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Incumbent Julie VanOrden challenged by Democrat Karen Keith for Idaho Senate District 30 – East Idaho News

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Incumbent Julie VanOrden challenged by Democrat Karen Keith for Idaho Senate District 30 – East Idaho News


BLACKFOOT — Incumbent state Senator Julie VanOrden, a Republican, is running for re-election against Democrat Karen Keith for the Idaho Senate seat in District 30.

The seat is for a two-year term. District 30 covers Bingham and Butte counties — including Blackfoot, Shelley, Arco and Aberdeen.

To learn more about VanOrden’s campaign, visit www.julievanordenforidaho.com.

Keith sent in candidate information that has been included with the first question. She did not provide questionnaire responses or a website.

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EastIdahoNews.com sent the same eight questions to each candidate. Their responses, listed below, were required to be 250 words or less.

EastIdahoNews.com is publishing the answers in their entirety, and without any grammatical or style editing.

The general election is Nov. 5.

Candidate Questions & Responses

Tell us about yourself — include information about your family, career, education, volunteer work, and any prior experience in public office.

VanOrden: I have been married to Garth VanOrden for almost 46 years. We have 4 children, 2 daughters-in-law, 3 grand children and 1 great granddaughter. I graduated from Blackfoot High School and attended College of Southern Idaho and the vocational technical training school at Idaho State University. I worked at FMC and Bingham Memorial Hospital. I served as a volunteer on the Idaho PTA Board of Directors and as chairman on the Snake River School District Board of Trustees. In 2012 I won the seat representing Legislative District #31 (Bingham County) in the Idaho House of Representatives, I served in this capacity until 2018. I then was appointed to the Public Charter School Commission and the Idaho Potato Commission.

Keith: Karen Keith is retired from the Idaho National Laboratory with experience in leadership, fiscal accountability and service. Karen has worked continuously for the betterment of her communities through volunteer work.

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Karen served as President of the American Legion Auxiliary for various terms at the Veterans Home.

She also served for several years as the PTO President for District 55 schools, while her children attended there.

Why are you seeking political office? Briefly explain your political platform.

VanOrden: As a returning legislator I was able to use my prior experience in setting budgets to connecting the funds with the policies. There are a number of reasons I would like to return to the legislature:

To work with the Department of Education on funding and policies that will increase the 3rd grade reading levels for more students.

Working to create a subsidy system that addresses real needs in real time and incentivizes self reliance.

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Working to address budget items that are excessive.

What are the greatest challenges facing people and communities in your district? What is your plan to meet those challenges?

VanOrden: I believe property taxes, the cost of living(groceries, goods, rent) are real challenges facing people in District #30. I also believe that living so close to the I-15 interstate corridor has placed us in a path of illegal activities. This creates challenges to local law enforcement and brings unwanted forces into our communities.

Have you seen any mistakes made by the Idaho Legislature in recent years? How would you work to correct these errors?

VanOrden: I believe education in Idaho needs to be addressing individual students in our system. Teachers needs the tools to address needs. There is a charter school that has at least one aide in each classroom for each teacher. I would hope we could look at models that are successful and begin to replicate them. A new funding formula is a must.

What parts of the state budget could use more funding? Are there places in the budget where cuts could be made?

VanOrden: I believe our foster care system within the Department of Health and Welfare could use more funding. I don’t think we need to cut budgets just allocate the resources in different ways.

What is your position on Idaho’s Proposition 1 ballot initiative that would end closed-party primary elections and create ranked-choice voting?

VanOrden: I won and lost elections in a closed primary to I’m neutral on that subject. I also voted against Idaho adopting ranked choice voting in the 2023 session.

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What is your position on Gov. Brad Little using Idaho State Police resources to bolster security at the United States southern border? How does illegal immigration impact the constituents in your district?

VanOrden: I believe the experience gained by the law enforcement individuals who went to the border will only enhance securities needed in Idaho.

The effects are on our education system, health care system and our law enforcement and courts. Our education system has had to address communication barriers. Our health care system has had to increase costs because of an increased need for providers. Our courts are full of cases (major and minor) because of a population increase. All systems in general are over burdened with addressing the needs of more people.

A battle over the Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer recharge led to a temporary water curtailment for thousands of acres of farmland in 2024. How should the legislature respond to this issue?

VanOrden: I believe the legislature can address the inadequacies of our laws related to water management and due process. The constitution is clear on water rights, but it also references necessities, reasonable maximum rates for beneficial purpose, and reasonable limitations. It also states that the legislature has a responsibility to define and act upon time of distress.

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Idaho teen is arrested in connection with a dead infant found in a baby box at a hospital

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Idaho teen is arrested in connection with a dead infant found in a baby box at a hospital


BLACKFOOT, Idaho (AP) — An Idaho teenager has been arrested in connection with the body of an infant found last month at a hospital in a box meant for people to anonymously give up a newborn, police said Friday.

