AGP Executive Report

Boise State Momentum: Boise State turned a 17-3 hole into a 38-20 win over Memphis, leaning on a big second-half ground game and defense to stay in the Group of Six playoff conversation. North Idaho Energy Costs: AAA reports Idaho diesel hit record highs, and a local piece ties rising fuel costs to higher grocery and contractor expenses—while another North Idaho column questions why power bills are climbing as utilities fund future grid growth. Food Safety Watch: Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC in Moyie Springs recalled 215 cases of broccoli sprouts after potential salmonella contamination tied to a multistate outbreak that has sickened dozens. Local Construction & Infrastructure: Idaho Transportation Department will close the I-90 westbound Northwest Boulevard on-ramp for about two weeks as part of the Coeur d’Alene–Post Falls widening project. Building Trades Spotlight: North Idaho Building Contractors Association honored Parade of Homes winners, showcasing craftsmanship and design across multiple home categories. Nuclear Industry Signals: West Virginia signed on to the DOE’s Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus effort, underscoring continued federal push around spent fuel handling.

Food Safety: Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC of Moyie Springs recalled 215 cases of broccoli sprouts after salmonella concerns tied to a multistate outbreak that has sickened 22 people, with specific “use by” dates listed by the FDA. Energy & Industry: The U.S. DOE picked four projects for $73M to build real-world testing grounds for next-generation mining tech, including Idaho Springs, Colorado, as part of a broader network aimed at strengthening domestic critical-mineral supply chains. Mining Watch: Bayhorse Silver reported progress at its Bayhorse Silver Mine, completing 6 diamond drill holes (2,750 feet) despite wildfire and logistics disruptions, while CMX Gold & Silver kicked off an Idaho exploration program at its Clayton Silver Project with results expected mid-to-late October. Local Business & Labor: McClatchy’s latest round of newsroom cuts is hitting the Pacific Northwest hard, including the Idaho Statesman, where staff reductions are expected to thin local coverage. Public Health & Safety: A reminder for Idaho households: dog-bite insurance claims are rising nationwide, underscoring the importance of liability coverage and prevention.

Mining & Manufacturing: The U.S. Department of Energy picked four projects for $73M to build domestic “Mine of the Future” testing grounds, including work tied to Idaho and a broader push to strengthen critical-mineral supply chains. Idaho Mining Updates: Bayhorse Silver reported progress at its Bayhorse Silver Mine despite wildfire and permitting delays, while CMX Gold & Silver kicked off its first Clayton Silver Project exploration program in Idaho with geophysics aimed at new drill targets. Geology & Exploration: WestGold Metals says its Amie project is “drill ready” after reviewing historical data, expanding claims, and starting surface exploration. Food & Agriculture: Hot, dry weather is driving an earlier, lighter potato harvest in Idaho, and a new recall hit the region as Evergreen Fresh Sprouts pulled 215 cases of broccoli sprouts tied to a Salmonella outbreak. Workforce & Local Business: The University of Idaho’s Caldwell Food Technology Center continues to support Idaho wineries, with refrigerated processing and packaging helping smaller producers stabilize and grow. Energy Policy: A federal appeals court voided a DOE emergency order that kept a Michigan coal plant open, underscoring how grid-reliability moves can get tied up in court. Local Journalism: McClatchy layoffs are cutting deep into the Idaho Statesman and other Northwest newsrooms, raising concerns about fewer reporters covering Idaho’s business and industry beats.

