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.
Albertsons says it doesn’t have store closures to announce after a $3.3 billion deal was finalized last week to reunite the brand that was split in 2006.
The Idaho Statesmanreports the company did lay off seven workers as part of restructuring. Albertsons LLC, owned by Cerberus Capital Management, purchased 877 stores from the Minnesota grocery giant Supervalu.
The February jobs report from the Idaho Department of Labor follows trends we’ve seen over the last few months. February’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate ticked down one percentage point to 6.2 percent, but that decline is due to a shrinking workforce.
The Labor Department says private sector employers hired more people than usual last month, but total employment dropped by 400.
The decline to less than 774,000 in the statewide workforce – the combination of employed workers and those actively looking for jobs – has become a concern since Idaho appears to be generating jobs faster than the national economy. Continue Reading →
Idaho lawmakers fundamentally opposed to the federal health care law made a final effort to convince their colleagues to reject a state-based health insurance exchange, but to no avail. The bill which will create a state-based online insurance marketplace passed the Senate 23-12, sending the measure to Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter who is sure to sign it into law.
In a statement released shortly after the vote, Gov. Otter praised the Legislature for their work on passing his plan. Continue Reading →
Boise’s hometown grocery store is expected to be back under one umbrella Thursday at midnight, according to an Albertsons LLC spokesperson. Supervalu’s sale of Albertsons stores to Cerberus Capital Management will reunite the brands that were split in 2006.
In January, Supervalu announced it was selling all Albertsons, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s and Star Market stores in a $3.3 billion deal to Cerberus, the investment firm that purchased some of the Albertsons stores in 2006.
The Idaho Statesmanreported the sale includes 877 stores, 33 of which are in Idaho.
It’s unclear what changes will be made to the stores under new ownership. Last week the Idaho Business Reviewreported there will be layoffs as part of restructuring, but few details were given. Continue Reading →
A fast-tracked bill that would repeal the personal property tax for nearly 90 percent of Idaho businesses passed the House 67-2 the same day it was unanimously pushed through committee. Representatives Shirley Ringo (D-Latah) and John Gannon (D-Boise) cast the only votes against the measure.
Rep. Gannon said he couldn’t support the bill because $20 million in state general fund dollars will now be used to pay for the forgone tax revenue, money Gannon says should instead be used to fund schools.
“The voters have repeatedly said they want the public schools supported,” Gannon said. He referenced the 36 of 41 public school levies approved by voters earlier this month, which will collectively increase property tax collections by more than $100 million. Continue Reading →
Idaho’s January jobless rate didn’t change from December. It remained at 6.3 percent according to the Idaho Department of Labor.
December and January’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 6.3 is a four-year low, but Idaho’s workforce isn’t adding jobs as expected. The Department says Idaho’s labor force actually declined in January. Continue Reading →
But economist Mike Ferguson says it’s not that simple. To get a true sense of where Idaho stands economically, Ferguson says, it’s important to look at where Idaho has been, and what’s going on in our neighboring states.
Ferguson directs the Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy. Before that, he was Idaho’s chief economist for 25 years working under six different governors. As StateImpact has reported over the last two years, Ferguson is critical of Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s economic development policies, particularly cutbacks in state funding of public services.
Ferguson packaged his concerns in a speech to Boise’s City Club this week. We’ve posted the full audio of his talk here: Continue Reading →
After seven hours of debate, Idaho House lawmakers voted 41-29 to pass a bill that would give Idaho control over building and maintaining an online insurance marketplace.
One of the final comments during the House debate came from Rep. Lenore Hardy Barrett (R-Custer) who said, “Unless you’ve got something really important to say, let my people go.” Barrett was one of the 29 House members to vote against the state-based health insurance exchange.
The online insurance marketplace is a cornerstone of President Obama’s health care law. Idaho Governor C.L. “Butch” Otter has committed the state to building its own exchange, but that requires legislative approval. Continue Reading →
Sen. Brent Hill and Rep. Scott Bedke talked with Idaho Press Club members over lunch on Tuesday.
Could the Idaho House of Representatives be in for a marathon debate tomorrow over the latest state-based health insurance exchange proposal? If what happened during Senate debate on a similar proposal is any indication, then yes.
Last month, the Senate passed Gov. C.L. “Butch” Otter’s plan to create an online insurance marketplace, or health insurance exchange, in a 23-12 vote after nearly six hours of debate. Since then, an alternate bill that gives the Legislature more oversight of the exchange has gotten initial approval in a House committee. It’s up for debate in front of the full chamber tomorrow morning.
House Speaker Scott Bedke (R-Oakley) says he doesn’t plan to limit debate. “We’re going to start around 9:30 and go ’til we’re done,” he says. “I think this is an issue that needs to be vetted.” Continue Reading →
About StateImpact
StateImpact seeks to inform and engage local communities with broadcast and online news focused on how state government decisions affect your lives. Learn More »
