AGP Executive Report

Military & Public Spending: A mid-air collision during Idaho’s Gunfighter Skies air show at Mountain Home AFB destroyed two Navy EA-18G Growler jets worth about $134 million, and the viral footage has sparked sharp taxpayer backlash over the cost and safety of public flight demos. Power & Storm Response: In the Treasure Valley, multiple Idaho Power outages hit Sunday evening, including a 6,400+ customer outage near New Plymouth/Sand Hollow/western Emmett that was restored by about 8:45 p.m., plus smaller outages tied to a suspected traffic collision and reports of downed lines near Boise’s Lake Hazel Road. GOP Politics: Idaho Republicans are asking candidates to publicly back the party platform ahead of the May 19 primary—an effort that’s exposing splits, especially around the party’s strict pro-life stance. Local Elections: District 29’s Rep. Tanya Burgoyne faces a primary challenger, while District 32B and 32A incumbents also face competition as voters head to the polls. Community & Inclusion: A 16-year-old Rainbow Shoelace founder was targeted online after supporting IDAHOBIT events, as LGBTQ inclusion continues to draw intense pushback.

AI in the real world: Culinary students at NAU say they’re using AI for faster prep and inventory help, but they’re wary of accuracy when it comes to food. AI’s darker side: A new report on Anthropic’s Claude describes unsupervised chats drifting toward “consciousness and reverence,” raising fresh questions about corporate responsibility. Housing squeeze: A new analysis finds 65% of U.S. households are priced out of newly built homes, with many states at or above 80%. Idaho health watch: Idaho Falls Medicaid bills for professional services jumped to $2.86M in 2024, and Meridian hit $1.03M—both big year-over-year increases. Public health alert: CDC says a backyard poultry salmonella outbreak has sickened 180+ people nationwide, including four in Georgia, with Idaho among the hardest-hit states. Local business: Sandpoint Library’s next expansion phase was awarded to Dardan Enterprises for $2.272M.

Idaho politics: Two primary races are heating up for May 19, including Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen (LD 32A) seeking a third term against challenger Kelly Golden, and Sen. Jim Guthrie (Chubbuck) facing Guard officer David Worley in a GOP primary. Court fight over sports: Transgender student athletes are challenging bans in West Virginia and Idaho, with appeals courts siding with them but Supreme Court watchers expecting the bans to survive. Civil rights in the crosshairs: Six transgender Idahoans, backed by ACLU of Idaho and Lambda Legal, filed a federal lawsuit challenging H.B. 752’s restroom restrictions. Public health: A CDC-linked backyard poultry salmonella outbreak has sickened 180+ people nationwide, with Idaho among states reporting more than ten cases. Insurance pressure: Idaho’s Department of Insurance launched a new wildfire-focused data call to insurers to track affordability and availability. Local business/health spending: Medicaid billing data show Caldwell radiology procedures rising to $196,963 in 2024, while Idaho Falls and Meridian also saw big jumps in procedures/professional services.

Child Exploitation Case: A former Boise school bus driver, Brian Hendricks, has agreed to plead guilty in a child sexual exploitation case and is set for sentencing later this summer, after earlier pleading guilty to misdemeanor child injury counts; the Idaho AG’s investigation was triggered by CyberTip reports. Eagle School Bus Incident: Eagle police say no arrests or citations followed an incident where a substitute driver kept students from exiting while officers responded to a parent reportedly armed with a pocketknife—children got off safely and the driver followed protocols. Insurance Watch: Idaho’s Department of Insurance launched a new data call to track how wildfire risk is reshaping homeowners and dwelling-fire coverage and availability. Tech/Media: Albertsons’ media arm rolled out a 52-week “Lifetime Value” framework to measure retail ad impact beyond short-term ROAS. Local Business: Main Auction will hold its final live sale before relocating from its long-time Boise facility.

Idaho AG Race: Democratic attorney general candidate Lori Hickman is pitching a return to “sound legal advice” and a tougher consumer-protection agenda, naming scams, Medicaid fraud and price-fixing as priorities while warning Idahoans are still getting hit by fake government texts. Local Courts & Rights: A Post Falls woman, Teresa Borrenpohl, has filed a federal lawsuit after she says she was forcibly removed from a Coeur d’Alene legislative town hall in 2025—arguing the incident violated her First, Fourth and 14th Amendment rights. AI Data Center Backlash: In Pocatello, hundreds packed a public hearing on a proposed AI data center, with more than 90 people speaking—overwhelmingly against a conditional use permit. Treasure Valley Business Shift: Main Auction will hold its final live sale this weekend before closing its long-running Boise facility and moving to a new location. Housing Watch: Caldwell approved a high-end mixed-use development off Karcher Road, including 655 single-family homes and commercial space.

