Idaho
Idaho and Wyoming Share More Than a Border
“Thank you as well to our partners in Idaho for their immediate willingness to offer assistance. You helped rebuild this vital infrastructure and respond to others in need.”
Idaho and Wyoming also recently worked together to develop the “Decarbonizing the West” report at the Western Governors Association. You can read and see the presentations here and read the final report here.
The Western Governors Association recently celebrated 40 years with Idaho in attendance. The WGA is comprised of 19 member states and three territories. Member states and their governors can be viewed here.
Idaho was represented by former Governor Butch Otter (WGA 2011 Chairman) and current Governor Brad Little. Otter praises the WGA, saying,
“As a former Chairman of the WGA, I have seen firsthand how the organization elevates and expands our platform and brings solutions to a wide range of public policy issues vital to our citizens and our states. Jumping in and getting involved in the WGA has been one of the best decisions I ever made as Governor.”
Current Idaho Governor Brad Little (WGA 2022 Chairman) adds,
“The power of the Western Governors’ Association is in the power of collaboration. Oftentimes we wear our political “jerseys,” so to speak, but when we get together as Governors through the WGA, we take off those jerseys and work together on what’s best for the West. The WGA reinforces that we can get things done when we stay focused on issues where we agree – which, by the way, happens to be a lot.”
“Joining Wyoming Governor Mark Gordon, WGA’s current chair, was former Governors Steve Bullock of Montana, Gary Herbert of Utah, David Ige of Hawaii, Matt Mead of Wyoming, Bob Miller of Nevada, Butch Otter of Idaho, and Brian Sandoval of Nevada.
Their discussions, which were moderated by Judy Woodruff, the former anchor and managing editor of the PBS NewsHour, focused on the importance of bipartisanship when dealing with many of the country’s complex problems.”
Pictured Governors: Nevada Joe Lombardo, North Dakota Doug Burgum, New Mexico Michelle Lujan Grisham, Wyoming Mark Gordon, Idaho Brad Little
Gordon unveils ‘Decarbonizing the West’ report, seeks climate flexibility
Another major connection between these two states is TerraPower. Their website describes them,
“TerraPower was founded by Bill Gates and a group of like-minded visionaries that decided the private sector needed to take action in developing advanced nuclear energy to meet growing electricity needs, mitigate climate change and lift billions out of poverty. Advanced reactors and other isotopic applications are now possible with technology and enhanced computing capabilities that were unimaginable a few decades ago. At TerraPower, we are innovating in nuclear to improve the lives of people everywhere and to build the clean energy of tomorrow – today.”
Gates said of the Idaho National Labratory,
“TerraPower has many cooperative projects and there are lots of partnerships, but our work with INL is singularly important,” Gates said.
Wyoming will be the first state TerraPower builds a nuclear reactor site.
“TerraPower is building its first reactor near the site of a retiring coal facility in Kemmerer, Wyoming, in a joint effort with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Advanced Reactor Demonstration Project.”
The United States Department of Interior is working with both states to develop power transmission lines. The article below details construction of a project called TransWest Express that in function looks similar to Lava Ridge in Idaho.
Gov. Gordon, Biden officials hail clean energy project as essential
“The Interior Department is moving quickly to meet President Biden’s goal of permitting at least 25 gigawatts of onshore renewable energy by 2025,” Haaland told attendees of a groundbreaking event Tuesday as the southern Wyoming wind whipped across a stage. “The project that we are all here to celebrate — the TransWest Express transmission project — is a momentous milestone in our effort to make that goal a reality.”
With so many projects between Idaho and Wyoming, the Idaho Dispatch began to investigate who is reporting on these similarities, and who owns the media in Wyoming. Similar to our exposé articles on Idaho media found here, here, here, here, here, and here, we decided to look at Wyoming as well.
Watch for our upcoming findings on the media parallels between the two states.
David Pettinger and Sarah Clendenon co-wrote this article.
Tags: Bill Gates, Brad Little, Butch Otter, Decarbonizing the West, Idaho, Idaho National Laboratory, INL, Lava Ridge, Media, Power, TerraPower, Teton Pass Highway, TransWest Express, Western Governors Association, WGA, Wyoming
PAYETTE — A Payette mom’s bond was revoked Tuesday after she was charged with suffocating her twin children earlier this month and is believed to pose a danger to the life of her newborn child.
The case, which has drawn national headlines, concerns Andrea Renee Shaw, a 23-year-old Payette mother who in May 2025 said her 18-month-old fraternal twins died the same day, after receiving routine childhood vaccinations. In January, Shaw joined as a plaintiff in a federal lawsuit filed by Children’s Health Defense, an anti-vaccine organization founded by Robert F. Kennedy Jr., with several other plaintiffs claiming vaccine injury or death.
