Otter is a "Reading Ambassador," part of a summer reading program promoted by Scholastic, the world's largest publisher of children's books.

Scholastic donated 500 books in each state for its 6th Annual Scholastic Summer Challenge.

Idaho's 44 counties completed their canvas of ballots cast at the May 15 primary Tuesday, but the official statewide result won't be certified until May 30.

Crapo says the conversation will focus on the budget deficit and the economy. Participants are invited to join the call at 6:55 p.m.

Crapo's news release follows:

CRAPO TO HOST iTOWNHALL MEETING ON MAY 23

Encourages Idahoans to join discussion on budget and economy

Johnson will speak from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Hayes Auditorium at the main library on Capitol Boulevard.

A former Idaho Public TV host, Johnson was spokesman and then chief of staff to former Democratic Gov. Cecil Andrus. Johnson and Andrus are colleagues at Gallatin Public Affairs, a regional PR, lobbying and consulting firm.

Johnson is writing a biography of Montana progressive Sen. Burton K. Wheeler, a contemporary of Idaho Sen. William Borah. In the course of that work, Johnson has studied the New Deal era extensively.

First District Democratic candidate Jimmy Farris seized on my column in today's Idaho Statesman about a new book describing the role Republican Rep. Raul Labrador plays as a leader of the House freshman class that has made life difficult for House Speaker John Boehner.

Idaho law requires political parties to reorganize after biennial primary elections, with the votes held by the precinct committeemen and women elected in Idaho's 925 election precincts.

The action is on the GOP side, where Gov. Butch Otter is aiming to avoid the embarrassment of 2008, when his candidate for party chairman was defeated by a conservative-libertarian axis that elected Norm Semanko.

Semanko is stepping down in June and voters who will elect his successor will be chosen at county central committee meetings in the coming days.

Idaho Rep. Raul Labrador's spokeswoman, Ellen Carmichael, has left his office and will work for a lawmaker from Georgia.
Labrador hired Carmichael in November after she left her job as spokeswoman for Herman Cain's presidential campaign.
Carmichael didn't immediately return a message this morning on why she's leaving Labrador's office.
But her new boss, Georgia Republican Rep. Tom Price, said she'll be press secretary for his personal office and the office of the House Republican Policy Committee, which he chairs.

Last week, 1st District GOP Congressman Raul Labrador criticized GOP Secretary of State Ben Ysursa for blaming Idaho's first-ever closed primary as the major factor in the lowest primary turnout in state history.

Now, Labrador's Democratic opponent is siding with Ysursa, the state's top election official.

In a news release, Farris said "the sacred privacy of Idaho voters was violated and Idaho citizens were disenfranchised."

Ada County Democrats qualified two additional legislative candidates for the November general election ballot, led by James Mace, who joined the race against Senate Assistant Majority Leader Chuck Winder, R-Boise, because of Winder's sponsorship of Senate Bill 1387.

Democrat Ron Twilegar, who four years ago shopped for a county without a candidate for prosecuting attorney and landed in Boise County, has qualified for the general election ballot with a write-in campaign against longtime Ada County Prosecutor Greg Bower.