Idaho Mining & Critical Minerals: Resolution Minerals wrapped up a major diamond drilling push at its Horse Heaven Project in Idaho, targeting gold and tungsten at the Golden Gate prospect, with assays now underway and results expected to sharpen the company’s critical-mineral story. Wildfire Tech & Research: Portland General Electric is adding “live fuel” moisture monitoring to its wildfire work, partnering with the University of Idaho and NASA’s FireSense to better connect vegetation conditions to fire risk. Food Safety: Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC (Moyie Springs) issued an FDA recall for broccoli sprouts sold through distributors in Washington due to possible Salmonella contamination. Agriculture Research Funding: A Boise beef research symposium highlighted how future genetics and production gains may stall without renewed public investment in USDA and land-grant research. Energy & Infrastructure: ITD begins rehabilitation on the Mores Creek Bridge on SH-21 with one-lane traffic and up to 15-minute delays for about nine months. Local Business & Community: Tractor Supply’s Harvest Fest on Sept. 12 spotlights Idaho FFA design work, with a limited-edition tote for early customers. Transportation: Frontier launched Boise–Las Vegas nonstop service with four weekly flights starting at $59 one-way, but bag and seat fees can add up fast.

Insurance & Housing: A new report says the worsening homeowners insurance crunch—driven by wildfires, hail, and other disasters—is derailing real estate deals across the West, including in rural Idaho where rising premiums and cancellations have killed last-minute home sales. Food Safety: The FDA and CDC are investigating a multistate Salmonella outbreak tied to Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts made in Moyie Springs, Idaho; 22 cases across Idaho, Montana, Washington and Utah have been reported, with a recall covering specific expiration dates. Agriculture Tech & Biosecurity: Idaho’s animal health lab ramped up bird flu testing after becoming USDA-certified, cutting turnaround by handling more PCR tests in-house for dairy and bird samples. Economic Development: Idaho and Boise submitted Opportunity Zone recommendations for underdeveloped areas, aiming to spur investment and jobs if approved by the U.S. Treasury. Policy & Telecom: Idaho AG Raúl Labrador is pushing the FCC to strengthen “Know Your Upstream Provider” rules to curb illegal robocalls. Local Water & Fishing: Fish salvage rules were issued for Lamont and Johnson Reservoirs in southeast Idaho as irrigation drawdowns begin. Retail Growth: WinCo Foods and Olive Garden are slated to open in Rexburg this fall. Nuclear & Markets: Advanced nuclear stocks slid after Piper Sandler split ratings across the sector, hitting names including Oklo, NuScale and X-Energy.

Critical Minerals/Mining: The U.S. Department of Energy picked four “Mine of the Future” projects for $73 million, including work tied to Idaho locations, aiming to speed up testing and commercialization of new mining tech. Nuclear/Policy: Idaho is among states being considered for a Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Center that could reshape the spent-fuel conversation and bring major investment and jobs, while West Virginia has now joined the list. Higher Ed/Workforce: Idaho State University is laying out its next chapter in a fall address focused on “resilience” and growth, and College of Eastern Idaho is launching free STEM programs tied to local employers like INL. University of Idaho/Facilities: The State Board of Education approved three new UI facilities for FY2028, including an engineering and science building and a secure “Top Secret” cybersecurity/critical infrastructure research site. Food Safety: FDA/CDC are investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to recalled Evergreen Fresh Sprouts broccoli sprouts, with Idaho among the affected states. Local Infrastructure/Community: Emmett High School dome repairs could cost up to $27 million, and residents are pushing for clearer options as the district weighs retrofit vs. rebuild. Energy Costs: AAA reports Idaho gas prices jumped 10 cents overnight, tied to Middle East supply-chain pressures.

