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Idaho GOP gearing up for March 2 caucus; here's what you can expect – East Idaho News

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Idaho GOP gearing up for March 2 caucus; here's what you can expect – East Idaho News


IDAHO FALLS — The Idaho Republican Party is preparing for its first presidential caucus in over a decade. Set for Saturday, March 2, the statewide Caucus will determine which nominee Idaho’s delegates will support at the Republican National Convention.

“Everybody knows what’s at stake this year,” Idaho GOP chairwoman Dorothy Moon wrote in a news release on Thursday. “We either step up and save our country or we head down the path of a new dark age. … It’s time to get to work!”

The economy, rising crime and global conflicts, “indoctrination” in schools and securing the border with Mexico are all “destroying” our “once great nation,” Moon said.

Why a Caucus instead of a Primary?

During the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers passed a bill to move the presidential primary from March to May. A technical error in the bill eliminated the March election date without adding a new May date. A follow-up bill to correct the mistake passed the Senate but died without a hearing in the House.

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Because the legislature didn’t reinstate the presidential primary election by the Republican Party’s Oct. 1 deadline, the state’s political parties will each hold presidential nominating caucuses instead.

  • The Idaho Republican Party will hold its presidential nominating caucuses on March 2.
  • The Idaho Democratic Party will hold its presidential nominating caucuses on May 23.

How is a caucus different?

The caucuses are separate from Idaho’s 2024 primary election, and the two events have significant differences.

A caucus is to nominate the political parties’ presidential candidates only. The Idaho 2024 primary election will include legislative races, not presidential candidates.

Idaho will have a presidential caucus in 2024 — not a primary. Here’s how they differ.

The respective political parties will run the caucuses, and votes will be counted by the parties, not county or state election officials.

Early or absentee voting is not allowed for the Republican caucus, but the Idaho Democratic Party is pursuing options to allow active-duty military members who cannot attend in person a way to participate.

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Voters at each caucus will have to participate as members of that respective party. Republicans have implemented a rule that voters must be registered as a Republican to cast a ballot.

Voters in the Idaho Democratic Party’s presidential caucus can register at caucus sites that day.

Unaffiliated or independent voters will have to either register as a Republican or vote in the Democratic presidential caucus. They aren’t allowed to vote in both.

What to Expect

For the Idaho Republican Party’s presidential caucus, voters will need to be in line by the time it is scheduled to begin.

Voters who turned 18 between January 1 and the date of the presidential caucus must also sign an affidavit declaring they have registered to vote and affiliated with the Republican Party within that period.

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“There has been a significant increase in Republican voter registrations in the last month of 2023,” Kiera Turnbow with the Idaho GOP said. “We saw over 2,500 new registered Republicans between November and December 2023.”

Republican candidates are invited to attend and voters are encouraged to bring their families. The entire event will last 90 minutes, but voters aren’t required to be there the whole time.

There will be video presentations from the candidates. Once ballots are cast, voters can leave or stick around for refreshments and mingle.

Delegates for the Republican National Convention will be awarded proportionately, according to the outcome of the statewide votes in the Caucus. If a candidate receives more than 50 percent of the statewide vote, they will be awarded all the Idaho delegates for the Republican National Convention.

A total of 32 pledged delegates will go to the Republican National Convention, allocated according to voting results.

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“It is our hope that Idaho’s early presidential caucus, before Super Tuesday, will bring more candidates to Idaho,” says Turnbow.

Recently, the Bingham County leadership claimed the state GOP leadership had taken over the caucus in that county, a move the Idaho GOP said was meant to create “intentional confusion surrounding the presidential caucus.”

RELATED | Bingham County Republican Party steps back from March 2 presidential caucus

“The State Party has been working with elected precinct committeemen to make sure all Bingham County residents have the opportunity to participate in the presidential caucus,” the Idaho GOP said in a news release. “Rest assured, the Idaho GOP will ensure that your voice will be heard on March 2.”

Despite ongoing litigation between the Bingham County and state leadership, Idaho GOP leadership says everything is “shaping up nicely” for the caucus.

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“This week, we are working hard in the state party headquarters preparing the caucus kits with all the supplies that each of the 210 caucus sites will need to run a smooth and successful Caucus,” Turnbow said.

