By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief
“The host agreement shall provide for the acceptance of out-of-state used nuclear fuel, spent nuclear fuel, and high-level radioactive waste.” - Memorandum of understanding between the U.S. Department of Energy and the state of Idaho that Gov. Brad Little signed July 24
A 2023 aerial shot of the Materials and Fuel Complex at the Idaho National Laboratory’s desert site. The complex contains several specialized labs where INL researches nuclear fuels. (Photo courtesy of the Idaho National Laboratory)
ENVIRONMENT
New nuclear campus deal would require Idaho to accept, store spent nuclear fuel, radioactive waste
By Clark Corbin
Idaho would be required to accept spent nuclear fuel and high-level radioactive waste if the state becomes one of the U.S. Department of Energy’s new Nuclear Lifecycle Innovation Campuses.
The exterior of the Idaho Statehouse as seen on Jan. 14, 2026, in Boise. (Photo by Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)
HEALTH
After contract dispute with East Idaho hospital, Legislature’s task force to study health insurers
By Kyle Pfannenstiel
After a major health insurer dropped an East Idaho hospital from its network, Idaho Republican legislative leaders founded a new working group of state lawmakers tasked with studying the practices of health insurance companies.
The formation of the taskforce, formally called the Idaho Health Insurers Working Group, came partly in response to lawmakers’ concerns over the contract dispute fallout, said House Speaker Mike Moyle, one of the highest-ranking Republican lawmakers. Half of the eight-member task force are from East Idaho.
Rhode Island Democratic Attorney General Peter Neronha in Providence earlier this year. Rhode Island is one of 25 Democratic-led states that sued the Trump administration over new Medicaid work requirements. (Photo by Christopher Shea/Rhode Island Current)
COURTS + POLICING
Judge rejects states’ bid to block Medicaid work rules
By Nada Hassanien
States will have to meet a Jan. 1 deadline to implement new Medicaid work requirements, after a federal judge denied 25 Democratic-led states’ request to pause implementation of the rule.
The broad tax and spending law President Donald Trump signed last summer, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, requires states that have expanded Medicaid to cover more adults under the Affordable Care Act — 42 states plus the District of Columbia — to mandate that those adults work, go to school or volunteer for at least 80 hours a month to keep their coverage.
MORE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NEWS FROM US
ICYMI
Shining a light on other Idaho politics reporting
Note: Some links may lead to stories behind a news organization's paywall
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