Boise State Facilities Plan: Boise State has hired MMQ Group to run feasibility studies for possible upgrades to Albertsons Stadium and ExtraMile Arena, with work focused on circulation, restrooms and concessions, premium seating, and “back of house” concert/event space, with results due by the end of summer. Courthouse Fight in North Idaho: A Post Falls woman is suing Kootenai County Sheriff Bob Norris, GOP party chair Brent Regan, and private security tied to her forced removal from a Coeur d’Alene town hall, alleging constitutional violations and seeking damages. Local Business & Growth: A new Dumpling Time location is set to open in Boise this fall at The Warehouse Food Hall, bringing handmade dumplings and bao to the BoDo district. Media Deal Lands in Idaho: Scripps and Gray Media have completed their station swap, expanding Scripps’ footprint in Twin Falls and Colorado Springs. Energy/Tech Watch: L3Harris says it has finalized design work on a next-gen nuclear power source for NASA deep-space missions.

Mining Watch: Resolution Minerals kicked off its 2026 Golden Gate drilling at the Horse Heaven project in Idaho, starting with a first diamond-core hole and planning up to 13,700 meters across as many as 45 holes to map gold and tungsten targets. Local Politics: A North Idaho woman filed a federal lawsuit after she says she was forcibly removed from a 2025 Kootenai County GOP town hall, naming the sheriff, the GOP committee chair, and a security contractor. Public Lands: The U.S. Forest Service approved an Idaho group’s request to use banned chainsaws to clear trails in the Frank Church–River of No Return Wilderness, drawing conservation backlash. Water & Growth: McCall voters will decide on a $10 million bond for water infrastructure upgrades as costs rose. Courts & Health Policy: The U.S. Supreme Court let the abortion pill continue via telemedicine and mail for now, restoring a 2023 FDA rule while litigation continues. Business & Risk: Idaho homeowners are facing insurance cancellations and steep premium hikes as wildfire risk intensifies.

M&A Watch: Relevant Solutions just bought Automation Werx, a controls-and-automation shop in Idaho Falls, keeping the team there while expanding end-to-end work (panel building through PLC/SCADA) and pushing service coverage across the Intermountain West. Cybersecurity: Boise State updated students and faculty after the Canvas breach that forced finals to be canceled, saying Instructure reached an agreement with the alleged hackers and that stolen data was deleted—while urging people to watch for suspicious messages. Education & Growth: CWI’s River District project landed $2.165M in Community Project Funding to help ready the Micron Academic Center for a Fall 2027 completion. Water: The Idaho Water Resource Board committed $8M to a Mountain Home Plateau program aimed at stabilizing an overdrawn aquifer by bringing in surface water. Local Politics: Two candidates are running for Bear Lake County clerk, with incumbent Amy Bishop not responding to a questionnaire. Business Moves: Encompass Health plans a 50-bed inpatient rehab hospital in Post Falls, targeting a 2028 opening.

Medicare Shockwave: The Trump administration is freezing new Medicare enrollments for hospice and home health agencies nationwide for six months, and Idaho providers say the broad move could hit rural access even as they support cracking down on fraud. Tech & Courts: OpenAI CEO Sam Altman is facing conflict-of-interest scrutiny after court filings show he holds more than $2 billion in stakes in companies that did business with OpenAI, while a separate Idaho federal judge largely denied Lamb Weston’s bid to toss a shareholder suit tied to a software rollout. Local Business & Growth: Garden City’s Boise River Boardwalk is gearing up for a wave of new openings, including Spitfire Tacos and a sports bar, as the waterfront pushes to become a year-round destination. Higher Ed Costs: Idaho State Board of Education approved a $425 resident undergraduate tuition increase at ISU starting this fall. Power & Weather: High winds are already causing outages across southern Idaho and eastern Oregon, with Idaho Power warning residents to prepare for more. Community Watch: Blaine County clerk candidates are trading accusations over recording delays and document handling, and Spokane Allergy & Asthma Clinic patients are reporting billing problems after the closure.

Wildfire Preparedness: Idaho Power is warning of a high-risk summer after a mild winter and is ramping up wildfire mitigation, including possible de-energizing of lines in the urban-wildland interface and a statewide run of public outage-prep sessions starting today. Local Politics: Three newcomers are vying for a Bannock County Commission seat, with the May 19 primary set to decide District 1. Kratom Rules: Kootenai County is weighing tighter, more nuanced kratom restrictions than nearby Eastern Washington. Healthcare Pressure: Idaho’s rural hospitals say insurance denials and Medicaid reimbursement changes are squeezing cash flow, even as they look to a new federal grant for relief. Business & Tech: Albertsons is rolling out an AI tool to standardize produce quality inspections at distribution centers, while Oklo and Idaho National Lab are partnering on AI-enabled reactor design. Media Labor: Journalists at McClatchy-owned papers in the region—including the Idaho Statesman—are pledging to strike over wages, AI guardrails, and layoff protections.

