AGP Executive Report

U.S. News Rankings: Utah is again No. 1 in the nation in U.S. News & World Report’s Best States for a fourth straight year, with standout scores in economy (No. 2) and fiscal stability (No. 2), while Idaho lands seventh overall in the same report. Local Governance & Privacy: Twin Falls residents packed City Council to debate Flock Safety license plate reader cameras, with critics pointing to retention of images for 30 days and past misuse concerns, while police say the tools help with stolen vehicles and investigations. Nuclear & Workforce: Idaho and Wyoming partners are set to benefit from federal funding for the Intermountain West Nuclear Energy Corridor Tech Hub, aimed at rebuilding nuclear training pipelines and strengthening supply chains. Education Leadership: Former Boise State QB Tony Hilde was named executive director of the Idaho Technical Career Academy virtual charter school, expanding career-technical pathways. Community Finance: Coeur d’Alene officials warn of a potential $3.1 million deficit and discuss a possible property tax rate increase to cover the gap. Legal/Workplace: Former Idaho State University events manager George Casper has filed the first steps toward an age discrimination lawsuit.

Idaho Legal Fight: Bryan Kohberger, convicted in the 2022 murders of four University of Idaho students, is asking Idaho courts to reopen his case and withdraw his guilty plea, saying it was driven by “false promises” and wrong information. Water Costs & Climate: Idaho officials warn climate change could push up water bills as drought, low snowpack and aquifer depletion force utilities into costly new supplies. Grocery Pressure: A national survey says Idaho shoppers are seeing the second-largest produce cost jump in the U.S., with respondents reporting about $52 more per month on fruits and vegetables. Grants for Arts: Idaho Community Foundation announced $37,760 in grants from the Bistline Foundation for arts-focused projects across Southeastern Idaho. Construction & Growth: Frontier Credit Union’s new Meridian headquarters is set to be the tallest mass-timber building in Idaho, a $10 million project opening this fall. Mining Update: Work continues at Stibnite Mine despite ongoing lawsuits, with new traffic routes and construction moving forward. Energy Policy: Senators Murkowski, Daines and Risch introduced a hydropower licensing affordability bill aimed at cutting delays and costs. Local Business Spotlight: Risch named Pocatello’s Titan Batteries Idaho’s small business of the month.

Data Centers & Power Costs: Idaho’s solar surge is already spoken for by Meta’s Kuna data center plans, with Pleasant Valley 2 online and nearly all output contracted—another sign of how big tech demand is reshaping Idaho’s energy buildout. Public Health & Food Safety: Federal cuts tied to outbreak detection are raising alarms after cyclospora sickened thousands, while the U.S. also reports a 35-year measles high—both issues that could hit Idaho consumers and businesses through staffing, travel, and healthcare strain. Healthcare Privacy: The Trump administration is pushing hospitals to share emergency room records with a private contractor, a move that could affect Idaho providers and patient trust. Local Business & Community: Boise’s Roast and Vine is drawing attention for its community-first model, pairing locally made food with coffee and wine. Agriculture & Trade: USDA’s top foreign trade official toured Washington growers and touted tariff-driven market access efforts. Food Recalls: Amy’s Kitchen recalled 184,000+ cans of lentil soup over a pull-tab defect that raises spoilage risk, including distribution into Idaho. Idaho Water Funding: Idaho Water Resource Board aging-infrastructure grant applications are due Aug. 7, targeting irrigation and related systems.

Semiconductor & AI Infrastructure: Micron, based in Boise, says it has completed new strategic customer agreements with major automotive Tier 1 partners (including Qualcomm, DENSO and Hyundai Mobis), underscoring demand for memory in the software-defined vehicle era. Industrial Investment: Air Liquide is also in the mix with a reported $150 million Idaho investment tied to industrial gas for next-wave AI-driven chip manufacturing. Energy & Cost Pressure: AAA Idaho reports gas prices rising again as Middle East tensions threaten crude shipping routes, pushing Idaho’s average regular price to $4.23. Food Safety: Amy’s Kitchen recalled more than 184,000 cans of lentil soup nationwide due to a pull-tab defect that can create spoilage risk, including distribution to Idaho. Local Business & Community: Idaho Falls’ Great Race for Education raised more than $65,000 for College of Eastern Idaho students, while the city begins street-light upgrades on US-26 business loop and Broadway with traffic impacts through late October.

