AGP Executive Report

Idaho Rare Earths: Idaho Strategic Resources says it found a significant concentration of heavy rare earths at its Diamond Creek project north of Salmon, including yttrium—an element the U.S. relies on China for, with potential implications for EV and aerospace supply chains. Health Care Costs: Blue Cross says a North Idaho hospital’s use of a Congress-created billing arbitration process is driving up costs and could mean higher premiums, while the insurer says the Idaho Department of Insurance hasn’t provided updates on its investigation. Mining Watch: Bunker Hill Mining reports it has completed its first production stope blast at its Bunker Hill Mine and is targeting commercial production by year-end, citing safety progress with four years without a lost-time incident. Local Business & Growth: Croc Coatings is partnering with Life Floor to offer cooler-underfoot, slip-resistant pool deck surfacing options in North Idaho and Eastern Washington. Energy Prices: GasBuddy reports diesel prices in Idaho remain volatile, with the state average rising to $5.32 per gallon in the week ending Aug. 8. Tech & Workforce: Melaleuca’s AI + IT Tech Camp is bringing hands-on coding and AI training to Idaho high school students ahead of future tech careers.

Boise State Athletics Budget Crunch: Boise State says its athletics department faces a deficit that could reach $14 million to $18 million this fiscal year, driven by new athlete payment pressures and revenue-sharing demands after the school’s Pac-12 move. Idaho Energy Costs (Diesel): GasBuddy reports Adams County’s lowest diesel price at $5.35 for the week ending Aug. 8, with Idaho diesel averaging $5.32. Idaho Energy Costs (Premium Gas): Boise County’s cheapest premium gas hit $5.29 per gallon for the week ending Aug. 8, while Idaho’s premium average rose to $4.88. Cannabis Policy Fight: A federal challenge to marijuana rescheduling is framed as a risk to the Trump administration’s approach, with Idaho voters seeing cannabis measures in the political mix. Wildfire Watch Near Hwy. 55: A viral video raised concerns about a possible fire off Banks/Lowman Road east of Hwy. 55, prompting locals to worry about another Lowman-area incident. Tech Workforce Pipeline: Melaleuca’s AI + IT Tech Camp is giving Idaho high school students hands-on coding and AI training at the company’s headquarters. Surveillance Backlash: Idaho and other states see growing pushback against Flock-style license plate cameras, including protests and law-enforcement monitoring of online activity.

Semiconductor Concentration Risk: Boise-based Micron is the dominant holding in a fast-growing memory-chip ETF, with one fund putting more than a quarter of its $27B+ portfolio into a single stock. Consumer & Wellness M&A: Procter & Gamble is buying Thorne supplements for $3.8B in an all-cash deal, signaling continued consolidation in the science-driven wellness market. Tech Supply Chain & Trade: The U.S. is pressing Apple to avoid Chinese memory chips as shortages push up prices, while Apple explores alternatives to protect supply and margins. Idaho Health Insurance: Portneuf Health and Regence have ended a long in-network dispute, restoring in-network access for Regence members retroactive to June 15. Local Business Growth: Albertsons plans a 60,000-square-foot Caldwell store opening in late 2027, adding pharmacy drive-thru and grocery pickup. Sports Finance: Boise State athletics faces a projected deficit that could reach $18M after the Pac-12 move and rising athlete payment demands. Northwest Power Planning: A draft plan calls for major new electricity generation in the region, citing data center growth and fast-rising demand.

