James Dawson
ReporterExpertise: Political reporting, audio editing, podcast smithing
Education: University of Idaho
Highlights
- Won my elementary school’s geography bee, failing miserably at state
- Once caught 10 rainbow trout in one hour fly fishing on the Lochsa
- Idaho Press Club board member
Experience
I cover Idaho state government and a little bit of everything else for Boise State Public Radio. Originally from Idaho’s territorial capitol north of the Time Zone Bridge, I’ve covered politics and state legislatures across the country since 2010. You’ll hear my work during Morning Edition, Idaho Matters and All Things Considered (and maybe read my newsletter, Legislative Round-up, during the session).
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Gov. Brad Little must now act on a bill that would force Idaho’s libraries to move any book to an adult’s-only section within 60 days of receiving a written complaint or face a lawsuit.
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State senators passed a pair of bills Tuesday night, one of which defines male and female as the only two genders legally recognized in Idaho. The other protects state workers who choose not to use someone’s preferred pronouns.
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Idaho’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation said it needs an emergency infusion of $2.7 million after the discovery of apparent “internal control issues” leading to a significant budget shortfall.
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Idaho senators ultimately voted to denounce racism after Republican leadership ordered the body’s sergeant-at-arms to round up two absent lawmakers – one of whom cast the lone no vote on the resolution.
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Idaho Senate Republicans shot down the state’s welfare budget Thursday morning, saying taxpayers should not cover extra food benefits for children from low-income families during the summer months.
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The Idaho Senate rejected a bill that would’ve created a new political entity to oversee the purchase of the University of Phoenix.
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It’s the third time in as many years that Idaho lawmakers are trying to tie pay raises for judges as a way to encourage more judicial elections.
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A senior House GOP leader is canceling a planned legislative hearing about the exodus of OB-GYNs in Idaho after Democrats blasted his party over inaction on reproductive health issues.
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Senate leaders say lawmakers need to make concessions to libraries in the latest bill trying to restrict “harmful” materials to minors.
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A state senate committee is punting a decision on the latest bill to restrict quote “obscene” materials in Idaho’s libraries.