Idaho Budget Watch: Idaho closed Fiscal Year 2026 in the black, rolling about $250 million into the General Fund and keeping nearly $1.3 billion in reserves, a move framed as proof that tax relief and fiscal discipline can coexist. Energy & Tech Investment: Air Liquide is set to invest $150 million in Idaho for industrial gas tied to next-wave AI-driven chip manufacturing, adding to the state’s growing semiconductor and data-center momentum. Workforce Pipeline: North Idaho College received a Caterpillar 420E loader backhoe donation to expand its heavy equipment operator apprenticeship, targeting construction, infrastructure, mining and timber hiring needs. Local Business Expansion: Golden Rule Brake opened a new Coeur d’Alene location, bringing its family-owned operation to five shops and more than 30 employees. Community & Events: Idaho Falls hosted its first Idaho Outdoor Expo at The Waterfront, while Shelley’s “Wheels for Compassion” car show raised money for Hospice of Eastern Idaho. Food Safety: Amy’s Kitchen recalled more than 184,000 cans of lentil soup in Idaho and across the U.S. due to a pull-tab defect that can create spoilage risk. Transportation: Idaho Falls began street lighting upgrades on US-26 business loop sections, with one-lane closures expected through late October.

Energy Costs: AAA Idaho says Middle East tensions are pushing crude supply risk higher, with Idaho regular gas averaging $4.23 a gallon Friday—up 18 cents from a week ago—after a third straight week of increases. Semiconductors & Manufacturing: Micron says it has completed strategic customer agreements with seven automotive Tier 1 partners, including Qualcomm and DENSO, as it locks in memory demand for the software-defined vehicle era. AI Infrastructure Push Meets Backlash: Air Liquide plans a $150 million Idaho investment to supply ultra-pure gases for semiconductor manufacturing, while Spokane County leaders weigh data-center impacts and ratepayer concerns. Local Water Funding Deadline: Idaho Water Resource Board aging-infrastructure grant applications are due Aug. 7, with up to $2 million available for eligible irrigation-related projects. Food Safety: Amy’s Organic lentil soup is recalled in 27 states, including Idaho, over a spoilage risk tied to can pull tabs. Community & Culture: Idaho Falls hosts a 45-year Sister Cities exchange with youth from Tokai-Mura, Japan.

AI Energy & Chips: Air Liquide says it’s putting more than $150 million into an Idaho industrial gas facility starting in 2028, supplying ultra-pure nitrogen, oxygen and argon for advanced memory chip manufacturing. Data Center Politics: Spokane County commissioners delayed a vote on a data-center moratorium while records show commissioner Al French had long-running talks with officials tied to a massive “large load” project on the West Plains. Idaho in Congress: Rep. Mike Simpson marked his 13th term, highlighting his work on energy, public lands and wildfire funding, plus support for a Stop Insider Trading Act vote. Water Policy: Rep. Elijah Crane joined a bipartisan push for more federal drought relief investment for the Colorado River, with Simpson also cited for water and environmental policy involvement. Local Business & Jobs: In-N-Out opened in Twin Falls, hiring about 90 people at $17.50 an hour and drawing overnight lines. Courts & Schools: A Boise school district settlement over a mouse-infested classroom includes a required independent inspection. Consumer/Workplace: A class-action suit targets WinCo and its janitorial contractor over alleged wage and hour misclassification. Sports & Community: Former NFL lineman Jordan Devey, who coached in Idaho, died by suicide at 38.

Idaho Water & Agriculture: Idaho’s updated curtailment order increases how much Eastern Snake Plain groundwater pumpers must deliver to a surface-water coalition, citing low snowpack, warm/dry conditions, and below-average streamflows plus higher-than-normal crop water needs. Energy & Power Costs: President Trump’s “Ratepayer Protection Pledge” is expanding with more governors, utilities and tech firms pledging to cover data-center energy and infrastructure costs, but critics call it non-binding and unenforceable. Local Business & Jobs: In-N-Out opened a new Twin Falls restaurant, seating 100+ and hiring about 90 workers at $17.50/hour, with more hiring to follow. Healthcare Deal: Intermountain Health reached an agreement to acquire Idaho Falls Community Hospital and take over Mountain View Hospital ownership interests from Surgery Partners, with operations staying separate. Utilities Tech: Idaho Falls Power plans drone inspections of about 1,681 distribution poles starting the week of July 27 to reduce outages and improve preventative maintenance. Food Safety: Amy’s Kitchen recalled Organic Lentil Soup—Light in Sodium due to a defective “easy open tab,” raising spoilage risk; Idaho is listed among distribution states. Markets & Consumer Impact: AAA reports Idaho gas prices are up sharply amid Middle East-driven crude volatility, averaging $4.23/gal statewide.

