, marking the first time the elm seed bug has been spotted in the U.S., according to federal officials.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Harvesting hearts

BOISE - For one night a year, a neighborhood farm in northwest Boise turns into a respite for singles who are tired of the same old dating scene.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Education waiver worries

BOISE - Idaho has been among leading critics of the No Child Left Behind education program, but state officials will have to wait longer to find out if they'll be freed from the federal law's toughest requirements.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Legal group takes aim at UI organization policy

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 12 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Idaho's long-term unemployed to lose benefits

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS AGO

Wishing upon a Star

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS AGO

What would Idaho education repeal look like?

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

More Idaho teachers left the profession in 2011

BOISE (AP) - Nearly 1,300 Idaho teachers left the profession in 2011, up from about 700 the year before.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Idaho's No Child Left Behind plan praised, panned

BOISE - State education officials received more than 50 public comments on their plan to adopt a new five-star rating system for schools while rejecting the latest benchmarks under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Surplus could benefit teachers

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Idaho moves toward new grading system

BOISE - Idaho education officials plan to adopt their own grading system for schools while rejecting the latest benchmarks under the federal No Child Left Behind law.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Records Report: Idaho meets student data goals

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Teacher bonuses depend on parents

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Idaho won't compete for preschool grant

BOISE - The state has decided it will not apply for a multi-million dollar education grant from the federal government aimed at increasing access to early learning programs for low-income and disadvantaged children.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Online education comments sought

BOISE - A plan to make Idaho the first state to require students to take at least two credits online will officially go before the public for comment next week.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Luna to join Obama for speech

BOISE - State public schools chief Tom Luna is expected to join President Barack Obama today in Washington as the White House gives states guidance about how they can get around provisions in the 9-year-old No Child Left Behind law.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Murder in Moscow

MOSCOW - A University of Idaho graduate student who was gunned down outside her off-campus residence and a former professor at the Moscow school suspected in her murder may have previously had a relationship, police said Tuesday.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Idaho eyes preschool grants

BOISE - Idaho is among states eyeing a $500 million federal grant competition to improve preschool education programs.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

A good problem to have

COUNCIL - In a school district where buckets are strategically placed under a leaky gymnasium roof, there's no shortage of places to spend the extra $60 million Idaho set aside for public education this month after the state ended the fiscal year with a budget surplus.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Ex governors help launch education task force

BOISE - Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush visited Idaho on Tuesday to stump for public schools chief Tom Luna's new education laws, saying similar changes are being implemented across the country and critics working to repeal the new laws should first wait for the results.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

High fashion or bait?

BOISE - For a 49-year-old manager of a fly fishing shop, Jim Bernstein spends an awful lot of time on the phone with hairdressers.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Luna warns teachers about political activities

BOISE - Teachers are being warned they could lose their certification if they participate in efforts to recall Idaho Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Luna, repeal his new education reforms or engage in other political activities on school grounds.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 13 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Idaho Legislature adjourns

BOISE - The 2011 Idaho Legislature ended Thursday with lawmakers dumping a rebate extension for alternative energy developers and passing the governor's plan to spur new jobs.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS AGO

Lawmakers advance bills to prevent ed reform delay

BOISE - Lawmakers appear to be taking seriously efforts to overturn Idaho's new education reform laws.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS AGO

Schools budget cut by $47M

BOISE - Public schools will take a nearly $50 million hit in total funding next year and the state will chip in less funding per student under a budget set by lawmakers Monday.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS AGO

Campus gun bill shot down

BOISE - Even in a gun-loving state like Idaho, there are still places where firearms should be off limits.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS AGO

Education reform inches closer

BOISE - The Idaho Senate voted 20-15 on Thursday to pass the third piece of a plan to reform Idaho's public schools.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS AGO

Higher education budget cuts pass Senate

BOISE - State support for Idaho's public universities is down $7.6 million in a higher education budget lawmakers advanced Thursday.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS AGO

Senate panel advances ed reform

BOISE - Lawmakers voted Tuesday to advance the third piece of a plan to reform Idaho's public schools with legislation to boost technology in the classroom.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS AGO

Lawmakers advance plan to jumpstart economy

BOISE - Gov. Butch Otter's three-year plan to jumpstart the economy by giving businesses tax incentives to create new jobs is headed to the Idaho House for debate.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS AGO

House approves teacher merit pay

BOISE - Lawmakers in the Idaho House approved legislation Wednesday to introduce a pay-for-performance plan for teachers, sending the bill to the governor's desk.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Panel passes reform

BOISE - Legislation to eliminate "tenure" for new teachers, restrict collective bargaining and introduce merit pay is headed toward its final hurdle in the Idaho Legislature.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Bill to extend jobless benefits passes

BOISE - Republicans in the Idaho House tried but failed to block legislation that would extend federal unemployment benefits for thousands of jobless workers this year.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

