Idaho

$30 million water infrastructure bill advances in Idaho Legislature – East Idaho News

Published

12 months ago

March 18, 2025

million water infrastructure bill advances in Idaho Legislature – East Idaho News

BOISE — Eastern Idaho irrigators are one step closer to seeing a legislation providing ongoing funding for aquifer recharge and water storage projects become law.

On Friday morning, the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee (JFAC) voted 15-5 to approve a motion to fund Gov. Brad Little’s $30 million 2025 budget request for ongoing funding for water projects.

“It’s a historic move,” JFAC Co-Chairwoman Rep. Wendy Horman, R-Idaho Falls, said. “There is a trickle-down effect for any recharge and storage that we do here. It benefits not only us but everyone downstream.”

Since 2019, the Legislature has appropriated nearly $600 million toward water projects statewide, but only $24 million has been invested in southeast Idaho for aquifer recharge and storage, she said.

According to the motion, the funding can be used for:

Aquifer recharge, groundwater management, and other projects aimed at sustaining aquifer health and long-term water availability;
Development and rehabilitation of water storage and conveyance systems, including reservoirs, diversion structures, pipelines and canals;
Water supply and delivery improvements that enhance efficiency and conservation;
Emergency water infrastructure repairs and upgrades to ensure the resilience of vital water systems.

In a statement Friday, Little thanked the Idaho Legislature for taking action on this legislation.

“Idaho farmers worked hard last year to arrive at a new water deal that protects Idaho agriculture and secures Idaho’s water sovereignty,” Little said. “The success of the new deal hinges on the infrastructure projects this funding will help cover.

He said the legislation is necessary for the state to maintain control of its own water resources.

“I appreciate the Idaho Legislature for keeping this important issue at the forefront so Idaho does not turn out like other states in the Colorado Basin that ceded control of their water to the courts, the federal government, or other states,” he said in the statement.

Sen. Burtenshaw’s bill stalled in House

A previous piece of legislation to provide $30 million in ongoing funds for water infrastructure — S.B. 1128 sponsored by Senator Van Burtenshaw, R-Terreton — flew through the Senate on a 26-10-1 vote on March 3.

It’s been tied up in the House Resources and Conservation Committee ever since.

Lawmakers were debating whether the $30 million should be allocated every single year and be distributed across the state or just in eastern Idaho.

“The purpose of it is to help with recharge. It’s to help with projects to increase the amount of water that we’re putting into the aquifer,” said Rep. Ben Fuhriman, R-Shelley. “We have hundreds of thousands of acre-feet that are flowing down the river every single year because we have no infrastructure to capture it.”

Fuhriman said the state needs to construct additional infrastructure, such as aquifer recharge sites and recharge wells, to efficiently transfer water into the aquifer.

“We don’t (currently) have enough room in the reservoirs, and we don’t have the ability to transfer into the aquifer, and so it just flows down the river,” he explained.

Rep. Jerald Raymond, R-Menan, said additional water infrastructure is necessary for groundwater appropriators and the Surface Water Coalition to meet the terms of the stipulated mitigation plan approved last fall.

RELATED | Locals feeling optimistic about new long-term water mitigation plan after decade-long dispute

Multiple irrigation groups sent letters and were worried that the bill had stalled in the House, and the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee took up the matter on Friday.

“It passed committee, so we will create the bill with that appropriation in it and send it to the House and the Senate for them to make the final decision,” Horman said.

Horman said she a strong supporter of aquifer recharge. She met with Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke and Rep. Van Burtenshaw last week to reach a compromise on one aspect of the legislation.

“What I was fighting for was an earmark, which was that in year one of this ongoing appropriation, the money would be earmarked for the success of the 2024 settlement agreement,” she said. “We agreed to a compromise where they would agree to support earmarking, and I would agree to support ongoing funding.”

The measure includes a provision that in the coming year, half of the funds will be allocated to District 3 and half to District 4 — earmarking the funds for eastern Idaho and the Magic Valley.

“We have sent a lot of money to other parts of the state and I supported every dime of that money, but this (time) the need was in southern Idaho,” Horman said.

Raymond said there was a small difference between JFAC’s motion — an “appropriation with intent” — and Burtenshaw’s original bill — “a policy bill with a request for funding.”

He’s grateful the measure is moving forward.

“Water is a shared resource … with every citizen of the state, so it does have an obligation to plan and fund these projects,” Raymond said.

He anticipates the House and Senate will support the measure before adjourning in the coming weeks.

“Every year we have what we call a going home bill. We can’t come home till it’s passed,” Raymond said. “This is that bill this year.”

