The Connector: Idaho Daily News

Multiple new fires sparked in Idaho Monday, including in the Boise foothills. Plus, a homicide investigation is underway after a man was found dead on the Boise Greenbelt, where to access free meals for kids this summer, and a cancer diagnosis for the superintendent of Idaho's largest school district.*After publication of this podcast, fire officials updated the size of the Claremont fire from 2,000 to 2,500 acres.

News on Idaho’s abortion ballot initiative, solar power in the West, how Idahoans celebrated the Fourth of July, and the state of the states. 

Federal agencies are increasing firefighter safety, plus more on holiday weekend travel and Boise State University’s new president.

The architect of Idaho and other state's laws banning trans girls and women from girls and women's sports reacts to Tuesday's Supreme Court ruling permitting states to enact such laws, Boise requires e-motos to follow the same rules at motorcycles, new laws take effect across the state today, and Zoo Boise provides a health update on Sabu, the zoo's beloved 12-year old snow leopard.

Western Governors gather this week and plan new policy recommendations, journalists at the Idaho Statesman have reached a new labor agreement with the paper's owner after more than a year of negotiating, a long-running defamation case over a private airstrip in the Sawtooth Mountains has been dismissed for a second time, and Boise Fire plans to join a regional initiative to better understand and protect wildland-urban interface areas.

The man who tried to start a nonprofit connected to a slain Ada County Sheriff's Deputy is facing new child sex abuse charges, misdemeanor drug charges against former Olympic gold medalist Bode Miller in Idaho are being dropped, elevated uranium levels have been detected in some well water in Canyon County, and how McCall is planning to reverse recent increases in bad behavior at it's 4th of July celebration. 

Leaders in Ketchum will ask residents to increase the city's local option tax, and they've implemented new water restrictions, Idaho's two largest hospital systems are celebrating construction milestones this week, the University of Idaho leans in on AI, and what researchers learned about driving safety after Utah reduced its drunk driving blood alcohol threshold.

For 60 years, conservationists have worked to protect Idaho's wild places and now, a new book is telling the stories behind the landscapes and wildlife that define the Gem state.

St. Luke's accuses the state's prison healthcare contractor of fraud in a new lawsuit, Micron posts another record quarterly earnings report - and predicts more to come, Boise finally gets money to study the return of passenger trains and the Ketchum City Council will evaluate water use restrictions and an increase to its local option tax.

It's shaping up as another tight budget year for the state of Idaho, former Olympic Gold medalist Bode Miller was arrested on drug charges in eastern Idaho, a federal judge rules against restrictions on food for SNAP recipients, and solar overtakes coal for energy production.

Micron announces a strategic partnership with AI computing company Anthropic, the family of a girl injured by shattering glass at Boise's New Year's Eve celebration wants millions from the city, bird flu is forcing a local farm to temporarily shut down, and most - but not all - state employees will get extra days off this July 4th holiday.

We visit Boise's World Refugee Day celebration, plus: diverging results for low and high-income families in Idaho after nearly a decade of tax reforms, budget and service cuts appear to be headed for Valley Regional Transit in Nampa, and an all-woman slate of party officers elected by Idaho Republicans at their annual convention this past weekend.

We have news on AI tools being used to detect wildfires, as well as survey results from federal firefighters who are worried about the season and feeling burned out. Plus, the latest on a local landfill. 

A federal judge has temporarily blocked a new law restricting trans people's use of bathrooms in Idaho, Gov. Brad Little says the state is ready - but will need the public's help to endure the fire season, a divided Ada County Commission has again banned fireworks in unincorporated areas, and the sole finalist to become BSU's next president is on a campus blitz this week after being named Tuesday.

Nampa's new mayor is sworn in, Gov. Brad Little has tasked eight Idahoans - mostly business leaders and politicians - with researching the best ways state Universities can stay competitive on the collegiate athletics landscape, there are new security measures for a safe 4th of July holiday in McCall, and Valley County Commissioners weigh in on a proposed land swap around Payette Lake.

How Idaho will operate its firing squad executions of death row inmates when a new state law takes effect July 1, GOP officials allege abortion drug mifepristone is an environmental hazard, Canyon County celebrates Pride! and a Nampa teacher under arrest for alleged sexual battery of a minor - one of his students.

The trial of a man accused of kidnapping and killing a young boy in Payette County five years ago will be moved nearby to avoid a biased jury. The City of Boise is testing residents' poop for 16 different viruses to help track health data. And more than 15,000 acres of public land could be swapped with the federal government.

