Opinion

The national debt has been increasing under both Democrats and Republicans since the 1980s. We cannot go on spending an increasing share of our tax dollars on interest payments.

The Payette Lake Watershed Advisory Group (WAG) heard a presentation from the Idaho State Department of Agriculture that an herbicide will be applied to the waters of Payette Lake near North Beach in an attempt to eradicate Eurasian Milfoil. To date, there has been little communication with the public regarding the overpopulation of milfoil in Payette Lake. For years the public was aware of mechanical removal of the weed by divers and a barge. The county commissioners were briefed about the critical milfoil situation in November and the city heard the presentation at a city council meeting on April 24.

The chaos in government caused by Trump’s and Musk’s “Thugocracy” strategy designed to befuddle us is disconcerting, difficult to follow, and upsetting. Thugocrat describes Trump approach to bargaining by threat, inuendo, lies, and illegally using force in the guise of national emergencies. Trump’s and Musk’s behavior reminds me of the quote from His Burial Too by Catherine Aird, “If…you can’t be a good example, then you’ll just have to be a horrible warning.” Being a horrible warning is the only thing Trump and his incompetent minions appear to be able to do with any degree of competence.

In spite of prior assurances, Medicaid is on the chopping block this week in the House Committee on Energy and Commerce, tasked by the Trump… Login to continue reading Login…

Our government exists to serve the people. But another legislative session ruled by the Republican supermajority showed exactly what happens when one party has unchecked power for too long: extremist policies that hurt families and kids.

In 2024, the Roots Forest School celebrated its tenth year of preschool education and access in Ponderosa State Park. Now, an eviction notice has been posted for the program following its 2026 season. Upper leadership in the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation cited financial motivation for the decision and conflict regarding the overnight presence of Roots as a program not open to the public.

Like so many of you, I set a resolution each new year. It’s usually something I want to accomplish or something I want to work on. It’s a time to set a goal to work towards, and hopefully, put me on the right path for the rest of the year. Each new year at the Idaho Legislature, we also make resolutions. We enter the Statehouse with ideas for change and plans for making this great state better for our families and communities.

This letter to the editor is long overdue.

As we look ahead to the renewal of McCall’s Streets Local Option Tax (Streets LOT) this May, I want to take a moment to share with you the thoughtful and deliberate process that the City Council has undertaken in considering the future of this important ballot question.