Act would fund national park maintenance + Council urges rural health priorities + Kempthorne to be honored at dedication

By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief

“The America the Beautiful Act wouldn’t just fund maintenance on our national parks, forests, and refuges – it would require federal agencies to prioritize public access.” - Joel Webster, chief conservation officer at the Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership

The entrance sign to Glacier National Park, as seen on May 19, 2025. (Photo by Micah Drew/Daily Montanan)

ENVIRONMENT

Montana delegation champions ‘America the Beautiful Act’ to fund public lands maintenance

By Micah Drew

A bill sponsored by Montana U.S. Sen. Steve Daines aimed at renewing a $2 billion investment in addressing deferred maintenance throughout the nation’s public lands is winding its way through Congress with a goal of receiving a presidential signature by July 4.

The Idaho Behavioral Health Council made recommendations for use of funds obtained from a state settlement with opioid manufacturers. (Photo by Getty Images)

HEALTH

Idaho Behavioral Health Council asks lawmakers to prioritize rural communities with opioid funding

By Laura Guido

The majority of the council’s members voted to recommend top prioritization of projects focused on prevention for high-risk populations, behavioral health support for first responders, and behavioral health workforce development.

The Idaho Army National Guard broke ground on the Jerome County Regional Readiness Center on July 6, 2023, in Twin Falls. The facility is part of a project to consolidate armories across the state, according to the National Guard. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Morgan/U.S. Air National Guard)

GOVERNMENT + POLITICS

Idaho Army National Guard will honor former Gov. Kempthorne in new readiness center dedication

By Abigail Gerstein

Over $24 million went into the 55,000-square-foot facility, which includes a learning center, company orderly rooms, and modern classrooms. The center received $17.8 million in federal funding and $6.3 million in state funding.

MORE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NEWS FROM US

Utah Gov. Cox orders July 4 fireworks ban amid devastating wildfires | Alixel Cabrera
Minimum wages will rise in more than 20 cities, states in July | Kevin Hardy
Former Trump adviser John Bolton pleads guilty to mishandling sensitive documents | Jacob Fischler

ICYMI: OUR TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK

Idaho leads the nation in housing growth. The data shows it’s still not enough. | Abigail Gerstein
Idaho PACs spent more than $4.2M on primary election races | Laura Guido
Idaho unveils new state park with ‘endless outdoor recreation opportunities’ in Salmon area | Valentin Termite
Idaho has second-lowest error rate in nation for SNAP payments | Laura Guido
Idaho Attorney General Labrador releases list of 24 hazardous products facing federal recall | Christina Lords
‘Sky’s the limit’: Paula Mason wants to raise the bar for deaf and blind education in Idaho | Abigail Gerstein

ICYMI

Shining a light on other Idaho politics reporting

Note: Some links may lead to stories behind a news organization's paywall

BoiseDev: Republican senator, Democratic representative team up on SW Idaho rat problem
Idaho State Journal: M-44 'cyanide bombs' are back. So is the Pocatello family fighting to ban them.
Local News 8: Idaho ditches registration stickers, introduces 2 new license plates starting July 1
Sandpoint Reader: Project 7B soliciting input on pedestrian Long Bridge closure

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