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Idaho State Board of Education to consider extension in U of I-Phoenix negotiations • Idaho Capital Sun

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Idaho State Board of Education to consider extension in U of I-Phoenix negotiations • Idaho Capital Sun


This story was originally posted on IdahoEdNews.org on June 26, 2024.

The University of Idaho and the University of Phoenix want more time to talk about a deal.

And the State Board of Education will meet Friday morning to discuss an extension — which could immediately net the U of I $5 million.

If the State Board signs on, the parties would have until June 10, 2025, to reach a deal that would move the for-profit online giant under the U of I’s ownership. The State Board first endorsed the $685 million purchase in May 2023. The deal has been mired in political and legal limbo for months. However, the U of I and Phoenix have continued to negotiate past an initial, nonbinding May 31 deadline.

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“The extension will allow the (U of I) time to incorporate feedback from legislators and other Idaho stakeholders into the transaction and make amendments based on the feedback,” State Board staff said in a memo released late Wednesday afternoon. “There is no commitment to a closing at this time.”

The extension has been in the works for some time. Idaho Education News reported first on many of the basics in a May 28 article.

The State Board memo spells out the details:

  • Phoenix and its owner, Apollo Global Management, would have a chance to negotiate with other would-be sellers, or pursue an initial public offering.
  • The U of I would immediately receive $5 million for agreeing to an extension.
  • The U of I could also receive additional “breakup” fees if the purchase falls through. If the June 2025 deadline comes and goes without a sale, the U of I would receive another $5 million. If Apollo finds another buyer or pursues an IPO, the breakup fees would total $15 million.

The fees to the U of I are designed to offset the university’s consulting and legal bills. As EdNews has previously reported, the U of I has spent some $11 million on due diligence as it has reviewed a Phoenix purchase; the bulk of those fees went to U of I President C. Scott Green’s former employer, Hogan Lovells, an international law firm.

In their memo, State Board staffers say the U of I remains bullish on a Phoenix purchase. The U of I says its Phoenix business model “remains intact and is growing stronger.” The U of I has maintained it could net $10 million or more in annual revenues from Phoenix operations.

The U of I also maintains that it can navigate some turbulent political waters  — even after the state Senate voted down a bill in March designed to salvage the purchase.

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“The parties … are committed to continue working collaboratively with legislators, through the 2025 legislative session if needed, to arrive at transaction acceptable to all.”

The board is scheduled to meet at 8:30 a.m. Friday.

Check Idaho Education News on Friday for coverage of the meeting. And click here for in-depth, exclusive Phoenix coverage from Idaho EdNews.

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Idaho

Idaho family wants millions for Potato Drop injuries

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Idaho family wants millions for Potato Drop injuries


The city of Boise is facing a potential lawsuit brought by the parents of a girl injured by shattered glass at this year’s Idaho Potato Drop held on New Years Eve.

The Idaho Statesman obtained a copy of the tort claim filed earlier this month, which is a precursor to a possible civil lawsuit.

Richard and Daryl Ratto filed the tort claim against the city and multiple other entities, according to the newspaper, after a shard of glass slashed their daughter’s face at the late-night celebration, which required surgery.

As Boise State Public Radio previously reported, police reports from that night said they couldn’t definitively conclude that concussive blasts from fireworks shattered windows on the AT&T building and the Idaho Capitol, which fell on spectators.

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The Rattos are demanding $10 million from multiple public entities, saying they’ve known for years that Potato Drop organizers have diverted from plans submitted to city officials to obtain permits for the event.

Body cam footage from that night shows Dylan Cline, the event’s CEO, high fiving his pyrotechnics contractor and saying, “F— yeah…” after being told of the broken windows by police.

City officials have 90 days to respond to the tort claim before the Rattos could file a lawsuit.

Copyright 2026 Boise State Public Radio

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Idaho Patriot Thunder Ride is Sunday. 100% of donations help military non-profits

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Idaho Patriot Thunder Ride is Sunday. 100% of donations help military non-profits


Meridian, Idaho (CBS2) — High Desert Harley-Davidson is hosting its 16th annual Idaho Patriot Thunder Ride on Sunday, June 28th. It’s a summer tradition that brings hundreds of riders together to raise money for Idaho’s military families while also tipping a helmet to America’s upcoming 250th birthday.

“Idaho Patriot Thunder ride is a big ride for us every year. We’ve been doing it now for 16 years — first year was back in 2010 when we started this whole ride,” said Mark Dukes, General Manager of High Desert Harley-Davidson.

Registration begins at 7am on Sunday at High Desert Harley Davidson, kickstands are set to go up at 10 a.m., with hundreds of riders escorted by law enforcement down to Carl Miller Park in Mountain Home. After the ride, riders will head back to the dealership, where the event continues with food trucks, live bands, a bike wash and raffles, including a Harley-Davidson bike giveaway.

Organizers say the fundraising is straightforward: Every dollar raised goes directly to two military nonprofits, with donations split evenly between Operation Warm Heart and the Idaho Guard and Reserve Family Support Fund.

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“100% of the proceeds go to Idaho Guard and Reserve Family Support Fund and Operation Warm Heart, and we’ve been doing this for years,” Dukes said.

Dukes said the money helps cover needs that can pop up unexpectedly for service members and their loved ones.

“If somebody were to get injured or get hurt for deployment, if they need food or shelter, airline tickets, toys for their families — it’s all about taking care of military people that take care of us so well,” he said.

This year also comes with extra flair: High Desert Harley-Davidson built two custom bikes — one Indian and one Harley-Davidson — both honoring America’s 250th anniversary. Dukes said the bikes will feature Idaho Patriot Thunder badging, 250th anniversary details and American flags, and they’ll be ridden at the front of the pack before being put up for sale after the ride.

“We have one Indian motorcycle and one Harley-Davidson. They’re gonna have Idaho Patriot Thunder badging, 250th anniversary, American flags — they’re gonna be custom done. Both Bruce and myself are gonna ride those bikes in the front, and when we get back from the Patriot Thunder ride, we’re gonna put those up for sale,” Dukes said.

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Over the past 16 years, the event has raised up to $75,000 each year. Registration is open now through High Desert Harley-Davidson’s website, with organizers encouraging community members to get involved whether they ride or not.



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Evacuations lifted as crews continue to battle Gap Fire near Pocatello

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Evacuations lifted as crews continue to battle Gap Fire near Pocatello


POCATELLO, Idaho — A wildfire sparked in Bannock County Sunday afternoon has burned 200 acres and is threatening structures, according to fire officials.

The fire is burning in an area between Pocatello and Inkom known as the Portneuf Gap, according to a news release from the Bureau of Land Management. The BLM is managing firefighting operations for the Gap Fire.

The release says some structures are threatened in “a small area west of Inkom” but did not say how many. Bannock County spokeswoman Emma Iannacone said an evacuation order for residents on Canyon Road was in place for a short time but was lifted about 7 p.m.

Evacuations have been ordered in the area, but a precise location was not immediately available.

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Investigators have not determined the cause of the fire, though the BLM said it is burning through grass and brush. The agency did not have an estimated time of containment as of 5:15 p.m.

Several agencies, including U.S. Wildland Fire Service Great Basin Unit 3 -Idaho Falls and the U.S. Forest Service, are assisting with the effort to get control of the blaze. Watch Duty reported that the Forest Service is contributing its Helicopter Bucket Crew to the fight.

The wildfire was first reported at about 1:45 p.m. near the 6000 Block of W. Old Highway 91, fire officials said.





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