Current News Coverage
Bill introduced to prohibit governor's office from billing other agencies
BOISE — After a hearing Tuesday in which the governor’s budget director faced pointed questions from some members of the budget-writing committee over billing other agencies, a bill was introduced to prohibit the action.
Rep. Heather Scott, R-Blanchard, introduced a bill Thursday morning in the Ways and Means Committee that prohibits the governor’s office from billing other state departments or constitutional officers.
This billing practice was the center of questions by Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, during a budget hearing Tuesday for the executive office of the governor. Tanner referenced a number of transfers from other agencies, many of which were to cover work performed by governor’s staff for work done for those agencies.
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Wolff told the Idaho Press that each employee who splits time tracks it differently, but the pay that’s billed from agencies is based on the amount of time that employee spends on work for that agency. She said the process is similar to how a Department of Lands employee who usually works in administration would be paid from a wildfire account if they get called to firefighting work during the summer.
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Idaho’s Veterans Cemetery is nearly full. Land deal will change that
BoiseDev, 2-20-25
Twenty years after it first opened, the Idaho Veterans Cemetery in Boise is nearing capacity.
However, the State of Idaho is set to purchase additional land that could boost capacity for Idaho’s veterans and their loved ones for years to come.
The Idaho Land Board voted unanimously Tuesday to purchase 15.54 acres of land next to the existing cemetery in the Dry Creek area of NW Boise.
More than 8,000 people are buried or inured at the cemetery, and without the purchase, the Idaho Division of Veterans Services said they would soon run out of space.
“This land is the only viable land that is available for us to expand the Boise Veterans Cemetery,” Idaho Division of Veterans Services Chief Administrator Mark Tschampl told the land board. “Without this land, we would use up all of our available land in approximately eight years and would no longer be able to inter veterans or their spouses at the Boise Veterans Cemetery, which is why this land purchase is so critical.”
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Letters to the editor, Feb. 18, 2025
Idaho Press, 2-18-25
PUBLIC NEEDS INPUT ON USES OF PUBLIC LANDS
In January of 2024, the Idaho Land Board adopted a policy for commercial leasing of Idaho public lands/endowment lands/open spaces. The policy reads in part: “A. The Department has the discretion to evaluate commercial ground lease applications, initiate the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, and create and maintain leasing processes for activities falling within the purview of an existing commercial ground leasing portfolio. These include ground leases for industrial enterprises, retail sales outlets, business and professional office buildings, hospitality enterprises, commercial recreational activities, multifamily residential developments, and other similar businesses.”
It is very alarming that the Idaho Department of Lands Commercial Ground Leasing Policy includes no public involvement, environmental review, or compliance with local land use requirements. It also does not include public hearings or public notices. This is a severely lacking policy and the leasing policy competes directly with the private sector. It violates most of the norms of contracting in the State. You should immediately contact your legislators about this critical issue before it is too late. This is a statewide issue. Do you want the State lands near you commercially developed? Save our public lands from commercial development!
Boomtown: Idaho Department of Lands approves expansion of Marina 33 in Post Falls
KREM2, 2-16-25
POST FALLS, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Lands approved an expansion at Marina 33 in Post Falls on Friday.
The expansion will include more than 100 new boat slips and while some nearby businesses are looking forward to increased traffic, some neighbors are worried about overcrowding.
"It's like Tetris leaving my dock right out here. I got to navigate very slowly to get through and then once we get up and get on the river, it's just rough," said Scott Scofield, a resident near Marina 33.
Limited official data available on statewide fire risk
Idaho Public Television, 2-14-25
It’s no surprise that Idahoans’ vulnerability to wildland fires varies depending on where they live. But finding out that exact level of risk is a bit more tricky.
As state officials discuss what can be done to mitigate the risk of major fires sweeping through Idaho communities, little localized information is available about community-by-community fire risk.
The State of Idaho does not currently maintain or publish a fire risk map for insurance purposes. The closest similar tool found by Idaho Reports is fire risk data from the Department of Lands, available in its Forest Action Plan and last updated in 2020.
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Fireline 5K
Posted February 20, 2025
Come join us! Weather you walk, run, in person or virtually, help us shine a light on National Wildland Firefighter Day (July 2) by participating in the 2nd Annual Fireline 5k!!!!
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