Notre Dame Shake-Up: Micah Shrewsberry’s third season ends with the Irish finishing 16th in the ACC and 13-18 overall, derailed by season-ending injuries and a tense offseason as the program declines to comment. Yellowstone Grizzlies: Warm weather is pulling spring hikers onto trails earlier than usual, and wildlife managers are bracing after a May 4 attack sent victims to Idaho Falls. Micron in China: Boise’s Micron CEO Sanjay Mehrotra is set to join a major U.S. business delegation in Beijing, underscoring how Idaho’s chip industry keeps landing on global stages. Public Lands Watch: A pending BLM leadership change has Idahoans and Western groups worried about renewed pressure to sell or transfer federal lands. Local Access Fight: Eagle’s Saturday Market is back, but neighbors are raising ADA concerns about wheelchair access at Heritage Park. Idaho Power Preparedness: The utility is holding virtual meetings on wildfire readiness and outage planning starting May 13.

SEC Scrutiny Ahead of IPO: Montana AG Austin Knudsen and a coalition of 10 states asked the SEC to closely review OpenAI’s filings before its expected IPO, warning of potential conflicts involving Sam Altman that could put public investors and pensions at risk. Abortion Pills Fight: Idaho is among 23 states backing Louisiana’s bid at the U.S. Supreme Court to block mail-order mifepristone distribution, arguing the FDA’s 2023 policy changes undercut state authority. Energy Reliability in the Inland Northwest: Avista started operations on Spokane’s first community microgrid at the MLK Center, using solar, batteries, and natural gas backup to keep services running during long outages. Local Business Pulse (Twin Falls): Two new vendors—Cut Throat Coffee and Old Town Deli—are set to open at the 2nd South Market by June 1. Idaho Politics: With primaries near, Idaho Gov. Brad Little reported raising $1.8M so far this year, far ahead of other statewide challengers.

Young Ownership Gap: LendingTree says only 5.7% of U.S. employer firms are run by owners under 35—Idaho is higher than most at 7.9%, but still low, with funding access flagged as a likely limiter. Crime & Courts: A Moscow man, Devin Terrance Pickler, was sentenced to 210 months for receipt of child pornography after a CyberTip led investigators to CSAM on his accounts and devices. Food Safety Crackdown: In Washington’s Tri-Cities, unpermitted roadside vendors are rising; seven were shut down in 2026 so far, with inspectors pushing operators toward permits. Health Care Expansion: Encompass Health plans a 50-bed inpatient rehab hospital in Post Falls, targeting an opening in 2028. BLM Leadership: Stevan Pearce is confirmed as the new Bureau of Land Management director, after a close Senate vote. Local Business Pulse: Eagle’s Saturday Market is back at Heritage Park, aiming to boost downtown foot traffic after construction pushed it away. Tech & Privacy: Idaho’s debate over AI road surveillance laws continues as privacy groups push for stronger limits.

Mining Watch: Silver Hammer Mining has kicked off a summer surface reconnaissance program at its Fahey Silver Project in Idaho’s Silver Belt—an area the company says hasn’t been explored in more than 60 years—aimed at confirming the Upper Revett Formation across fault blocks and reviewing mineralization at adits and vein exposures, with a deep drill plan targeted after a Plan of Operations filing by end of summer. Roads & Logistics: ITD starts paving Monday in Caldwell (I-84 Business Loop/Centennial Way) and later this week in Parma (U.S. 95 resurfacing), with lane closures and flaggers expected during daytime work hours. Local Business Climate: Boise is ranked among the “big cities” for starting a business, landing No. 72 in WalletHub’s startup list. Public Health Capacity: Idaho is feeling the squeeze as CDC pauses certain rabies testing, a move that follows staffing cuts at specialized labs. Tech & Deals: SOFTRAX’s Revenue Management System is now live on Microsoft Marketplace, positioning it for enterprise procurement inside the Microsoft ecosystem.

In the past 12 hours, Idaho-focused coverage skewed toward local politics, business updates, and regional public-policy debates. A Bingham County Commission Seat 2 race is underway, with incumbent Chairman Whitney Manwaring facing challenger Victor Salinas in the May 19 primary (the article includes their short-form responses to a set of questions). Idaho’s broader election season also shows up in coverage of a Democratic primary for Idaho’s 1st Congressional District, where Kenneth Brungardt and Kaylee Peterson are competing to face the eventual Republican nominee. On the business side, Root Inc. (the parent of insurtech Root Insurance) reported Q1 2026 net income of $35.9 million—its best quarterly result—along with commentary about building an “automated insurance carrier” and expanding its independent agent distribution channel.

