Ruth Brown

www.investigatewest.org/watchdog-ida...

Idaho law requires teens to seek parental consent for suicide hotline Idaho 988 Director Lee Flinn said in most cases, the minor hangs up because “they feel like they can’t do that.”

Idaho 988 Director Lee Flinn said in most cases, the minor hangs up because “they feel like they can’t do that.”

Homeland Security’s ‘welfare’ check on Idaho migrant students raises school privacy questions In other parts of the country, the welfare checks have resulted in children being taken out of their homes and put back into government custody

NEW: How Homeland Security’s “welfare checks” on migrant students have triggered fear and legal questions in Idaho.

State Public Defense adopts policy on capital defense guidelines  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports   The Idaho State Public Defender’s Office has adopted a policy on minimum qualifications to be a capital qualified death penalty attorney, after a change in state law may...

The State Public Defender’s Office has adopted a policy on minimum qualifications to be a capital qualified death penalty attorney, after a change in state law may increase the number of death penalty cases in Idaho. #idpol blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/07/30/s...

3,000 Idahoans with disabilities on waitlist for Voc Rehab services - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  More than 3,000 Idahoans with disabilities await vocational rehabilitation services from the state, though the agency’s interim administrator reported this week that they...

@idahoreports.org is off the air in the summer, but we still keep tabs on a few key issues. Idaho's Voc Rehab is making progress toward addressing its waitlist this year #idleg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/07/24/3...

He Was Accused of Killing His Wife. Idaho’s Coroner System Let Clues Vanish After a Previous Wife’s Death. Clayton Strong had a history of domestic unrest in two marriages. The women’s families say a more thorough investigation of Betty Strong’s death in Idaho might have saved the life of his next wife, Sh...

This story by @audreydutton.bsky.social is incredible for many reasons, including that it contains someone willing to admit they were wrong: "Funke said the story of Betty Strong’s death needs to be told, even if it shows that he and Idaho County made mistakes" www.propublica.org/article/idah...

No decision yet from Idaho Supreme Court leaves abortion ballot initiative group in the lurch • Idaho Capital Sun It’s been more than 30 days since an Idaho Supreme Court hearing over the language of a 2026 reproductive rights ballot initiative.

It’s been more than 30 days since a hearing in a conflict over the language of a proposed 2026 reproductive rights ballot initiative, but with no decision yet from the Idaho Supreme Court, the group leading the push to restore abortion access in Idaho says the delay is hurting organizing efforts.

Are you dually enrolled in Medicaid and Medicare? Here's what to know on Idaho switching contractors • Idaho Capital Sun Starting June 1, the companies running Idaho Medicaid and Medicare’s plans will change to Molina Healthcare and UnitedHealthcare.

Starting June 1, the private health insurance companies running Idaho Medicaid and Medicare’s plans will change to Molina Healthcare and UnitedHealthcare.

IDOC pauses all executions to build firing squad chamber  - Idaho Reports by Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  The Idaho Department of Correction has put a pause on

Details on how IDOC carries out the executions are left to the director. So, there's still a lot we don't know about what kind of firing squad would be used #idleg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/05/27/i...

As of April 23, Idaho had 13 attorneys who are qualified to be lead counsel on a capital case. There were 382 charges of lewd conduct with a child under the age of 16 filed in 2024. So, if even a fraction become capital cases, they will need capital qualified attorneys

Demand for capital defense attorneys may soon skyrocket in Idaho - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports   Earlier this year, Idaho Legislators passed a bill to allow

NEW: Prosecutors won’t necessarily seek the death penalty as punishment against every person who is charged with lewd conduct with a minor under 12, but the defense attorneys will have an obligation to begin preparing as if it were. #idleg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/05/09/d...

Tobin Bolter family disavows new nonprofit — its leader has a long criminal past The president of a newly formed nonprofit honoring an Ada County Sheriff’s deputy killed in the line of duty last year has an extensive criminal record and multiple accusations of refusing to pay debt...

Bolter's widow and family withdrew their support after I contacted them on Tuesday to see if they knew about Samuel Ferrell's criminal history

Some measles response plans crash to a halt after Trump cuts Cities and states fighting a historic measles outbreak find themselves undermined by the Trump administration as they struggle to provide crucial vaccinations and overcome disinformation. As of this w...

Measles cases are on track to reach a 34-year high as vaccine hesitancy spreads and funding cuts imperil state responses.

via @stateline.org
www.newsfromthestates.com/article/some...

Changes to parental rights law not taken up in House  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports   A fix to health care availability for children without parental

As we look at what the Legislature did this year, you can also look at what didn't get done. The House never took up the parental rights bill fixes. #IDLeg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/04/04/c...

Two versions of new medical freedom act still alive after Gov’s veto  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  Two competing versions of a bill called the Idaho Medical

Two competing versions of a bill called the Idaho Medical Freedom Act are floating through the statehouse as of Wednesday, and it’s unclear which one might make it through both chambers. #idleg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/04/02/t...