House kicks off reform testimony

BOISE - Lawmakers in the Idaho House started taking public testimony Tuesday on legislation to eliminate "tenure" for new teachers, restrict collective bargaining and introduce merit pay.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Idaho lawmakers to rework school reforms

BOISE - The biggest piece of a plan to reform Idaho's public schools was returned Wednesday to the Senate Education Committee, where it narrowly passed on a 5-4 vote last week.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

School reform faces changes

BOISE - A plan to reform Idaho's public education system faces more changes in the state Legislature, where the sweeping overhaul has so far dominated the 2011 session.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 1 MONTH AGO

Idaho sets budget target

BOISE - Lawmakers plan to write a state budget that will require nearly $92 million in cuts to Idaho agencies next year.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

School reform moves forward

BOISE - Lawmakers started to weigh in on a plan to overhaul Idaho's public schools, moving the legislation forward despite strong opposition from the state teachers union and other groups.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Public schools chief details changes to education reforms

BOISE - Public schools chief Tom Luna on Monday detailed a list of changes to his plan to overhaul Idaho's K-12 education system, further easing online course requirements for students and making other changes, but doing little to appease leaders of the state teachers union who have condemned the plan.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Lawmakers to 'rework' public education overhaul

BOISE - Lawmakers sent public schools chief Tom Luna and his plan to overhaul the K-12 education system back to the drawing board for a small rewrite Thursday, after three days of listening to testimony from teachers, administrators, parents, and students.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Feds: Mobster fugitive captured in rural Idaho

MARSING - To his neighbors, he was Jay Shaw, the guy with the vaguely New York accent. He was known for fixing computers, buying everything with cash, raising cows and knowing how to handle a gun.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Idaho lawmakers target unions

BOISE - Idaho's labor unions are already the 97-pound weakling, but the Republican majority in the state Legislature is trying to kick more sand in their face.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Budget cuts Medicaid, but not Idaho schools

BOISE - Gov. Butch Otter called for a leaner, stronger state government Monday while recommending more than $35 million in cuts to state agencies to help balance Idaho's budget next year.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Otter delivers inaugural address

BOISE - The budget belt-tightening and government downsizing that defined Gov. Butch Otter's first term will become standard operating practices in his second term, he said Friday.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Former charter school poised for fight

NAMPA - While bargain hunters descended on the remains of what used to one of the biggest charter schools in Idaho, buying desks and textbooks at auction, attorneys prepared for battle in a case that defined Nampa Classical Academy's short existence.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Idaho schools weather tough budget year

BOISE - In Idaho Falls, businesses were asked to pay for field trips because the local school district couldn't afford to send students on educational excursions to the museum or zoo.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Land board extends cabin rents for 1 year

BOISE - The state land board decided Tuesday to extend leases for hundreds of homes on state-owned cabin sites at Payette and Priest lakes in North Idaho through 2011.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 3 MONTHS AGO

Tamarack Resort resurrected for ski season

DONNELLY - When a French developer tried to build a destination ski resort in the central Idaho mountains and it failed, 36-year-old Wolfe Ashcraft was among the casualties.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

ISU faculty delays vote after trustee steps in

BOISE - Faculty leaders at Idaho State University postponed a no-confidence vote on school President Arthur Vailas after a state Board of Education trustee waded into the fray.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 4 MONTHS AGO

Minnick, Labrador near campaign finish

EAGLE - With just days left before the election, the campaigns of Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick and Republican Raul Labrador were at full speed, fueled by hundreds of volunteers.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 5 MONTHS AGO

Luna, Olson battle for top elected post

BOISE - The battle for Idaho's top elected education post has pitted a longtime education and academic against a businessman with nearly four years of experience in the position.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Minnick, Labrador trade barbs

BOISE - Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick called for bipartisan solutions to cure the nation's economic woes even as he and his Republican challenger, Raul Labrador, traded sharp barbs during a debate Thursday.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Lawmaker's lawyer backs client's income tax fights

BOISE (AP) - State Rep. Phil Hart's attorney has likened the lawmaker's legal fights over unpaid income taxes to the struggles of civil rights legend Rosa Parks and former South African President Nelson Mandela.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Colleges use car-sharing to cut down congestion

BOISE - On a campus where students outnumber parking spaces nearly three to one, Boise State University has finally convinced 23-year-old Wayel Alwayel he no longer needs the car he brought to campus with him as a freshman.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

GOP 'Fire Pelosi' tour stops in Idaho

BOISE - Republican U.S. hopeful Raul Labrador says if voters in Idaho's 1st Congressional District want to know how he'd represent them if elected, they need only to look at his record in the state Legislature.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 6 MONTHS AGO

Minnick, Labrador battle over immigration

BOISE - A Democrat in a battle to keep his U.S. House seat picked a fight with his Republican challenger, only to watch his adopted teenage daughter get pulled into fray.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Photo ID law to apply in fall election

BOISE - The state is launching a campaign next month to remind Idaho voters that under a new law, they must provide photo identification to cast their ballots.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