Food Safety: FDA is investigating a multistate salmonella outbreak tied to broccoli sprouts, with Idaho’s Evergreen Fresh Sprouts in Moyie Springs identified as the common grower; consumers and retailers are told not to eat recalled sprouts. Energy & Power Infrastructure: LS Power has started construction on the $1B-plus Southwest Intertie Project-North, a 285-mile, 500-kV transmission line linking Idaho and Nevada and boosting bidirectional capacity for regional power needs. Nuclear & Research: Lightbridge secured access to Idaho National Laboratory’s Advanced Test Reactor Loop facility to irradiate fuel rodlets under prototypic commercial reactor conditions, signaling momentum for advanced nuclear fuel development. Higher Ed & Workforce: University of Idaho launched the state’s first bachelor’s and master’s degrees in industrial and systems engineering, targeting smart manufacturing, AI, automation, and Idaho’s growing industry pipeline. Business & Industry: Idaho Business Review rolled out a redesigned site organized around eight core industries, aiming to make local business news easier to find for decision-makers. Public Safety & Consumer Costs: AAA Idaho reports gas prices jumped about 10 cents overnight in Idaho, tied to rising oil and shipping-risk pressures. Local Development: Driggs City Council approved the preliminary plat for Corona Valley, a 180-unit subdivision east of Teton High School, after a long review process. Insurance: Farm Bureau Insurance Company of Idaho completed its acquisition of Mountain West Farm Bureau Insurance Company, expanding coverage across five states. Agriculture: A Sunnyslope fruit producer says 2026 snow peach harvest is earlier than usual, with quality looking strong despite fewer “super big” peaches.

Nuclear Policy Watch: A new push for a “Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus” puts Idaho in the spotlight over whether the state could become a dumping ground for a large share of U.S. radioactive waste, raising fresh questions about transparency and local impacts. Critical Minerals & Mining: Liberty Gold says its Idaho-based Black Pine oxide gold project is “technically straightforward,” with a feasibility study pointing to strong economics across gold-price scenarios. Capital Markets for Idaho Resources: Resolution Minerals begins Nasdaq trading under ticker RML as it advances its Horse Heaven gold and critical minerals work in Idaho, while PolarX and Nova Minerals also highlight momentum in Alaska copper and antimony processing. Local Infrastructure: Pocatello’s Center Street Underpass construction update says the major downtown project remains on track for end-of-year completion. Permitting & Aggregates: Gem County commissioners upheld approval of the Premier Spring Creek South gravel pit after an appeal from neighbors. Energy & Grid Buildout: A proposed transmission line through Lake County is moving forward, but local officials say the area may not see much benefit. Public Health: Idaho is also dealing with measles concerns in the region and a separate wave of pork recalls tied to listeria risk. Workforce & Training: West Bonner County opens a new CTE center focused on natural resources and forestry career pathways.

Idaho Workforce: IDOL projects Idaho employment growth could outpace the nation, adding about 121,000 jobs from 2024–2034 and lifting labor force growth to 16.9% versus 3.2% nationally. Food & Agriculture: USDA issued a Class 1 recall of about 1,500 pounds of imported Italian ready-to-eat pork (guanciale) sold in Idaho and other states due to possible Listeria contamination. Energy & Nuclear: West Virginia joined DOE’s Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus effort as a potential host, joining Idaho and other states in the push to expand the nuclear fuel cycle. Cyber & Critical Infrastructure: Idaho lawmakers are warning that recent U.S. water-system cyberattacks could be a future threat to Idaho, especially for rural utilities. Transportation: ITD will remove the Lapwai Creek railroad bridge over US-95 starting Sept. 9, with overnight closures Sept. 14–16 to improve freight flow and eliminate a clearance restriction. Education & AI: Idaho’s State Board of Education awarded $645,197 in AI innovation grants to support AI literacy and responsible use across public colleges and universities.

Mining & Manufacturing Watch: Liberty Gold says its Black Pine feasibility study for its southern Idaho oxide gold project pencils out with strong economics, including a large-scale open-pit heap-leach plan and major NPV/IRR figures. Healthcare & Local Business: RadNet, which operates imaging centers including in Idaho, will present at the Jefferies Healthcare Services and Technology Conference Sept. 15. Food Safety: USDA issued a Class I recall for about 1,513 pounds of imported Italian dry-cured pork guanciale (Listeria monocytogenes risk) shipped to Idaho and seven other states—check lot 263311US and best-if-used-by date 05.16.27. Water & Infrastructure: A data-center boom is putting pressure on small-town water systems, with recent leak and wastewater disputes raising questions about aging infrastructure capacity. Energy & Research: Idaho State University selected for DOE’s Nuclear Reactor Innovation Center Launch Pad USA, aiming to design and commission an Advanced Research and Test Reactor microreactor with NuCube Energy. Conservation: A Lake Creek protection deal permanently safeguards 700 acres and key stream habitat for native cutthroat trout.

