As 2012 draws to a close, we took a look back at some of the stories we think are worth another read or a second listen.
Why Idaho’s Doctor Shortage Won’t Be Easy To Solve: Idaho has fewer doctors per capita than every state in the country except one. Why? That simple question led us down the path of several weeks of reporting to get at a nuanced answer. Check out this collection of posts which include an interactive map, data and the story of one Idaho doctor that fights the statistics.
The Times Square ball prepares for a New Years Eve drop.
The end of December is always a great time to reflect on the past year. That’s just what we’ve been doing at StateImpact Idaho. We looked back at some of the posts you clicked on and shared the most. We’ve created a top 10 countdown of our most popular posts from 2012, in raw numbers. Take a walk down memory lane with us, and maybe you’ll find a few stories you missed over the last year.
North Idaho lawmaker Shawn Keough just started her 9th term in the Idaho Legislature. For 18 years she’s been representing Idaho’s 1st Senate District, that’s Bonner and Boundary Counties. Keough, a Senate Republican, has spent much of her tenure on the Legislature’s main budget committee, JFAC.
In advance of the legislative session that starts Jan. 7, we spoke with Sen. Keough about issues sure to rise to the top; education, taxes, and health care.
Q: What are your priorities this session?
A: We need to have a continued look, and do not lose sight of where we are with our state revenue. There is a level of service that the public expects. It doesn’t matter, one philosophical bent, if someone wants to get out of their driveway to get to work, and the road isn’t plowed, we hear from them. Continue Reading →
Ahead of Idaho’s legislative session we sat down with some key lawmakers to ask about issues we’ve been following here at StateImpact Idaho over the last 18 months. We’re also looking at some of the issues that are sure to be debated once the gavel falls on Jan. 7, opening day.
We begin with Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett. She’s a long time Ketchum resident and was just reelected to her 2nd term in the Legislature.
We asked Sen. Stennett about Idaho’s personal property business tax. It’s long been a foe of business and industry groups. This session lawmakers may decide to start phasing the tax out. But some are concerned, especially local governments, about how to make up for that lost revenue.
Q: Should Idaho get rid of the personal property tax? If so, how could that happen? Continue Reading →
Since 2008, Idaho has steadily climbed up the volunteerism ranks, landing in this latest ranking as the second most civically engaged and volunteer-ready state in the country.
Corporation for National and Community Service
Click on the map to enlarge.
The annual Volunteering and Civic Life in America report from the Corporation for National and Community Service measures things like total volunteer hours in each state, the number of people who volunteer, the percentage of people who eat dinner as a family, and percentage of people who spend time talking about political issues. Continue Reading →
The Post Registerreports Battelle Energy Alliance plans to cut at least 300 jobs at the Idaho National Laboratory.
Battelle, the contract company in charge of INL, could cut up to 450 jobs.
Budget constraints, increased daily costs and a need to remain competitive have prompted Battelle, the contractor in charge of INL, to reduce the workforce.
“When we take actions like this, a lot of thought and planning goes into it,” Human Resources Director Mark Holubar said. “We do not take this lightly.”
Employees can apply for voluntary separation through Jan. 9, Holubar said.
“There are always people who are considering other options,” Holubar said. “This will give them the opportunity to exit the lab and take the pressure off those involuntarily leaving.” – Post Register
The Post Register reports the job cuts will include all areas of the lab, including administrative and engineering positions.
Last year, Battelle cut more than 150 jobs at INL. That doesn’t include people who left voluntarily.
Job seekers wait in line to speak with potential employers.
Idaho’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped from 7 percent to 6.8 percent in November. That’s the lowest Idaho’s jobless rate has been in three and a half years.
The Idaho Department of Labor says most Idaho counties, 36 of 44, posted jobless rate declines from October to November.
Total employment was up last month, with more than 722,000 Idahoans employed. But more Idahoans continue to drop out of the labor force. The Labor Department reports at least 52,400 Idahoans are jobless. Continue Reading →
Idaho gained nearly 12,000 between July 2011 and July 2012. That’s according to new data released today by the U.S. Census Bureau.
Idaho’s addition of 11,984 people is less than a percentage, .8, of growth over the last year. That ranks Idaho 24th among states.
This is in contrast to the growth Idaho experienced over the first half of the last decade. Idaho’s population grew by more than 20 percent from 2000 to 2010. That more than doubles the national growth rate over the same time period. Continue Reading →
Boise continues to rank near the top in a survey of 100 U.S. cities’ economic recoveries. That’s thanks mainly to its home price improvement since the depths of the downturn.
The report, published by The Brookings Institution, evaluates cities’ economies as of the third quarter, from July to September of this year. It ranks Boise number five.
Boise’s home prices have improved by 7.5 percent since their post-recession low point, the second best rate of home price improvement posted by any city included in the report. The city’s gross metropolitan product — better understood as its total output of goods and services — has grown by more than 9 percent. The city ranks 21st on that measure. Continue Reading →
In some cases, office supplies like this stapler are taxed.
The Idaho State Tax Commission has published a comprehensive report detailing the state’s personal property tax. The 51-page report offers a clear picture of just how reliant some city and county governments have become on the business equipment tax.
The report is significant, since many lawmakers say the coming legislative session will include heavy debate of whether the state should begin scaling back the tax or phasing it out.
The Tax Commission’s report shows the personal property tax is expected to bring in almost $141 million in 2012.
You can read much more about Idaho’s personal property tax, including arguments for and against getting rid of the tax, right here.
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