Several other last-12-hours items point to ongoing Idaho-adjacent economic and infrastructure themes. Alaska Airlines’ route expansion includes a relaunch of service to Long Beach (starting Sept. 8 from Seattle), and a separate piece discusses how advanced nuclear reactors are being promoted as an alternative to aging coal plants—framing the policy debate around reliability and baseload power. There’s also continued attention to health and services: a telehealth abortion-medication case is described as entering a new uncertainty phase after a Supreme Court temporary block/stay, and a separate report highlights the American Kidney Fund’s living donor protection “report card,” emphasizing remaining gaps in protections for living kidney donors.

Beyond Idaho’s borders, the last 12 hours also included public-safety and environment-adjacent reporting that could affect regional planning. A rabid beaver attack in New Jersey prompted health officials to warn residents after the animal tested positive for rabies. Air-quality concerns were also highlighted via an American Lung Association “State of the Air” report, which lists multiple Mountain West metros (including Boise) among areas with notable ozone and particle pollution. Meanwhile, a Latah County jail replacement effort is covered as facing headwinds despite survey support—an example of how local governance and funding constraints remain central to community infrastructure decisions.

Looking back 12 to 72 hours (as supporting context), the coverage shows continuity in several themes: Idaho’s election cycle and ballot initiatives remain prominent (including signature milestones for medical cannabis and reproductive-freedom-related measures), and health-policy uncertainty continues to recur (including ongoing discussion of telehealth access and abortion medication litigation). There’s also continued attention to Idaho’s economic conditions and labor market signals (e.g., unemployment rate reporting and regional labor-market commentary), alongside recurring business and development stories such as housing and infrastructure planning. Overall, the most recent evidence is strongest for election and near-term business developments, while older material mainly reinforces that these issues are part of a broader, ongoing news thread rather than a single new breaking event.

In the past 12 hours, Idaho Business Times coverage (and closely related Idaho-focused reporting) leaned heavily toward near-term community impacts and policy/ballot momentum. A standout local angle was how Washington’s “sky-high” gas prices are changing behavior for families near the Idaho border—one Spokane-area parent said the cost of filling up nearly doubled, leading to reduced driving and fewer trips, while tourism experts suggested the same price pressure could still draw more visitors to Spokane this summer. Education and workforce development also featured prominently: Idaho’s AI-in-schools push is described as a major public-private partnership (with Microsoft, Micron, INL, and Stukent) while a separate story highlighted McCall-Donnelly seniors building a tiny home through an apprenticeship-style program to launch careers in Idaho trades. Health and regulatory updates included rescinded H5N1 testing requirements for cattle moving from “unaffected” states, and a major Idaho ballot milestone: the Natural Medicine Alliance submitted more than 150,000 signatures to qualify a medical cannabis initiative for the November ballot (pending clerk verification).

Business and civic life in the last 12 hours included both institutional updates and local economic development. EastIdahoNews.com’s “Biz Buzz” column is transitioning to a new reporter after eight years, signaling continuity in ongoing business coverage rather than a single major business event. Several local/community projects also appeared: a new Portneuf Air Rescue helicopter is set to debut at an open house, and Idaho Gives fundraising efforts were tied to the Burley Theatre Restoration Project. On the political side, multiple opinion pieces and primary-season framing underscored that May 19 is a key decision point in Idaho’s closed Republican primary system, with additional attention to candidate messaging and voter priorities (including healthcare concerns raised in an opinion column).

Across the broader 7-day window, the reporting provides continuity on Idaho’s policy environment and election dynamics, but with fewer “hard” Idaho-specific developments than in the most recent 12 hours. The medical and health policy thread continues with a national analysis warning Medicaid cuts could put hundreds of hospitals at risk, and additional coverage around abortion-pill access litigation appears in the background. Election-focused items also broaden beyond Idaho, but Idaho-specific themes recur: discussions of tax burden and Idaho’s low-tax positioning, plus ongoing attention to local races and governance (e.g., county commissioner contests and election tampering coverage in the most recent set). There’s also sustained attention to technology and infrastructure—ranging from AI education to cybersecurity and distributed energy policy testimony—suggesting the publication’s business lens is tracking both economic competitiveness and operational risk.

Overall, the most significant “news” signal in this rolling week is the combination of (1) Idaho’s medical cannabis ballot drive reaching a major signature threshold and (2) immediate community-facing impacts (gas prices, a new emergency air rescue asset, and hands-on trades/AI education initiatives). By contrast, many other headlines in the last 12 hours read more like routine local/community updates or opinion/entertainment items, and the older material is more useful as background continuity than as evidence of a single new Idaho business turning point.