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Idaho

Big Sky tournament: No. 1 Idaho too much for Weber State in middle quarters

Published

15 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Big Sky tournament: No. 1 Idaho too much for Weber State in middle quarters

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Weber State guard Lanae Billy (32) drives against Idaho’s Ana Pinheiro in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Ava Nash, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State’s Antoniette Emma-Nnopu (7) eyes an entry pass to Nicole Willardson (25) as Idaho’s Kyra Gardner (3) defends in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Ava Nash, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State guard Hannah Robbins, right, drives past Idaho’s Ana Pinheiro in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Ava Nash, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State guard Fui Niumeitolu (12) lofts a floater over Idaho’s Kyra Gardner (3) in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Ava Nash, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State guard Sydney White (22) tries to set up a play against Idaho’s Ella Uriarte (5) in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Ava Nash, for WSU Athletics

6 / 8

Weber State guard Lanae Billy (32) shoots against Idaho’s Kyra Gardner (3) in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Ava Nash, for WSU Athletics

7 / 8

Weber State guard Lanae Billy gets back on defense after making a 3-pointer against Idaho in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Ava Nash, for WSU Athletics

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Weber State forward Arizana Peaua (11) shoots over Idaho’s Debora dos Santos in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Ava Nash, for WSU Athletics

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: Weber State guard Lanae Billy (32) drives against Idaho’s Ana Pinheiro in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

: Weber State’s Antoniette Emma-Nnopu (7) eyes an entry pass to Nicole Willardson (25) as Idaho’s Kyra Gardner (3) defends in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

: Weber State guard Hannah Robbins, right, drives past Idaho’s Ana Pinheiro in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

: Weber State guard Fui Niumeitolu (12) lofts a floater over Idaho’s Kyra Gardner (3) in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

: Weber State guard Sydney White (22) tries to set up a play against Idaho’s Ella Uriarte (5) in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

: Weber State guard Lanae Billy (32) shoots against Idaho’s Kyra Gardner (3) in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

: Weber State guard Lanae Billy gets back on defense after making a 3-pointer against Idaho in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

: Weber State forward Arizana Peaua (11) shoots over Idaho’s Debora dos Santos in the women’s Big Sky tournament quarterfinals Sunday, March 8, 2026, at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Weber State women’s basketball showed plenty of fight but Idaho showed why it’s the No. 1 team in the Big Sky on Sunday afternoon.

Using middle-quarter dominance, Idaho built a 21-point lead through three quarters and had enough cushion to withstand a big Weber State push on the way to a 66-52 victory in the Big Sky tournament quarterfinals at Idaho Central Arena in Boise.

Weber State (11-22) got 14 points apiece from its two seniors each putting a cap on their two-year stint in Ogden. Guard Lanae Billy and forward Antoniette Emma-Nnopu each tallied 14, with Emma-Nnopu adding seven rebounds and four assists.

Junior post Nicole Willardson totaled 10 points and a career-high 11 rebounds for the Wildcats. Those three players combined to shoot 9 of 17 from the 3-point line.

A back-and-forth first quarter bled into the start of the second quarter when Willardson made a 3 to put WSU ahead 15-14. But Idaho’s pressure began to wear on Weber, with the Vandals (27-5) keeping the Wildcats from quality shots while beginning to dominate the post.

Idaho paint players Debora dos Santos and Lorena Barbosa combined for 12 points in the frame; the Vandals outscored WSU 22-6 after Willardson’s 3 and took a 36-21 lead into halftime when WSU left Barbosa open for a straightaway 3 at the horn.

“They were a lot more aggressive this go-round. They really cranked it up, they were denying up on us … they just really sped us up first half, is what it felt like,” WSU head coach Jenteal Jackson said. “We went into a little more iso ball, which is not typical of us. Just needed to slow down, take a breath, run our offense and run a bunch of our actions that we needed to make them guard.”

The third quarter was much of the same. Idaho guard Ana Beatriz Passos Alves da Silva knocked down a 3 to give the Vandals a 54-30 lead with 30 seconds left in the quarter.

Emma-Nnopu ended the quarter with one of her three 3s, though, and unknowingly began a 20-6 run for Weber State. WSU burst out of the final break with a pair of buckets to precede a Willardson 3, then a Sydney White steal leading to a Billy triple seven seconds later. That made it 56-43 with 7:30 left.

Later, White made a 3, then another steal led White to find a rolling Arizana Peaua for a layup to cut the score to 60-50 with 4:00 remaining.

WSU’s gas ran out there, though. Hope Hassmann drove for a bucket on one of Idaho’s 17 offensive rebounds to all but put the game away at 65-50 with 3:00 left on the clock.

Hassmann and Kyra Gardner each also scored 14 to lead Idaho, with Hassmann adding six assists and five rebounds. Ana Pinheiro and dos Santos each scored 12 points.

