Idaho Press Tribune

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Nampa district ups the ante in its dealings with the teachers’ union

by Kevin Richert

The school district has asked the Nampa Education Association to ratify that it represents at least one-half of the district’s staff, Interim Superintendent Thomas Michaelson told Idaho Education News this week.

Senate Bill 1149 allows school districts to request ratification, on an annual basis. It’s one of several labor bills that passed the 2013 Legislature — and restored elements of the failed Proposition 1 law. The Idaho School Boards Association proposed SB 1149; the Idaho Education Association opposed it.

It’s unclear whether the Nampa Education Association will be able to meet the 50 percent plus one hurdle. The Idaho Press-Tribune has reported the union represents only 40 percent of district teachers.

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Facebook: How do you define friend today?

Are you on Facebook? Do you have a few friends or more than a hundred?

If you create an account on the social network, you’re encouraged to go find “friends.”

I joined in February because Facebook, like Twitter, has become a popular way to connect with readers, sources, politicians and even other media and marketing folks.

On Facebook, I have nearly 300 friends. I don’t personally…

Read more of Facebook: How do you define friend today? by Vickie Holbrook.

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Two wrongs don’t make a right in Canyon Canyon’s public defender quagmire

It’s not everyday that I verbalize the things I wonder about. But I recently wondered out loud when I heard that the Canyon County Commissioners asked the public defenders — Klaus Wiebe and Scott Fouser — to stay until Sept. 30, even though they had been notified that their contract expired July 31.

The county did not get a response, but it asked in writing: “if you have no intention …

Read more of Two wrongs don’t make a right in Canyon Canyon’s public defender quagmire by Vickie Holbrook.

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KBOI’s Nate Shelman will kick around football coach’s gay slur; should comment be buried?

The Hawaii football coach dropped a derogatory gay bomb when talking about Notre Dame today. Dave Southorn and Sports Editor Phil Dailey were among the first to break the story from Salt Lake.

Should the press “cover” for him? Absolutely not. That would be as bad as the coach saying what he said. KBOI’s Nate Shelman takes the conversation to the airwaves today at 4. I’ll be …

Read more of KBOI’s Nate Shelman will kick around football coach’s gay slur; should comment be buried? by Vickie Holbrook.