Kevin Richert

Little orders 3% spending cuts; K-12 public schools exempt The cuts come after $453 million in tax cuts, enacted in recent months.

Some significant news from the Statehouse Friday. Cuts will total about $86 million. Higher ed will take about a $13.3 million hit. K-12 is exempt. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/lit...

A disputed transgender bathroom law is intact — at Boise High and beyond A recent flurry of federal court motions focused only on Boise High School. A larger legal battle continues.

A flurry of recent federal court activity focused on Boise High School. A larger legal battle continues. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/a-d...

Audit: Idaho State ‘misused or misappropriated’ $850,000 on forensic lab Legislative Services Office auditors did not look for evidence of criminal wrongdoing — deferring to the attorney general’s office.

Legislative Services Office auditors did not look for evidence of criminal wrongdoing — deferring to the attorney general’s office. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/aud...

Boise mother alleges repeated sexual assaults at a grade school In a $50 million tort claim, a Boise mother says the district and Hillcrest Elementary School staff failed to protect her 8-year-old son, who was attacked while he was in third grade.

In a $50 million tort claim, a Boise mother says the district and Hillcrest Elementary School staff failed to protect her 8-year-old son, who was attacked while he was in third grade. #idaho www.idahoednews.org/news/boise-m...

And I was two-thirds of the way through it!

a bald man with glasses and a beard is saying `` say my name '' . ALT: a bald man with glasses and a beard is saying `` say my name '' .

Me when someone talks about one of my articles and butchers my last name.

Delays and defunding: Idaho spends, then loses, millions for a stalled data upgrade Idaho has no plan — and no money — to remodel an education database that has never lived up to its potential. Here’s an exclusive look at what went wrong.

Idaho has no plan — and no money — to remodel an education database that has never lived up to its potential. Here’s an exclusive look at what went wrong. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ise...

Analysis: The TACO freeze is history, but the chilling effect lingers The U.S. Education Department quickly relented and freed up several education grants, worth $33 million in Idaho. But when it comes to federal education funding, the only given is uncertainty.

Analysis: The U.S. Education Department quickly relented and freed up several education grants, worth $33 million in Idaho. But when it comes to federal education funding, the only given is uncertainty. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ana...

Will Idaho opt into federal private school choice? It’s a complicated process. On Wednesday, members of a House-Senate committee dropped no hints about whether they want Idaho to opt into the new federal scholarship program.

On Wednesday, members of a House-Senate committee dropped no hints about whether they want Idaho to opt into the new federal scholarship program. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/news/will-id...

Lawsuit challenges Idaho restrictions on single-sex campus restrooms “It would be impossible for me to use the women’s restrooms, as I appear and sound male,” said one plaintiff, a Boise State University transgender student who identifies as male. “I believe it woul…

“It would be impossible for me to use the women’s restrooms, as I appear and sound male,” said one plaintiff, a Boise State University transgender student who identifies as male. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/news/lawsuit...

Feds lift education freeze; Idaho will receive nearly $27 million The Trump administration released $5.5 billion in federal education funds Friday — nearly a month after a freeze that threw state and local education leaders into tumult.

The Trump administration released $5.5 billion in federal education funds Friday — nearly a month after a freeze that threw state and local education leaders into tumult. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/fed...

With 42 applications in hand, state continues search for the next BSU president A search committee is “pleased” with the field of candidates, a State Board of Education spokesperson said, but the application window will remain open.

“The application period will remain open until the position is filled,” a State Board spokesperson said Monday. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/news/with-42...

A partial thaw: Feds free up funding for after-school and summer programs The about-face will translate to $6.5 million for Idaho. But nearly $27 million for other Idaho programs remain in limbo.

ICYMI, from Friday: #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/news/a-parti...

A partial thaw: Feds free up funding for after-school and summer programs The about-face will translate to $6.5 million for Idaho. But nearly $27 million for other Idaho programs remain in limbo.

The about-face will translate into $6.5 million for Idaho. But nearly $27 million for other Idaho programs remain in limbo. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/news/a-parti...

Boise State reports summer enrollment record More than 10,000 Boise State students are pursuing about 59,300 summer credits.

More than 10,000 students are pursuing about 59,300 summer credits. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/news/boise-s...

Analysis: Idaho’s fight over private school choice is far from finished The 2025 Legislature passed a $50 million private school tax credit program. Heading into the 2026 session, $50 million looks to be the boundary on the map and the line in the sand.

Analysis: The 2025 Legislature passed a $50 million private school tax credit program. Heading into the 2026 session, $50 million looks to be the boundary on the map and the line in the sand. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ana...

