Latest news with #Boise-based
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Were Boise homeowners illegally taxed? Idaho Supreme Court to weigh in
The curtains are closing on a long-running legal battle over Boise's Harris Ranch neighborhood. Since 2021, residents have gathered and fought the area's Boise-based developer and the city of Boise over a special taxing district they say is unlawful and unfair. Both sides presented oral arguments June 9 to the Idaho Supreme Court and now await a decision that could come in weeks. Or, more likely, months. The homeowners say the special taxing district, called a community infrastructure district, forced them to unfairly foot the bill for $22 million in payments to the developer of Harris Ranch in October 2021. Barber Valley Development, which is building the Boise neighborhood on behalf of the Harris Family Limited Partnership, rejected the claims that the payments were illegal and argued that they have followed the rules outlined by the Idaho Legislature. The Legislature permitted community infrastructure districts in 2008 with the hope that they could help make growth pay for itself. In such a district, homeowners pay extra taxes for local public improvements like roads and roundabouts. In theory, this means that a resident of the Boise Bench or North End wouldn't be forced to pay higher taxes for things they wouldn't need or use such as sewer lines. Led by residents Larry Crowley and Bill Doyle, the homeowners with the Harris Ranch CID Taxpayers Association say the district made them pay up to 40% higher taxes than those outside the district — including homes across their street that were intentionally cut out of the district boundaries. An Ada County judge threw out all 16 of the homeowners' arguments in April 2023. The homeowners appealed to the state's highest court almost five months later. 'It's been a lengthy effort,' Crowley said by phone after Monday's oral arguments. 'We've done our part, now it's in their court.' Crowley said that they were hopeful that there could be some relief coming for homeowners, but that he was proud of the work the community had done. 'It's been in many ways a very humbling experience,' Crowley said. 'We're just really thankful for the opportunity to get to this point.' Doug Fowler, the president of Barber Valley Development, said that he was looking forward to putting the legal issues behind him and continuing to build out the neighborhood, some of which has been paused amid the court battle. After chiding both sides for using confidential information from an accidental email in their arguments, the Supreme Court justices grilled lawyers representing the homeowners, the city and Barber Valley Development. They poked holes in arguments, seemed to cast doubt on both sides and tested the boundaries of an issue that has never been litigated before. Though the lawyers and justices touched on several topics on the sprawling lawsuit's one-hour oral argument, possibly the most poignant was whether the district was formed correctly in 2010 and whether that issue could be used in arguments. Nicholas Warden, the attorney for the neighbors, argued that the district was created by the vote of a single resident on land outside the district who would never need to pay the extra taxes. No one who would eventually pay the taxes took part in the vote. This, Warden said, should invalidate the $22 million payment in 2021 because the creation of the bonds required approval by a supermajority of residents. 'Our position is that an assent of a supermajority requires at least one person, in other words more than none, of the people who are going to pay the tax to vote on it,' Warden said. 'That could easily have occurred in this place.' Justice Greg Moeller said there are plenty of cases where people may buy a house, move in and need to pay into something like a school bond or mosquito abatement district even if they hadn't voted for it. The homeowners, he said, bought their homes knowing of the district. 'I understand why they're unhappy with this,' Moeller said. 'But it's not unusual for people to buy land in a district with restrictions that they're helpless to change by the time they move in.' Melodie McQuade, an attorney with Boise's Givens Pursley law firm representing the infrastructure district, said there was no evidence that the vote was illegal, and the creation of the district wasn't up for debate in the case. 'The plaintiffs want to challenge the formation of the district and then multiple decisions that have been made over the past several years,' McQuade said. 'You can't reach back that far.' A key moment came when Moeller asked McQuade if the infrastructure district could be considered a legal form of taxation without representation — an argument that Crowley and Doyle have made since they first sued. 'I don't believe so,' McQuade said. 'I believe this is a mechanism for infrastructure to be paid for in perhaps a slightly different way than if the developer baked it into the lot costs.' Moeller said that it seemed as if it could be a way to hide who voted for tax increases and would prevent them from being able to hold anybody accountable. 'My best answer to that, conceptually, is that it shouldn't be disqualifying that a small group of people would vote to create the district,' McQuade said. 'It's not surprising that these big pieces of land would have very few voters, because they're all owned by maybe even one family.' A new law was supposed to help emergency services handle growth. It isn't working As Boise builds up, Eagle tees up density restrictions with little public input Boise to welcome 'crown jewel' of hotels on Grove Street. What's coming? A Christian college wants to build apartments in Garden City. Neighbors are mad
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Yahoo
Special investigation apparently requested over evidence leaks in Kohberger case
