Emilie Ritter Saunders was StateImpact Idaho's multimedia reporter until the project merged with the Boise State Public Radio site in July 2013. She previously worked as the Capitol Bureau Chief for Montana Public Radio and was a Senior Fellow with NPR's Economic Training Project from 2009 until 2010. She graduated from the University of Montana School of Journalism in 2007.
More than a dozen states have put caps on payday loan interest rates, limiting and in some cases shutting down the industry in many states.
The pitch to cap rates in Idaho hasn’t been successful. Still, big banks have started offering short-term, high-interest loans to make up for the loss in the payday lending industry.
The Wall Street Journal this week summed up how those loans work, and which banks offer them. Continue Reading →
Capital Pressreports a record number of Idaho agriculture groups have applied for specialty crop grants.
The grants are financed through the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Since 2009, the Idaho Department of Agriculture reports more than $3.5 million in grants have gone to Idaho producers. Capital Press reports $1 million will be up for grabs in 2013.
“A total of 24 applications seeking $1.8 million were submitted in 2012 and 12 of the applications totaling $844,000 were approved. In 2011, 16 applications seeking $1.6 million were submitted and eight totaling $926,000 were approved.” – Capital Press Continue Reading →
Idaho is on the fast-track to create its own online health insurance exchange. This week, the newly-minted exchange board met for the first time and voted unanimously to hire a Portland consultant to head the project.
The Spokesman-Reviewreports the exchange board has voted to hire Amy Dowd as executive director. She has accepted the new job with a salary in the “$175,000 range.” Continue Reading →
Blue Mountain Local Studies / Flickr Creative Commons
Printing press circa 1910.
The Wall Street Journal and CareerCast.com came out with the top jobs of 2013list this week. They ranked 200 jobs based on things like income, stress and hiring outlook.
“Actuaries analyze the financial costs of risk and uncertainty. They use mathematics, statistics, and financial theory to assess the risk that an event will occur and to help businesses and clients develop policies that minimize the cost of that risk.” – BLS.gov Continue Reading →
The awards recognize work of the highest quality produced by radio, television and online news organizations around the world.
“For more than 40 years, the Edward R. Murrow Award has honored the best of electronic journalism,” said Mike Cavender, Executive Director of RTDNA. “This year’s winners represent the outstanding work being done in local newsrooms, which we are proud to recognize.” Continue Reading →
Last April, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter and and representatives of 15 Idaho companies traveled to China hoping to develop trade relationships. On Friday, Otter and 17 Idaho businesses will head to South Korea, Taiwan and Vietnam for a similar mission.
The trade mission targets countries where Idaho companies hope to maintain or forge partnerships, said Megan Ronk, Department of Commerce spokeswoman.
“We didn’t randomly establish where to go,” Ronk said. “Businesses give their input about key markets where there are strategic opportunities and where some support from the governor could make a difference.” Continue Reading →
Did you remember to include the use tax on your Idaho income tax form? Judging by the numbers, probably not. Idaho is one of 45 states that collects a use tax. But as NPR’s Planet Money reports, the vast majority of taxpayers don’t pay it.
There is one mistake, in particular, that lots of people made: They bought tax-free things online or in another state — and they failed to pay tax on their purchase in their home state.
It’s called a use tax. As far as I can tell, accountants and tax lawyers are some of the only people who pay it.
Forty-five states have a use tax. About 1.6 percent of the taxpayers in those 45 states actually pay the use tax. – NPR
In Idaho, that share of taxpayers is even less. According to the Idaho Tax Commission, just 1.36 percent of Idaho taxpayers paid the use tax last year. Continue Reading →
Boise's U.S. Bank building (left) is a fixture of the downtown skyline.
U.S. Bank executives and shareholders are en-route to Boise for their annual meeting. The Minneapolis-based bank’s shareholders are scheduled to gather on Boise State University’s campus at 11:00 a.m. Tuesday.
The Nationwrites the big bank moved its meeting some 1,400 miles west this year in part to avoid protesters and groups opposed to the bank’s policies.
[Last year] The event was dominated by shareholders and proxies who are members of Minnesotans for a Fair Economy, an alliance of community, faith and labor organizations working for a more equitable economy. Continue Reading →
More people moved to Idaho last year than left the Gem State. Still, driver's license data show more than 29,000 gave up their Idaho license in 2012. It's a real-time clue as to where Idahoans are going. We put that information on a map... Continue reading →
Idaho is on its way to building and operating a state-based health insurance exchange. The Legislature signed off on the state-run online insurance marketplace last month. Now, Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter has selected the 19-member board which will “set the rules and regulations for implementing” the exchange.
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