Health Insurance Deal: Portneuf Health and Regence BlueShield of Idaho have ended their long-running standoff, restoring in-network access for Regence members retroactive to June 15 and covering affected claims so patients won’t need to change providers. Retail Expansion: Albertsons is planning a 60,000-square-foot grocery store in Canyon County (Caldwell area) with a Starbucks and pharmacy drive-thru, targeting a late-2027 opening. Energy Planning: The Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s draft Ninth Power Plan calls for adding 11 gigawatts of new generation in five years, citing rising electricity demand from data centers and recommending major grid upgrades. Tech & Chips: The U.S. is pressing Apple not to use Chinese memory chips as the AI-driven memory shortage squeezes costs, while Micron—Idaho’s memory giant—pushes back on the broader approach. Outdoor Access: Idaho Fish and Game received a $1.65 million federal grant to expand its Access Yes! program, aiming to boost private-land angling and hunting access. Local Tech Policy: Pocatello City Council heard a detailed presentation on Flock Safety license-plate cameras amid privacy and vandalism concerns.

Wildfire & water pressure: A devastating start to the Pacific Northwest fire season is displacing families and stretching crews, while Idaho’s water picture is also worsening as low snowpack leaves Magic Valley reservoirs far below normal and forces earlier canal shutdowns. Local governance & surveillance: Pocatello City Council grilled police and Flock Safety on automated license plate reader cameras after vandalism and privacy concerns, with members pushing for clear results and oversight. Workforce & education: College of Eastern Idaho opened its $52M Future Tech building to expand engineering, IT/cybersecurity and health-related training tied to eastern Idaho hiring needs. Economy & affordability: Idaho Fish and Game secured a $1.65M federal grant to expand Access Yes! hunting and angling access by boosting landowner incentives. Business & community events: Meridian’s second annual downtown car show is set for Saturday, and Pocatello’s Poky Summerfest pop-up market debuts with 50+ vendors. Healthcare policy: Idaho’s Health Insurance Working Group is starting work on insurer performance and how it affects Idahoans’ access and costs.

Idaho Rankings Buzz: WalletHub put Idaho No. 1 for “best places to live,” citing strong affordability, economy and safety, while Washington landed 33rd and dead-last in safety. Boise State Costs: Boise State’s Pac-12 move is projected to drive a big athletic-department deficit, with Idaho taxpayers and the university facing fallout after a Mountain West/Pac-12 settlement. City Surveillance Debate: Pocatello City Council grilled police and a Flock Safety representative over ALPR cameras after public outcry, with leaders pushing for measurable results. Rare Metals & Permitting: A major tungsten find in Nevada highlights how federal land rules and NASA restrictions can slow domestic critical-mineral production. Banking & Idaho Business: KeyCorp reported strong Q2 results and pointed to Idaho’s entrepreneurial community as commercial lending grows. Local Economy/Jobs: CEI opened its $52M Future Tech Building to expand training capacity and prepare students for in-demand careers. Veterans Funding: Proceeds from the Idaho Women Veterans Medallion topped $47,000 for upkeep of Boise and Blackfoot state veterans cemeteries. Agriculture Trade: Tyson plans to sell its Pasco, Wash., beef plant and close Illinois and Utah facilities, citing a cattle shortage. Auto Deal Expansion: Teton Auto Group acquired two Bozeman dealerships, adding Audi for the first time.

Energy Infrastructure: The Northwest’s draft Ninth Power Plan calls for a major buildout by 2032, including adding 11,000 megawatts of new generation, 5,000 MW of storage and 1,000 average-megawatts of efficiency, with public comment open until Oct. 16. Idaho Growth & Skills: Idaho’s construction industry is warning that workforce shortages are getting worse as the state grows, with panelists pointing to retirements and the need to recruit, train and retain skilled workers. Local Water & Housing: Middleton broke ground on a $68 million wastewater treatment plant to meet new Boise River standards and unlock capacity for about 1,800 more housing units. Workforce Training: College of Eastern Idaho opened its Battelle Energy Alliance Future Tech Building, adding labs and space for 1,000 more students starting Aug. 17. Public Safety Tech: Pocatello City Council heard from police and Flock about license-plate camera use, addressing concerns about what the system can and can’t do. Wildlife & Regulation: A federal proposal would loosen protections for Lower 48 grizzly bears, including in Idaho, with a short public comment window. Community Health: An Idaho Falls team opened Cornerstone Wellness and Recovery after 16 years in recovery, offering treatment programs for youth and adults. Sports Economy Angle: Boise State’s projected Pac-12 win total is drawing attention as the rebuilt conference’s parity fuels betting and expectations.

