Kevin’s blog
Expert analysis and the latest news from award-winning journalist Kevin Richert.
Some heavy interest in ‘governor lite’
With incumbent Brad Little running for governor, Idaho has its first open race for lieutenant governor in 16 years.
Otter: Another broadband settlement is in the works
The state is negotiating with the feds, Gov. Butch Otter said Monday. A federal contractor fronted Idaho $13.5 million for the ill-fated Idaho Education Network broadband project.
Safe routes to schools: What happens next?
House Minority Leader Mat Erpelding says the bill could free up $3.7 million for projects near schools. The Idaho Transportation Department is still trying to get a handle on the implications of the last-minute bill.
Twin Falls stays in-house to hire new superintendent
Brady Dickinson, the district’s director of operations and educational technology, will take over the top job on July 1.
Otter stays silent — for now — on the 2017 session
Gov. Butch Otter canceled a post-session news conference Thursday, citing laryngitis. But at some point, he will have the last word on repealing the state’s grocery tax.
Trump seeks education cuts to pay for defense, border wall
The prospective impacts in Idaho aren’t easily quantified. But the state’s K-12 budgets are built on a presumption of stable federal funding, at $264.3 million per year.
Education reform groups give Idaho charter laws middling grades
In separate reports released Wednesday, the groups criticized Idaho’s charter school funding framework.
Why did so many bonds and levies pass so easily last week?
Last week’s school election results seem to square with what Idahoans had to say in a Boise State University survey in December.
Funding formula committee makes one lineup change
Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, will replace Sen. Steven Thayn. R-Emmett, on the committee that could recommend changes to Idaho’s public school funding formula.
Hechinger takes closer look at pre-K in Idaho, and Idaho City
A $5 million Idaho pre-K bill is on the drawing board, according to the New York-based Hechinger Report. No bill is likely to surface this legislative session.