By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief
“No other state has a proven playbook for how to accomplish this work. Idaho is charting new territory with our eradication effort.” - Idaho State Department of Agriculture Director Chanel Tewalt
In 2024 and 2023, contractors and officials with the Idaho State Department of Agriculture treated the Snake River with a copper-based chemical called Natrix to kill quagga mussels. (File photo courtesy of the Idaho State Department of Agriculture)
ENVIRONMENT
Quagga mussels detected again in Idaho, but numbers are down as Ag Department makes eradication push
By Clark Corbin
Idaho state officials say they are continuing to push for full eradication of quagga mussels after again detecting the invasive species in the Snake River near Twin Falls earlier this month.
U.S. District Judge B. Lynn Winmill ruled earlier this month that the state of Idaho cannot regulate abortion when a pregnancy threatens a person’s physical or mental health. Idaho Attorney General Raúl Labrador appealed the decision, and the judge narrowed the ruling to apply only to the Boise doctor that challenged the law. (Photo by Otto Kitsinger for the Idaho Capital Sun)
COURTS + POLICING
Idaho federal judge narrows abortion ruling to only protect Boise doctor who filed lawsuit
By Laura Guido
Other doctors in Idaho will still be subject to Idaho’s near-total ban, which includes an exception to prevent the death of the mother but does not include exceptions to prevent her death from self-harm. Elective abortions are completely banned in Idaho.
The settlement was reached in the midst of a lawsuit trial that 47 states and D.C. are parties to, the Idaho Attorney General’s Office announced. (Photo by Chris McGrath/Getty Images)
COURTS + POLICING
Instagram’s parent company to pay Idaho up to $127M to settle social media addiction lawsuit
By Kyle Pfannenstiel
Idaho’s share of the $17.1 billion multi-state settlement with Meta is between $89.2 million and $127.7 million, the state’s legal agency said.
U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright (center) visits Idaho National Laboratory with Idaho Gov. Brad Little (right) in December 2025. (Photo courtesy of Sarah Wood/U.S. Department of Energy)
COMMENTARY
The Idaho National Laboratory can thrive without becoming a permanent nuclear waste repository
By Jim Jones
With its stellar qualifications, INL does not have to be a meek supplicant, begging for some transitory scraps from the federal table, writes guest columnist Jim Jones.
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ICYMI
Shining a light on other Idaho politics reporting
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Lewiston Tribune: Moscow rights group wants to add a second voting locale
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