The ALICE Report: seeking solutions to Idaho’s struggling workforce
The report's revelations underscore a worrying reality: a staggering 43% of the Treasure Valley's workforce struggle to make ends meet.
Scoggin Capital, Duck Club Entertainment purchase historic El Korah Shrine
BOISE – Duck Club Entertainment and Scoggin Capital Investment announced the purchase of the historic El Korah Shrine building, located at 1118 W Idaho St. in downtown Boise. Duck Club, the creators of Treefort Music Fest, plans to utilize the venue to offer an all-ages space to attend shows featuring local and touring musicians, and hold community and private events. The organization has uti[...]
Lewiston High School students discover new aquatic invader
A Lewiston High School teacher and two of her former students recently became published authors in a peer-reviewed scientific journal based on their discovery while participating in a University of Idaho Extension citizens’ science program. For the past seven years, UI Extension’s IDAH20 program has provided hands-on learning opportunities for Lewiston High School teacher Jamie Morton’s e[...]
ISDA to host National Agriculture Day at state capitol
Boise, Idaho - The Idaho State Department of Agriculture will host a celebration for National Agriculture Day Tuesday, March 21 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the State Capitol Building. There will be a display recognizing Idaho agriculture on the second floor of the rotunda. It is an opportunity to learn more about Idaho agriculture and the impact our state has on today’s food system. Join th[...]
Idaho group grants academic scholarships to 15 veterans
BOISE -- Fifteen veterans received $1,000 each last week to support their educational goals as part of the Idaho Veterans Academic Grant Unification (IVAGU). The winners were recognized during an awards ceremony held at the Boise State Alumni Center. The IVAGU is the result of collaboration between the Idaho Veterans Network, Military Order of the Purple Heart Chief Joseph Chapter 509, Ride[...]
AGENDA BOISE: Metro Chamber advocates for business initiatives
[caption id="attachment_289915" align="alignright" width="300"] Boise Metro Chamber of Commerce headquarters. Photo courtesy of Boise Metro Chamber[/caption] The Boise Metro Chamber is encouraging its members and the general public to contact their legislators to help maintain Idaho’s place as one of the most business-friendly states in the nation. The Chamber, in a recent meeting, asked i[...]
USDA aims to boost independent meat packers with $59 million in grants
The U.S. Department of Agriculture beefed up its efforts to encourage competition in domestic meat and poultry supply chains on Tuesday, awarding close to $59 million in federal grants to independent processors from Idaho, Virginia, South Carolina, South Dakota and Maryland. Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack announced the funding awards during a trip to Shenandoah Valley Organic LLC’s facil[...]
Idaho legislator introduces new bills to remove hospital tax exemptions
A first-year legislator is pushing a new bill in the Idaho Legislature that would give local county commissions the authority to remove the property tax exemptions in place for hospitals. Rep. Josh Tanner, R-Eagle, also is sponsoring a second new bill that would immediately remove the property tax exemption for a hospital’s outlying administrative and medical facilities that are not a part of[...]
St. Luke’s cuts 2% of workforce as COVID relief wanes but costs remain high
[caption id="attachment_289407" align="alignnone" width="600"] Boise St. Luke's exterior. Photo by Pete Grady Photography[/caption] St. Luke’s Health system announced Wednesday that it plans to cut its workforce by 2% by April. It has already eliminated about 150 jobs through attrition, but it will now lay off nearly 200 employees over the next two months. St. Luke’s employs more than 16[...]
$8,500 workforce training grant bill squeaks through Idaho House on close vote
Following the longest floor debate of the year on Monday, a divided Idaho House of Representatives narrowly passed a bill that would provide $8,500 workforce training grants to Idaho high school graduates to put toward career training. Legislators spent more than two hours debating House Bill 24 straight through their lunch hour before voting 36-34 to pass the bill. Had just one of the 70 mem[...]
Idaho was second-fastest growing state in the US in 2022
[caption id="attachment_278713" align="alignnone" width="600"] Welcome to Idaho sign at the state border. Image from depositphotos.com[/caption] Fueled still by an influx of people moving from other states, Idaho was the second-fastest growing state in the country in 2022, with a population that nearly reached 2 million people for the first time in July, according to the latest U.S. Census Bure[...]
Why St. Luke’s made its own HMO-style insurance plan for Idaho
St. Luke’s Health System grew rapidly over the past decade — acquiring and making deals with Idaho and Oregon medical practices and hospitals. As it grew, St. Luke’s executives described a master plan to curb the costs of health care — and to ensure that care actually makes people healthier. One milestone in that plan arrived last fall: a new insurance company called St. Luke’s Health[...]