The Blackfoot Police Department said in a social media post that an 18-year-old from Twin Falls, about 130 miles (210 kilometers) southeast of Boise, had been arrested there and booked into the Bingham County Jail.

She was arrested on a felony arrest warrant for failing to report a death to law enforcement officials and the coroner, police said.

Police in Blackfoot responded to a report Oct. 13 of a deceased baby left at Grove Creek Medical Center. Safe Haven Baby Boxes founder Monica Kelsey has said hospital staff responded immediately to an alarm indicating a baby was in the box and realized that the infant had died before being placed inside.

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Idaho law only allows for the surrender of an infant who is unharmed.

“The Safe Haven Baby Box is intended to safely and anonymously allow custodial parents to surrender a newborn under 30 days old without legal repercussions, provided the child is unharmed,” police said in the social media post. “Unfortunately, the placement of a harmed or deceased infant is not protected under this system or Idaho law.”

The baby had been wrapped in a blanket, and the placenta was still attached, Kelsey said previously.

Police said they weren’t releasing further information in part because more charges could be filed.

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University of Idaho housing renovation earns state approval

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University of Idaho housing renovation earns state approval


The Idaho State Board of Education Thursday signed off on a nearly $163 million on-campus housing proposal from University of Idaho as its freshmen enrollment continues to grow.

Total enrollment since 2019 grew by 14%, with freshmen enrollment up 42% during that same period.

That’s a problem since the school’s housing is over capacity, and many of the buildings are in disrepair, like the South Hill Apartments, which will be torn down and newly replaced.

“We have four of those buildings that have already been demolished over the last 10 years and another three buildings that have been mothballed and are currently offline because they’re quite literally uninhabitable,” said Brian Foisy, UI VP of Finance and Administration.

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The university currently has capacity for 2,075 students to live on-campus, with another 200 overflow beds at a former motel nearby. Foisy said students are not satisfied with those converted motel rooms and UI doesn’t plan to renew its lease.

The upcoming project will also renovate dorms in the Wallace Residential Complex and Theophilus Tower, which are nearly 60 years old and make up the majority of the school’s capacity.

“The Moscow community simply does not have sufficient resources to meet the housing needs of these students, and available housing on the university campus is inadequate and well beyond useful life,” Foisy said.

UI will begin working with its contractors to begin demolition and complete initial utility work over the next several months.

State board of education members will need to approve a full finance plan, which UI will fully cover, in the first half of next year.

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The first phase of new construction and renovations are expected to open Fall 2026, with the remaining work planned to be complete by Fall 2027.

Copyright 2024 Boise State Public Radio





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The Most Critical Part of UCLA’s Win Over Idaho State

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The Most Critical Part of UCLA’s Win Over Idaho State


The UCLA Bruins didn’t make it look all that pretty on Wednesday night, defeating Idaho State by a score of 84-70.

Yes, the final result is nice, but UCLA opened up a 27-point second-half lead at one point and allowed a far inferior opponent to eke its way back into the game.

Nevertheless, the Bruins improved to 4-1 with the victory, and we should probably focus on one key positive for the squad in the win: their three-point shooting.

Perimeter shooting had been a critical issue for UCLA over its first four games. Even in its 40-point triumph over Lehigh last Friday, the Bruins went just 3-of-13 from beyond the arc.

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But against Idaho State, UCLA connected on nine of its 14 long-range attempts in what was, by far, its best shooting effort of the season.

Tyler Bilodeau went 4-of-4 from downtown, and Eric Dailey Jr. went 2-for-3.

Let’s not get it twisted: the Bruins are still a work in progress from deep. They are making just 31.7 percent of their three-pointers this season, which ranks 205th in the country.

It’s not far off from last year when UCLA finished 213th in the nation in three-point shooting in what ended up being a 16-17 campaign.

This is definitely an area in which the Bruins need to show dramatic improvement in order for anyone to take them seriously as legitimate contenders in the Big Ten, but Wednesday evening represented a major step forward for the team.

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UCLA brought in four significant transfers for the 2024-25 campaign with the hope that the incoming talents would bolster their NCAA Tournament chances.

The Bruins entered the year ranked 22nd in the country, but a loss to New Mexico instantly dropped them out of the top 25.

The problem is that UCLA has not placed an incredible emphasis on outside shooting, which was clear in its defeat at the hands of New Mexico when it shot 5-of-23 from distance.

But again, baby steps. Beating Idaho State is expected, but it’s the little things the Bruins did in the process that made the victory more impressive.

Ensure you follow on X (Twitter) @UCLAInsideronSI and @tcav30 and never miss another breaking news story again.

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