Energy & Industry: Idaho Strategies says its Diamond Creek rare-earth project found heavy rare earths along a 3.2-km lineament, including yttrium, with average grades of 1.8% TREO and HREO enrichment above 2,000 ppm. Power Costs Policy: The White House expanded its Ratepayer Protection Pledge for data centers, adding utilities and governors, while Congress advances a bill that would push large data-center loads to cover grid upgrade costs. Local Economy & Jobs: North Idaho College received a Caterpillar backhoe donation for its heavy equipment apprenticeship program, aimed at construction, infrastructure and timber workforce needs. Housing & Growth: Twin Falls is moving ahead with a 39-acre Cook’s Corner mixed-use plan to ease a local housing shortage, including commercial space and a storage/gas/convenience component. Agriculture: Idaho sugar beet growers warn foreign imports are undercutting prices, with losses reported at up to $500 per acre and lawmakers urging tariff action. Consumer & Risk: Kootenai County disclosed a March ransomware breach affecting sensitive personal data, including Social Security numbers and fingerprints. Everyday Costs: Idaho gas prices jumped about 10 cents overnight in multiple markets, with AAA citing higher crude costs amid Middle East tensions.

USDA Timber Financing: USDA is guaranteeing $80 million in loans to Oregon and Nevada sawmills to expand domestic timber production, boost wood processing capacity, and reduce wildfire risk. Idaho Land Trust Impact: A new Idaho Coalition of Land Trusts study says the state’s 17 land trusts generate nearly $190 million in annual economic activity, support 800+ jobs, and contribute about $7 million in tax revenue. Data Center Cost Fight: President Trump expanded his Ratepayer Protection Pledge, adding more governors and partners, including Idaho Gov. Brad Little, aiming to keep AI data-center energy costs from hitting households. Idaho Nuclear Push: Idaho National Laboratory, Nvidia, and AWS launched the Prometheus project under DOE’s Genesis Mission to speed advanced nuclear deployment using AI. Albertsons Restructuring: Boise-based Albertsons cut its outlook and launched ACI Edge, consolidating divisions and centralizing merchandising after first-quarter sales pressure. Local Watch: Idaho Falls will upgrade street lighting on US-26 Business Loop starting July 27, with lane shifts through late October.

Water Use & Drought Pressure: Spokane households are using far more outdoor water than the region needs, with the city warning that peak lawn irrigation is colliding with low aquifer replenishment and ongoing drought conditions. Migration & Housing Demand: New Census data show a widening gap between states gaining residents and losing them, with Maryland and Pennsylvania near the bottom as Sun Belt states keep pulling in movers—reshaping local labor markets and tax bases. Voting Tech Scrutiny: States are reviewing DMV-linked voter registration systems after New Jersey said a software flaw registered thousands of noncitizens. AI Power & Nuclear Bets: X-energy is joining Idaho National Laboratory’s Prometheus effort tied to the DOE’s Genesis Mission, while analysts highlight upside for small modular nuclear stocks as AI data centers drive electricity demand. Idaho Energy Growth: rPlus Energies commissioned the Pleasant Valley 2 solar farm in Ada County, feeding power for Meta’s Kuna data center plans. Workforce & Business Services: A new one-stop occupational health clinic in Boise aims to reduce delays for employer injury care, drug screening and testing. Local Economy & Growth Costs: Coeur d’Alene’s rapid population surge is prompting proposed fee increases to fund staffing and services. Construction Hits Downtown Nampa: Two-way road conversion is disrupting businesses, with some owners reporting revenue drops and accessibility issues. Idaho Education & AI Literacy: A new state AI guidance law is rolling out with Micron support for teacher and student training. Nuclear Supply Chain Funding: Idaho-Wyoming’s nuclear-focused tech hub is set to receive $31M in federal CHIPS-and-Science Act funding.

Wages & Jobs: Idaho’s average hourly wage rose 4.7% in 2025 to $29.41, with the median up to $23.06—good news for workers and a signal of continued labor-market momentum. Wildfire Funding: Idaho is weighing higher forest fire assessment rates to boost the state’s wildfire preparedness fund and improve early detection and response. Nuclear & AI: X-energy is joining INL’s Prometheus project, a $60 million DOE Genesis Mission effort pairing AI with advanced nuclear deployment—plus Microsoft is backing DOE’s Genesis Mission with $60M and a new SPARK hub. Healthcare Workforce: Norco and St. Luke’s are investing in College of Western Idaho health-care education, with the CWI Health & Science Building in Nampa renamed for Norco. Commercial Real Estate: Clearwater County commercial property assessments are drawing major pushback after values reportedly jumped sharply, tied to state ratio-study compliance and updated cost tables. Local Growth: In-N-Out is set to open in Twin Falls Friday, adding another major retail/restaurant draw to Idaho’s economy.

