Advertise on podcast: The Connector: Idaho Daily News

The leader of Idaho's largest public agency is stepping down, The Minidoka National Historic Site is getting a more than $5 million facelift, enrollment falls again at Blaine County schools, we meet the Idaho 4th-grader who will help flip the switch on the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree this December, and fossil fuel production in our region surging again in a second Trump Administration.

Idaho hopes it has finalized wildfire spending this year, but is putting millions on the state credit card, record turnout on the first day of early voting in Ada County, Boise is requiring property owners take steps to prevent rats and wild turkeys on their property, Jerome Schools reopen after a cyberattack, and how fast do people really go on the Boise River Greenbelt and what should be done to keep users safe?

Protestors and legal advocates mark the one-year anniversary of a massive immigration raid on a community event in Wilder, what voters and poll workers expect at early voting locations in Ada County, a north Idaho company settles a religious discrimination complaint over a fired employee who'd refused to recognize a coworker's preferred pronouns, and Idaho's steelhead harvest season comes to an abrupt close.

'News deserts' continue to expand across the U.S. - how does Idaho stack up? Jerome Schools say they've experienced a cyber attack and classes are canceled Monday, early voting begins in nearly all Idaho counties, medical experts say more states should regulate Kratom, and AC Boise still in the mix to host a playoff match as USL league One reaches the final week of its regular season.

Deadly mushrooms again found in the Treasure Valley, Boise State Athletics will prop up its budget with deficit spending, a sheepdog goes missing, possibly taken from the Trailing of the Sheep Parade, a major west Boise traffic artery reopens, and Treefort announces its first wave of artists, including some headliners.

Idaho's AG sues OpenAI, maker of ChatGPT, over violations of consumer protection laws, the Idaho Supreme Court has ruled in a long-running case over the limits of drug dog searches, Bryan Kohberger will not appear in court today as originally scheduled, state transportation officials want more public input on a re-routing of Highway 55 around McCall, and Boise identifies which Fire Stations will get new hires and expand to four-person engine crews.

Central District Health shares its plan to address the Treasure Valley's growing rat problem, the City of Boise proposes new rules for residents to help pull up the welcome mat for invasive rats, Idaho's Supreme Court upholds a ruling protecting ranchers from car vs livestock accidents on open range - even the 80 mph interstate, and Bryan Kohberger is back in court this week, attempting to revive his defense and take back his guilty plea for killing four U of I students in November 2022.

Boise Schools Trustees get a 'play-by-play' of the district response to threatening text messages shared by students at Timberline High this month, millions continue to pour in to Idaho on both sides of Proposition 1, the state of Idaho forecasts job growth over the next ten years at four times the national average, and Albertson's says Kroger owes it $9.3 billion over the pair's failed merger attempt two years ago.

Tax revenue outpacing expectations for the first quarter, a man in custody Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare turned himself in after walking away from a medical visit at a local hospital, why you could encounter delays on Highway 55 this week, and a huge road win for AC Boise as the race to host a playoff game remains tight.

Ammon Bundy arrested in Utah, the LDS Church makes a $1M donation to Stop Prop 1, a new generation of microreactor will undergo full power testing in Idaho next year, and 'have you seen this milk can?' It's been a while since Boise State has owned the trophy in its football series with Fresno State. Coach Spencer Danielson joked he's forgotten what it looks like. What he told players ahead of the rivalry game this week.

Timberline High Students walk out in protest, demanding accountability for  allegedly threatening messages made last week in a group chat among students, US Attorney for Idaho Bart Davis is retiring, a Boise elementary school teacher is Idaho's Teacher of the Year, and ZooBoise's two zebras will leave the zoo for new homes next week.

Caldwell drops it's Flock contract but surveillance cameras aren't going anywhere, Timberline High cancels its homecoming football game and postpones homecoming activities in the wake of an investigation into threatening messages made by members of the school's football team against another student, Micron workers in Taiwan could go on strike, and Blaine County blocks consideration of new data centers for six months while it puts policy in place on how to evaluate the projects.

The reported number of sexual assaults on Boise State's campus doesn't tell the whole story, Blaine County Commissioners are expected to vote today on a six-month moratorium for data center approvals, a new road maintenance levy is increasingly likely in Valley County, and trail users in the Boise area are asked to weigh in on Ridge to Rivers annual survey.

Students at Boise's Timberline High School are reportedly under investigation for making violent threats against another student in a group chat, around 15 people were hospitalized Saturday following a crash involving 25 motorcycles on I-84 in Caldwell, lawmakers axe a funding plan for mental healthcare programs in rural schools, and AC Boise clinches a spot in the USL League One playoffs.

Boise Police warn of a new high-tech scam and the risk of not regularly monitoring personal financial accounts, this year's steelhead returns are far slimmer than predicted, the Challis Messenger shuts down after 145 years, and celebrating Boise State Football's first Fiesta Bowl win, nearly 20 years later.