AGP Executive Report

Workforce & Education: Idaho State University is rolling out the state’s first public three-year bachelor’s degrees, with applied programs in law enforcement leadership, applied business/professional sales, and intelligent digital systems—built with industry partners to speed entry into high-demand jobs. Energy Storage Deal: Nextpower agreed to acquire Prevalon Energy for up to $365M, expanding into battery energy storage and controls, with an eye on AI data center power needs. Agriculture Mental Health: Sen. Jerry Moran joined a bipartisan resolution for May 29, 2026, as Mental Health Awareness in Agriculture Day, spotlighting stress and support for farmers and ranchers. Invasive Species Watch: Idaho completed its third round of quagga mussel testing, ramping sampling with thousands of statewide samples as summer conditions allow. Transportation & Construction: Major road work continues statewide, including US-30 paving shifts in McCammon, signal installation at SH-39/Pocatello Ave in American Falls, and I-15 lane changes between Pocatello and Fort Hall. Legal/Policy: Idaho and other states urged the U.S. Supreme Court to tighten the Sackett wetlands ruling, arguing the Clean Water Act’s reach is being stretched.

Idaho Dairy Expansion: Idaho Milk Products opened a new ice cream and powder blending facility in Jerome, adding high-capacity production and targeting about 100 new jobs as the company boosts value-added output for Magic Valley dairies. Local Infrastructure: ITD crews start Monday on US-95 near Thorn Creek Road in the Moscow area, using rock support to stabilize a moisture-driven landslide; work should wrap in early July with one-lane traffic. Regional Construction: Repairs begin Monday on eight bridges across north-central Idaho, with one-lane reductions and temporary signals through August. Treasure Valley Growth: Ahlquist and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe unveiled a 920-acre Peregrine Industrial & Technology Park along I-84 near Simco Road, pitching industrial, commercial and residential development near Micron and the airport. Agriculture Mental Health: Idaho farmers and ranchers are reporting rising depression and anxiety tied to drought, price swings and isolation, with advocates urging more support and treatment. Workforce & Education: Idaho State University launched three-year bachelor’s degrees aimed at faster entry into the workforce, including law enforcement leadership, applied sales, and digital systems. Public Safety & Compliance: A Boise man pleaded guilty to illegally dealing firearms, and a federal judge permanently barred a hazardous waste landfill from accepting radioactive waste shipments. Business & Industry: Red Robin agreed to sell 30 locations in Washington and western Idaho as part of a refranchising push to reduce debt.

Dairy Manufacturing Expansion: Idaho Milk Products cut the ribbon on a new ice cream and powder blending facility in Jerome, boosting high-speed novelty ice cream output and flexible bulk/custom dairy formulations. Tribal-Led Development: Ahlquist and the Coeur d’Alene Tribe unveiled “Peregrine,” a 920-acre mixed-use plan in Elmore County near I-84, with major industrial/technology and commercial parks aimed at the Treasure Valley’s growth corridor. Food Safety Watch: A specialty beverage recall tied to salmonella risk spread to 25 states, including Idaho, prompting consumers and retailers to check affected products. Agriculture Tech for Wheat: A University of Idaho tool helps farmers decide between ARC and PLC coverage, aiming to simplify risk choices for the 2026 crop. Idaho Dairy Health Alert: Highly pathogenic bird flu (H5N1) has resurfaced in Idaho dairy herds with five new infected herds reported in mid-April. Power & Utilities: Idaho Power and Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative filed to transfer Idaho Power’s Oregon distribution system for $154 million, with a proposed early-2027 close. Aviation Leadership: Boise Airport Director Rebecca Hupp announced retirement June 19 after 14 years guiding major passenger and infrastructure growth.

