Kevin’s blog

Expert analysis and the latest news from award-winning journalist Kevin Richert.

How iPads fit into a budget battle

The Senate is fixing for a fight Wednesday over the 2013-14 public schools budget. And one small-town elementary school’s technology program appears to be in the midst of the battle.

A little more off-season activity?

If you’re keeping score, there may be four education-related committees to watch this summer. Legislators could spend the summer studying the transfer of federal lands to state ownership.

State cabin leaseholders get a reprieve

Rising payments to the state’s land endowment could drive some leaseholders to walk away from their lakeside cabins. So the Idaho Department of Lands is trying to cushion the blow.

Senate amends charter bill — significantly

Never underestimate what can happen when lawmakers can amend a high-profile bill. On Wednesday, the Senate struck down language that was near and dear to charter school advocates.

The school budget hide-and-seek

The 2013-14 public school budget bill surfaced Wednesday. The 2012-13 public school budget fix went back into hiding. What does it all mean?

Mat Erpelding’s old-school debate

A lawmaker argues against a bill that would provide income tax credits for private school scholarship — with a shout out to the nuns from his Catholic school.

In the Nampa district, the other shoe drops

Less than a week after voters approved a $4.3 million school levy, Nampa school administrators are planning to close an elementary school to balance the district’s books.

Referendum rewrite heads to House floor

The Idaho Farm Bureau says it has been working on a bill to tighten the initiative and referendum process since 2012 — before Idaho voters passed Propositions 1, 2 and 3. The House could vote on the idea this week.

Statehouse preview, Week 11

Monday starts Week 11 of the legislative session, with plenty of unfinished business on the docket. Get ready for the week with this preview.

Your daily personal property tax update (REWRITE)

A new bill to repeal the tax on business equipment and supplies clears its first hurdle. It’s another partial repeal, similar to one proposed 11 days ago by cities, counties, school boards and school administrators.