Hemp/THC Rules: A federal spending-bill provision would cap most hemp-derived THC products at 0.4 mg per container, pushing many THC beverages toward illegality and leaving restaurants in limbo as states set their own dosing, labeling and licensing rules. Wildfire Oversight: ProPublica raises questions about wildfire aircraft oversight, while Idaho Power crews and contractors repurpose equipment to help fight fires along the Oregon-Idaho border. Idaho Power/Local Planning: Weiser’s mayor clarified the city’s power supply limits for a proposed data-processing center, saying current contracts and substation capacity can’t support a large facility. Tech & Investment: Micron launched a $250 million “Paradigm Fund” to back AI infrastructure startups, underscoring Idaho’s semiconductor-driven tech momentum. Nuclear Politics: Idaho gubernatorial challengers say they’re worried about Little’s proposed DOE nuclear lifecycle campus deal, including requirements to accept spent fuel and radioactive waste. Wildfire Impacts on Business: Highway 55 closures highlight how fire season disrupts travel, supply chains and emergency access for Idaho communities. Agriculture: University of Idaho and USDA rolled out a free nitrogen calculator for barley and sugar beets to help growers maximize profit, not just yield. Housing/Construction: Coeur d’Alene builder Honor Built Homes won awards for off-site construction aimed at shortening timelines and easing affordability pressures. Fraud & Consumer Safety: ICCU hosted an event warning about AI-enabled scams, including deepfakes and voice cloning.

Idaho Nuclear Debate: Three of Gov. Brad Little’s opponents say they’re worried about the state’s bid for a U.S. Department of Energy nuclear lifecycle innovation campus, especially any requirement to accept and store spent fuel and radioactive waste. Farmworker Relief: An Idaho community fund is delivering heat- and smoke-safety supplies to rural farmworkers, including masks, gloves and water, through the JJ Saldaña Heat and Smoke effort. Advanced Nuclear Spotlight: Idaho National Laboratory drew a crowd for the premiere of “The Road to Advanced Nuclear,” highlighting next-generation reactor progress and INL’s role. Water Quality Concern: An Eagle resident says his tap water has been yellow/brown for more than a year; Veolia attributes it to minerals, while the neighbor wants answers. Local Business Growth: House of Brunch is opening a second location in Coeur d’Alene, expanding its Spokane-based brand into North Idaho. Mining & Tech: IDEX Metals reported IP survey results at its Freeze Project in Idaho County, and Legacy Gold Mines released key drill results from the Baner Gold Mine property. Public Safety Staffing: Idaho State Police says north Idaho is facing an ongoing trooper shortage as applications for the next academy dwindle.

Pipeline fight: Idaho is among 18 states backing West Virginia AG J.B. McCuskey in an amicus brief urging a federal appeals court to keep Enbridge’s Line 5 operating, arguing Michigan can’t shut the cross-border pipeline and that federal pipeline-safety authority should control. EV policy: A new federal push is subsidizing critical mineral mines and battery-linked projects, a move that could indirectly accelerate the EV supply chain even as oil-market turmoil continues. Workforce & leadership: Hill’s Pet Nutrition named Wendy Boise EVP of People, bringing 26+ years of HR leadership from Colgate-Palmolive. Local water & risk: The Idaho Water Resource Board approved 13 flood management grants totaling $1.14M, while Idaho Fish and Game issued a salvage order for Winder Reservoir as irrigation drawdowns threaten fish survival. Business & growth: Boise-based Clearwater Analytics reports asset managers are adopting AI but worry about data reliability and regulatory risk. Corporate finance: Grocery Outlet posted Q2 results with slightly higher sales but weaker comparable store performance, and Earth Science Tech expanded via acquisition of a California compounding pharmacy to broaden nationwide coverage. Idaho economy: WalletHub again ranked Idaho the best state to live in, citing affordability, income growth, and safety.

