By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief
Independent candidate Todd Achilles, left, and incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch. (Photos courtesy of the candidates)
ELECTION 2026
As millions pour into Idaho’s US Senate race, Achilles raises more than Risch’s recent challengers
By Laura Guido
Independent candidate for U.S. Senate Todd Achilles has collected more than $1.8 in his campaign against incumbent Republican U.S. Sen. Jim Risch — the most of any federal election challenger in recent years.
Risch’s campaign has collected a total of around $4.1 million since the beginning of 2025, according to the most recent federal election campaign finance data reported by candidates on Oct. 14. Since 2021, the Risch campaign has garnered more than $5 million total.
A view of glacier-clad peaks in Washington’s North Cascades. Snow in Idaho, western Montana, the Washington Cascades and Snake River Basin melted two to five weeks earlier than normal in 2026, and in parts of the Oregon Cascades, mountain snowpack melted two months earlier than normal, according to Washington’s state climatologist. (Photo by Bill Lucia/Washington State Standard)
ENVIRONMENT
More than a third of Western states’ glacial cover has been lost since 1950s as planet warms
By Alex Baumhardt
Researchers at Portland State University and the U.S. Geological Survey built their findings on an earlier analysis that looked at the lost area and volume among 612 federally recognized glaciers in California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming since 1950.
In that analysis, they found that 50 are no longer considered glaciers given their size and condition, including 25 in the Cascade Range and seven in Oregon. Geologists consider glaciers to cover at least 25 acres. And they found two federally recognized glaciers in Washington and Wyoming disappeared entirely.
The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals as photographed on June 12, 2017, in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)
COURTS + POLICING
Federal appeals court upholds Idaho’s penalties amid legal challenge to state’s abortion ban
By Laura Guido
A federal appeals court panel ruled on Friday that Idaho’s abortion ban may continue to be fully enforced, including against a Boise doctor who challenged the ban’s lack of health exemption.
MORE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NEWS FROM US
Bird flu spreads to 27 Washington dairy farms | Aspen Ford
Early voting sets midterms record, breaking 2022 mark | Ariana Figueroa
ICYMI: OUR TOP STORIES OF THE WEEK
Told her baby wouldn’t survive, she had to leave Idaho for an abortion. She’s sharing her story. | Kelcie Moseley-Morris
In Idaho, independent political polls are rare ahead of elections. Here’s why. | Kyle Pfannenstiel
Trump administration to send election monitors to Idaho’s largest county | Kyle Pfannenstiel
Trump administration prosecutes first noncitizen voting cases in Idaho in years | Kyle Pfannenstiel
Chrissy Teigen joins Idaho women who needed abortions in final push for ballot initiative | Kelcie Moseley-Morris
ICYMI
Shining a light on other Idaho politics reporting
Note: Some links may lead to stories behind a news organization's paywall
Sandpoint Reader: What are the ballot measures for the Nov. 3 election?
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