The state has released new information on how its firing squad executions will take place. Idaho officials are implementing tough new restrictions to prevent the spread of screwworms. And the potential new president of Boise State will be announced next week.

The Boise School District has settled a lawsuit brought by a teacher who says administrators ignored a significant mouse infestation for years. State officials have certified the results of last month’s primary election. And a burn ban is now in effect for the City of Caldwell

A recent fire in Mountain home destroyed 15 homes. We'll tell you more about who's liable under a new state law. Testimony is underway in a trial of an Idaho physician suing to overturn the state’s strict abortion ban. And LDS congressmen are telling the Pentagon to classify their religion as Christian.

A federal trial challenging Idaho's abortion ban begins in Boise today, Nampa should know who its next mayor will be tonight, a busy weekend on local fire lines, and the city of Caldwell disputes a new tort claim brought against it by Police Chief Rex Ingram.

A fight over ballot language for constitutional amendments coming to the November ballot, could a change in the way Idaho schools are funded be on the table? The state's top educator wants to hear from districts and taxpayers, and opponents of Idaho's new anti-trans bathroom bill will be in court today, asking a federal judge to block the law.

Pride flags absent from Boise's Harrison Blvd this Pride Month, Boise pauses a much-touted recycled water project, Ada County passes its election audit with flying colors, and Meridian Mayor Robert Simison skewered state lawmakers during his 'state of the city' address.

Private business prepare to adapt to Idaho's anti-transgender bathroom law, Idaho AG Raul Labrador being sued over a planned abortion information ad campaign, The fate of Boise's Union Block Building is headed back to court(s), and Tamarack Resort forced to replace a lift tower after last week's wind storm.

Sparking utility lines are blamed for last week's fire in Mountain Home, which destroyed 15 homes and injured six, a new report shows Idaho has the fifth-highest rate of uninsured young children in the country, three cars have crashed into Idaho rivers in five days, and debating future expansion of the Boise Centre: more convention space or a youth sports facility?

Encouraging courtesy and cracking down on dangerous e-bikes on the Boise River Greenbelt, at least one person was reportedly swept down the Payette River after their truck crashed into the river from Highway 55 near Smith's Ferry, and the first post-election audits happen today in three Idaho counties with more to come this week.

Federal funding is finally about to arrive for rural healthcare providers in Idaho, plans to extract more gold, silver and other critical minerals in the Owyhee Mountains are moving forward, cleanup continues after Thursday's windstorm, and, where kids can get free meals this summer.

Far-right republicans in North Idaho are making a big cash gift to the state party before newly-elected central committee leadership takes over, Eagle Police say a cruiser hit a juvenile on an electric motorcycle who was fleeing a traffic stop, the investigation into a damaging brush fire in Mountain Home continues, as does the recovery of six police officers injured during the response, and BSU football fans will want to make sure they're familiar with the USA television network for the upcoming season.

Journalists at The Idaho Statesman walked off the job Tuesday, striking for better wages and AI content policies, a forecast for nearly two more years of tight memory chip supply sent Micron stock to new heights, a grassfire threatened homes near Mountain Home Tuesday, and Canyon County wants Caldwell to pay up for its citizen's bad behavior.

Idaho nonprofits hope to get their money back from a now-bankrupt payment services company which took donations and sales but didn't release those funds, it was a busy holiday weekend for first responders across the state, and many western communities are working to expand access to geothermal energy sources.

A lawsuit against Idaho's 2023 anti-trans bathroom bill is dropped, the city of Caldwell, its police chief and former mayor settle a lawsuit with an ex-Caldwell police officer, the Mountain West and Pac-12 Conferences, and the schools about to move between the two, are ready to settle a dispute over millions of dollars in exit fees, and record visitation and staffing shortages stretch Idaho's national park locations.

A new design for the historic Rainbow Bridge, with November a "foregone conclusion" in many political races, where some Republicans will focus during the general election, and a sizeable severance for a recently departed City of Boise administrator.

Boise State University political science professor, Jaclyn Kettler, breaks down Tuesday’s primary election results with political reporter James Dawson. 

It's election day in Idaho! Ada County predicts 40-50% turnout, with around 23,000 ballots already cast. We'll check in on ballot issues facing some voters, and the latest on a lawsuit the Trump Administration has filed against Idaho over voter records. Plus, Idaho's population growth and new housing growth rates are among the highest in the country the first half of the decade.

