By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief
“That really is the concern around ALPRs. It is a mass surveillance technology that is being used without a warrant or without suspicion, but it casts a wide net over everybody in the driving public.” - Saira Hussain, senior staff attorney at the nonprofit Electronic Frontier Foundation
Flock Automated License Plate Reader as captured on Aug. 5, 2026. (Photo by Valentin Termite/Idaho Capital Sun)
COURTS + POLICING
All eyes on Flock as Idaho navigates surveillance technology across the state
By Valentine Termite
Caldwell, Twin Falls, Pocatello and Idaho Falls have the largest number of ALPR cameras, according to reports on the community crowdsourced Deflock Maps.
Contracts and agreements between these cities and the company attest to the scale of their deployment. For Caldwell alone, it means at least 10 ALPR cameras and an initial $30,000 per-year-agreement with Flock as of a 2025 city document. Other cities track similar, if not greater, numbers according to Flock transparency portals:
Twin Falls: 40 Flock ALPRs, at least $43,800 per year contract.
Pocatello: 36 Flock ALPRs, at least $10,000 per year contract.
Idaho Falls: 20 Flock ALPRs, at least $40,200 per year contract.
Damaged structures in the aftermath of the Spokane fires that began on Aug. 1. Some officials and consumer advocates fear the wildfire could lead to property insurance rate hikes and policy cancellations. (Photo courtesy of Spokane Valley Fire Department)
ENVIRONMENT
Western wildfire could be latest climate disaster to unsettle property insurance market
By Alex Brown
Across the country, insurance companies have withdrawn coverage or raised premiums in areas threatened by climate-fueled disasters. In some places, such as California, those trends have triggered a full-blown crisis, with private companies abandoning disaster-prone areas and leaving state-backed “last resort” insurance plans to assume more and more risky policies.
Pfc. Jorden Edlin, left, and U.S. Army Spc. Kaliyah Johnson, right, with the Mississippi National Guard assigned to Joint Task Force-District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, patrol at the Thomas Jefferson Memorial in Washington, D.C., on Aug. 2, 2026. (Photo by Photo by Sgt. Alex Lopez/Joint Task Force DC)
GOVERNMENT + POLITICS
Price tag for Trump’s D.C. deployment of National Guard: $1.4B more through 2029
By Sam Gauntt
As of Aug. 1, there are more than 4,600 National Guard members deployed in Washington, including 99 from Idaho.
MORE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NEWS FROM US
Kalshi is subject to Utah’s anti-gambling law, judge rules | Alexil Cabrera
Trump urges US Senate to pass bill making daylight saving time permanent | Shauneen Miranda
US Senate confirms Trump’s pick for CDC director | Shauneen Miranda
ICYMI
Shining a light on other Idaho politics reporting
Note: Some links may lead to stories behind a news organization's paywall
Coeur d’Alene Press: City Council says 'No' to data centers
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