Idaho media coalition reunites in fight for openness in private prison lawsuit

By Todd Dvorak BOISE - For the second consecutive year, a broad coalition of Idaho news organizations has joined together in a fight for openness. This time, the focus of the battle is a lawsuit in federal court pitting a group of inmates against the state’s only private prison contractor, the Corrections Corporation of America. The case was filed last year and the inmates allege, among other things, that a pattern of understaffing and mismanagement at the prison has created a reality where gangs to run the lockup. Ultimately, that … [Read more...]

Idaho lawyer who won landmark case dies at 85 – Derr’s work advanced gender equality

By John Miller BOISE (AP) – Allen Derr, an Idaho lawyer who won a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling to bolster anti-discrimination protections for women, died June 10 in Boise. He was 85. Derr, a longtime and highly valued board member of the Idaho Press Club, grew up in North Idaho, graduated from Clark Fork High School in 1947, and then earned bachelor’s and law degrees from the University of Idaho. On Nov. 22, 1971, the Supreme Court justices issued their Reed vs. Reed decision, holding states cannot discriminate against people … [Read more...]

President’s Column: Idaho Press Club is still a screaming deal…

By Betsy Russell Twenty-five years ago, in 1988, the annual dues to join the Idaho Press Club was $25. The cost this year, until July 1?  Also $25. Though it’s decades later and costs have gone way up. So now, after long resisting it, the Idaho Press Club board has decided to raise annual dues by $5 on July 1, to $30. It’s a modest increase that’s still a screaming deal; most press associations charge much higher dues, often more than double that amount. The Press Club is funded solely by membership dues and contest entry fees. Yet we … [Read more...]

Don Watkins Memorial Scholarship winners announced

By Melissa McGrath Every year, the Idaho Press Club awards $2,000 or more in scholarships to working journalists and future journalists. It’s all a part of the Don Watkins Memorial Scholarship Program. We gather applications from across the state and award a $1,500 scholarship to one Idaho high school graduate who is currently pursuing his or her career in journalism or communications in college. We also award a $500 Mid-Career Scholarship to any Press Club member who will use the money toward a project or professional development … [Read more...]

Meet your IPC: Melissa Davlin

Name: Melissa Davlin Job (past and present): Former reporter at the Times-News in Twin Falls; currently freelancing and writing about Idaho politics at  melissadavlin.wordpress.com Press Club position: Print representative, Idaho Press Club state board; just started this spring Education: BA, General Studies, University of Idaho Tell us about your family: My mom and dad live in Meridian, and I have two younger brothers who live in Nampa. My husband, Nate Poppino, and I just moved to … [Read more...]

MEDIA MOVES

PRINT MOSCOW-PULLMAN   DAILY NEWS Holly Bowen moves from Whitman County reporter to the news copy desk and editorial board. She replaces Elizabeth Rudd, who moved to the Lewiston Tribune. Lindsey Treffry, a 2013 graduate of the University of Idaho, is the new 360 reporter replacing Alan Solan, who resigned to write freelance. Meredith Metsker, a 2013 graduate of the University of Idaho, moved to full time and is covering Washington education. Bill McKee, a 2013 graduate of Washington State University, is the new Whitman County reporter. … [Read more...]