Idaho
Ada Riggs Park?: Ada County, Expo Idaho considering multiple names for new park

There is power in a name. The Ada County Commissioners and Expo Idaho are trying to find the right one for their newest park.
The Ada County Commissioners met with county staff, Expo Idaho Director Bob Batista, and CLM Marketing and Advertising Director Becki Woodbury on Wednesday to discuss potential new names for The Park at Expo Idaho.
The county has been working on the park for several years and plans to fund the majority of the park with American Rescue Plan Act money. As previously reported, concepts for the park include restoring natural ecosystems on the park grounds, having multiple raised levels, or “ridges” within the park, multi-use pathways, and playgrounds for children. In a press release Friday, the county announced construction on the park could begin as early as December.
While it has been colloquially called The Park at Expo Idaho, an official name has yet to be set.
“There was a point where we had some discussion about the name of the park,” Batista said to the commissioners. “And I brought to you the fact that we have a marketing company that does this all the time in different forms and fashions and done a lot of work for us and I thought it was a good exercise to at least explore some other possibilities of a name”
Main contenders
A shortlist of eight potential park names was discussed in the meeting.
The Park at Expo Idaho was the first on the shortlist. This is what the park has been called for a while now. Woodbury described it as “straightforward” “functional” and “utilitarian.”
Explorer Park was the first alternative on the shortlist of names CLM and Expo Idaho explored. Woodbury said it captured the park’s purpose to foster “a spirit of adventure and discovery among visitors.” She and Batista said they also liked how “Explorer” feeds well into “Expo.”
Blue Ribbon Park was next on the list. Woodbury said this name was chosen because it gives a good nod to the history of the park. The land where the park will stand was previously a horse racing venue, and each year competitors at the Western Idaho State Fair come to Expo Idaho in hopes of bringing home a blue ribbon for their fair entries.
Preservation Park was suggested as a name that reflects the ecological mission of the park in restoring once-lost ecosystems to the area.
In line with many major parks in the area that get their names from prominent women figures in the community, Ada Riggs Park was also suggested as a potential name for the park at Expo Idaho. Ada Riggs was the daughter of Idaho Territorial Legislator H.C. Riggs, who was one of the founders of Boise. She is the namesake of Ada County, the jurisdiction that will run this park.
Another family name was used in the idea for Kent Park. Expo Idaho sits on the former Kent Homestead. There is also a Kent Street named after the family nearby. Woodbury said this name would both be a nod to the geography and history of the area.
The name River Ridge Park was suggested as a way to describe the defining geographical features of the park
And finally, the last name on the shortlist was Expo Outdoors, which CLM’s presentation materials said would allow for a “seamless” integration with the rest of the Expo Idaho campus, it would also tie into the Expo Idaho branding.
“Those are just some of the names that came to the top,” Woodbury said. “We felt like we needed to have a really deep exploration of at least consideration before it gets finalized.”
Dozens of other names were considered for the park but did not make the shortlist, such as Les Bois Park. Woodbury and Batista said they considered it but believed the direct tie to the horse racing track could re-upset people who are sad the racing doesn’t exist anymore and the time of Les Bois had “run its course.”
When asked about a needed timeline for the park name, Ada County Senior Project Manager Josh Brown said the county is in the middle of preparing construction documents for the park. The documents have to be ready in the next two months.
The commissioners did not discuss their thoughts on the names very much during the meeting and said they wanted to get the Western Idaho Fair Board’s input on the names before making a decision. Batista said he would put the discussion on the board’s June agenda.

