The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee agreed on a budget Tuesday that proposes spending roughly $377.7 million on the University of Idaho, Idaho State University, Boise State University and Lewis-Clark State College.

Just serving people who are in the criminal-justice system or who meet other strict criteria will be a challenge this year, the acting administrator of Idaho's Office of Drug Policy says.

Candidates must file by March 19.

Cattle feed lot operators are hoping lawmakers will restrict public access to manure management reports, comparing their waste handling strategies to trade secrets worthy of protection from competitors.

The House Revenue and Taxation Committee on Monday unanimously backed a bill that would expand the income tax credit for those giving to public schools and some state agencies.

The College of Southern Idaho is facing state funding cuts that could lead to a tuition increase.

Idahoans think of themselves as ruggedly self-reliant, but the state receives more help from the federal government for health services than most of its Western counterparts.

In Michigan, where many enterprises are struggling to survive, the renowned University of Michigan is in the midst of a construction boom and hiring spree. Michigan State University, on the other hand, plans to lay off faculty and cut programs, blaming state funding that is lower than it was a decade ago. Flagship universities in other states are also prospering, while their lesser-known counterparts suffer from vanishing state appropriations. 

So, why not change the arrangement and require big-name universities to take responsibility for their own financing, leaving more state money to support the other state schools? As legislatures face their toughest budget year since the recession began, the idea of giving a few universities autonomy to control their own finances has some appeal.

Gov. Chris Gregoire responded Tuesday morning to Idaho Gov. Butch Otter's "love letter" to Washington businesses, in which he suggested Idaho could lure away firms turned off by tax increases here.