The defense for Bryan Kohberger, the man charged with killing four University of Idaho students, appears to have requested a 'special investigation' into alleged leaks in the case in an episode of NBC's 'Dateline' last month. The prosecution in the case filed a response Wednesday to the defense's motion regarding the appointment of a special prosecutor, according to a public case summary. Judge Steven Hippler, who presides over the case, ordered that filing sealed Thursday, the record showed. The case summary also indicated the defense filed a motion for 'Access and Fair Investigation' and an 'Objection to Release of Privileged and Confidential Work Product' on Wednesday, which Hippler also sealed Thursday. Sealed records are not released publicly, though the judge's sealing orders eventually will post to the state courts website, Idaho courts spokesperson Nate Poppino told the Idaho Statesman on Thursday. At a public hearing last month, Hippler stated he held a closed-door portion earlier that same morning, and the Ada County judge said he was open to bringing on a special prosecutor. That person would be tasked with investigating potential violations of the court's gag order by law enforcement or the prosecution through disclosure of previously unreleased information about Kohberger and the investigation revealed in the episode of 'Dateline.' 'As I indicated, I would be open to a request for appointment of a special prosecutor,' Hippler told the defense at that hearing, 'and that special prosecutor to ask for a magistrate inquiry so they have the power of subpoena and the power to question witnesses under oath, as well as the power to grant immunity. So I will be looking for that from you.' 'Dateline' representatives have not responded to prior requests for comment from the Statesman. The gag order, which took effect four days after Kohberger's arrest in late December 2022, restricts attorneys from both sides — and anyone affiliated with them, including members of law enforcement — from making public statements about the case outside of court. The episode of 'Dateline' aired May 9 — just days before a pretrial hearing in the case. Edwina Elcox, a Boise-based criminal defense attorney, told the Statesman that the filing appears to be about the appointment of a special prosecutor. 'That's exactly what I think that is,' Elcox said in a phone interview Thursday. 'Because obviously Judge Hippler invited it, and that's the way the formal request would be made. They do everything through motion practice, so the way you get that done is ask for a formal inquiry and the court would appoint a special prosecutor.' Hippler earlier issued orders to the prosecution and defense to retain all records and correspondence related to the likely violations within seven days. Each side filed a related 'notice of compliance' to the court on May 22, with the prosecution also submitting a supplemental filing on the matter the next day. Kohberger, 30, faces four counts of first-degree murder in the stabbing deaths of four students at an off-campus home in Moscow. Prosecutors intend to seek the death penalty if a jury finds Kohberger guilty. The victims were U of I seniors Madison Mogen and Kaylee Goncalves, both 21; junior Xana Kernodle, 20, and freshman Ethan Chapin, 20. The three woman lived in the Moscow home with two female roommates who went physically unharmed in the attack, while Chapin was Kernodle's boyfriend and stayed over for the night. Kohberger's capital murder trial in Boise is scheduled to start with jury selection at the end of July. Defense attorneys last month sought to delay Kohberger's trial, citing an overwhelming amount of evidence they've yet to review, as well as the prejudicial information released about their client on the NBC news program. Prosecutors objected to that request to postpone, and a public court hearing is scheduled for Wednesday, June 18, to argue the issue before Hippler.
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Boise housing organization seeks donations for people experiencing homelessness in summer heat
CATCH is a Boise-based nonprofit housing organization that seeks to end homelessness in the Treasure Valley. (File photo courtesy of CATCH) With the onset of summer heat, a Boise-based housing organization is asking the public to donate emergency summer supplies to be distributed to people experiencing homelessness in Ada County. The Boise nonprofit CATCH is seeking donations of sports drinks, reusable water bottles, socks, sleeping bags, sunblock, bug spray, bicycle lights, underwear and hygiene items for its 'Beat the summer heat' campaign, CATCH Outreach Team Lead Connor O'Hora said. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX CATCH's outreach team spends three days a week traveling through Ada County by bicycle and van delivering supplies to people experiencing homelessness. 'We've already broken the record and hit 100 degrees in May in Idaho, so we can expect a hot summer where people will be struggling with heat-related illnesses,' O'Hora said in a phone interview Tuesday. 'As we make contact, we want to be able to offer people something to keep cool and safe while they get started in the direction they feel is appropriate.' CONTACT US O'Hora said many of the items CATCH is seeking for donations can help people and families endure short-term hardships as they work with CATCH team members to get connected to additional support services like shelters, health care facilities and food banks. With summer coming, O'Hora said the need is great and the population of people experiencing homelessness in the Treasure Valley is on the rise. More than 1,800 households are experiencing homelessness in the Treasure Valley, CATCH estimates. The group defines households as any of the nonprofit's clients who are seeking to live together, including traditional families, single parents, individuals and couples. Last year, CATCH ended homelessness for a record 486 people, including 223 children and 114 families, he said. 'There is a great need, and we are seeing our population growing in key demographics,' O'Hora said. 'We see our population is aging and many folks who are living in their vehicles or are staying outside had been renting for five, 10 or even 15 years and then they got priced out of their housing or it was sold to a different property management company.' To donate, people may: Drop off donations at the CATCH office at 503. S. Americana Blvd., in Boise from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday. Purchase items online through CATCH's Amazon wish list. Visit to make a financial donation. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tech billionaire tapped for head of Forest Service cleared national land to make room for private airstrip: 'Illegally operating an airport'
