EDUCATION REFORM
Revised teacher bills introduced
The Senate Education Committee agreed Monday to debate three revised bills being pushed by the Idaho School Boards Association governing teacher contracts and negotiations.
Board Executive Director Karen Echeverria says the bills are similar to versions introduced by the committee last month, but changes were made following six hours of negotiations with lawmakers, the teachers union and school administrators.
Hannah Furfaro, The Associated Press
IDAHO NATIONAL GUARD
Mom OK with Ottermissing her birthday
Gov. Butch Otter was at Fort Hood, Texas, on Saturday to welcome home Idaho National Guard troops after a nine-month deployment in Afghanistan.
To greet about 60 troops from the Idaho National Guard's Company A, 1-168 General Support Aviation Battalion, Otter had to skip a 98th-birthday brunch for his mother, Regina. She was born Feb. 9, 1915.
"But Mom said, 'You're doing the right thing,' " Otter said.
Otter served in the Idaho National Guard's 116th Armored Calvary from 1968-73 and wears a U.S. Army lapel pin.
The Associated Press
DISTRICT 17 DEMOCRATS
Lawmakers host meeting Tuesday
Sen. Elliot Werk, Rep. Sue Chew and Rep. John Gannon will take questions from the public from 7 to 9 p.m. at Horizon Elementary School library, 730 N. Mitchell St. in Boise.
The three Democrats hold monthly forums during the legislative session.
Dan Popkey
LISTENING SESSION
Ed committees host packed hearing
More than 350 people turned out for Monday afternoon's hearing on education before the House and Senate education committees. In addition to a full Capitol Auditorium, two additional committee rooms across the hall were close to full.
More than 65 people signed up to testify, and 33 did before House Education Chairman Reed DeMordaunt, R-Eagle, ended the session at 6 p.m. He encouraged those who didn't get a chance to speak to submit comments in writing.
Betsy Z. Russell,Spokesman-Review
ECONOMIC INCENTIVES
Panel approves recruiting fund
The bill OK'd Monday by the House Business Committee would create a $3 million fund to help entice companies considering a move to Idaho.
Department of Commerce Director Jeff Sayer said Idaho recently used state funds to snag companies like Greek yogurt maker Chobani and aircraft parts company Unitech Composites. He says money that helps pay for new infrastructure increases competitiveness with nearby states.
Businesses seeking to tap the fund must prove they can meet certain economic benchmarks. Sayer says that protects taxpayer dollars.
The Associated Press
GUN CONTROL
Protesters targetLatah GOP chairman
More than two dozen demonstrators called for the resignation of the Latah County official because of a letter sent to the Legislature on gun control recommendations.
Protesters lined up Saturday night on the sidewalk outside a hotel for the party's annual Lincoln Day dinner.
Jeff Williams, leader of a local militia, said that Walter Steed has no business heading a conservative group.
The letter was written by the Moscow City Council. Steed is the president of the council.
The letter contained recommendations from Police Chief David Duke, including stronger background checks, limiting access to high-capacity magazines and to the number of guns a person can buy at once.
Moscow Daily News
TAXING LANDS
Tribes to legislators: Counties must stop
Helo Hancock, a lobbyist for the Coeur d'Alene Tribe in North Idaho, told the House Revenue and Taxation Committee Monday the issue of taxing tribal government land arose in 2006.
Idaho tribes received a "flurry of assessments" on land that had once been homesteaded but later reacquired by tribal governments.
Hancock says land owned by tribal governments should be exempt from property taxes just like county, state and federal land.
The Coeur d'Alene Tribe failed to work out a solution with Kootenai and Benewah counties, he said, so it wants legislators to intervene.
At stake is about $303,000 in assessments annually, for all five Idaho tribes.
The Associated Press
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