Everyone has been touched, in one way or another, by suicide. This is a health issue in Idaho, a mental health issue. Whether it is the immediate family, extended family or friends, co-workers or fellow students, the survivors experience a range of complex grief reactions including guilt, anger, abandonment, denial, helplessness and shock. We need Read more about Suicide hurts us all: prevention and awareness[…]
March Madness isn’t just for college basketball! Activity in Boise has ramped up a bit, as the Legislature scurries to adjourn before Easter. While there still are numerous bills to receive a hearing, others await committee action or a vote from the House or Senate. This article will focus on legislation that has recently passed Read more about See how your legislators voted on these key issues[…]
If you were injured in a car accident, would you ask the ambulance driver to take you to jail or to the hospital? Clearly, we would all choose medical attention. When mental illness is part of the crisis situation, however, the choices in Idaho haven’t been so clear-cut until recently. In 2014, Idaho established its Read more about Mental health scorecard can help guide voters[…]
Remember when we wrote checks and our driver’s license number was required to verify that you were really you? It was easy to recall, since it happened to be your Social Security number. It was a different time then and identity theft not so common. This column explores Idaho’s recent legislative responses concerning the federal Read more about Better ID? You bet[…]
If you’re like me and had the recent experience of renewing your vehicle registration, you saw a new line item of $21 to help pay for needed highway projects. HB 312 passed last year, so I knew this was coming. In addition to the registration increase, the state gas tax was increased 7 cents (from Read more about Highway improvements: Pay now or pay much more later[…]
One of the most important issues our state legislators are asked to address every year is the education of our children. As conservatives, we believe this is as it should be. Education is better addressed by the state and by local school districts, rather than a far-off federal government. Local communities get to make sure Read more about Education funding bill showed big differences[…]
This week, we wanted to focus once again on education, but rather than pick out a single piece of legislation, we thought we would discuss several. As you read along, it will become clear why. Over the last several years, Gov. Butch Otter has come out with a list of critical legislative priorities that will Read more about Education improvement: Yes or NO?[…]