The Connector: Idaho Daily News

Data show more than $30 million in election spending in Idaho, beef cattle revenue last year beat dairy revenue in Idaho for just the second time in 25 years, Idaho State University ordered to pay $750,000 in a discrimination lawsuit, and a new study finds the system to reserve a visit to a National Park appears to favor wealthier visitors.

An election recount in Latah County, and hundreds of uncounted ballots discovered in Bannock County did not change any results in the November 3 election - though some races got a lot closer. Plus, Boise bans new mega data centers for six months while it works to update city code, New Plymouth Schools are battling a cyber attack, the woman long suspected in the disappearance of a Fruitland boy in 2021 now faces a murder charge, and an Ada County Judge has sided with media in a public records lawsuit against state police and the Department of Correction.

unreported votes lead to a full recount in Latah County, West Ada School District will close an under-enrolled elementary school after this school year, what the state's legislative budget writers will work on in a pre-session workshop this week, a Twin Falls man faces ten felonies after an apparent accidental gunshot injured another man Sunday, and how BSU football coach Spencer Danielson says he'll leverage the ESPN College Gameday appearance on campus this weekend.

Boise threatens to pull Darigold's sewer use permit over on-going wastewater pollution concerns, a 15-year old boy shot in west Boise after a 'ding-dong-ditch' prank, Boise City Council will consider a moratorium on new data center construction, ESPN College Gameday returning to Boise State for the first time in 16 years, and it's title time for AC Boise!

Albertsons ordered to pay $900 million for fueling the opioid crisis in Washington State, Ada County Sheriff Matt Clifford slams a public records request for body cam footage from a deputy killed in the line of duty, Pocatello will pay $4.5 million to settle a wrongful death lawsuit after police shot a 17-year old disabled boy, and Blaine County is scrambling to find a way to conduct an annual count of unsheltered people in the community.

Organizers say the defeat of Prop 1 is a 'gut punch' to women in Idaho, there is more gold than previously confirmed at Stibnite, a surviving victim of the 2022 U of I quadruple murder is asking a court to protect her privacy as some investigation materials could be made public, and historic elections in the mountain west region.

Election coverage and analysis from Idaho's major races; with political reporter James Dawson and Boise State University Professor of Political Science Jaclyn Kettler.

Election day reminders for anyone planning to visit the polls today, a far-right Republican Senator says he'll challenge for leadership this session, the State Supreme Court rules that some body cam video from an Ada County Sheriff's Deputy killed in the line of duty must be publicly released, more young students are reading at grade level in Idaho this fall, and when BSU football might get quarterback Maddux Madsen back on the field.

Two court rulings Friday related to abortion in Idaho - one on campaign TV ads and the other in an existing lawsuit challenging Idaho's ban, more than 260,000 Idahoans have already voted in the November 3 midterms, Caldwell is getting a new EMS station for the first time since 2003, and AC Boise gets its first playoff win in franchise history and will host a semifinal game this coming weekend.

Does the way Prop 1 supporters funded TV ads violate any campaign laws? A Canyon County Judge is expected to weigh in today, plus, the potential legal consequences if voters approve Prop 1 on Tuesday, an OBGYN explains the complicated pregnancies at the center of of prop 1 opponents say are illegal late-term abortions, U of I's Moscow campus added to the National Register of Historic Places, and bidding for the sale ACHD's Garden City property is underway.

A split decision from the state Supreme Court settles a long-running case over the effectiveness of Idaho's former public defender system, federal election monitors will be on the ground in Idaho November 3rd, Boise Police search for more victims of a contractor who allegedly took money and never did the work, and we go through the new process for voters who arrive at the polls without their ID.

The groups on either side of Prop 1 will be in court this week, arguing over whether TV ads were fairly purchased, Micron announced about $22 million for transit and housing efforts in the Treasure Valley, and $45 million in contributions to local children's 'Trump Accounts,' enrollment at Boise State University is up, along with graduation rates, and fire and sanitation officials demonstrate the danger of lithium-ion batteries that end up in trash trucks.

