Federal Agency Publishes Implementation Guidance for Medicaid Work Rules The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services this week released an interim rule spelling out how states must document employment status for adults enrolled in Medicaid, establishing a hard deadline of January 1, 2027, for full compliance. The guidance covers roughly 20 million adults who gained […]

Two Executive Orders Dating to the 1970s Eliminated President Donald Trump last Friday eliminated a pair of executive orders that had shaped federal land management policy for over fifty years, removing longstanding requirements for how agencies handle off-road vehicle use on public lands. The move prompted immediate criticism from conservation organizations operating across Idaho and […]

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Debbie Critchfield is taking her push to modernize Idaho’s school funding formula directly to the public, hosting a series of in-person and virtual listening sessions across the state this month. The sessions are open to community members and education stakeholders who want to weigh in on how the state distributes […]

Primary Election Set for May 19 Three candidates are competing for the District 2 seat on the Fremont County Commission in the upcoming primary election. Incumbent Mark Chandler faces challenges from Glade Mason and Josh Thomas, with the primary winner advancing to the November 3 general election. The Candidates Chandler, a fourth-generation resident of southeastern […]

Idaho District 21 Republicans Elect New Officers, Select Convention Delegates Legislative District 21 Republicans gathered in Meridian on Thursday to reorganize, electing a new slate of officers and choosing delegates to represent the district at the upcoming Idaho Republican Party Summer Convention. Tyler Ricks was elected chair of the district, with Curtis Egge serving as […]

Dual Recognition for Voter Education and Data Transparency Initiatives The Idaho Secretary of State’s Office has received two national Clearinghouse Awards from the U.S. Election Assistance Commission, recognizing the state’s work in voter education and election data transparency. The awards, known as the “Clearies,” honor excellence and innovation in election administration nationwide. Idaho earned recognition […]

Two Republican Challengers Will Face Incumbent U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson in Idaho’s May 19 Primary BOISE, Idaho — U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson, who has held Idaho’s 2nd Congressional District seat since 1999, will face two Republican primary challengers on May 19: Brian Keene of Twin Falls and Perry Shumway of Rexburg. Simpson is seeking his […]

Data Center Debate Moves From Statehouses to Capitol Hill as Congress Eyes Energy Costs, AI Growth A Local Fight Goes National What began as a series of contentious local disputes over electricity costs and land use has grown into a full-scale policy battle in Washington. Data centers — the massive facilities that power artificial intelligence, […]

State Endowment Land Auction Draws Single Bidder The Idaho Department of Lands sold 160 acres of state endowment land near Driggs for $5 million at a public auction Friday in Garden City. The property, located in eastern Idaho’s Teton County with views of the Teton Range, sold to TR Lot Holdco LLC for the minimum […]

Jennifer Miles defeated freshman Republican Rep. Tanya Burgoyne by 40 votes in the District 29 House Seat B primary Tuesday, ending a single-term incumbency in a Pocatello-area district that has swung between the parties.

Republican Reps. Stephanie Mickelsen and Erin Bingham each took about 57 percent of the vote in their respective District 32 House primaries Tuesday, defeating challengers Kelly Golden and Brian McKellar in Bonneville County legislative races.

Idaho Parental Choice Tax Credit Program Reopens May 21 With More Than $7 Million Still Available The Idaho State Tax Commission will reopen applications for the state’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program beginning Wednesday, May 21 at 8 a.m. MDT, giving eligible families another window to access funding for private and alternative education expenses. The […]