Health Insurance Crunch: A new Gallup poll says 24% of workers with employer-sponsored coverage feel “trapped” in jobs they want to leave because they fear losing health insurance, up sharply from 2021. Monument Fight: Utah voters largely oppose shrinking Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, after Trump signed orders cutting both monuments by about 90%. Idaho Business & Growth: Meridian neighbors are reacting to “The Fields,” a newly approved mixed-use development near the Meridian-Nampa border that would add about 1,000 homes plus retail and light industrial space. Local Economy & Community: Idaho Community Foundation announced $37,760 in grants for arts-focused projects across Southeastern Idaho. Public Safety/Immigration: Post Falls became the first Idaho city to sign a 287(g) deal with ICE, bringing federal immigration enforcement into local policing. Healthcare/Finance: Idaho will receive more than $616,000 from Cash App and 23andMe settlements tied to fraud protection and a genetic data breach. Environment & Cost Pressures: Unhealthy wildfire smoke is disrupting Treasure Valley work and youth activities, while Idaho’s drought emergency continues to squeeze farm water allotments and revenues.

Nuclear Funding: Idaho-Wyoming’s nuclear push just landed a $31M federal award to build out advanced fuel fabrication, testing, transportation, and workforce training through the Intermountain-West Energy Corridor Tech Hub. Consumer Data & Enforcement: Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced $616K+ in recoveries from multistate settlements tied to Cash App fraud protections and the 23andMe genetic data breach. Politics & Campaign Finance: Idaho political groups sued to overturn state limits on coordinated party spending after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling opened the door to First Amendment challenges. Banking Results: National Bank Holdings Corporation reported second-quarter 2026 financial results, including adjusted net income of $35.3M and EPS of $0.78. Energy Costs: AAA says Idaho gas jumped about 10–12 cents overnight to roughly $4.15 statewide as Middle East tensions lift crude prices. Local Business: Caldwell’s Vault Furniture is expanding a reclaimed-wood furniture business after relocating and building demand. Workforce/Contracts: Albertsons bakery workers in Idaho and Oregon are petitioning for living-wage increases after contract talks broke down. Health & Safety: A Bonneville County man was charged with possessing child sexual abuse material after an investigation tied to online accounts.

Manufacturing & Taxes: The National Association of Manufacturers marked one year since a 2025 GOP tax law, arguing it protected jobs, wages and growth in every state through incentives like 100% expensing for new factories. Healthcare Policy: Senate Democrats failed to end a Medicare AI prior-authorization pilot, with Idaho Sen. Mike Crapo defending it as a tool to curb waste and abuse. Local Governance & Tech: Sandpoint residents pushed back on new downtown parking kiosks and, separately, the city moved to define rules to prohibit larger AI data centers. Energy & Infrastructure: Veolia completed a nearly 7M-gallon freshwater storage tank for Boise to handle peak summer demand, while AAA says Idaho gas averages about $4.05 after a weekly uptick. Power Reliability: Mountain Home residents report repeated Idaho Power outages tied to storms and wildfire conditions, with some blaming the utility for appliance damage. Nuclear Development: Idaho National Laboratory is set to lead a multistate effort after a $31M federal grant for an Intermountain-West nuclear tech hub, and Jerome County officials are exploring small modular reactors. Workforce & Schools: Idaho districts are seeing Chromebook price spikes as Micron shifts parts toward AI data centers, and Boise is moving toward MacBooks to lock in costs. Public Safety: Eagle Fire warned about lithium-ion battery charging and storage risks during extreme summer heat. Business Crime: Idaho Falls prosecutors accuse a caregiver of stealing $5,784 from an elderly man’s bank account.

Nuclear & Economic Development: Idaho’s nuclear push got a boost as U.S. EDA awarded about $31 million to the Intermountain-West Nuclear Energy Corridor Tech Hub, led by the Idaho Advanced Energy Consortium, to accelerate advanced small modular reactor commercialization. Workforce & Community Funding: Idaho received more than $3.9 million in AmeriCorps support, including competitive grants for Idaho State University and the Student Conservation Association and formula funding for Serve Idaho and partners. Transportation & Local Impact: ITD is pausing or delaying many eastern Idaho highway projects after state transportation funding cuts, moving nearly $1.3 billion into an “unfunded” list unless new money returns. Business Expansion: Concentra opened its first Idaho medical center in Boise, with a second location planned in Meridian later this year. Real Estate & Growth: Downtown Boise’s new dual-brand AC Hotel/Element by Marriott brings 296 rooms to Grove Street, signaling continued hotel investment in the Treasure Valley. Finance & Wealth Management: Ameriprise added Kevin King in Idaho Falls, bringing about $160 million in client assets to expand its independent advisor capabilities. Energy & Industry: Electra Battery Materials amended its senior secured credit facility to gain more flexibility for working capital and government financing. Public Safety: Caldwell launched a digital neighborhood watch program that lets residents voluntarily register security cameras so police can contact them during nearby investigations.