Senate introduces new medical freedom bill after Governor’s veto  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports   The Idaho Senate did not attempt to overturn Gov. Brad

The Idaho Senate did not attempt to overturn Gov. Brad Little’s first veto of 2025 to block Senate Bill 1023 on “medical freedom,” instead introducing a new version of the bill late on Monday. #IDleg  blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/31/s...

Idaho governor signs into law child sex abuse death penalty bill, despite U.S. Supreme Court ruling • Idaho Capital Sun The Idaho Legislature widely passed the child sex abuse death penalty bill, with only five votes against in the Senate and none in the House.

Little said he signed the bill “because heinous sex crimes against children destroy lives, and the perpetrators deserve the ultimate punishment.” #idleg #idpol

There's other changes, too, about juvenile in crisis or pregnant juveniles. I'm told this will go through this session, despite the late timing. #idleg #idpol

Committee introduces proposed changes to 2024 parental rights law  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  The Senate State Affairs Committee on Wednesday introduced a bill

Senate State Affairs introduced a bill to amend the Idaho Parental Rights Act, which passed in 2024, after the original law left some health care providers with concerns that juveniles couldn’t receive rape kit exams without parental consent #idleg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/26/c...

Budget committee narrowly passes public defense budget  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  The State Public Defender’s Office’s enhancement budget narrowly made it

The State Public Defender’s Office’s enhancement budget narrowly made it out of the state budgeting committee on Monday, with a 6-4 vote from the Senate members and a 6-4 vote from the House members for its $32.3 million budget. blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/24/b... #IDleg

North Idaho legislators bring bill to add health exceptions to state’s abortion ban • Idaho Capital Sun Two North Idaho legislators introduced a bill to the Senate State Affairs Committee to add health exceptions to Idaho’s abortion ban.

Under Idaho’s abortion ban, a physician may provide an abortion if it’s to “prevent the death of the pregnant woman.” However, physicians have said this wording does not make it clear if they can provide an abortion to prevent detrimental health outcomes, such as the loss of future fertility. #idleg

Senate committee advances death penalty bill for lewd conduct cases  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  The Senate Judiciary and Rules Committee passed a bill Wednesday

“There simply aren’t enough capital qualified attorneys in the state to handle the number of cases,” Martinez said.

Hundreds of lewd conduct with a child cases are filed every year in Idaho. #IDleg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/19/s...

House advances bill to make lewd conduct with child 12 or under punishable by death  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  The Idaho House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill Monday

This bill passed the House less than a week after Gov. Brad Little signed a new law that makes Idaho the only state in the country to use the firing squad as its primary method of execution. blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/17/h... #idleg

House advances bill to revoke public services for undocumented people  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  The Idaho House of Representatives passed a bill on Monday

“Most people in this room believe in pro-life,” said Rep. Lance Clow, R-Twin Falls. “Life begins at conception, and you’re going to deny prenatal care to someone who was conceived in the United States?”  #IDLEG blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/17/h...

Child welfare budget could potentially see 20% increase  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee on Friday gave the Idaho Department

The budget must still pass the House and the Senate. But for now, this is a potential big change for IDHW and foster care in the state #idleg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/14/c...

Committee advances bill cutting services to undocumented immigrants - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  The House Health and Welfare Committee on Tuesday advanced a

The sponsor sees this as a way to incentivize undocumented immigrants to leave Idaho. Opponents believe it will take food from children, some of whom may have been born in the U.S. #IDleg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/11/c...

As Idaho Pushes to Reform Its Coroner System, Counties Seek to Make It Less Transparent A bill moving forward with bipartisan support is described as a first step to addressing problems highlighted in a state report and by ProPublica. Meanwhile, counties seek to end access to coroners’ r...

NEW: Idaho lawmakers are moving forward with modest efforts to improve the state’s system for investigating deaths.

Meanwhile, counties are working to shield from public view coroner records that were key to a 2024 ProPublica investigation.

By @audreydutton.bsky.social

Budget committee revives 2 IDOC bills, sets general fund projection  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  The state Joint Finance-Appropriation Committee revived two budget bills on

Today JFAC revived two budget bills on that it shot down from the Idaho Department of Correction late last week. #idleg #idpol blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/05/b...

Senate approves ABLE Accounts by wide margin  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports  The Idaho Senate approved Wednesday a bill to allow Idahoans

Big news for the disability community. blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/05/s... #idleg #IDpol

Committee advances bill with changes to EMS operations  - Idaho Reports By Ruth Brown, Idaho Reports   Major change could be coming to emergency medical services in

The EMS operations bill moves forward. Many EMS agencies rely on volunteers and it varies widely county-by-bounty. #IDleg blog.idahoreports.idahoptv.org/2025/03/03/c...