Roam Yocham / Boise State Public Radio
Another person in the Idaho House has tested positive for COVID-19 according to an email from the Speaker of the House’s office.
A notice sent Friday morning from MaryLou Molitor, chief of staff to Idaho House Speaker Scott Bedke (R-Oakley), did not say when the person tested positive for COVID-19, but noted that the exposure did not take place at the capitol building.
The Associated Press reports Rep. Bruce Skaug (R-Nampa) told them he tested positive for COVID-19 Friday morning.
A handful of staffers in the House and Senate have tested positive for COVID-19 throughout the session, as well as two state senators, one of whom was hospitalized.
11:46
This year has been challenging for public school teachers navigating the pandemic. As the Idaho Legislature picks up speed in it’s final few weeks this session, we take a look at policy through the lens of educators.
The Idaho Education Association is calling attention to what they say is a lack of funding for public education and continued problems with retaining qualified teachers.
Idaho Matters spoke with IEA President Layne McInelly about bills making their way through the legislature this session, and the resilience public school teachers have shown through COVID-19.
The legislation would also remove any “gun-free zone” signs displayed on school property.
“To me, that’s a big target for would-be shooters,” said Rep. Chad Christensen (R-Iona), who’s sponsoring the bill.
“Hey, come into this school and shoot us up. There’s no guns here, there’s no resistance here. We’ll let you do what you want. Come on in and kill our children,” Christensen said of the signs.
The bill passed out of committee along party lines Tuesday morning over the objections of law enforcement and education lobbying groups.
Karen Echevarria, who heads the Idaho School Boards Association, pointed out that some schools already allow teachers and staff to carry guns.
1:02
Several Republicans voted against the proposal because they don’t think it goes far enough. Hemp would still be illegal unless you hold a permit to grow, process or ship the plant.
Rep. Dorothy Moon (R-Stanley) has tried to legalize hemp for years. She said she appreciates the attempt, but that she can’t support the bill as-is.
“Their heart is in the right place, but again, the cart is way ahead of the actual horse here,” Moon said.
The bill’s sponsor, Rep. Clark Kauffman (R-Filer), acknowledged that it might not be what everyone wants.
“Though it may be seen as a bit constricting, it’s a lot less constricting than what we have now, which is no production,” Kauffman said.
20:42
Last week the Idaho House killed a bill that would allow the State Board of Education to receive nearly $6 million in federal grants for early childhood education and child care. A group of mostly women protested this rejection and are trying to pressure the legislature to change their mind and accept the grant funding. But what kind of programs are dependent on this money? And how do these programs contribute to improving education in Idaho?
Idaho Matters talks with three people who help manage early education collaboratives in the state: Wendy Johnson from Kuna, Felice Otero with the United Way of Eastern Idaho, and Andrew Metzer with the West Central Mountains Economic Development Council. Idaho Statesman opinion editor Scott McIntosh also joins the show to talk about the politics behind the legislature s resistence to accepting this funding.