James Dawson

6 days ago | boisestatepublicradio.org | James Dawson

Nearly 50 outdoor and environmental groups are asking the federal government to exempt snow and water supply forecasters from proposed layoffs. The letter sent to Aubrey Bettencourt, chief of the Natural Resources Conservation Service, was signed by groups including Idaho Outfitters and Guides Association, Bogus Basin and the Sawtooth Avalanche Center.

1 week ago | boisestatepublicradio.org | James Dawson

The president of a newly formed nonprofit honoring an Ada County Sheriff’s deputy killed in the line of duty last year has an extensive criminal record and multiple accusations of refusing to pay debts. Samuel Ferrell, 35, along with his wife, Ashlie, and another woman formed the Tobin Bolter Memorial Project and Scholarship Program on March 7, 2025 according to records filed with the Idaho Secretary of State.

1 week ago | spokanepublicradio.org | Doug Nadvornick |James Dawson |Owen Henderson |Scott Greenstone

WA House votes to amend "parents' bill of rights," sending bill back to SenateAfter a debate that took much of Monday, the Washington House approved a bill that changes parts of the parents’ bill of rights initiative that legislators approved last year. Republicans say the initiative clarified parents’ rights when it comes to their children’s public school education, including getting timely access to their children’s educational and medical records held by schools.

1 week ago | boisestatepublicradio.org | James Dawson

Gov. Brad Little issued a rare line-item veto late Monday afternoon on a bill that would’ve removed more than $600,000 from an emergency fund his office controls. Most publicly, Little offered up to $1 million from the fund in 2022 to backfill investigation costs related to the murder of four University of Idaho students in November 2022.

2 weeks ago | boisestatepublicradio.org | James Dawson

Idaho Congressman Mike Simpson is putting his foot down when it comes to the federal government selling public lands. This week, Simpson joined a bipartisan group of lawmakers in cosponsoring the Public Lands in Public Hands Act, which would block the sale of most federally-owned lands. Montana Rep. Ryan Zinke (R) has sponsored the legislation both this congressional session and the previous session, along with Reps. Troy Downing (R-MT) and Gabe Vasquez (D-NM).