By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief
“They’ve done this before. It’s happened during multiple different administrations over the last couple of decades. Obviously, with the temperature around elections and a little bit of friction between states and the (U.S. Justice Department), I’m sure some will probably try to make hay out of this in terms of you know political wins on one side or the other. But it doesn’t bother us at all. … This will be a good opportunity for them to kind of see how elections should be run.”
— Ada County Clerk Trent Tripple on the Trump administration sending election monitors to his county next week
Voters cast their ballots in the general election on Nov. 5, 2024, at Cathedral of the Rockies in Boise. (Pat Sutphin for the Idaho Capital Sun)
ELECTION 2026
Trump administration to send election monitors to Idaho’s largest county
By Kyle Pfannenstiel
Idaho Secretary of State Phil McGrane, an elected Republican, said the U.S. Justice Department notified him and the Ada County Clerk’s Office, which runs the election locally, that there will be two teams in Ada County on Election Day.
Rebecca Crozier, 27, of Meridian, Idaho, poses in October 2026 with mementos from her baby, Haven. At 11 weeks, she received a fatal fetal diagnosis of anencephaly, and had to travel out of state to terminate the pregnancy because of her state’s near-total abortion ban. (Photo by Otto Kitsinger for Stateline)
ABORTION POLICY
Told her baby wouldn’t survive, she had to leave Idaho for an abortion. She’s sharing her story.
By Kelcie Moseley-Morris
MERIDIAN, Idaho — It didn’t take long for doctors to see that something was amiss with Rebecca Crozier’s pregnancy.
At her eight-week ultrasound in 2025, they mentioned a possible neural tube defect, she said, but after some research, she thought it was something that could be managed or treated.
Weiser paramedic Ashley Lynn beside an ambulance in this file photo. Idaho awarded federal rural health grants to projects statewide, including some to try and improve rural emergency medical services. (Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)
HEALTH
Idaho allocates its entire $186 million in federal grant to improve rural health access
By Laura Guido
Idaho spent all of its approximately $186 million grant in the second year of the five-year federal Rural Health Transformation Program.
The money went to organizations statewide for projects meant to improve access and services for rural and tribal healthcare systems, according to a press release from Idaho Gov. Brad Little.
The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid announced Wednesday that Idaho spent its full grant award, which the state was required to do before Oct. 30 or the federal government could claw it back.
MORE FROM US
2026 general election voter guide: The candidates, the ballot measures, and the tools you need to cast your vote. | Idaho Capital Sun staff
MORE 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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Idaho Statesman: 2026 Idaho Statesman Voter Guide for the Nov. 3 general election
Idaho State Journal: Hoku data center developer sues Pocatello over permit denial
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