Kevin’s blog
Expert analysis and the latest news from award-winning journalist Kevin Richert.
Supreme Court sets hearing date on Idaho’s transgender athletics ban
The Jan. 13 hearing — and the court’s ruling, likely to come later in 2026 — will resonate well beyond Idaho, and mark a pivotal moment in the national debate over transgender athletics.
Clow resigns from House, ahead of 2026 session
The former House Education Committee chairman said he had already decided not to run for an eighth term next year.
Pickens makes gubernatorial bid official
It will be Democrat Terri Pickens’ second statewide campaign. The Boise attorney ran unsuccessfully for lieutenant governor in 2022.
Idaho Center transfer on hold until at least December
A divided Nampa City Council has scheduled a public hearing on the controversial transfer, and the College of Western Idaho is in a holding pattern.
Judge hears arguments in Oneida funding lawsuit
The Oneida School District says a 2024 state law took away at least $7.8 million that the district expected to put toward a $29 million elementary school project. The state’s attorneys want the case dismissed.
A new president gets the job at Utah State — entirely behind closed doors
A new law allows Utah officials to conduct presidential searches entirely behind closed doors. In Idaho, State Board of Education officials have lamented a law requiring them to release a list of five finalists.
BYU-Idaho reports largest fall class in school history
On-campus fall enrollment sits at 24,450, a 6.7% increase, Brigham Young University-Idaho said in a recent news release.
Boise State marketing officer leaves for Vermont job
Lauren Griswold is the second Boise State University administrator to follow Marlene Tromp to the University of Vermont.
Idaho federal judge keeps transgender athletics lawsuit open
Lindsay Hecox, a transgender Boise State University student, had asked the court to drop the case.
Vendor with spotty Idaho record lands $50 million Texas contract
New York-based Odyssey will help administer a new, $1 billion private school choice program in Texas. Odyssey came to Idaho in 2022 and left under a cloud.