Idaho

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

Published

1 year 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.

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Idaho

Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Powerball, Pick 3 on April 20, 2026

Published

8 minutes ago

April 21, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Monday, April 20, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 20.

Winning Powerball numbers from April 20 drawing

09-17-36-47-64, Powerball: 26, Power Play: 3

Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 20 drawing

Day: 9-5-5

Night: 1-3-9

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 20 drawing

Day: 9-3-4-7

Night: 6-9-2-8

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Lotto America numbers from April 20 drawing

05-07-31-41-43, Star Ball: 07, ASB: 02

Check Lotto America payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Idaho Cash numbers from April 20 drawing

05-12-27-33-45

Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 20 drawing

19-37-40-41-53, Bonus: 02

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
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.

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Idaho

The Camas Prairie is Biblical Idaho

Published

12 hours ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

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

Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM

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Idaho

Idaho Lottery results: See winning numbers for Pick 3, Pick 4 on April 19, 2026

Published

1 day ago

April 20, 2026

Press Room

The results are in for the Idaho Lottery’s draw games on Sunday, April 19, 2026.

Here’s a look at winning numbers for each game on April 19.

Winning Pick 3 numbers from April 19 drawing

Day: 9-5-1

Night: 8-0-6

Check Pick 3 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Pick 4 numbers from April 19 drawing

Day: 2-7-0-3

Night: 4-3-3-3

Check Pick 4 payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Idaho Cash numbers from April 19 drawing

15-28-31-38-45

Check Idaho Cash payouts and previous drawings here.

Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from April 19 drawing

32-42-52-53-55, Bonus: 05

Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.

Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results

When are the Idaho Lottery drawings held ?

Powerball: 8:59 p.m. MT Monday, Wednesday and Saturday.
Mega Millions: 9 p.m. MT on Tuesday and Friday.
Pick 3: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Pick 4: 1:59 p.m. (Day) and 7:59 p.m. (Night) MT daily.
Lucky For Life: 8:35 p.m. MT Monday and Thursday.
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.

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