Storm brings Idaho wildfires

BOISE - Thunderstorms in west-central Idaho have sparked dozens of new wildfires, adding to several significant blazes across the state that have forced evacuations and threatened homes.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 7 MONTHS AGO

For Idaho refugees, a job search ends

BOARDMAN, Ore. - On the road to Threemile Canyon Farms, Achut Shiwakoti stared out at the neat rows of corn and fields of fresh mint, his father anxiously nudging him to translate as their new workplace came into view.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Idaho jobs law eligibility questioned

BOISE - Public schools chief Tom Luna says there are concerns Idaho may not qualify for education money under a new federal law aimed at helping states spare thousands of teaching jobs.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Science test scrapped

BOISE - Idaho is scrapping a rule that would have required high school students to pass standardized tests in science before they graduate, starting with the class of 2013.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Help on its way for schools

BOISE - Idaho public schools are expected to receive about $51 million to protect teaching positions as part of a job-saving measure signed into law by President Barack Obama on Tuesday.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Idaho blasted by BSU president

BOISE — Boise State University President Bob Kustra said his remarks about a bitter football rivalry with the University of Idaho, in which he called Vandal culture “nasty” and “inebriated,” came out harsher than he intended.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 8 MONTHS AGO

Minnick rejects Tea Party Express endorsement

BOISE - The lone Democrat to win favor with the Tea Party Express rejected the endorsement Monday, calling a group spokesman's controversial blog posting about the NAACP "reprehensible."

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Idaho ends fiscal year $8.2 million short

BOISE - Idaho ended its fiscal year about $8 million in the hole, a shortfall that could have been much worse had state lawmakers not made the cuts they did during the 2010 session, Gov. Butch Otter said.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 9 MONTHS AGO

Students learn to think on their feet

IDAHO FALLS - In a handful of classrooms nationwide, students are learning to think on their feet.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Minnick, Labrador campaigns begin

BOISE - Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick's campaign has spent months and money preparing to square off against Republican Vaughn Ward. They even tracked the Marine reservist's every step along the campaign trail on video.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 10 MONTHS AGO

Ward, Labrador spar during heated debate

BOISE - Republican U.S. House hopeful Raul Labrador came out swinging at a televised live debate Tuesday, sharply criticizing his opponent Vaughn Ward for a lack of political experience and for wavering on earmarks and other issues.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 14 YEARS, 11 MONTHS AGO

Minnick collects $231K in U.S. House race

BOISE - Democratic U.S. Rep. Walt Minnick has collected more than $231,000 for his campaign coffers since January and outraised his GOP rivals in the traditionally Republican-dominated district along Idaho's western border.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS AGO

Tea party activists

BOISE - Several hundred tea party activists rallied in Idaho's capital city on tax day, bashing the reach of the federal government and chanting "Vote them out!" on their march to the Statehouse.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS AGO

Schools in teacher pay talks under June deadline

BOISE - School districts are under a June 6 deadline in negotiations with teachers to lower pay and benefits next year and help offset deep cuts to public education funding.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS AGO

Medical marijuana law proposed for Idaho

BOISE - A Republican lawmaker wants to make Idaho the 15th state to legalize medical marijuana, saving chronically ill patients a trip across the border to Washington, Oregon, Nevada or Montana.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS AGO

Ed Board to mull fee hikes for Idaho universities

BOISE - The University of Idaho could charge nearly $600 more a year in fees when classes start this fall, but student body president Kelby Wilson hasn't heard so much as a peep from his constituents.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS AGO

Idaho students beat U.S. reading average

BOISE - Reading scores for Idaho's fourth- and eighth-graders were slightly better than the national average last year, but students in both groups also failed to show improvement over 2007.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS AGO

Idaho Senate backs education cuts

BOISE - The Idaho Senate voted 27-8 Monday to pass a $1.58 billion budget for public schools next year, clearing one of the biggest remaining hurdles to ending the 2010 Legislature by Friday.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS AGO

Lawmakers, faculty protest policy changes

BOISE - Lawmakers joined faculty from Idaho universities in protesting changes to state Board of Education policies that give the institutions' presidents broad power to make cuts in a financial crisis.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

State school official: Teachers need to sacrifice some more

BOISE - A state Board of Education member on Thursday lamented staffing cuts at his Boise plumbing business while making the case for teachers to take a bigger hit in public schools chief Tom Luna's budget proposal for next year.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Rainy day fund considered for colleges

BOISE - Lawmakers agreed Monday to consider creating a rainy day fund for colleges, similar to the reserve account lawmakers set aside several years ago for the K-12 public school system.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Goedde proposes charter legislation

BOISE - An Idaho lawmaker has introduced a bill that would allow more charter schools to open to aid underserved students.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO

Schools to get $22M in reserves

BOISE - The state Board of Land Commissioners agreed Wednesday to withdraw an additional $22 million from a state land endowment reserve fund to help offset budget cuts for public schools during the next fiscal year.

COEUR D'ALENE PRESS | UPDATED 15 YEARS, 2 MONTHS AGO