AI & Power Demand: A new wave of backlash is pushing lawmakers and cities to question AI’s job and electricity impacts, with Seattle even weighing a data-center moratorium. Nuclear & Defense Energy: Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado is set to get one of the first portable nuclear microreactors on a U.S. military base, aiming for 24/7 resilient power. Chip Manufacturing Watch: Boise-based Micron’s CEO Sanjay Mehrotra is now a billionaire as AI memory demand drives record stock gains, and the company’s next earnings call is set for June 24. Idaho Transportation: ITD is moving toward permanent left-turn restrictions at Lakeshore Drive/U.S. 95, and I-90 widening work brings temporary ramp closures in Coeur d’Alene. Idaho Agriculture: Idaho wheat stays steady thanks to rotation needs, even as national acres decline. Local Business & Growth: Idaho Falls’ Bounce City indoor arcade and bounce park opens after permitting hurdles, and Boise Airport director Rebecca Hupp will step down after 14 years. Workforce & Education: Idaho State University launches its first three-year bachelor’s degree pathways to speed students into high-demand careers.

AI Chips & Big Money: SK hynix jumped past a $1T valuation, and Idaho-based Micron followed—another sign the AI memory boom is still driving demand and pricing power. Local Clean Water & Recreation: Divers and volunteers pulled glass, tires and scrap from Lake Coeur d’Alene at Tubbs Hill, with organizers stressing safety and protecting fish and lake health. Idaho Workforce & Education: M3 Works COO Mark Robertson discussed Boise-area snowpack modeling and remote sensing with NRCS, aiming to better estimate spring water supplies for reservoirs. Mining & Capital Markets: Sunshine Silver is targeting up to a $2.32B valuation in a U.S. IPO to restart an Idaho Silver Valley mine. Community Growth: Grangeville’s fiber build is moving toward late-summer/early-fall service, while Shelley’s new Thursday farmers market launches June 4. Workplace Safety Watch: A Washington paper mill tank implosion left one dead and nine missing, with crews focused on stabilizing the caustic “white liquor” tank before recovery.

Road Safety: ITD says it “was wrong” on new I-84 lane paint near the Idaho Center Blvd exit in Nampa, after drivers reported confusion and near-collisions—then crews corrected the markings over Memorial Day weekend. Local Government: Boise is proposing the maximum 3% property tax increase for 2027, citing inflation and rising costs to keep services steady. Public Health & Agriculture: Idaho added 13 more H5N1 bird flu cases in dairy cattle (May 11–12), bringing the total to 130 since the 2024 outbreak began; most positives are asymptomatic and under quarantine. Energy & Industry: Boise-headquartered Micron crossed the $1 trillion market cap mark again as AI-driven memory demand keeps pushing chip prices and investment. Community & Faith: The LDS Church released the site for the new Caldwell Idaho Temple—19.2 acres at W. Orchard Ave. and S. Florida Ave.—as Idaho prepares for its 11th temple. Transportation Planning: ITD also flagged upcoming I-90 ramp closures in June for reconstruction tied to corridor growth.

Idaho Restaurants: Local diners are still showing up even as food costs climb, with operators leaning on specials, service, and quality instead of passing prices higher—because many say customers won’t follow. Labor & Media: Journalists at McClatchy-owned papers including the Idaho Statesman walked out Tuesday after more than a year of contract talks, arguing the company stalled on a “substantive wage offer” while spending on AI. Water & Tech: Bishop Kelly students are pitching “Irrigant,” an AI irrigation decision tool aimed at helping Idaho farmers time watering more efficiently, with plans to present at the Idaho Water Users Association seminar. Wildlife Stewardship: Utah’s new “Legacy of Land Award” spotlights landowners who manage habitat for mule deer—an approach Idaho producers may recognize as conflicts turn into partnerships. Mining & Capital Markets: Sunshine Silver is targeting a up-to-$2.32B IPO to restart Idaho’s Silver Valley mine, betting on renewed investor appetite for precious metals. Local Business Growth: Cogwheel Marketing & Analytics earned a spot on Inc.’s Rocky Mountain fastest-growing list, signaling continued momentum for Idaho-area services firms.