Healthcare IT Deal: Pro Medicus won a 7-year, A$23 million contract with St. Luke’s Health System (headquartered in Boise) to deploy its cloud-based Visage 7 enterprise imaging platform across three states, with rollout planning starting now and a first-quarter 2027 go-live. Local Housing & Zoning: NeighborWorks Pocatello is seeking zoning and land-use changes to build affordable senior apartments on city-owned land near Sacajawea Park, with a public hearing set for Wednesday. Public Safety Tech Debate: Pocatello City Council will review the police department’s Flock license-plate camera program in a work session Thursday amid calls from at least one council member to scrap the contract. Idaho Budget Pressure: Post Falls is considering a potential 3% property tax increase to address inflation, reduced state revenue share, and rising costs. Agriculture Workforce: A federal bill would expand and extend H-2A visa eligibility for more livestock and dairy operations, aiming to ease labor access and cost pressures in Idaho’s year-round dairy sector. Mental Health Expansion: Cottonwood Creek Behavioral Hospital opened a new Haven outpatient facility in Meridian to meet rising demand for adolescent and adult mental health services. Scam Watch: Idaho AG warns of a bank-investigator scam that pushed an Idaho resident to withdraw $14,000 and mail cash—before authorities stopped it.

Idaho Public Safety: Idaho State Police identified off-duty Specialist Steve McClain as the trooper who helped stop the Twin Falls In-N-Out shooter, after earlier video footage circulated without a name. Housing & Local Economy: Summit Housing Group opened a new affordable housing complex in Rexburg, adding LIHTC units aimed at working families priced out of market rents. Healthcare & Consumer Protection: Idaho AG Raul Labrador said investigators stopped a Wells Fargo impersonation scam in progress, saving a victim from losing $14,000. Business & Legal Services: Fennemore will combine with Boise firm McConnell Wagner Sykes + Stacey, expanding Boise’s team and adding 13 legal professionals effective Sept. 1. Tech & Finance: Two AI platforms are moving into advisor/client onboarding to reduce the paperwork burden of switching firms. Community Support: The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation granted $20,000 to The Idaho Foodbank to boost hunger relief statewide. Scam Trends: BBB Scam Tracker data showed Idaho among states seeing rising scam reporting, with online purchase the most common fraud type. Energy & Industry: Kyoto Fusioneering announced UNITY-3, a fusion tritium breeding blanket test facility, and said it’s relocating its U.S. HQ to Oak Ridge, Tennessee. Environment: Western wildfires continue to strain resources, with Idaho among states reporting multiple active fires.

Sugarbeet Outlook: U.S. sugarbeet acreage for 2026 fell to the lowest level in decades, with weather and economics blamed; Idaho is listed at 152,000 acres. Local Agriculture R&D: KWS Seeds opened an expanded research greenhouse complex in Kimberly to boost seed development and plant disease work. Public Safety Tech Debate: Records show Twin Falls Police ALPR searches were used for immigration-related purposes via Flock’s network, prompting a later change to block outside agencies. College Sports Business: The NCAA lifted its alcohol and energy drink ad ban for March Madness and other championships as it expands the tournament field, aiming for more revenue. Mining & Capital Markets: Elk Range Mining is preparing a maiden diamond drill campaign at its Friday gold mine in Idaho after a $10 million IPO. Healthcare Antitrust: Idaho AG Ford joined a coalition announcing a $400 million settlement in principle with Sandoz over alleged generic-drug price and competition conspiracies. Housing Access: GoWest Foundation and four East Idaho credit unions launched the “East Idaho Welcome Home” program to help first-time buyers get into homes sooner. Wildfire Aftermath: The Big Rock Fire hit 85% containment, and officials confirmed a missing man died from smoke inhalation. Road Safety: Bonner County reported a rise in crashes and fatalities, including a 60% jump in fatal crashes from 2024 to 2025.

