First, it is important to be crystal clear – KEA has a deal with the IRS to stay out of partisan political elections. That way, your donations to our organization are tax deductible. We are scrupulously careful about this – for our financial well-being and the well-being of our donors. However, we are allowed to [...]
Sunshine week is an annual awareness campaign organized by the American Association of News Editors and sponsored by dozens of impressive organizations interested in open and transparent government. The week is intended to draw attention to open records laws and open meetings laws that can be used in the public interest. Indeed, open government is [...]
As the lame duck session of the U.S. Congress draws to a close, Idaho's Senators threw some wild punches today and come away with nothing but embarrassment. First, as the final debate of the START treaty got underway this afternoon, Senator Crapo brings up, of all things, the issue of wolves. From Washington Post reporter [...]
The inevitable lawsuit has been filed in Kootenai County District Court regarding the absurd annexation of the Powderhorn peninsula by the tiny city of Harrison. Recall that in September, Harrison, a city of 300 or so residents, moved to annex land across the open waters of the Coeur d'Alene River for a massive gated-community golf [...]
Leave it to Butch Otter to actually follow through on what should have been an empty threat. Today, Butch Otter decided to end Idaho's role in wolf management. For the time being, at least. Unless it's a purely political move, the directive is completely baffling, no matter which side of the debate you're on. Even the [...]
As required by the Clean Water Act, the Department of Environmental Quality has just issued its draft "Integrated Report" on the state of water quality in the State of Idaho. The utter failure of Idaho to do necessary water quality monitoring is probably the most glaring finding. According to the draft report, of 5747 distinct [...]
Yet another monstrous and ill-advised development proposal is approaching approval, this time in nearby Bonner County. The proposal would place more than a thousand housing units on 12,000 acres just north of Kelso Lake and the Kootenai County line. Called “Clagstone Meadows,” the sudden city is proposed for Stimson Lumber timberland northwest of [...]
Yesterday, the Cougar Bay Osprey Association received yet another rejection letter from its least favorite correspondent, the Idaho Department of Lands. This time the letter came through their attorney in the Idaho Attorney General’s office. The letter affirmed the Department’s outright rejection of the application to protect the pilings and booms in Cougar Bay for [...]
We got word last night that the City of Harrison, a town of fewer than 300 people, will be annexing the Powderhorn peninsula for a development of more than 1000 homes. Seemingly hell-bent on their own destruction, the Harrison City Council voted 4 to 1 in favor of the annexation. The unprecedented annexation will connect [...]
As if the Idaho Department of Lands (IDL) knew that the Save Cougar Bay campaign was gathering a head of steam, the Department, we learned yesterday, returned the application submitted by the Osprey Protective Association for a permit to simply protect the pilings and booms in Cougar Bay. This is the second time the agency [...]
