Emilie Ritter Saunders

Over the last couple of years we’ve heard a lot about the haves and have-nots. The 1 percent and the 99 percent — that is, the top earners in the United States (the so-called 1 percent) and the rest of us (the 99 percent).

Famous for its potatoes, trout fishing, and blue AstroTurf, Idaho might not have much in common with Hawaii. But here’s one thing: Idaho and Hawaii are the only two states in the country to tax Girl Scout Cookies. Now, some local Scouts are beefing up their sales pitches and learning to lobby.

Voter’s Voices: Mountain Home Diner Dishes Up Politics

October 10, 2012

By Samantha Wright and Frankie Barnhill

Mountain Home, southeast of Boise is a microcosm of a military town.  Many of the 14,500 people who live there are connected to Mountain Home Air Force Base.  Four-thousand military serve there and some of them come to Grinde's Diner in Mountain Home to eat and talk politics.

The windows at Grinde’s are covered in patriotic paintings like the statue of liberty, a bald eagle and the liberty bell. 

Micron CEO Appleton Guided Company Through Ups and Downs

February 3, 2012

By Emilie Ritter Saunders

Boise-based Micron Technology CEO Steve Appleton died this morning in a single-engine plane crash at the Boise airport.  Appleton was 51.

For cookie connoisseurs, this might be the best time of year. It’s Girl Scout cookie season. Starting next week, Idaho Girl Scouts will be canvassing neighborhoods and their parents’ offices to take orders for boxes of Thin Mints, Samoas, and all the rest.

The debate among Idaho lawmakers started in earnest Tuesday over whether the state should create its own health insurance exchange. 

Idahoans will have a chance to weigh in on whether the state should create its own health insurance exchange today at the Capitol.  

In 2011, more than 53,000 Idaho companies paid the business personal property tax. Half of those businesses paid less than $90.

In an effort to become more transparent, the state of Idaho has launched a new website that details state spending and revenue. Transparent.Idaho.gov was created by the state controller’s office, after the state continually received failing grades on its openness.

Last year during ‘sunshine week,’ StateImpact Idaho reported on two separate transparency report cards — one gave Idaho an "F", the other a “D-".

More than one third of Idaho's 2013 Legislature are freshman. That's what prompted StateImpact Idaho to collect, compile and analyze basic demographic information on the Legislature, and compare those stats with the state's general population.

Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter released his budget along with his State of the State speech Monday. 

The governor’s budget would increase general fund spending by 3.1 percent in fiscal year 2014. The FY14 budget is $2.78 billion, that’s an $84 million increase over FY13.

U.S. Senator Mike Crapo was arrested and charged with driving under the influence outside Washington, D.C. early Sunday morning.

Crapo, a Republican from Idaho Falls, issued this statement:

In November 2011, the New York-based Greek yogurt maker Chobani announced plans to build a multimillion dollar manufacturing facility in Twin Falls, Idaho, with plans to hire 400 people.

Today, 13 months later, Chobani’s Twin Falls facility hosted its grand opening. New numbers show the yogurt maker hired fewer people than expected, and collected more subsidies than first reported.

Almost half of the legislators in Idaho work in agriculture or business when they’re not making policy in Boise.

Over the last month, StateImpact Idaho has collected basic demographic information on the 2013 Idaho Legislature.  Some of the information we gathered came directly from lawmakers. Some of it was gathered from Project Vote Smart, the Idaho Legislature, or Nexis.

The 2013 Idaho Legislature is in town today for its annual organizational session.  This is when lawmakers choose their leaders and prep for the session which begins next month.  Today also happens to be Rep. Frank Henderson's (R-Post Falls) 90th birthday. 

Henderson, born in 1922, was a soldier in World War II and a reporter for a Chicago-area Hearst newspaper.  Henderson worked in advertising, publishing, and owned the Post Falls, Idaho newspaper before being elected to mayor and later county commissioner. 

Governor C.L. “Butch” said in a news release this morning he’ll wait to consult with Idaho Legislative leaders before deciding if the state will create its own health insurance exchange.

Late yesterday afternoon, the  U.S. Department of Health and Human Services said it would give states until Dec. 14 to decide if they’ll create a state-based exchange, a federal exchange, or a partnership model.

Voters sent a clear message to Idaho lawmakers this week by rejecting all three education propositions by margins of 15 percent or more.

See how each county voted and compare that to support for Tom Luna's 2010 reelection bid.  Click here to explore the interactive map...

Here’s the statement from Tom Luna on the failure of Propositions 1, 2, and 3:

Idaho’s 2012 general election statewide ballot consists of three races, two constitutional amendments, and three propositions.  Plus, depending on your legislative district, will include various Idaho House and Senate candidates.

Idaho’s new voter identification law does require photo ID at the polls, but if you don’t have one, you can still vote by signing an affidavit.

Election Day is Tuesday, November 6!

Idaho’s Statewide Ballot  United States President