The Idaho GOP Presidential Caucus will begin at 12 p.m. on Saturday, March 2. There are 210 caucus locations in Idaho. Don’t know where yours is? Find it here. More information about the Caucus can be found here.

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Idaho

Delicious New Menu Item Expected To Hit Idaho Costcos Soon

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Delicious New Menu Item Expected To Hit Idaho Costcos Soon


There’s something special and timeless about the Costco food court.

Having a Costco Card doesn’t just mean you unlock your grocery shopping there but you now get to go to the best food court known to man: The Costco Foodcourt.

Everyone loves their great prices and great options. Whether you’ve wanted to get a pizza to share with your family or one of their beloved giant hot dogs everyone’s got a good reason to go to the Costco Foodcourt.

Costco has been adding a lot of new menu items recently including fun ice cream flavors. Now they have yet again added something new to their menu.

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Idaho Costcos

Where to find Costcos in Idaho.

Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola

Costco has added a new menu item that everyone is already going crazy for. In a new viral Instagram reel an influencer revealed that Costco food courts around the country would be adding chicken strips to their menu! This feels like the perfect addition to the already extremely popular Costco food court and we can already see everyone going crazy over this new menu item.

Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds

Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds

As of right now it appears the chicken tenders are going to be 6.99 and include 5 chicken strips. They also seemingly have a new sauce that is going to be paired with these chicken strips and it looks delicious!

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Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds

Credit: Instagram/costcohotfinds

You’ll have to check out all of the local Idaho Costcos for when these hit stores because they just look delicious!

Look at those chicken tenders:

 

 

 

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Costco Foodcourt’s New Item

It’s a Caramel Brownie Sundae!!!

Gallery Credit: Shannon Buccola

Change Complete at Costco’s Food Courts

Who would have thought that an age old debate would bring out such a reaction in Costco shoppers!?

Gallery Credit: Mateo, 103.5 KISS FM

 

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This is How to Identify an Idaho Christian Nationalist

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This is How to Identify an Idaho Christian Nationalist


You’ve heard that our federal Constitution was made for a moral people.  The line is attributed to the founding father and second President, John Adams.  Notice he said “moral,” not “Christian.”  One of my friends was a graduate of Liberty University, a prestigious Christian school.  His mission in life was to evangelize, but he always cautioned his listeners that our founders spoke of a Creator, and not Jesus.  Some of our early leaders were devout Christians.  Many of them were also womanizers, drinkers, and gave religion no more than lip service.  They were people who wanted to be left alone, and if they practiced faith, it was personal, and they didn’t believe it was the government’s role to dictate morality.

They Mock Good People of Other Faiths

I’m reminded of a story about the 2024 Republican National Convention.  Harmeet Dhillon, a rising star in the party, spoke.  She referenced her Sikh faith, and someone in the crowd felt compelled to shout “Jesus is Lord!”  Now, maybe a majority believes that, but are you sure He wants you to taunt good and moral people?  Or would God prefer a gentler approach?  For instance, you could pray for conversions.

Where does the Great Commission instruct you to be rude to people of good moral character?

Idaho’s Glenneda Zuiderveld was an alternate delegate, and when a seatmate said the man was rude, the state senator dismissed the argument.  “We’re all going to be judged,” she said.  What’s a Senator’s purpose in politics?

The Pot Calling the Kettle Black

A few days ago, a local church had a men-only event for candidates.  A group of liberal women demonstrated outside.  I don’t know why they can’t organize their own event instead, but apparently, they would rather be confrontational.  They’ve accomplished nothing more than preening and making a claim that they’re more virtuous, but the church is within its rights to hold a men-only event.  If you want a women’s only event, I’m not bothered.  Let me add a caveat.  Some of the men involved believe that it’s okay to berate members of the LDS Church as they enter the temple.  I wouldn’t say screaming at someone that they’re going to hell is a sign of moral people.  Again, if you think they’re wrong, then pray for them.

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Some people wonder why they’re called Christian nationalists.  Do we need to draw them some pictures?

Brad Little Through The Years

Gallery Credit: Kevin Miller





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Local non-profit fills Mother’s Day baskets for NICU moms across Idaho

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Local non-profit fills Mother’s Day baskets for NICU moms across Idaho


KUNA — A sister-duo is filling baskets with blankets, snacks and handwritten notes to spread some extra love to moms spending Mother’s Day in the hospital with their newborns.