Boise trustees: Private school choice will ‘irreparably harm’ public schools Boise’s resolution will go to the Idaho School Boards Association, which represents trustees statewide. In 2024, ISBA members went on record in overwhelming opposition to private school choic…

Rapidly growing private school choice programs “are putting a financial strain on the taxpayers of (other) states and decreasing funding available to public schools,” Boise trustees say. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/news/boise-t...

ISU-CEI partnership will focus on nursing, other high-demand careers Idaho State University says it will commit additional faculty to Eastern Idaho, in hopes of supporting additional students who are seeking a bachelor’s degree in nursing.

Advisers at Idaho State University and the College of Eastern Idaho will work on ensuring “seamless” credit transfers, according to the ISU release. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/news/isu-cei...

Crapo, Risch seek ban on funding ‘gender ideology’ The Idaho Republicans are co-sponsoring the “Say No to Indoctrination Act,” which would ban spending federal education dollars on “gender ideology.”

The Idaho Republicans are co-sponsoring the "Say No to Indoctrination Act," which would ban spending federal education dollars on “gender ideology.” #idaho www.idahoednews.org/news/crapo-r...

Federal freeze puts $33 million of Idaho funding on ice The freeze could threaten 16.5% of Idaho’s federal education funding, according to the Learning Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. Only four states and the District of Colu…

The freeze could threaten 16.5% of Idaho’s federal education funding, according to the Learning Policy Institute, a Washington, D.C.-based nonprofit. Only four states and the District of Columbia face deeper funding cuts. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/top-news/fed...

Analysis: Taxpayers get the bill for an open meetings lawsuit — and get no answers After two years, and hundreds of thousands of dollars in legal costs, it’s unclear whether the State Board of Education’s closed-door discussions of the University of Phoenix violated s…

Analysis: The State Board's legal bills totaled $387,513.64. Attorney General Raúl Labrador's office doesn't have a cost estimate. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/ana...

A social media app, but one that links reporters who are actually working in the summer with agency spokespeople who are actually working in the summer.

Anti-DEI law could affect multiple U of I programs, campus job descriptions A memo from U of I officials — obtained Wednesday by Idaho EdNews — highlights the complexity of Idaho’s new, far-reaching anti-DEI law.

“A team of leaders is working to identify and correct any violations or perceived violations with the law.” #idleg #idaho #idpol www.idahoednews.org/news/anti-de...

‘Record-smashing:’ Boise State fundraising tops the $100 million mark The Boise State University Foundation reported $102 million in fundraising in 2024-25 — a new record, and a whopping 66% increase from the previous year.

The Boise State University Foundation reported $102 million in fundraising in 2024-25 — a new record, and a whopping 66% increase from the previous year. #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/news/record-...

U of I reapplies for $59 million federal ag research grant It had been the largest federal grant in the university’s history. In April, the Trump administration abruptly terminated the nationwide research program, calling it “a Biden era climate slus…

It had been the largest federal grant in the university's history. In April, the Trump administration abruptly terminated the nationwide research program, calling it “a Biden era climate slush fund.” #idleg #idaho www.idahoednews.org/news/u-of-i-...

Supreme Court will rule on Idaho’s transgender athletics ban It’s unclear when the Supreme Court will hear arguments on Idaho’s first-in-the-nation ban, passed in 2020. The ruling figures to be a landmark moment in the national debate.

It’s unclear when the Supreme Court will hear arguments on Idaho’s first-in-the-nation ban, passed in 2020. But whenever it comes, the ruling figures to be a landmark moment in a national debate. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/top-news/sup...

This is an interesting story, and it gave me a legitimate justification for using a photo from a Pixies concert. Win win.

GOP resolution calls for partisan school board elections “Nonpartisan elections fail to provide voters with clear information about the moral and political stances of candidates,” reads the resolution, approved during the GOP state central committe…

“Nonpartisan elections fail to provide voters with clear information about the moral and political stances of candidates,” reads the resolution, approved during the GOP state central committee’s annual summer meeting in June. #idleg #idaho #idpol www.idahoednews.org/state-policy...

Boise State provost leaves for Florida post Provost John Buckwalter’s departure is the second high-level shakeup at Boise State in the past week.

It's the second high-profile departure from Boise State in a week. #idaho #idleg www.idahoednews.org/news/boise-s...

I hope this doesn’t become the narrative. It’s lazy and it just doesn’t hold up. From everything we know of the Moscow homicides — and know so far about the CDA shootings — these are two very different, completely unconnected acts of senseless violence.