Kevin’s blog

Otter opposes rules amendment

A constitutional amendment ensuring the Legislature’s role in reviewing agency rules is “a solution in search of a problem,” Gov. Butch Otter said Wednesday.

Report: Idaho’s K-12 cuts were second steepest in nation

A Washington, D.C.-based group focused on state budget cuts during the throes of the Great Recession — and its aftermath.

A dustup over Blaine County superintendent-trustee meetings

The one-on-one meetings do not necessarily violate state sunshine laws, Blaine County’s prosecutor tells the Idaho Mountain Express. The attorney general’s office cautions against the practice.

ACLU, Cassia district settle discrimination dispute

Former Declo High School student Sierra Norman filed a civil rights complaint in 2014, saying she was the subject of gender and religious discrimination.

IEA contributes $32K to Democratic campaigns

The Idaho Education Association’s political arm is a major donor to a Boise-based group supporting Democratic legislative candidates. Between May 28 and Sept. 30, the Political Action Committee for Education contributed $32,000 to Responsible Leadership for Idaho, according to Responsible Leadership’s most recent campaign finance report. Kimberlee Kruesi of the Associated Press first wrote Wednesday…

The complicated math of graduation rates

The backstory about Idaho’s fluctuating grad rates — and the perils in analyzing the new national numbers.

Twin Falls officials say little about $94,000 payout

District support services director Clara Allred made the “difficult decision” to retire, Allred’s attorney said in a statement to the Twin Falls Times-News.

The Bedke bucks, and other ‘member-to-member’ campaign contributions

House Speaker Scott Bedke isn’t the only sitting lawmaker who kicks his money into other legislative campaigns. But over the past few months, Bedke gave $18,750 to 36 Republican candidates.

Survey: Treasure Valley residents tepid on taxes for schools

In a survey of Treasure Valley residents, 52 percent of respondents favored paying higher taxes for education. Most Treasure Valley school districts have supplemental levies on the books, however.