The effort is led by “Helping Hands for NICU Moms,” a nonprofit co-founded by sisters Tiffany and Alyssa Higbee. The organization was born from Alyssa’s own experience spending months in the NICU with her firstborn.

Alyssa’s son was initially in the NICU for about two weeks, then was put back in for about 3.5 months. During that time, several holidays passed, making it especially hard as a first-time mom.

“There was people in companies who would bring us stuff and try and cheer up your day, and it really helped, and so when my son was about 6 months old, we decided that it would be best to try and help moms in the NICU somehow,” Alyssa Higbee said.

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That inspiration led the sisters to create Mother’s Day gift baskets filled with items to bring comfort and encouragement to moms facing the same journey.

WATCH: Learn more about “Helping Hands for NICU Moms”

Local non-profit fills Mother’s Day baskets for NICU moms across Idaho

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The sisters have a 12-year age gap. Tiffany was fresh out of high school when they started the nonprofit in 2023, which meant she had more time to dedicate to the project. Alyssa noted that because of the age gap, they didn’t get to spend a lot of time together growing up, so the project has brought them closer.

“Hopefully, this can bring some hope that you can get out of it … that NICU period, that scary initial phase, it does get easier,” Alyssa Higbee said.

ALSO READ | Fragile beginnings to bright futures: NICU ‘Wall of Hope’ inspires families with stories of strength

Alyssa’s son, who was born in the NICU at St. Luke’s in Twin Falls, is now 3-years-old and healthy. Tiffany said watching her nephew go through the NICU was hard, but seeing him now — jumping, tackling her, and doing everything a little boy does — makes the work even more meaningful.

“It’s cool to see the difference because I know that some kids don’t make it to where he is when they’re in the NICU, and it’s just cool to see that he did,” Tiffany Higbee said.

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This year’s baskets are packed with items donated by nearly 25 local companies — up from just 5 donors in the first year. The baskets include soaps from Wild Highland Soaps, claw clips, bibs, hair bows, chapsticks, socks, lotions, hand sanitizers, coloring books, colored pencils, snacks, minky blankets, and stuffed puppies from Scheels.

Gift cards and coupons are also included from Dutch Bros, Flying M Coffee, a pizza company, Wendy’s (free meal coupons for breakfast and lunch), Albertsons, and a $10 coupon to a baby store.

Tiffany started collecting donations for this year’s baskets as early as November of last year, spending a few hours every week for the past 6 to 8 months to prepare — reaching out to companies, picking up donations, and organizing everything.

The assembly process includes last-minute tasks like ironing vinyl onto bags, opening boxes, and putting together gift card envelopes before the full baskets are assembled and delivered.

“We start putting the bags together, making sure we have everything in there, and then we deliver them on Mother’s Day,” Alyssa Higbee said.

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The baskets are delivered before noon on Mother’s Day to avoid missing moms who may be discharged after doctors do their rounds. Currently, the organization delivers to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in downtown Boise.

Tiffany said delivering the baskets is one of the most rewarding parts of the work.

“I love seeing the moms sometimes we get to watch them come out with their baskets, and they’ll be going through it, and they look really excited and happy,” Tiffany Higbee said.

“Seeing how happy they are or knowing how I cheered them up a little bit for their Mother’s Day because it’s a big holiday, it’s their first with that baby at least,” Tiffany Higbee said.

The first year, the project was funded mostly out of their own pockets. Three years later, as an official nonprofit, they said they no longer have to rely heavily on their own funds thanks to their new partnerships.

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The organization accepts both monetary donations via Venmo and their website, as well as in-kind donations of physical items like soaps, claw clips, and other basket items — year-round.

The organization’s future goal is to expand to all the different NICUs in the area, and potentially the PICUs (Pediatric Intensive Care Units) as well, since that was also part of Alyssa’s experience.

To learn how you can donate or get involved with “Helping Hands for NICU Moms,” you can visit their website by clicking here.

Send tips to neighborhood reporter Brady Caskey

Have a story idea from South Boise, West Boise or Kuna? Share it with Brady below —

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