Teachers, Logging, Nukes

There has been surprisingly little commentary on Supt. Luna’s plan to pay teachers more in exchange for their contract rights, but groups of teachers are starting to meet, like this group in Lewiston, and they are not too happy about it…

Also, a state written roadless plan that was widely praised during the Risch admin is finally released, and, surprise, it doesn’t look so good to enviros now. Risch, meanwhile, has been in DC with Craig. And a nuke plant meeting in Payette draws 400 people. 400.


North Idaho teachers not psyched about Luna’s plan to break the union. Sen. Gary Schroeder: “The bonuses, it’s all fluff, like off a cottonwood tree. The real tree is the continuing contracts.” Interesting that the NEA not the IEA is running the meetings with teachers and working on the plan… Ferguson. LMT.

Does state roadless plan open up 2/3 of roadless areas to logging or just 1 percent? Was Risch’s plan, heralded by environmentalists a year ago, as tight as thought. Barker. Lewiston Tribune. And Dvorak. AP in Times-News. And Kauffman in the Mountain Express has info on public comments.

Nuke plant meeting draws 400. Few questions answered. Barker. Statesman.

Denney urges short session in letter to committee chairmen. Deja vu. Druzin. Statesman.

Craig dam rider yanked from spending bill. Christensen. Times-News. And Barker. Statesman.

Idaho Democratic Party Chairman Richard Stallings is stepping down, effective immediately. To, er, spend more time with his family. Dvorak. AP in Times-News.

Idaho chambers of commerce will pursue different agendas at the ’08 Legislature. Carlson. IBR.

Thayn, Little, Bilbao speak at Gem Co. chamber meeting. Thayn talks about 10-year graduation system that would allow student to go to college early. Harmon. Messenger-Index (partial story).

One in four Idahoans is obese. Davis. Standard Journal.

South Central Public Health encouraging breast feeding among employees and clients. 85 percent of mothers in Idaho start out breast feeding, but only about 21 percent keep it up for a year. Poppino. Times-News.

Washington Post spots Sen. Craig showing Lt. Gov. Risch around the US Capitol, introducing him as the next senator from Idaho. Craig will spend the holidays in Pasadena checking out the Rose Bowl Parade, to “see where the floats are made.” Akers and Kane. Wash Post (final item in story).

Moscow’s decision to grant health benefits to domestic partners of city employees made wider news this morning with hits in the gay press and in Seattle. It’s being played as a challenge to the state’s gay marriage ban, approved by voters last year, but Moscow City Attorney Randall Fife says the city is not making decisions domestic partners, but on its private insurance plan.

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