The man in line to lead the U.S. Forest Service has "clashed" with the agency for years over private use of public lands, the New York Times reported. On Tuesday, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry held a confirmation hearing to discuss the appointment of Michael Boren, per ABC News. Boren is an Idaho ranch owner and founder of a billion-dollar tech company — and he's had more than one run-in with the Forest Service in recent years as well as confrontations with residents who have objected to his activities. In 2015, Boren purchased his Hell Roaring Ranch, located in the Forest Service-managed Sawtooth National Recreation Area. Boren's run-ins with the Forest Service and locals typically revolved around claims of his "diverting a stream, disputes over how Boren manages land within and around the national forest, and disagreements about the precise locations of mining claims made by Boren's corporation," ABC explained. However, the Times focused on a controversy involving Boren's installation of a "private air strip" in what the outlet described as "a national recreation area." Boren allegedly operated a helicopter "dangerously close to a crew building a Forest Service trail" in 2020 — earning him a caution from the agency and leading officials to obtain a restraining order. Dave Coyner was one of the workers on the crew during the helicopter incident. "We saw this helicopter less than 100 feet off the ground, and it started coming toward us. They were definitely trying to intimidate us," he recalled. "To hear that he's being nominated to be undersecretary of the Forest Service, that just blows me away," Coyner said. The Times linked to a 2021 editorial in the Post Register written by a retired search and rescue operative Gary Gadwa. "Michael Boren, a multimillionaire from Boise, is illegally operating an airport in the Sawtooth Valley without permits," Gadwa wrote. He called on Idaho residents to "halt this dangerous precedent, which threatens one of the most beloved wilderness areas in our state." Boren sued Boise-based Jon Conti for discussing the controversy on YouTube, and Conti was largely reluctant to comment on the broader controversy. "The Sawtooths are the last wild frontier, really untouched, and I think that most Idahoans would like to see it stay that way," Conti remarked, per the Times. Should the government ban gas stoves? Yes Only in new buildings Only in restaurants No way Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Senate considers Michael Boren to lead Forest Service, despite clashing with agency
President Donald Trump's nominee to oversee the U.S. Forest Service has a history of clashing with the very agency that he soon could be leading. On Tuesday afternoon, the Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry began the confirmation hearing for Michael Boren, an investment consultant, Idaho ranch owner and founder of a billion-dollar tech company. A bipartisan committee will assess Boren's qualifications and vote on his nomination. Boren, 62, has had disagreements with the U.S. Forest Service in recent years. One recent conflict involves building a cabin and clearing land within the Sawtooth National Forest near Stanley, Idaho, E&E News reported, citing agency correspondence and individuals familiar with the situation. He co-founded Boise-based tech company Clearwater Analytics and owns a 480-acre ranch, some of it within the Sawtooth National Recreation Area, according to the Idaho Mountain Express. The work on the property began before Boren was nominated, but the matter has not yet been resolved, according to the publication. The dispute over the cabin is with Galena Mines, an LLC associated with Boren. He was a listed as manager until February of this year, before he was removed. MORE: Trump nominates 'Sharpiegate' scientist to lead NOAA Other disputes include diverting a stream, disputes over how Boren manages land within and around the national forest and disagreements about the precise locations of mining claims made by Boren's corporation, according to E&E News. A small airstrip on Boren's ranch also stirred uproar among neighbors who claim he was using it to land small planes before he was granted a conditional-use permit from the Forest Service, according to the report. Attorney Thomas Balducci, who represented Boren for the 2023 lawsuit regarding the airstrip, declined to provide a comment to ABC News. Boren's brother, David Boren, has also clashed with the Forest Service over a trail the agency built near his ranch. If confirmed as the undersecretary of Natural Resources and Environment, Boren would be responsible for day-to-day operations at the U.S. Forest Service, which manages more than 200 million acres of public land. Boren would report to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins. MORE: How national parks and forests could suffer as a result of federal firings The Senate Agriculture Committee reviews presidential appointments to the Department of Agriculture's cabinet positions. After Tuesday's hearing, a full Senate confirmation will be required to complete Boren's appointment. Current members of the committee include John Boozman (R-AR), Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Amy Klobuchar (D-MN). Boren was a donor to Trump's 2024 presidential campaign. MORE: Lee Zeldin emphasizes accountability in EPA confirmation hearing, says he'll 'look into' IRA funds On Jan. 16, Trump announced Boren's nomination on his social media platform Truth Social, describing him as "a successful businessman, who has founded six companies." "Michael will work to reinvigorate Forest Management at a time when it is desperately needed," Trump wrote. The nomination comes at a time of turmoil within the agency. On April 3, Rollins issued an ordered to remove environmental protections from about 112 million acres of national forests, and thousands of Forest Service employees have been fired in recent months. The Forest Service did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment. In a statement to the New York Times, the Forest Service wrote that Boren would "implement President Trump's America First agenda and ensure our forest system is properly managed, productive, and resilient. We look forward to his swift confirmation by the Senate." ABC News could not immediately reach a representative for Boren for comment.