Nuclear & Engineering: Idaho State University in Pocatello was selected for the DOE Nuclear Reactor Innovation Center Launch Pad USA, partnering with NuCube Energy to design and commission an Advanced Research and Test Reactor at ISU’s Business and Research Park—aimed at hands-on student training, applied research, and reactor operations. Local Energy Infrastructure: Idaho is also in the running for a DOE Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campus, with the proposed sites spanning the full fuel cycle and potentially advanced reactor deployment and co-located data centers. Defense & Supply Chain Pressure: A new report highlights how the U.S. Navy’s submarine shortage is decades in the making, with the Navy inactivating the USS Boise rather than funding a costly overhaul—another reminder that industrial capacity limits hit national security fast. Food Safety: USDA issued a Class I recall for about 1,513 pounds of imported Italian ready-to-eat pork guanciale (pork jowl) due to possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination, with distribution including Idaho. Advanced Manufacturing: Coeur d’Alene’s Continuous Composites won a Phase II Navy SBIR to advance CF3D, embedding conductive pathways inside composite structures for UAV electrical systems. Community & Giving: The “Light the World Giving Machine” returns to Hemming Village in November with four machines (Nov. 30–Dec. 14), supporting Idaho nonprofits including the Rexburg Family Crisis Center and Eastern Idaho Community Action Partnership.

Food Safety: USDA issued a Class I recall of about 1,513 pounds of imported ready-to-eat pork guanciale after routine testing flagged possible Listeria monocytogenes contamination; no illnesses reported. The product was distributed to Idaho and seven other states, and consumers are told not to eat it. Wildfire & Small Business Costs: Idaho’s ongoing wildfires are forcing evacuations and raising the stakes for small businesses as insurance coverage and premiums tighten when risk outpaces traditional underwriting. Housing Affordability: A new review finds $460B in HUD spending over a decade didn’t measurably improve affordability, with home prices rising faster than incomes in every state. Agriculture & Processing: USDA’s Ranchers First Initiative aims to rebuild the U.S. beef herd, including moves to expand independent and regional processing and prioritize American beef in federal spending. Tech & Regional Growth: Idaho Technology Council announced iTECH Summit Inland Northwest 2026 in Coeur d’Alene, focusing on AI, workforce shifts, and building the region’s tech ecosystem. Healthcare Workforce: Life Flight Network opened an Idaho Clinical Center of Excellence in Meridian to train air-transport clinicians for rural emergency coverage.

Idaho Healthcare Expansion: Life Flight Network opened its first Clinical Center of Excellence in Meridian, adding a dedicated training hub for air medical clinicians across the region. Energy & Water Infrastructure: New research from Idaho National Laboratory and Oak Ridge National Laboratory says retrofitting non-powered dams could generate up to 15.2 TWh annually—enough for 1.4 million homes—while data-center growth keeps pushing water and power demand into the spotlight. Tech & Data Centers: Meta has turned on its Kuna data center, promising water efficiency, as Amazon expands Prime Air drone delivery to nearly 500 U.S. communities by end of 2026. Nuclear Industry Momentum: The DOE’s latest Nuclear Energy Launch Pad round selected 12 companies across 13 projects, signaling continued momentum for small reactors and fuel-cycle work. Local Business & Community: River & Rye opened in Coeur d’Alene’s downtown, bringing a rebuilt 7,000-square-foot craft cocktail and kitchen concept to the area. Consumer Pressure: Americans are facing record Labor Day gas prices, with the national average hovering around $4.14.

