News Roundup

Here are top stories from Monday Feb 13th through Thursday Feb 16th...

Caldwell School Board Pauses Transgender Policy Rollout

Source - KIVI News 6

The prior meeting received national attention when school board members abruptly ended the meeting due to concerns of possible violence. On Monday, the meeting resumed without incident but the board opted to pause implementing the controversial policy that would allow biological males to use female restrooms. The policy is not unique to Caldwell but comes from the Idaho School Boards Association who advises adoption rather than face possible federal lawsuits. State Superintendent Critchfield has echoed that position whereas AG Raul Labrador has stated that the policy violates state and federal law.

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Want to know more about your County or City budget?

Source: LocalTransparency.Idaho.Gov

The Idaho State Controller, Brandon Woolf, announced on Tuesday a new tool in government transparency. This new website allows citizens to drill down into counties, cities and special districts to see their budgets, expenses and payroll information. A similar tool already exists for state inquiries.

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Answers Still Elusive Over Balloon Episodes

Source: Idaho Capital Sun

There have now been four incidents where balloons and/or other unidentified objects were shot down over North America. Alaska, Canada and Lake Huron in Michigan ensued from the original balloon that crossed the continental US before being shot down over the Atlantic. Defenders of the Biden Administration have claimed that similar episodes happened during the Trump Administration but Trump denies that. Meanwhile, details of the latest objects have been scant and questions still remain about when the initial CCP balloon was first tracked and why it was allowed to remain days after Biden himself ordered it to be shot down. Biden gave a briefing Thursday afternoon confirming the incidents but he did not take questions from the press.

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Legislation Round Up

A look at the most talked about legislation that has passed its original committee. Bills on grocery and property tax reforms are top of mind with many Idahoans but have yet to move out of committee. Before it becomes law, a bill must:

• Pass a print hearing in a committee

• Pass the committee

• Pass a floor vote

• Pass the committee in the other house

• Pass a floor vote in the other house

• Be signed by the Governor (in rare cases, it can be passed over a Governor’s veto)