A familiar face will take the reins at the Boise Airport as its new Director, Boise Schools faces another lawsuit over former para-professional Gavin Snow, The US Army is helping Perpetua Resources pay for tungsten exploration at the Stibnite mining site, and work on a new water pipeline connecting two north central Idaho fish hatcheries is underway.

Proposition 1 advocates and the state Democratic party did not violate campaign laws with a recent TV ad buy, AC Boise takes 3rd in the regular season and will host a playoff game this weekend, Idaho suffers its first influenza death of the season, and the U.S. Capitol Christmas tree, 'the People's Tree,' is cut down and on its way from Idaho to Washington, D.C. 

Prop 1 opponents accuse supporters of campaign spending shenanigans, Darl Bruner lays out a list of 'conundrums' affecting the city, The Caldwell Night Rodeo wins a prestigious national award, Ada County officials will celebrate the grand opening of the Park at Expo Idaho today, and why Idahoans should not throw away or flush unwanted prescription drugs - and bring them to local dropoff sites this weekend.

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.

Boise Police identified several juveniles accused of taking election yard signs from homes in west Boise, Micron posts record earnings - again - with no end to the memory chip supply crunch in sight, Boise celebrates the new 8th street during first Thursday, and the new fiscal year for public entities means changes for public transit in Nampa and a newly-merged fire district in Blaine County.

Idaho National Guard members are deployed to SE Asia, replacement of the Eckert Road Bridge in east Boise can move forward, high levels of PFAS in the drinking water at the Magic Valley Regional Airport, the Boise Fire Department will add nine new firefighters and expand more stations to 4-person crews, and why many people across the country are wearing orange today.

Boise Police released a photo of a suspect and vehicle possibly related to 'large-scale' theft of election yard signs in west Boise, grizzly bears could soon have federal protections lifted, two helicopter pilots who died fighting the Dome fire in Yosemite National Park have ties to Idaho, and Idaho forest service officials call an audible on the choice for this year's U.S. Capitol Christmas tree.

Human remains found at a Lewiston construction site identified as Nez Perce tribal ancestral remains, Twin Falls Police are cleared in two critical incident investigations, Boise State takes a step toward potential development of the east parking lot at Albertson's Stadium, and why BSU football coach Spencer Danielson may have seemed unbothered by a sideline celebration penalty during the team's 32-7 win over Western Michigan.

Advocates for Idaho's Prop 1 get an infusion of cash, a 15-year old boy is in custody on murder charges related to a Wednesday afternoon shooting in Caldwell, Twin Falls officials and the Idaho Community Foundation are teaming up to create a permanent memorial for victims of this August's mass shooting, and good news for one of ZooBoise's most beloved residents.

Official guidance for Idaho churches making political contributions, The Ada County Sheriff's Office solved a decades-old cold case of the 'unknown wanderer' and says there's a link to the 1982 'Tylenol murders' in Chicago, the Shoshone-Paiute Tribe has repatriated remains of a tribal member after 126 years, and a rash of 'swatting' calls disrupt local high schools.

The State Supreme Court has upheld a $1.1 million defamation judgement against a far-right blogger in north Idaho, why every Ada County ballot this election will include both active races for ACHD Commission, a federal judge denies a challenge to Idaho's Medical Freedom Act, and it's Woodstock in McCall this weekend! It's not a concert, but there is plenty of peace, love and joy.

Idaho's biggest school districts want community feedback on future plans starting today, a huge data center is proposed for BLM land southeast of Boise, Blaine County will revisit its use of Flock license plate cameras, and how Idaho cities can get free technical help with planning and zoning issues. 

It was a tragic weekend with multiple kids hit and killed by cars in southwest Idaho, Boise police stopped a 12-year old boy after a high-speed chase in a stolen truck and trailer, quagga mussel treatment on the Snake River near Twin Falls has concluded for a fourth straight year, and AC Boise remains in the thick of the USL League One playoff race with just five games to go in the regular season.

Boise Police have arrested two teens accused of the fatal stabbing at a west Boise house party September 7th, It's a busy weekend in Boise, with the annual PRIDE and Hyde Park Street Fair events. Plus, the city of Boise expects record development fee revenue for a second straight year, and a national survey shows low comfort among students on Idaho's largest public university campuses  bringing up contentious topics like politics.