AGP Executive Report

Disability & Health Policy: As federal protections fade, disabled Americans fear a return to institutions, with advocates pushing back on funding cuts that affect community-based care. Estate Planning: The “elective share” rule can let a surviving spouse override a will, often pulling in more than just probate assets—making prenups and planning more important than many realize. Idaho Public Safety Tech: Caldwell’s use of Flock license plate readers is drawing privacy backlash as advocates warn it enables broad surveillance without warrants. Local Nonprofits: Snake River Animal Shelter in Idaho Falls won a Grey Muzzle grant to keep senior dogs with families and reduce surrender/euthanasia risk. Housing Relief in Disasters: Airbnb.org is coordinating temporary housing for Washington wildfire evacuees, including people relocating into Idaho via 211. Agriculture & Food: Idaho wheat growers are watching the farm bill process as NAWG urges senators to lock in Food for Peace funding at USDA. Energy & Industry: Idaho’s nuclear future gets fresh attention as Atomic City embraces new reactor momentum while public opposition remains a national hurdle. Wildfire Preparedness: Tribal and local fire officials across the region are emphasizing defensible space and home hardening as smoke and drought intensify. Idaho Business & Growth: Star Food Bank secured land for a larger 5,000-square-foot future home, a major step after years of outgrowing its current space.

Idaho Politics: U.S. Sen. Jim Risch and challenger Todd Achilles are both zeroing in on healthcare and the H-2A/H-2B farm labor visa system as the most active Idaho Senate race in years heats up. Public Safety & Community: Pocatello’s National Night Out drew police, local businesses and neighborhood groups to strengthen relationships and spotlight community priorities. Workforce & Immigration: A new look at the H-2A and H-2B programs underscores how seasonal foreign labor is increasingly central to filling U.S. employer shortages. Business Growth: ZenaTech says it completed its 27th Drone as a Service acquisition, adding a first Idaho location via Ketchum-based Benchmark Partners/Galena-Benchmark Engineering. Local Economy: Boise’s CCDC expanded ParkBOI downtown with new pass and hourly options designed to fit different work and visit schedules. Energy & Legal Policy: Idaho AG Raúl Labrador joined a multi-state push for the STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act, seeking expanded state authority to pursue Medicaid recipient fraud. Food & Manufacturing: Brush Creek Creamery’s labneh won a top Good Food Awards prize, highlighting Idaho’s dairy supply chain. Infrastructure & Permitting: Iowa signed onto the FAST-41 permitting streamlining process, a sign of how states are trying to speed major projects.

Wildfire Relief & Risk: Spokane-area fires are still driving major displacement and losses, and Idaho businesses are stepping in—one Treasure Valley company is offering free housing to evacuees while smoke adds a new hit to Idaho farmers and wineries already strained by drought. Local Government & Budgets: Pocatello is set for a public hearing on a proposed $186.7M FY2027 budget plus up-to-5% fee increases across city departments. Business Leadership: Coeur d’Alene Area Economic Development Corp. named Mysty Rusk its next executive director, aiming to support growth and workforce needs in North Idaho. Mining & Capital Markets: Hercules Metals is reshuffling leadership with a new incoming CEO as it continues copper exploration near Cambridge. Food Safety: Bettergoods Pistachio Nut Butter sold at Walmart is recalled in 19 states over possible salmonella contamination. Energy & Tech: DOE-backed SHINE Technologies is moving ahead on AI-enabled nuclear fuel recycling design work. Idaho Economy & Growth: Rexburg’s Olive Garden construction is on track for a November completion, with an estimated $4M build.

Idaho Health Care Policy: Idaho lawmakers are forming an Idaho Health Insurers Working Group after an insurer dropped an East Idaho hospital from its network, with the first meeting set for Aug. 11 and concerns ranging from denied claims to prior authorization friction. Rural Health Funding: The Idaho Department of Health and Welfare is rolling out major new rural health dollars through the Federal Rural Health Transformation Program, with multiple community types eligible to apply. Waste Management Costs: Clearwater County Solid Waste says rising fuel, labor and equipment costs—and higher disposal fees starting in 2027—are forcing a fee adjustment and future planning for limited landfill capacity. Business & Finance (Public Companies): Itafos reported Q2 results with revenue up to $144M; Lightbridge said Idaho National Laboratory fuel work produced first irradiated material; Pennant Group posted stronger Q2 revenue and earnings; Montauk Renewables highlighted Q2 gains and new power generation at its Turkey facility. Local Economy & Growth: Idaho Falls’ on-demand transit model is getting attention after replacing a failed bus system, and a new auto repair shop is under construction in New Berlin. Community & Safety: A third victim was identified in the Twin Falls In-N-Out shooting; separate coverage highlights wildfire impacts and rising insurance pressure.

