The Idaho Department of Education has signed on with a new on-line program designed to help students statewide improve their math skills.

Tom Luna, state superintendent of public instruction, announced the new program Monday. He says the department has signed a contract with Apangea Learning Incorporated, a Pittsburgh-based company, to provide math instruction and tutoring services to students struggling with the subject.

The company’s program is called SmartHelp math and is being used in schools in more than 20 states nationwide to supplement class work, help teach problem solving skills and motivate students to achieve in math. Luna says the contract is the latest component to the Idaho Math Initiative, a legislative-approved project aimed at providing teachers more tools to bolster math achievement at all grade levels.
(AP)

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter and First Lady Lori Otter will be at a state liquor store in Boise Monday to kick off a program designed to warn women of the dangers of drinking while pregnant.

The Fetal Alcohol Warning Program will distribute signs for vendors, bar owners and retailers who serve or sell alcoholic beverages. Rep. Liz Chavez, D-Lewiston, championed the program as an opportunity to remind parents to make appropriate lifestyle choices.

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome can occur when a woman drinks alcohol during her pregnancy, and it can cause growth deficiencies, facial abnormalities, central nervous system impairment, behavioral disorders and impaired intellectual development.

(AP)

The battle to lead the Idaho Republican Party has been joined, with Rod Beck officially declaring his candidacy against Chairman Kirk Sullivan. Beck, a former Idaho state senator and majority leader, has been at odds with Sullivan over an effort to close the state’s currently open GOP primary. Beck wants to close it, arguing the existing system allows ballot-hopping Democrats and Independents to elect more moderate candidates who aren’t committed to Republican ideals. He accuses Sullivan of not faithfully carrying out a state Republican Party rule to close the primary, saying “he’s completely ignored the wishes of the central committee.” The election will be held at the GOP convention in the north Idaho city of Sandpoint next month.
(AP)

A Boise man is suing the state, asking Idaho’s highest court to put him back on the primary ballot as a state Senate candidate. Democrat Matt Yost planned to run for the District 15 Senate seat against incumbent Republican Senator John Andreason. But Yost was disqualified by the Secretary of State’s office after learning that he wasn’t a registered voter in the district for a full year before filing to run. Secretary of State Ben Ysursa maintains that the state Constitution requires the one-year registration prior to running. But Yost, who was a registered voter in Gooding before he made the move, believes that interpretation is wrong. With the primary election next month, Yost says he wants the Idaho Supreme Court to intervene as soon as possible.
(AP)

Idaho’s first methadone-maintenance clinic has opened in Meridian to help people with drug addictions maintain productive lives. The Center for Behavioral Health opened earlier this month and has 10 patients so far. The center helps addicts by allowing them to use methadone with the goals of eventually weaning them off opiates. Previously, Idaho patients were forced to drive to methadone clinics in Ontario, Oregon and Ogden, Utah, because the state had banned such clinics. Idaho lawmakers changed the law during the 2007 Legislative session at the request of the center’s owners, the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare, and the Idaho state Board of Pharmacy. Idaho Drug Czar Debbie Field had also asked for the change, saying the clinic would offer a brighter future for people who are recovering from addictions. (AP)

Idaho Gov. Butch Otter has vetoed the only measure that lawmakers approved this year to eliminate an existing tax break. 

The measure sought to repeal a 5 percent tax credit for research activities by businesses.  However, Otter says it was “inconsistent” to repeal the break at the same time that Idaho’s enacting new tax relief for businesses from the property tax on business equipment. 

Repealing the research credit would have gained the state $1.4 million in tax revenue. 

The bill was one of just two that passed after a summer interim legislative committee recommended a sweeping review of dozens of Idaho’s existing tax breaks to see if they’re still appropriate - the House tax committee refused to consider reviewing most of them. 

Two other tax break repeals did clear the House committee this year.  One, for broadband investments, was pulled back by its sponsor before the full House could vote on it.  The other passed, but it was for a never-used incentive that had been designed to benefit the Albertson’s grocery store chain. 

(Spokesman-Review)

Idaho Governor Butch Otter says the recently adjourned legislative session in Boise was a mixed bag of good and bad. The governor was unsatisfied with the failure by lawmakers to make progress in working to fund the state’s $240 million shortfall in future transportation needs. Otter blamed a revenue downturn for sideswiping his plan to increase state worker salaries as well as scholarships for college students. Otter also expressed disappointment in himself, saying he could have done a better job of communicating his message with Republican members of the legislature. The governor says the nearly 3 month-long session did produce good results. He lauded the deal reached to increase the rebates on grocery taxes and was pleased that differences on north Idaho field burning were settled.

The Idaho Senate and House have come to an initial agreement on how much of a break to give businesses on the tax they pay on equipment, paving the way for an expected end to the legislative session on Wednesday. 

The agreement was hammered out in a special conference committee made up of three senators and three House members. 

The new bill exempts the first $100,000 of equipment in each county for businesses and does not go into effect unless state revenues grow by 5 percent. 

The House and Senate must still vote on the compromise, but the bill is expected to pass.