Energy Costs: Americans are heading into Labor Day with record-high gasoline prices, with GasBuddy projecting the national average could hit about $4.03 a gallon—up sharply from last year—driven by Middle East-related supply pressure and higher diesel costs. Idaho Transportation & Safety: Boise State’s Eugene trip hit a snag when its flight was diverted to Portland after the Eugene Airport runway was affected by construction and weather, underscoring how infrastructure work can ripple into major schedules. Idaho Courts & Liability: An Idaho woman suing Lyft alleges her driver raped and strangled her in 2024 and claims the company failed to screen drivers and monitor misconduct risks. Local Economy & Tourism: Ketchum’s Wagon Days wrapped up after a 69th run, spotlighting Western heritage and community spending. Idaho Environment & Water: California’s golden mussel response is being framed as a warning for Idaho—prevention is cheaper than trying to control invasive aquatic species after they establish. Tech & Education: New AI rules are rolling out unevenly across U.S. school districts, leaving Idaho educators watching how guidance evolves. Nuclear Industry: A week of momentum for advanced reactor startups includes criticality milestones tied to Idaho National Laboratory, as data-center power demand keeps nuclear back in the spotlight. Wildlife Policy: A Trump-ordered review could change gray wolf and Mexican wolf protections, with Idaho listed among states with sizable gray wolf populations.

Idaho Water Policy Watch: The EPA is seeking more public comments as it tries to redefine the “waters of the U.S.” rule, a move that could reshape how wetlands are regulated after the Supreme Court narrowed federal authority. Energy & Industry: The U.S. DOJ is backing Micron in a New York court fight over a $100B semiconductor hub, arguing delays would threaten national security and protect CHIPS Act investment. Nuclear in the Gem State: Idaho National Laboratory marked a milestone in advanced reactor development as multiple privately built test reactors reached criticality, signaling momentum for next-gen power tied to data center demand. Wildlife Management: A Trump order starts a federal review of gray wolf and Mexican wolf protections that could lead to delisting or reduced protections, with Idaho among states with sizable gray wolf populations. Local Infrastructure: Idaho DOT plans major I-90 changes near Coeur d’Alene starting Sept. 14, including ramp closures and a yearlong shift of traffic to the south side. Agribusiness & Food Safety: Health officials are investigating a Salmonella outbreak linked to broccoli sprouts across Washington, Montana, and Idaho, with no recall issued yet. Education: Trailhead Virtual Academy launches as a tuition-free Idaho charter option, emphasizing flexible remote learning and career/technical education.

Water Rule Fight: EPA is seeking more public comment on a supplemental plan to redefine “waters of the U.S.” after the Sackett v. EPA decision narrowed federal wetlands authority—an issue that directly affects Idaho landowners, farmers, ranchers, and energy projects. Idaho Agriculture & Food Economy: Idaho will host the National Program on Dairy Markets and Policy workshop in Twin Falls (Sept. 23-24), with sessions on milk marketing orders and a tour of Chobani’s plant plus UI’s agriculture research dairy in Rupert. Energy & Tech Infrastructure: Meta has turned on its $1.2B Kuna data center, promising water-efficiency improvements as Idaho continues to court major tech investment. Wildlife & Outdoor Stewardship: Yellowstone will close Buffalo Creek and use rotenone to remove invasive rainbow trout and protect native Yellowstone cutthroat trout. Public Safety & Health Policy: Bingham County joins Idaho Falls and Blackfoot in banning kratom sales, citing addiction and overdose concerns. Transportation & Construction: Major I-90 changes in Coeur d’Alene start Sept. 14, with ramp closures and a longer mid-October shift to the south side during reconstruction. Trade: Canada, Idaho’s top trade partner, matched Trump’s tariffs with retaliatory measures that could hit Idaho dairy exports. Local Innovation: A Deary family restored a 1906 train car and now rents it as an Airbnb—rail history turned into a small tourism business.