The Idaho Senate will be under new leadership for the first time in four years as state Sen. Kelly Anthon was named president pro tempore during caucus leadership elections Wednesday night.
Anthon, a Republican from Burley, succeeds former Senate President Pro Tempore Chuck Winder, R-Boise, who was defeated by a challenger in his legislative district in the May 21 Republican primary election.
Republicans in the Idaho Senate elected three other leadership members Wednesday, all of whom will be in new positions.
Sen. Lori Den Hartog, R-Meridian, will be Senate majority leader. Sen. Mark Harris, R-Soda Springs, moves from caucus chair to assistant majority leader. Sen. Ben Toews, R-Coeur d’Alene, will step in as caucus chair.
Advertisement
In the House of Representatives, Republican House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, and House Majority Leader Jason Monks, R-Meridian, retained their leadership posts, according to a press release issued Wednesday night by Rep. Jaron Crane, R-Nampa.
Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, was named House assistant majority leader, replacing former Rep. Sage Dixon, R-Ponderay. Crane was named House caucus chairman, succeeding Rep. Dustin Manwaring, R-Pocatello.
Anthon takes over responsibilities of the the Idaho Senate
State Senator Kelly Anthon
Anthon was elected the new president pro tempore – or pro tem, for short – during caucus leadership elections Wednesday night, Sen. Scott Grow, R-Eagle, said.
Anthon is expected to be officially installed in his new leadership position during today’s organizational session of the Legislature at the Idaho State Capitol in Boise. Wednesday’s caucus elections took place in private.
The president pro tem is the highest ranking member of the Idaho Senate and presides over the Idaho Senate when the state’s lieutenant governor is away. The president pro tempore also is second in line of succession to the governor, following the lieutenant governor. The president pro tem is also called to serve as acting governor when the governor and lieutenant governor cannot perform their jobs, like when they are both out of the state. In general, members of leadership have great influence in the Idaho Legislature over which bills move forward and which do not and which legislators serve on which committees.
Advertisement
Anthon, who is beginning his sixth term in the Idaho Legislature, formerly served as Idaho Senate majority leader – the No. 2 ranking leadership position behind the pro tem. Anthon is a licensed attorney who works professionally as the city administrator for the town of Rupert.
Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: [email protected]. Follow Idaho Capital Sun on Facebook and X.
JACKSON, Wyo. — Springtime conjures images of adorable baby animals. Unfortunately, sometimes well-meaning humans feel compelled to interfere with Mother Nature by “rescuing” baby animals who appear to be alone.
The Idaho Department of Fish and Game (IDFG) issued a spring reminder discouraging people from intervening when they assume a wild animal is lost, abandoned or orphaned.
“While these folks typically mean well, the sad reality is they are often doing more damage than good when they intervene — and typically, mom was not far away to begin with,” IDFG shared in a press release.
“Here’s the hard truth,” the agency wrote. “Animal parents will periodically leave their young for an extended period of time for a myriad of reasons, whether it’s to search for food, to rest or to divert attention from their vulnerable offspring, especially if they sense danger. When it comes to wildlife babies, wildlife mothers know best.”
Advertisement
In short, in an encounter with a lone duckling, gosling, deer fawn, baby bird, red dog or moose calf, do not disturb it. Instead, contact the state’s wildlife agency to report it. In Jackson, call the Wyoming Game and Fish Department at (307) 733-2321. In Idaho, reach IDFG at (208) 525-7290.
Lotto America: 9 p.m. MT on Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
5 Star Draw: 8 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Idaho Cash: 8 p.m. MT daily.
Millionaire for Life: 9:15 p.m. MT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a USA Today editor. You can send feedback using this form.
I remember watching a documentary about Idaho’s wildlands. A narrator said there were probably many parts of the state where no human being has ever set foot. I believe that, but I stay relatively close to the highways. If I were 30 years younger, I would probably enjoy exploring the back country, but today, unless a plane takes me in and out, it’s not happening. I can’t say definitively that there is one spot that I find better than others. We’re surrounded by beautiful terrain, however. One place keeps calling me back.
Like a Scene from a Legendary Movie
When I go over the mountain between Gooding and Fairfield, I take time to stop at the overlook above the Camas Prairie. It reminds me of a scene in Exodus, where the Paul Newman character takes an American woman to look across a flat plain leading to Mount Tabor. He explains that’s the site where Deborah gathered her armies. It makes me feel there is something godly about the Camas Prairie. I keep going back to this spot. Sometimes I take along a folding chair and sit and look at the world below.
Slow Down and See the Work of the Creator
Fairfield may be nothing more than a blip as people speed down Route 20, but it’s their loss. On the other side of the highway is some of the prettiest country in Idaho. It’s going to be a lot less lush this spring, but drought conditions haven’t been nearly as severe in the central highlands. But if I’m granted a few more years by the Almighty, I plan to see the prairie for many more springs.
‘Miserable’: McCall 4th of July Getaway Gets Roasted
What was once a great little summer escape has become a total headache according to the internet