Kennedy, who now serves as secretary of Health and Human Services, is no longer part of the group after taking on the cabinet position, as was reported by the Associated Press.
In Idaho, the twins’ deaths prompted a 14-month investigation by the Payette County Sheriff’s Department. On June 29, the investigation yielded a grand jury indictment of Shaw on two counts of first-degree murder by suffocation. If convicted, Shaw can be punished by up to life in prison or the death penalty, and the court would have the ability to order the penalties be served consecutively, or back to back.
Tuesday’s arraignment at the Payette County Courthouse was primarily attended by Shaw’s relatives and members of the media. Payette County Judge Kiley Stuchlik, who serves Idaho’s Third Judicial District, presided.
A key consideration for Stuchlik on Tuesday was a request from Joseph Filicetti, the legal counsel for Shaw, to have her bond reduced from $2 million to $100,000. Filicetti said this would allow for Shaw to care for a newborn girl, who, according to court documents, was born by caesarean section on June 25, four days prior to Shaw’s grand jury indictment.
State prosecutors objected to the motion for bond reduction, noting at hand was a potential death penalty case and asserting, unlike her husband, Shaw’s story repeatedly changed during questioning. Prosecuting Attorney Mike Duke said releasing Shaw would ultimately put the newborn’s safety at risk.
“That child is the most at risk. We do not think she should be allowed to be anywhere near any children, let alone her own children,” Duke said.
Stuchlik decided to revoke bond entirely, stating Shaw posed a “risk of safety” to the newborn child that was not known to Stuchlik or prosecutors when the $2 million bond was initially set.
Also for consideration Tuesday was a request to have grand jury transcripts of witness testimony provided to prosecutors and defense counsel to prepare their respective cases.
Idaho
Idaho is home to the nation's first DarkSky Reserve. Now it's home to the nations first DarkSky Certified Resort
IDAHO FALLS, Idaho (KIFI) – A controversy is brewing as the City of Idaho Falls reviews its alcohol ordinance.
The goal is to consolidate four existing ordinances for beer, wine and liquor into a single law and ensure compliance with state code.
However, at its meeting last Thursday, the Idaho Falls City Council unanimously voted to remove the proposed ordinance from its agenda, in order to receive and consider additional public comment.
The proposed ordinance would:
1. Require commercial establishments selling, dispensing or permitting consumption of alcohol – including beer, wine or liquor – to have an alcohol license, alcohol catering permit or a charitable event permit.
2. Business events with 20 or less employees consuming alcohol at the business would be allowed.
3. Require alcohol servers to complete training every three years.
4. Individuals who violate the law could be charged with a misdemeanor.
Idaho Falls City Council President Jim Francis said the changes were the culmination of months of collaboration between law enforcement, business owners and city attorneys.
“We wanted to provide a safe environment – the primary point here – for public gatherings,” Francis said. “We recognize that certain antiquated elements of the current code are overly restrictive and needed to be addressed. We wanted to make the code more accessible to the public. We needed to address over-pouring issues. We wanted to reduce penalties where possible for violations, particularly the first offenses, and yet make the code clear enough to be enforceable consistently by law enforcement.”
But City Council Member John Radford said the changes represent an overreach by city government.
“I believe it’s a bad policy. What problem are we solving in the name of trying to solve a non-problem?” Radford said. “We’re becoming big brother around alcohol in your private property. I’m concerned that landlords will be at risk of being charged with a misdemeanor if they knowingly, which I made sure that was in there, because that is what we’ve been talking about, allowed people to drink in our business. We will be outside the norm of Idaho cities. This is a big step, and I don’t think the public has weighed in on this.”
At a City Council Work Session on June 1, Idaho Falls Chief of Police Bryce Johnson cited an increase in alcohol-related crime – particularly downtown – as a reason for the changes.
“DUI is there, but this would include sexual assaults, assaults, batteries, disturbances, urination, public vandalism, shooting – all sorts of crimes,” Johnson said.
But business owners are concerned about the potential impact on commercial enterprises.
“The ordinance doesn’t address the real problem – which is people drinking … at one event and then showing up in a bar or restaurant already hammered and causing problems anyway,” ” said Terri Ireland, representing the Idaho Falls Downtown Merchants Association. “The industry is really well-regulated by state and local laws already.”
The City of Idaho Falls began the process of updating its alcohol ordinance in January 2026, seeking input from community stakeholders.
Multiple community members spoke out about the ordinance.
For more in-depth information, you can read the full 39-page proposed alcohol ordinance here.
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