Idaho State is hot on the heels of Washington in its quest to privatize liquor sales. A grocery industry lobbyist is behind the push, just like the one Costco Wholesale Corporation had success with in Washington last November.

Northwest Grocery Association President Joe Gilliam met with Governor Butch Otter in December to find out how to get a voter initiative on the ballot next November.

To make it happen, Gilliam needs 47,432 registered voter signatures by April 30th. The tight deadline means Gilliam would need a well-funded campaign to pay for paid signature gatherers. Costco backed Initiation 1100 last year with $22 million.

Retailers in Washington start selling liquor June 1st. Some people in Idaho worry the lower prices will drive Idahoans across the border for cheaper liquor sales. In the meantime, Joe Gilliam has a long road to hoe if wants an initiative on the November ballot.

Sears Holding is implementing big changes to reduce on-going expenses after a low performance year for 2011. The company announced Tuesday they would be closing about 100 to 120 Kmart and Sears Full-line stores to generate an extra $140 to $170 million in store sales or sublease of their real estate.

Lewiston’s Sears is on the list of planned closures. It’s one of two hardline stores on the cuts - the other one is in Middlesboro, Kentucky. 79 multiple formatted stores are being affected including Sears Grand/Essentials, Full-Line and dozens of Kmarts that filled up the majority of the list.

The Lewiston Kmart did not make the list of expected closures and will remain open.

Past practices by the company meant keeping marginally performing stores open and working to improve that performance, but this week’s quarterly update from the company recognizes that practice is no longer an option.

The store closures across the nation will reduce the fixed costs for Sears Holding by $100 to $200 million. A closure date has not been released by Sears Holding nor has the number of impacted employees at that store.