Idaho advances to play Tuesday, facing the winner of Monday’s game between Idaho State and Sacramento State.

After starting Big Sky play with nine straight losses, WSU finished by winning four of six before the defeat to Idaho, but finished in ninth place.

Weber turns to next season returning five scholarship juniors while replacing the two seniors. WSU lost three players before the season began with knee injuries.

“It’s always tough when kids who are really playing well and peaking are done. It’s been a joy to coach them,” Jackson said of the seniors. “We’re going to miss them a lot.”

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Idaho

Big Idaho Potato Truck Tour brings four-ton spud to Grand Junction

Published

1 day ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Big Idaho Potato Truck Tour brings four-ton spud to Grand Junction

Throughout the afternoon and evening Tuesday in Grand Junction, bewildered drivers on North Avenue pulled over into the Texas Roadhouse parking lot to gawk at a giant potato.

The Big Idaho Potato Truck rolled into town as part of its 35-state national tour promoting Famous Idaho Potatoes. Upon the trailer sits a four-ton, 13-foot-tall, 10-foot-wide potato, impossible not to see for passersby.

Famous Idaho Potatoes won’t say whether the titanic tater is actually real — just that it would take 7,000 years to actually grow a spud this spectacular, one that’s the equivalent of one million french fries or 20,217 servings of mashed potatoes. They prefer to leave it up to each person whether they believe that much effort and time have actually been spent on one potato.

“We gracefully embark on a seven-month-long journey across the U.S. promoting Idaho potatoes and representing over 700 family-owned farms,” said Jenna, a Famous Idaho Potatoes brand ambassador traveling with the prodigious potato. “We do numerous types of events. (On Wednesday), we’re headed to Colorado Springs to another Texas Roadhouse. We also do NASCAR events and parades. We’ll be at the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in Atlanta. We’re doing the Fourth of July in Philadelphia for the 250th year of America. We’ll be returning home in September.”

This is the 14th cross-country trip for the voluminous vegetable, and the second for Jenna. The truck has been to all 50 states, even being shipped to Hawaii for five weeks in 2024. It’s also been in Canada.

“It was only projected to be one year to celebrate the Idaho Potato Commission’s 75th year, and there was a postcard that had a big potato on it, being hauled just like this,” Jenna said. “Someone came up with the idea of, ‘Let’s make that real!’ It became so popular that, now, it’s on its 14th journey. We hope to continue doing it and continue bringing smiles and potatoes.”

Each year, the massive Murphy’s route is determined by a tour director based in Boise. There are many eight-hour driving days between locations. The Tater Team that transports the Big Idaho Potato must always be vigilant about weather conditions, as well.

“We try to stay primarily East Coast, just because Idaho needs some representation around there,” Jenna said. “We don’t really get to do a lot of home-base activities, but it’s fun. It’s a journey.”

Grand Junction was chosen as a stop this year because it was along the route. Merchandise and swag were provided inside the Texas Roadhouse, including stickers, memorabilia, lanyards, and a station to craft porcupines using potatoes, sunflower seeds, googly eyes and glue.

Sometimes, the Big Idaho Potato Truck Tour works with food banks in the markets it visits, presenting them with checks. No such collaboration took place with this Grand Junction visit, but Jenna said such charity could work out when the truck returns to town — potentially on its way back to Idaho later in the year.

Jenna said the sight of confused and amused people discovering the enormous earth apple is a constant source of joy.

“It surprisingly never gets old,” she said. “Even getting gasoline is a whole thing. It takes about 20 minutes to hand out those stickers and pens, and people have questions and want to take pictures. No matter where we stop, we want people to have a great experience.”

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Idaho

JFAC approves Idaho National Guard education funding

Published

2 days ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

JFAC approves Idaho National Guard education funding

BOISE — The Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee voted Friday to partially restore funding to the Idaho National Guard’s education reimbursement program. The near-unanimous vote arrives after the body twice voted against making the reimbursement funding available but failed to come to a consensus on Idaho Military Division enhancements.

With this matter unresolved, JFAC once again took up the issue of funding for the National Guard’s State Education Assistance Program (SEAP), which provides enlisted soldiers and airmen up to $8,000 per year for tuition and fees at Idaho institutions.

Rep. James Petzke, R-Meridian — who has repeatedly voiced support for restoring the reimbursement funding — brought forward the motion Friday to provide a general fund enhancement of $190,800 to SEAP for fiscal year 2027. This amount allows the program to maintain 69% of funding, up from the 39% it would have been reduced to as a result of JFAC’s 5% cuts for next fiscal year.

Though the vote sailed through without comment from committee members Friday, Petzke has couched the funding as necessary as Idaho lags behind neighboring states (including Oregon, Washington and Utah), which each offer 100% tuition reimbursement through their own education programs.

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