Four pilots are safe after two military planes collided in midair Sunday at the Gunfighter Skies '26 airshow at the Mountain Home Air Force Base, high fuel costs aren't putting the brakes on travel plans this Memorial Day weekend, repeat candidates have a value - and a cost, and a win to remember for AC Boise.

How Idahoans can participate in honoring the late former Governor Dirk Kempthorne, a new water curtailment order will affect some junior rights-holders on the East Snake River Plain, Stanley residents will be without power for several days next week, and the Ada County Clerk has denied a challenge to the registered address of County Commissioner and incumbent candidate Ryan Davidson.

Public school enrollment continues to drop among Boise-area districts. Wolves in Yellowstone got hit hard by disease last year, dropping their numbers to some of the lowest on-record. And the nation's Christmas tree at the U.S. Capitol is coming from Idaho this year.

Officials are predicting a bad fire season this summer. Idaho Power is helping residents prepare for potential outages. Caldwell School trustees have sold the district's alternative high school. And a majority of Idahoans support harvesting renewable energy on public lands.

"Bench Bunnies" aren't just on the Boise Bench any more, a downtown church gets its plans for new parking denied, the case of a 'tiny home on wheels' evicted in Meridian reached the State Supreme Court, and, it's not spam - why the Idaho Tax Commission is calling 22,000 Idahoans.

Boise State celebrates its 118th commencement as it recovers from the effects of a hack of Canvas, its cloud classroom software provider, Nampa faces a tort claim from a family of a teen shot by police last Halloween,  and Central District Health has a new plan to resume oversight - now voluntary - of public pool facilities. 

Boise State cancels final exams on the last day of the semester, after a hack of the cloud computing company which provides classroom infrastructure affected schools across the country. Plus, today's the deadline to request an absentee ballot for the May 19 primary election, genetic diversity is another threat facing bighorn sheep populations, and headwinds to getting a new jail in Latah County.

Fewer than half of applications for Idaho's new 'parental choice tax credit' program came from families in the prioritized income bracket - but more families will soon be able to apply. Plus, Boise Mayor Lauren McLean focuses on affordability and housing in her annual 'state of the city' address, most of Idaho's constitutional officers have endorsed a candidate in a single state senate GOP primary race, and ACHD could dramatically raise its service fees under a new proposal.

What a Louisiana court's ruling banning the abortion medication mifepristone from distribution by mail could mean for women in Idaho, Hailey's mayor apologizes for inappropriate use of the city's monthly newsletter, free meals for children this summer in Meridian, and how 'kids' are helping prepare open spaces for the upcoming wildfire season.

How should Idaho spend opioid settlement funds? Public officials want your feedback, plus: capacity crowds at local downwinder compensation events, BSU will rename Cesar Chavez Lane, and the Trump Administration pushes forward with fighter jet training over the Owyhee Desert despite pollution risk.

Two teens face aggravated assault charges for allegedly firing shots at Ada County Sheriff's deputies and investigators at the scene of a suspected suicide Sunday morning, Boise is one of the fastest-warming urban areas in the United States, the 14th Idaho Gives fundraising campaign kicks off today, and a look at the community feedback guiding an update to Boise's historic preservation plan.

The ACLU of Idaho is suing the state for its latest anti-trans bathroom bill. Idahoans who’ve been affected by radiation from Cold War nuclear testing are now eligible for federal compensation. And tenants living in city-owned affordable housing complexes in Boise can get a free bus pass. 

Twin Falls Police shot a stabbing suspect to death Wednesday, McCall has declared a 'water conservation emergency,' Boise Music Fest celebrates 107 years, and how you can help researchers trying to preserve local trout populations as the climate changes.

The Boise County Commissioner accused of stabbing a teen girl in an altercation on the Payette River last summer has filed a counter-suit against the victim and her family, staff at The Idaho Statesman are ready to go on strike for higher wages, West Ada Schools will replace one elementary and add a new CTE building by August 2027, and the Idaho Steelheads eliminated from the Kelly Cup Playoffs.

Organizers behind the effort to decriminalize reproductive rights at the ballot box say they have enough signatures to get the question to voters this November, thousands of Idahoans have dropped health insurance since January, AAA warns of continued increases to gas prices in Idaho, and for the second time in three years, Washington State is suing Boise-based grocery giant Albertsons.

We're remembering former Idaho Governor and public official Dirk Kempthorne, who died Friday at 74, a primary election primer as early voting opens in many Idaho counties today, an impressive USL Cup debut for AC Boise, and ag experts say its not just water shortages which will make the growing season difficult for farmers.