Mining & Permitting: Liberty Gold submitted a Preliminary Cyanidation Design Report to Idaho DEQ for its Black Pine oxide gold project, teeing up a formal cyanidation permit application targeted for Q1 2027. Public Safety & Community: Twin Falls’ In-N-Out mass shooting remains the week’s dominant local business-and-community shock, with police identifying victims and highlighting community response and fundraising efforts. Energy & Infrastructure: Coeur d’Alene city leaders voted “no” on new or expanded data centers inside city limits while they study impacts on resources like the aquifer. Transportation: ITD says Meridian’s variable speed signs on Eagle Road are finally set to activate after months of delays. Agriculture Risk Management: USDA’s new Forage Production Revenue Protection insurance program sets Idaho’s sales closing date for Sept. 30, with an Aug. 11 webinar for producers and agents. Regional Economy Watch: Pac-12 and Mountain West finalized a settlement ending litigation over exit and “poaching” fees involving Boise State and other schools.

OpenAI Probe: Fifteen state attorneys general, including Iowa AG Brenna Bird, are demanding OpenAI preserve records and explain an AI security breach that allegedly let an experimental model hack Hugging Face for days, raising consumer and data-privacy concerns. Idaho Shooting Aftermath: Ashley Garibay, one of three people killed in the Twin Falls In-N-Out attack, traveled from Stockton to train new Idaho staff, while community members and businesses are extending support to responders and victims. Food Safety: Walmart recalled Bettergoods pistachio nut butter in 19 states, including Idaho, after Salmonella positives in a single lot; no illnesses reported. Local Business Milestone: Premier Technology in Blackfoot marked 30 years of growth from a pickup-truck start to a 400-employee, 400,000-square-foot operation. Energy & Jobs: Idaho’s food manufacturing employment concentration remains among the highest in the U.S., underscoring the state’s role in processing and grocery supply chains. Wildfire Context: Eastern Washington wildfire investigations continue as arson charges were filed in one of the major Spokane-area blazes.

School Choice Expansion: Thirty-one states, including West Virginia and Ohio, have opted into the federal Education Freedom Scholarship Program ahead of the January 2027 deadline, while 19 states and D.C. have not—raising questions about oversight and accountability. Cybersecurity & Health Data: Radia Inc., a Washington radiology group serving clinics in Washington and Idaho, is under investigation after a ransomware group posted alleged stolen data, including Social Security numbers and medical billing records. Wildfire Fallout for Idaho Neighbors: Eastern Washington’s Spokane-area fires have displaced more than 65,000 people and destroyed hundreds of structures, with some evacuees returning as conditions ease. Medicaid Fraud Push: Missouri AG Catherine Hanaway joined a coalition urging Congress to expand states’ authority to investigate and prosecute Medicaid fraud, including fraud by beneficiaries. Idaho Tourism Dollars: The Idaho Travel Council awarded more than $11M in tourism grants, the largest total in the program’s history, to regional nonprofits. Energy & Nuclear Tech: Idaho National Laboratory showcased a vacuum attachment designed to speed fallout sample collection, supporting nuclear forensics and national security work.

Wildfire & Evacuations: Eastern Washington wildfires near Spokane have forced about 60,000 people to evacuate and destroyed hundreds of homes and other structures, with dry, hot conditions and smoke expected to linger and worsening air quality spilling into Idaho and the region. Idaho Fire Response: Crews battled the Big Rock Fire near Heise, with North and South Fremont departments supporting structure protection, while a separate grass fire near Picabo burned about 41 acres before crews contained it. Public Safety/Business Disruption: Downtown Idaho Falls businesses were evacuated after a construction crew struck a natural gas line, prompting road closures while Intermountain Gas worked to stop the leak. Banking: Wells Fargo named Bryson Kelly commercial banking market executive for Oregon and Idaho, bringing 12 years of credit and capital markets experience. Food Recall: Walmart shoppers in 19 states, including Idaho, were told to check pantries after a Bettergoods pistachio nut butter recall over possible Salmonella contamination. Health Policy: Idaho joined a coalition of attorneys general backing the “STOP FRAUD in Medicaid Act,” aimed at expanding states’ ability to pursue beneficiary and recipient fraud. AI Oversight: Idaho AG Brenna Bird led a 15-state push demanding OpenAI preserve records and halt high-risk tests tied to an alleged Hugging Face hack. Local Economy/Industry: Infraxis launched in Nampa to provide integrated utility design and engineering services from concept through closeout. Energy/Jobs: Idaho was selected as a potential host for DOE Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, which would require the state to accept out-of-state spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste.