Idaho
Buc-ee’s discussed opening its westernmost location yet

Keith Urban puts on free, ‘loose’ show for fans at Buc-ee’s store
Country star Keith Urban surprised fans at an Alabama Buc-ee’s with a pop-up concert that drew out hundreds of spectators.
- Buc-ee’s, a Texas-based travel center, met with city officials in Meridian, Idaho to discuss a potential store opening in June.
- Buc-ee’s has not submitted an application to build a travel center in Meridian, Idaho, as of July 18.
Buc-ee’s has explored the possibility of expanding to Idaho in a move that would give the Texas-based travel center its westernmost location.
City officials in Meridian, Idaho met with Buc-ee’s representatives on June 12 to discuss the potential of opening a travel center in the city, Meridian Economic Development Administrator Curtis Calder told USA TODAY. However, Buc-ee’s has not submitted an application for the project.
Though plans for an Idaho Buc-ee’s are still hypothetical, Buc-ee’s fans online are already eager for the travel center to hit their state. In a heartfelt TikTok video posted on July 9, a woman is told Buc-ee’s may expand to Idaho in which she covers her mouth in disbelief.
Buc-ee’s did not wish to comment when contacted by USA TODAY on Friday, July 18.
Buc-ee’s continues to expand national footprint
Buc-ee’s, a travel center known for its long-line of gas pumps, large restrooms and beaver-themed merchandise, was established in Texas by Arch “Beaver” Aplin III in 1982, per the Buc-ee’s website. Over the past 40-plus years, Aplin has lead the opening of more than 50 locations, which started in Texas and then began to branch throughout the South, Midwest and now are creeping to the West.
An expansion into Idaho would mark the chain’s westernmost location, which is currently positioned in Berthoud, Colorado.
Shoppers recently celebrated the grand opening of Virginia’s first Buc-ee’s location, which opened its doors in Mount Crawford on June 30. That location opened just one day before another new store in in Brunswick, on Georgia’s southeast coast.
Other states with Buc-ee’s locations include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Mississippi, Missouri, South Carolina and Tennessee.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund, USA TODAY
Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her at gcross@usatoday.com.
Idaho
Idaho senators introduce bill to increase penalties for attacks on first responders after shooting – East Idaho News

WASHINGTON (Idaho Capital Sun) — In the wake of the June 29 deadly attack on North Idaho firefighters, Idaho U.S. senators introduced a bill to increase penalties for crimes against first responders.
Idaho Republican Sens. Jim Risch and Mike Crapo as well as Missouri Republican Sen. Eric Schmitt introduced the Graham Hoffman Act, which would make it a federal crime to assault first responders, according to a press release.
Under the act, a knowing assault of a first responder while they are performing official duties that causes serious bodily harm, death or attempts to do so, would be punishable by up to 10 years in prison, fined or both. If the attack results in death or the includes a kidnapping or attempted kidnapping, the penalty could be up to a life sentence.
“Last month’s evil attack on first responders in North Idaho is a stark reminder of the dangers our brave men and women in uniform face every day,” Risch said in the release. “The Graham Hoffman Act is commonsense legislation to properly punish those who assault the men and women who keep our communities safe.”
Risch said he and his wife, Vicki, “continue to pray for the victims of the North Idaho ambush, their loved ones, and all affected by this reprehensible act.”
The attack in Coeur d’Alene killed Coeur d’Alene Fire Department Battalion Chief John Morrison and Kootenai County Fire and Rescue Battalion Chief Frank Harwood and severely injured engineer Dave Tysdal, who also works for the Coeur d’Alene Fire Department.
The suspect, Wess Roley, was found dead nearby. Officials believe he started a brush fire and then opened fire on the firefighters, the Sun reported.
“Their loss impels us to strengthen the law and deter further violence to ensure justice is fully meted on any individual who attacks our law enforcement or first responders,” Crapo said in the release.
RELATED | Two firefighters killed in ‘ambush-style’ shooting east of Coeur d’Alene
RELATED | The man accused of killing 2 Idaho firefighters had once aspired to be one
Proposed law named after Kansas City paramedic
The act was named after Graham Hoffman, a Kansas City firefighter paramedic who was stabbed and killed while transporting a patient in April, the Kansas City Star reported.
“This tragic loss underscores the urgent need to protect our first responders, who put their lives on the line to serve our communities,” Schmitt said in the release. “This legislation, in honor of Graham, ensures that anyone who assaults or kills a first responder faces the full force of federal law.”
Risch and Crapo are joined by U.S. Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Ashley Moody (R-Fla.), Ted Cruz (R-Texas), Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.), and Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.).
Idaho Capital Sun is part of States Newsroom, a nonprofit news network supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. Idaho Capital Sun maintains editorial independence. Contact Editor Christina Lords for questions: info@idahocapitalsun.com.
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Idaho
Nampa, CWI answer questions on possible Idaho Center transfer

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