Idaho Courts: Two Treasure Valley men—Devin Larson (Eagle) and Steen Thomas Lamb (Meridian)—were sentenced after pleading guilty to luring an 18-year-old for a “photo shoot,” then tasing, zip-tying, and beating him in the Eagle Foothills; Larson got 7 years (2 fixed) and Lamb 13 years (3 fixed), with a rider that could adjust outcomes based on prison conduct. Retail & Consumer: Target is rolling out a redesigned Series 3 all-plastic shopping cart in select stores nationwide, built around easier steering, more kid comfort, and bigger storage. Sports: Idaho football added speed at receiver with the transfer of Zack Card from Oregon State. Public Safety/Outdoors: Boise River floating remains paused as officials cite unsafe conditions and the need for hazard mitigation work. Water Watch: Idaho’s drought picture is worsening—about 903,656 people live in drought areas, with reservoirs affected by low snowpack and dry, hot weather. Industry/Mining: Perpetua Resources secured a $2.9B EXIM loan to fully fund its Stibnite gold-antimony project, a major step for domestic antimony supply.

Idaho Land Deal Sparks Outcry: Idaho sold 160 acres of state endowment land near the Tetons for $5M to billionaire Thomas Tull’s TR Lot Holdco LLC, despite heavy opposition from locals and a Change.org petition—critics say the grazing lease doesn’t expire until 2032. Boise River Update: Boise officials say the river still isn’t safe for floating yet, citing shifting spring flows and the need for hazard work before the novice segment can open. Defense & Aviation Shock: The U.S. Navy says two EA-18G Growlers collided mid-air during an Idaho air show; all four pilots ejected safely, but the incident adds to recent fleet losses. Health Watch: Hantavirus concerns are rising in the Northwest, with new research finding unusually high Sin Nombre levels in rodents across Washington and Idaho. Critical Minerals Push: A Nevada brownfield antimony-gold project reports positive results in every drillhole, feeding the broader U.S. push for domestic supply. Food Assistance: Jerome’s summer meal program starts May 26, serving bagged lunches and breakfasts to about 1,000–1,200 kids daily.

School Nutrition: Jerome’s Summer Meal Program kicks off May 26, with bagged breakfasts and lunches delivered by district vans to parks, the Rec Center, and Jerome High—aiming to feed about 1,000 to 1,200 kids daily. Community Outdoors: A new Trust for Public Land survey finds 8 in 10 Americans say local parks and outdoor spaces are essential, with Boise ranking among the top park systems in the West. Tourism Watch: Tauck is adding a 2027 “Yellowstone Awakens” trip promising lodging inside the park and “exclusive access” to cut crowds. Public Safety/Local Life: Boise officials say the Boise River still isn’t safe for floating; hazard work and tree/debris mitigation aren’t done yet. Courts & Crime: Two men convicted in the Eagle Foothills kidnapping and beating of a teen were sentenced—one up to 13 years, the other up to 7. Tech & Industry: Micron began 1-alpha DRAM manufacturing in Virginia, while trade officials say no immediate semiconductor tariffs are expected. Health Alert: A salmonella drink-mix recall hits 25 states, including Idaho.

Healthcare Expansion: A 14-year-old former proton-therapy patient, Noah Reeb, broke ground on a $43 million Huntsman Cancer Institute expansion in Salt Lake City that will double capacity at its Hatch Proton Therapy Center, serving patients from Idaho and much of the region. Public Safety & Courts: In Eagle, two men pleaded guilty to second-degree kidnapping after they stunned and beat a teen and used his phone to force a breakup, with sentencing of 7 and 13 years. Idaho Business & Jobs: Apogee Architectural Metals reshuffled its sales footprint, naming Peter Dyer to lead a new Northwest region that includes Idaho. Health Watch: Researchers report unusually high hantavirus levels in rodents in parts of Washington and Idaho, raising exposure risk concerns for nearby communities. Markets: Boise Cascade shares fell sharply after a major investor trimmed a roughly $27M stake. Infrastructure: I-15 West Inkom Exit 58 closes for three weeks starting Tuesday for interchange work and detours via Exit 63. Recreation & Tourism: Round Lake State Park in Sagle unveiled new luxury treehouses, plus a trout release and invasive-snail hunt for campers.

Water & Land Stewardship: Utah State researchers are working with beavers—trapping and reintroducing them—to help keep water on farmland longer by slowing spring runoff, a “water magic” approach that could matter across the West as drought pressure rises. Idaho Infrastructure: Idaho’s I-15 West Inkom interchange (Exit 58) is set to close for three weeks starting Tuesday, with major interchange drainage and ramp work; drivers can detour via Exit 63. Nuclear & Energy Policy: The U.S. NRC is moving toward an accelerated technical review for Orano’s Project IKE uranium enrichment facility, with a target completion by April 2027—another sign the nuclear supply chain is getting faster lanes. Healthcare Market Shift: PacificSource will exit Montana’s insurance marketplace by year-end, underscoring how provider pullbacks can quickly reshape coverage options. Local Spotlight: A Pocatello lawn-care business is pitching soil-health treatments to cut supplemental watering over time.

