James Dawson
ReporterExpertise: Political reporting, audio editing, podcast smithing
Education: University of Idaho
Highlights
- Won my elementary school’s geography bee, failing miserably at state
- Once caught 10 rainbow trout in one hour fly fishing on the Lochsa
- Idaho Press Club board member
Experience
I cover Idaho state government and a little bit of everything else for Boise State Public Radio. Originally from Idaho’s territorial capitol north of the Time Zone Bridge, I’ve covered politics and state legislatures across the country since 2010. You’ll hear my work during Morning Edition, Idaho Matters and All Things Considered (and maybe read my newsletter, Legislative Round-up, during the session).
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Idaho’s longest serving House Democrat, Sue Chew, has died at 66 after a brief battle with pancreatic cancer. -
The U.S. Supreme Court says Idaho’s law banning gender-affirming care for minors can go into effect after all. -
Gov. Brad Little has signed legislation restricting which books a minor can access at public and private libraries in Idaho one year after vetoing a similar bill. -
Gov. Brad Little has signed several bills shortly before lawmakers return to Boise Wednesday in the hopes of gaveling out for the year. -
The NAIA, which oversees sports at small colleges around the country, announced Monday it is banning transgender women from playing on sports teams that align with their gender identity. -
After weeks of behind-the-scenes talks, delays and, at times, testy debates, state senators narrowly signed off on a bill simultaneously funding the Idaho Transportation Department and blocking the sale of the agency’s Boise campus. -
Gov. Brad Little must now act on a bill that would force Idaho’s libraries to move any book to an adult’s-only section within 60 days of receiving a written complaint or face a lawsuit. -
State senators passed a pair of bills Tuesday night, one of which defines male and female as the only two genders legally recognized in Idaho. The other protects state workers who choose not to use someone’s preferred pronouns.
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Idaho’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation said it needs an emergency infusion of $2.7 million after the discovery of apparent “internal control issues” leading to a significant budget shortfall. -
Idaho senators ultimately voted to denounce racism after Republican leadership ordered the body’s sergeant-at-arms to round up two absent lawmakers – one of whom cast the lone no vote on the resolution.