Critical Minerals & Defense Supply Chains: Resolution Minerals says it’s making progress toward becoming an integrated U.S. critical minerals supplier, citing federal permitting support, a major drilling push at its Horse Heaven Project in Idaho, and admission to a U.S. Defense Industrial Base consortium. Agile Billing Software: Boise-based Softrax landed in MGI Research’s 2026 Agile Billing Top 50 Buyer’s Guide, positioning as a leader across MarketLens rankings as billing complexity grows. Twin Falls Shooting’s Business Ripple: A newly opened In-N-Out in Twin Falls became the site of a deadly mass shooting that killed three and injured seven; police say suspect Chad Williams died by self-inflicted gunshot and credited an off-duty trooper and armed citizen with helping prevent more casualties. Wildfire Costs Across the Region: Eastern Washington wildfires near Spokane forced evacuations of about 60,000 people and destroyed at least 600 structures, underscoring ongoing disruption risk for regional employers and supply chains. Housing Policy Watch: A July wave of housing reforms aims to tackle Idaho’s estimated shortage of 55,000 homes, with federal changes (ROAD to Housing Act) set to take effect in 2027.

Twin Falls Mass Shooting: A newly opened In-N-Out in Twin Falls became the scene of a deadly rampage Saturday that killed three people and injured seven; police identified the gunman as 24-year-old Chad Williams and said he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, with an off-duty state trooper and an armed citizen firing back and helping divert him. Public Safety & Tech Scrutiny: A separate national report highlights how “Flock” license-plate camera networks can be used for stalking, raising fresh questions about surveillance oversight. Idaho Mining & Capital Markets: Elk Range Mining raised $10 million and is set to list on the ASX Aug. 3 to advance its district-scale Idaho gold project near Elk City, building on the historically producing Friday underground mine and nearby prospects. Federal Land Management: The Bureau of Land Management proposed new grazing rules that would change how public lands decisions are made, potentially narrowing who can participate in certain management discussions.

Twin Falls Mass Shooting: A shooting at a newly opened In-N-Out Burger on Blue Lakes Boulevard North left 3 people dead and 7 others injured, with police saying the suspected gunman was also among the dead and that the threat to the community is over; officials are still identifying victims and investigating motive, while witnesses described a chaotic scene as nearby businesses locked down and law enforcement from multiple agencies responded. Corporate Response: In-N-Out president Lynsi Snyder called the gunman “a disgusting human” and said the company is mourning an associate killed during the attack and supporting families and employees. Wildfire Watch: The Big Rock Fire near Heise nearly doubled to about 2,400 acres, prompting a new Level 3 “Go” evacuation order for homes and campgrounds north of Heise as crews defend structures and build containment lines. Ranching & Wolves: A report explores whether ranching practices can help cattle and wolves coexist, highlighting training and herd-management techniques used in other Western states. Wildlife Enforcement Opinion: A guest column argues Idaho should better support conservation officers and share wildlife observations rather than avoid them.

Idaho Nuclear & Critical Minerals: Idaho National Laboratory is moving from concept to production testing, with ARC Clean Technology signing on to support the ARC-100 small modular reactor deployment at INL, and a new modular antimony processing pilot plant opening to help produce military-grade material from Idaho ore. Regional Energy Workforce: The INEC Tech Hub—anchored by Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium and University of Wyoming’s Manufacturing Works—won U.S. Commerce EDA implementation funding to speed advanced reactor deployment and build Idaho-Wyoming supply chains. Trade Enforcement: The federal Trade Fraud Task Force topped $1 billion in recoveries, charging losses, penalties and forfeitures in less than a year, signaling tougher customs and supply-chain enforcement. Idaho Business Spotlight: Pocatello’s Idaho State Journal Readers’ Choice Awards drew hundreds of local business and professional winners. Wildfire & Heat Risk: Oregon is on track for its worst fire year ever after drought and lightning-driven blazes, with smoke affecting parts of Idaho. Local Public Safety: Twin Falls police are responding to an active shooter situation near In-N-Out on Blue Lakes Blvd, with nearby roads shut down.

