Nobody is above the law in the United States. We aren’t a monarchy — we are a federal democratic republic. Nowhere in the U.S. Constitution does it state that a sitting president can not be indicted for federal crimes. Yet, that has been the policy of the U.S. Justice Department since the wr…

I wish to address two points made by Mr. Clayton Armstrong in his editorial article published Jan. 10 in the Idaho State Journal calling for the School District 25 board members to resign. Mr. Armstrong claimed that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that all kids should b…

As I grew up following World War II, those in my generation believed that Americans, working together, could solve any problem, overcome any obstacle. Ours was a can-do country — the sky was not even a limit because we could tame that also with our technology. Unfortunately, that optimistic …

All four members served in leadership positions in the Idaho Legislature early in their political careers and all were sensitive about any level of federal interference in Idaho’s business. I can only imagine the steam that would come from their nostrils if a member of Congress from the east…

We still have a raging pandemic, stocks up but a fragile economy — over a million Americans asked for unemployment for the first time this month — and retail and service businesses suffering. Last spring’s Russian cyber-attack is just one critical national security issue.

If you live in Idaho, you have extra reason to watch carefully the Idaho Legislature this year:

My fellow Idahoans, throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, as your governor I have worked hard to protect lives and critical health care capacity for the entire state while keeping families safe and businesses and schools open.

I’m sure glad that I have something to keep me occupied these days. If it were not for my obsession with music, and the knowledge that I cannot possibly live long enough to learn all the material I’d like before my time is up, I’d have probably paid more attention to the festival of glad-han…

Before I worked in public education, I’m not sure I ever fully realized the great lengths our local schools go to support the whole child, not just academically, but physically, socially, emotionally and behaviorally. In many ways, the pandemic has served to shine a bright light to reveal ho…

Shortly after my first appointment as an assistant professor in 1997, I was rocketed into the concept of lifelong learning at a new level. With my new credibility, I found myself surrounded by big names in the field of English. But the most profound thing about my new circle of experts is of…

The historic inauguration of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris as our new president and vice president of the United States set a positive tone, with flags replacing spectators due to the pandemic and a measured earnest speech by President Biden about unity. A good quick history lesson could be pr…

I have occasionally been described as a grumpy old man. And, since I always strive for accuracy, I concede it might sometimes be true.

I learned a lesson this week, one that’s counterintuitive with our times.

I have not been a coffee drinker for most of my life. Naturally “wired,” I didn’t need caffeine’s jolt to start the day. Most coffees I encountered were either too acidic, caused indigestion or lacked flavor.

“Religion and government will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”

The first rule of electoral politics is, “Voters are never wrong.” Successful politicians learn early in their careers that when the voters are wrong, politicians need to carefully examine rule No. 1.

America has suffered a bizarre series of surreal events in the last two weeks, including American insurgents, inspired by President Donald Trump, storming their own Capitol. A Capitol Police officer died. Members of Congress took cover and Vice President Mike Pence, carrying out his Constitu…

I never go into the office on Inauguration Day. Sometimes I take an actual vacation day. Sometimes I work at home in the peace of my personal space. This isn’t an intentionally patriotic act in which I watch news coverage and immerse myself in the fruits of our democracy. My mom died on Jan.…

There’s a scene in the film “Gettysburg” in which Gen. Robert E. Lee tells his top deputy, Gen. James Longstreet, to stay back of the front lines in the coming battle. “I cannot afford to lose you,” he says. Longstreet pauses and shrugs. “Can’t lead from behind,” he responds.

As the chairman of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes, I and the Fort Hall Business Council are very pleased with the Supreme Court ruling of the United States did not find any merit to FMC’s appeal and that FMC is finally required to honor its agreement to comply with Tribal jurisdiction. This is …