By Christina Lords | Editor-in-Chief
“If a case can be made that a separate taxing authority can be set up to meet the needs that we all agree on, then we have a path forward. But if the decision is made that ‘No, we want a patchwork quilt. We want to keep this thing together with baling twine and duct tape, and not look long term of what the needs of this community will be,’ then we’re going to suffer from those consequences.” - Brian Whitlock, Meridian City Council member and president of the Idaho Hospital Association, on public transportation issues facing the state
A Valley Regional Transit bus drives by the Idaho State Capitol on July 17, 2026. (Photo by Kyle Pfannenstiel/Idaho Capital Sun)
HEALTHCARE
In Idaho, a public transit program can take you to the doctor. If it has enough funding.
By Kyle Pfannenstiel
In the spring, the Valley Regional Transit board approved a plan to let the agency lobby state lawmakers for the power to tax. But that push will likely face an uphill battle in the Idaho Legislature, where Republican lawmakers have cut state spending to make room for more state tax cuts — by adopting cuts from the federal One Big Beautiful Bill Act — after years of deep tax cuts.
State officials in Idaho say the wolf population is down, and they are trying to reduce it further through aggressive hunting and trapping. (Photo by Eric Cole/U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service)
ENVIRONMENT
State officials say Idaho’s wolf population dropped by about 100 wolves to 1,129
By Clark Corbin
Overall, the state wolf population has been declining since 2020, when state officials estimated more than 1,650 wolves lived in Idaho.
A residential duplex set for construction in Chicago. The 21st Century Road to Housing Act is being hailed for allowing municipalities to do more, such as construct affordable housing, with federal grant money. (Photo by Robbie Sequeira/Stateline)
GROWTH + AFFORDIBILITY
Landmark federal housing law tries new ways to boost local building
By Robbie Sequeria
The most immediate impact of the law could be making existing federal housing dollars easier to use for municipalities.
Mark Kudlowitz, senior policy director for the Local Initiatives Support Corporation — a national nonprofit that finances affordable housing and other projects in urban and rural communities — said localities can now make decisions on where to spend existing federal dollars to increase supply. They also can start readying their local policies for potential funds from new incentive-laden programs.
MORE REGIONAL AND NATIONAL NEWS FROM US
Measles cases have reached a 35-year high | Tim Henderson
Federal judge says certain abortion drug restrictions are unlawful | 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
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