Workplace Safety Watch: A deadly blast at a New York City shipyard killed 1 and injured 36, with firefighters and a fire marshal hurt after a second explosion during a rescue in a confined space. Energy & Grid: Idaho National Laboratory published public results from more than 50 tests of next-generation advanced conductors, aiming to help utilities cut technical risk as wildfire, ice, and mechanical stress threaten transmission reliability. Housing & Cost Pressure: New data highlights how Idaho home prices have surged over the past decade, outpacing wages and worsening affordability. Local Water Solutions: In Pocatello, a lawn care business is pitching soil-health treatments to reduce supplemental watering by up to 40% over time as drought pressure continues. Critical Minerals & Metals: Senators Jim Risch and Catherine Cortez Masto introduced the SILVER Act to spread precious-metals vault storage beyond the New York area. Tech Supply Chain: Micron began making 1α DRAM in Virginia, underscoring how memory shortages tied to AI demand are likely to linger.

Housing Heat Check: Idaho’s median home price jumped 137% in 10 years, the biggest spike in the U.S., underscoring how fast prices are outpacing paychecks nationwide. Local Infrastructure: Twin Falls is moving ahead with a $500,000 permanent air scrubber to cut hydrogen sulfide sewer odors, starting next week. Energy & Metals Policy: Idaho Sen. Jim Risch helped introduce the SILVER Act to spread precious-metals vault storage beyond the New York area, aiming to reduce supply-chain concentration risk. Industry Watch: Micron says it has started 1-alpha DRAM production in Virginia as part of its push to expand domestic memory manufacturing. Public Safety: A New York City shipyard blast killed one and injured dozens, including firefighters, after a fire and explosions. Idaho Jobs: Idaho’s unemployment rate held at 3.6% in April while nonfarm jobs rose modestly.

Space & Native Pride: John Herrington, the first enrolled Native American tribal citizen to fly in space, shared memories of his 2002 Endeavor spacewalk during a Fort Hall stop. Mining & Critical Minerals: Perpetua’s Stibnite project cleared a major milestone with a $2.9B EXIM loan, while NevGold is pushing ahead on its Limo Butte work. EV Buildout: Kempower and Blink are rolling out 92 new fast-charging ports at 14 sites, including Idaho Falls. Local Growth & Jobs: Janicki Industries is down to Twin Falls or Jerome (or nearby Great Falls) for a potential $800M, 2M-square-foot aerospace expansion. Public Works: Canyon County reopened the Celebration Park boat ramp with ADA upgrades and new docks/gangways. Health Watch: A WSU study finds higher-than-expected hantavirus levels in Pacific Northwest rodents, including parts of north-central Idaho. Education: U of I named Brooke Blevins interim provost and executive vice president.

University Leadership: University of Idaho named Brooke Blevins interim provost and executive vice president, tapping the education dean to steer academic and partnership priorities immediately. Federal Courts & Fraud: A federal jury in Pocatello convicted an unknown man of using a deceased child’s identity for 25 years to steal nearly $300,000 in government benefits. Idaho Public Safety: Idaho State Police say a Fargo man led troopers on a high-speed chase near Pocatello before authorities seized fentanyl, meth, cocaine and marijuana. Infrastructure & Access: Canyon County reopened the Celebration Park Snake River boat ramp after nearly $600,000 in upgrades, including ADA access and new docks. Energy & Security: Idaho National Laboratory is playing a behind-the-scenes role in World Cup security, focusing on protecting power, water and communications systems. Local Business & Growth: Boise State launched a new sports and entertainment group to expand year-round events at Albertsons Stadium and ExtraMile Arena. Trade & Industry: Gov. Brad Little’s Japan mission highlighted Idaho’s push into semiconductors, AI, aerospace and logistics.