Idaho

Statehouse roundup, 1.13.25: Idaho is a model for funding charter facilities, a national adviser says

Published

2 years ago

January 13, 2025

Statehouse roundup, 1.13.25: Idaho is a model for funding charter facilities, a national adviser says

Idaho’s charter school facilities funding model is a “success story” that other states should follow, a policy adviser for a national school choice advocacy group told lawmakers Monday.

In 2023, the Legislature passed two bills that helped charters obtain short- and long-term financing for facilities. One bill created a $50 million revolving loan fund to jumpstart newer charters, while the other offered state-backed credit enhancement to established charters, lowering their interest rates on bonds.

These financing tools cost the state nothing on an ongoing basis and they’ve saved $113 million, Matthew Joseph, senior policy adviser at ExcelinEd, told the House Education Committee.

“It means that every charter school in Idaho is able to reinvest the money … into instruction,” Joseph said. “… I work in states all over the country that are not nearly as advanced as Idaho is.”

Unlike traditional public school districts, Idaho’s charter schools can’t levy taxes on patrons to raise funds for facilities. Instead, they leverage state facilities dollars along with bonds and private donations to finance capital projects.

On top of the financing tools, the state gives charters a per-student allocation for facilities costs. The per-student amount decreased, from $400 to $300, with last year’s House Bill 521, the sweeping facilities funding bill that directed $1.5 billion to traditional districts.

Charter advocates are preparing to introduce a proposal restoring these funds. Blake Youde, a lobbyist for the Idaho Charter School Network, told the House Education Committee that HB 521 eliminated about $3 million in state lottery funds for charters.

“I anticipate that we will be trying to work with you to make charter schools whole again,” Youde said.

Traditional districts lost lottery funding to the tune of $29 million. The Idaho School Boards Association also called for restoring these funds, which traditional districts used for routine maintenance costs and staff salaries.

‘Unfinished work:’ Liebich makes pitch for second State Board term

Kurt Liebich was first appointed to the State Board of Education in February 2020 — weeks before the COVID-19 pandemic shuttered schools across the state and the nation.

“When I signed up five years ago, what I was getting into was not at all what I thought I was getting into,” Liebich said Monday.

On Monday afternoon, the Boise businessman was back before the Senate Education Committee, seeking confirmation to a second five-year State Board term.

Liebich said he decided to seek a second term to focus on “unfinished work,” especially in K-3 literacy, middle school math and preparing high school graduates for college or career.

“Within K-12 you’ve made massive investments in education,” Liebich said. “We could and we should get a return on the investment.”

Over the past five years, Idaho’s K-12 budget has increased by nearly 40%.

The committee took no action on Liebich’s appointment. The committee will likely vote later this week, said Senate Education Chairman Dave Lent, R-Idaho Falls.

The nomination will then go to the full Senate.

At least two other State Board nominations are likely to go through Senate Education.

Source link

Idaho

Bond revoked for indicted Idaho mother

Published

8 hours ago

July 15, 2026

Press Room

PAYETTE — A Payette mom’s bond was revoked Tuesday after she was charged with suffocating her twin children earlier this month and is believed to pose a danger to the life of her newborn child.

The case, which has drawn national headlines, concerns Andrea Renee Shaw, a 23-year-old Payette mother who in May 2025 said her 18-month-old fraternal twins died the same day, after receiving routine childhood vaccinations. In January, Shaw joined as a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with several other plaintiffs claiming vaccine injury or death.

Kennedy, who now serves as secretary of Health and Human Services, is no longer part of the group after taking on the cabinet position, as was reported by the Associated Press.

In Idaho, the twins’ deaths prompted a 14-month investigation by the Payette County Sheriff’s Department. On June 29, the investigation yielded a grand jury indictment of Shaw on two counts of first-degree murder by suffocation. If convicted, Shaw can be punished by up to life in prison or the death penalty, and the court would have the ability to order the penalties be served consecutively, or back to back.

Tuesday’s arraignment at the Payette County Courthouse was primarily attended by Shaw’s relatives and members of the media. Payette County Judge Kiley Stuchlik, who serves Idaho’s Third Judicial District, presided.