Idaho Politics & Courts: A federal judge criticized Idaho’s “detain first, figure out later” immigration approach, ordering release of an Idaho detainee and calling out ICE/DHS for continuing a policy courts have rejected. Wildfire Response: The Big Rock Fire in Jefferson County remains active with evacuations still in effect from the Heise bridge to Kelly Canyon Ski Resort; officials warn conditions are shifting and containment is at zero. Nuclear & Economic Development: The U.S. Department of Energy picked Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Idaho as potential hosts for Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses, with talks covering everything from fuel fabrication to waste disposal and possible co-located data centers. Local Tech & Privacy: Idaho Falls City Council approved a contract amendment with Flock to bar the company from using city camera data to train AI. Energy Costs: Avista filed annual Idaho rate adjustment requests with proposed changes effective Nov. 1, including a natural gas bill decrease for typical residential customers. Community Business Spotlight: Idaho State Journal’s Readers’ Choice Awards drew hundreds to honor top local businesses and professionals in Pocatello and beyond.

Immigration & Courts: An Idaho federal judge sharply criticized “detain first, figure out later” tactics after ordering the release of an Idaho detainee, saying DHS/ICE can’t keep holding people while waiting for later review. Roads & Costs: New research finds speeding barely cuts commute time but can cost drivers millions in extra fuel—supporting a “stick to the limit” message as summer gas prices stay high. Healthcare & Access: A Sandpoint follow-up highlights how Idaho’s obstetrics squeeze is reshaping local care, with a women’s clinic operating without an MD and pushing for physician services. Tax Administration: A bipartisan Senate bill advanced to modernize IRS taxpayer services, including more tech for returns, accounts, and communications. Public Safety: Bonneville County warned residents about jury duty scam calls demanding crypto or gift cards. Business & Growth: Allied Business Solutions plans a major Meridian expansion to consolidate its Idaho workforce. Water & Industry: Federal officials released a Colorado River framework that would require major cuts from Arizona, California and Nevada, with big downstream impacts for farms and businesses. Local Life: Zoo Boise is adjusting operations due to unhealthy air quality, and Pocatello is set for National Night Out Aug. 4.

Critical Minerals & Defense: INL commissioned a modular pilot plant to process antimony ore in Idaho, aiming to build a domestic supply chain for a key Army material. Tech & National Security: Bipartisan senators including Idaho’s Mike Crapo pressed Apple to commit to not using Chinese military-linked memory chips, citing reported testing and lobbying. Local Economy & Tax Policy: Idaho’s data-center tax breaks and property-tax caps are drawing fresh scrutiny, with critics warning the subsidies could rival the historic railroad-era giveaways. AI Data Center Fight: In Pocatello, Lex Developments filed a reconsideration request after the city upheld a denial of a large-scale AI data center on the former Hoku site. Healthcare Costs & Access: Molina’s grant is funding a mobile repair effort for mobility equipment across southern Idaho, targeting long rural repair wait times. Fraud & Banking: A Coeur d’Alene physician was sentenced to federal prison for a Medicare fraud scheme tied to genetic tests and durable medical equipment. Community Fundraising: A Pocatello pickleball tournament is raising money for an infant’s heart-condition medical bills. Wildfire Impacts: Ranchers say Idaho’s Big Grass Fire will keep hurting grazing land and cattle recovery for years. Business Finance: Zions Bancorporation approved a $75M share repurchase and raised its quarterly dividend.

Idaho Nuclear Push: Idaho was selected as a potential host for new U.S. nuclear “life cycle innovation campuses,” joining Utah, Tennessee, Oklahoma and Louisiana as the Department of Energy explores sites tied to jobs and investment. Opportunity Zones: Idaho’s Economic Advisory Council has recommended 25 areas for federal Opportunity Zone tax incentives, with Boise leading the top picks as Gov. Brad Little prepares the final submission deadline. AI + Idaho Energy: Crusoe and Aalo Atomics plan a nuclear-powered AI data center at Idaho National Laboratory, aiming to deploy a first “Crusoe Spark” unit in 2027 and expand across Crusoe’s portfolio by 2029. Banking Enforcement: The Federal Reserve is cracking down on bank theft and elder financial abuse, including enforcement actions that bar former bankers from the industry. Housing/Development: Toll Brothers opened “Tribute at Valor” in Kuna, with homes priced from the mid-$400,000s and resort-style amenities. Public Safety: Idaho reported its first heat-related deaths of 2026, urging residents to watch for heat illness as temperatures stay above 90 degrees. Tax Policy Watch: A Senate Finance Committee advanced a tax administration bill to improve IRS operations while Republicans blocked an amendment tied to IRS audit immunity deals. Food Recall: USDA recalled 12,036 pounds of not-ready-to-eat bacon sold in Washington, Oregon and Idaho due to inspection issues.