Briefs

U.S. Congressman Mike Simpson, R-Idaho,

Idaho Rep. Mike Simpson announces mobile office hours for September

BY: - September 5, 2023

Idaho U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson’s staff is traveling throughout eastern Idaho this month to answer residents questions and address needs with federal agencies, his office announced in a news release last week. The release shared his mobile office hours for this month, with availability in towns from American Falls to Fort Hall. “Not everyone I […]

prescription drug bottle

CDC gives Idaho $2M to combat drug overdoses

BY: - September 5, 2023

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last week gave the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare about $2 million to prevent drug overdoses.  The CDC gave out $279 million of those funds to 49 states, the District of Columbia and 40 local health departments. In a news release, the CDC said the funds were […]

Photo of St. Luke's Downtown Boise hospital

Learn about climate and health at St. Luke’s lecture series

BY: - September 4, 2023

The public is invited to register for four free lectures this fall on climate and health hosted by St. Luke’s Health System and Idaho Clinicians for Climate and Health. All sessions are on Wednesdays from noon to 1 p.m.  Mountain time. Register online at https://cvent.me/wdNY0N.  Sessions begin next week, with two in September and two […]

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack

U.S. Department of Agriculture awards grants to nine rural Idaho businesses for clean energy

BY: - August 31, 2023

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is awarding nearly $142,000 in grants and $25 million in loans to nine rural Idaho businesses to make clean energy investments and improvements, according to a press release issued Wednesday. The investments are funded through the Rural Energy for America Program and the Inflation Reduction Act, a law signed by […]

cyanobacterial bloom in water

South Central Idaho health officials warn of unhealthy toxin levels in Cedar Creek Reservoir

BY: - August 29, 2023

Idaho’s South Central Public Health District has issued a public health advisory for Cedar Creek Reservoir, also known as Roseworth Reservoir, due to toxins being found in the water from a harmful algal bloom, according to a press release. The Idaho Department of Environmental Quality’s testing shows levels of a cyanotoxin, Microcystin, are now at […]

Blood is collected at Bloodworks Northwest in Seattle

Blood donations ‘urgently needed’ ahead of Labor Day, Washington officials say

BY: - August 28, 2023

Blood donations are on the cusp of running critically low in Washington before the end of summer if people don’t step up donations, according to the state Department of Health and Northwest Blood Coalition. “Our collections are certainly in a situation you would call precarious,” said Curt Bailey, Bloodworks Northwest president and CEO. The Red […]

The Kroger Co. Corporate Headquarters

Seven state treasurers urge Federal Trade Commission to oppose Albertsons, Kroger merger

BY: - August 25, 2023

Washington state Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti and six other state treasurers are urging federal regulators to oppose a merger of the nation’s two largest grocery store chains. The seven state officials sent a letter Wednesday to the Federal Trade Commission warning of  “significant adverse effects” if Kroger, the nation’s largest supermarket chain, is allowed to acquire […]

Hayden Fire Idaho

Firewood available for pickup in Idaho’s Hayden Fire area

BY: - August 24, 2023

About 20 cords of firewood are available for pickup by permit on a first-come, first-served basis in the area of the Hayden Fire, the U.S. Forest Service announced in a press release Wednesday.  The firewood is stacked by the roadside in the Mill and Big Eightmile Creek drainages, forest service officials said. Forest service officials […]

Idaho farmer holding soil in his hands

U.S. Department of Agriculture announces $2.1M in crop grants in Idaho

BY: - August 23, 2023

The College of Idaho, Idaho Eastern-Oregon Seed Association, Idaho Preferred, the Idaho Hop Grower's Commission, the University of Idaho and Panhandle Farm Corridor are among the grant recipients.

Idaho State Capitol building in Boise

Public invited to Idaho government transparency workshops in Boise — or online

BY: - August 23, 2023

Idaho residents, public officials and journalists are encouraged to attend a series of government transparency workshops relating to Idaho’s open meeting laws, public records laws and campaign finance laws, according to a press release from Idahoans for Openness in Government. The workshops, which will feature discussions with members of the Idahoans for Openness in Government […]

Idaho Avista customers could see an increase in rates. Here’s how to get involved in decision.

BY: - August 22, 2023

North Idaho residents have until Sept. 12 to submit feedback to the Idaho Public Utilities Commission about Avista’s application to change its annual power cost adjustment.  Avista, a Washington-based company that provides electrical services in North Idaho, is seeking to increase its annual power cost adjustment — a number used to reflect revenue and cost […]

Bobbie-Jo Meuleman

Boise Metro Chamber hires Idaho governor’s senior staffer as new CEO

BY: - August 17, 2023

Idaho Gov. Brad Little’s deputy chief of staff, Bobbi-Jo Meuleman, will become president and CEO of the Boise Metro Chamber, the chamber announced in a news release on Thursday. Meuleman will take over the position in October, the release said. Meuleman has served as deputy chief of staff and director of intergovernmental relations for Little […]