A key consideration for Stuchlik on Tuesday was a request from Joseph Filicetti, the legal counsel for Shaw, to have her bond reduced from $2 million to $100,000. Filicetti said this would allow for Shaw to care for a newborn girl, who, according to court documents, was born by caesarean section on June 25, four days prior to Shaw’s grand jury indictment.

State prosecutors objected to the motion for bond reduction, noting at hand was a potential death penalty case and asserting, unlike her husband, Shaw’s story repeatedly changed during questioning. Prosecuting Attorney Mike Duke said releasing Shaw would ultimately put the newborn’s safety at risk.

“That child is the most at risk. We do not think she should be allowed to be anywhere near any children, let alone her own children,” Duke said.

Stuchlik decided to revoke bond entirely, stating Shaw posed a “risk of safety” to the newborn child that was not known to Stuchlik or prosecutors when the $2 million bond was initially set.

Also for consideration Tuesday was a request to have grand jury transcripts of witness testimony provided to prosecutors and defense counsel to prepare their respective cases.

Source link

Idaho

Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort

Published

20 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Press Room

Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort

Photo: Courtesy Sun Valley Resort Idaho is already home to the nation’s first DarkSky Reserve. Now, Sun Valley Resort is adding another first. The resort has become the first in the United States to earn DarkSky Certified Resort status through DarkSky International’s Approved Lodging Program, recognizing the resort’s efforts to reduce light pollution and protect […]

Source link

Idaho

Idaho Falls City Council delays vote on proposed alcohol ordinance – Local News 8

Published

1 day ago

July 14, 2026

Press Room

Idaho Falls City Council delays vote on proposed alcohol ordinance – Local News 8

IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A controversy is brewing as the City of Idaho Falls reviews its alcohol ordinance.

The goal is to consolidate four existing ordinances for beer, wine and liquor into a single law and ensure compliance with state code.

However, at its meeting last Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council unanimously voted to remove the proposed ordinance from its agenda, in order to receive and consider additional public comment.

The proposed ordinance would:

1. Require commercial establishments selling, dispensing or permitting consumption of alcohol – including beer, wine or liquor – to have an alcohol license, alcohol catering permit or a charitable event permit.

2. Business events with 20 or less employees consuming alcohol at the business would be allowed.

3. Require alcohol servers to complete training every three years.

4. Individuals who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.

Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis said the changes were the culmination of months of collaboration between law enforcement, business owners and city attorneys.

“We wanted to provide a safe environment – the primary point here – for public gatherings,” Francis said. “We recognize that certain antiquated elements of the current code are overly restrictive and needed to be addressed. We wanted to make the code more accessible to the public. We needed to address over-pouring issues. We wanted to reduce penalties where possible for violations, particularly the first offenses, and yet make the code clear enough to be enforceable consistently by law enforcement.”

But City Council Member John Radford said the changes represent an overreach by city government.

“I believe it’s a bad policy. What problem are we solving in the name of trying to solve a non-problem?” Radford said. “We’re becoming big brother around alcohol in your private property. I’m concerned that landlords will be at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly, which I made sure that was in there, because that is what we’ve been talking about, allowed people to drink in our business. We will be outside the norm of Idaho cities. This is a big step, and I don’t think the public has weighed in on this.”

At a City Council Work Session on June 1, Idaho Falls Chief of Police Bryce Johnson cited an increase in alcohol-related crime – particularly downtown – as a reason for the changes.

“DUI is there, but this would include sexual assaults, assaults, batteries, disturbances, urination, public vandalism, shooting – all sorts of crimes,” Johnson said.

But business owners are concerned about the potential impact on commercial enterprises.

“The ordinance doesn’t address the real problem – which is people drinking … at one event and then showing up in a bar or restaurant already hammered and causing problems anyway,” ” said Terri Ireland, representing the Idaho Falls Downtown Merchants Association. “The industry is really well-regulated by state and local laws already.”

The City of Idaho Falls began the process of updating its alcohol ordinance in January 2026, seeking input from community stakeholders.

Multiple community members spoke out about the ordinance.

For more in-depth information, you can read the full 39-page proposed alcohol ordinance here.

Source link