Utility Leadership: Avista named Alicia Gibbs VP for Growth, Innovation and Strategy and Patrick Ehrbar VP for Regulatory Affairs, effective Oct. 1, as part of a succession plan. Local Schools & Growth: Salmon voters backed a $20M bond and the Salmon Two Rivers K-8 K-8 school is now nearly complete, aiming to be functional and community-focused. Avalanche Fallout: Blackbird Mountain Guides released a more detailed Tahoe-area avalanche report, saying the group wasn’t in avalanche terrain when the slide hit and assigning no blame, while describing complex conditions and a blocked escape route. Sports Betting Policy: Idaho AG Aaron Ford joined a bipartisan coalition telling the CFTC it can’t regulate sports-related prediction market contracts, arguing states should retain control. Banking Recognition: Banner Bank was ranked No. 1 in California by Forbes/Statista, highlighting trust, service and digital banking scores. Idaho Economy: AAA Idaho reports gas prices up 5 cents a gallon week over week as the school year starts. Healthcare Workforce Shift: Avamere Health Services plans to lay off about 129 workers and transition two skilled nursing properties to an Eagle, Idaho operator. Wildfire Pressure: Eastern Washington fires near Malden, Rosalia and Colfax prompted evacuations and remain at 0% containment.

Idaho Gold Deal: Elk Range Mining (ASX:ELK) raised A$10 million in a fully subscribed IPO and has started trading on the ASX, with plans to begin a maiden drilling program at its Friday Gold Mine in Idaho’s Orogrande Shear Zone in the September quarter. Wildfire & Housing Pressure: Spokane-area crews are gaining ground on fast-moving fires, but the Old Trails complex is already expected to tighten local housing supply as displaced families and rebuilding demand collide. Fresh Potato Industry: University of Idaho Extension opened registration for its inaugural Fresh Pack Potato Symposium (Nov. 17-18 in Twin Falls), aiming to tackle fresh-market challenges and tour local facilities. Food & Retail: Survival Garden Seeds in Rigby launched a “Self-Reliance Gardening” retail system built around curated Garden in a Bag collections, while Walmart shoppers were warned to check Bettergoods pistachio nut butter jars for a Salmonella-related recall. Public Safety/Justice Funding: An Idaho Center for Fiscal Policy report argues the Legislature prioritized prisons over prevention, pointing to budget outcomes for correction, public defense and treatment courts. Crypto Regulation: Sen. Jim Risch says the Senate will start moving the CLARITY Act on Sept. 15, framing it as a consumer-protection and competitiveness push.

Nuclear R&D in Idaho: SHINE Technologies will lead a U.S. Department of Energy Genesis Mission project using AI to optimize nuclear fuel recycling designs, partnering with Argonne National Laboratory to evaluate more process options while weighing performance, product quality and waste. Idaho National Lab security tech: INL researchers demonstrated a specialized vacuum attachment designed to collect “radioactive glass” samples after a nuclear detonation for forensic nuclear safeguards. Energy & business ripple effects: A new nuclear-powered shipping discussion at Posidonia 2026 highlighted the push for an international regulatory framework to make nuclear propulsion commercially viable. Local economy & community: Idaho Falls’ Sister Cities program marks 45 years of friendship with Tokai-Mura, including recent student exchanges. Corporate finance: RadNet reported record quarterly revenue and raised 2026 guidance ranges. Food safety: Walmart shoppers are urged to check Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter for a Salmonella recall tied to a Jan. 28, 2027 expiry date. Idaho business/health: A vacuum attachment designed at INL and a separate Idaho Falls story on a paintless dent repair pioneer both point to continued growth in applied tech and services.