Idaho
Idaho Antimony Mining Project Moves A Step Closer To Reality
Stibnite specimen from mining and quarrying industries. Stibnite is a sulfide mineral with the … [+]
In what could come to be seen as a landmark development for U.S. efforts to secure domestic supply chains for critical energy minerals, the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) issued a draft record of decision (ROD) Friday authorizing Perpetua Resources to restart operations at the Stibnite Mine in Central Idaho. The draft ROD opens a 45-day comment period required by the Administrative Procedures Act, which would then be followed by a 45-day resolution period. If all goes to schedule, the ROD could become final by the end of 2024.
Friday’s draft decision signals the possible end to a long and complex process of securing local, state, and federal permits required for Perpetua to restart operations at Stibnite, which first began gold and antimony mining operations in 1927. Initial mining operations were shut down in 1958, but a second generation of miners recovered additional resources from 1978 through 1996, when operations were again shut down. The site has remained idle since that time.
In its release, USFS spokesman Kevin Knesek, deputy forest supervisor for the Payette National Forest, said the mine is “ complex, and the impacts were rigorously analyzed over the past seven years,” Knesek continued. “Projects of this scale and type present unique challenges, and that is particularly true as it relates to tribal interests, whether those interests be treaty-related or connected to cultural use and identity. Only through meaningful consultation can the Forest Service seek to understand these concerns and be responsive to them, and I am grateful for the tribal input we’ve received.”
Supporting documentation for the draft ROD estimates the Stibnite mine contains “Proven and Probable Mineral Reserve (the economically mineable part of the measured mineral resource) of 115.3 million tons of ore containing 4.8 million ounces of gold, 6.4 million ounces of silver, and 149 million pounds of antimony.” The overall mining site covers 3,200 acres of land including 3 pit mining sites. Perpetua estimates the Stibnite mine could provide up to 35% of U.S antimony needs in the coming decades.
Perpetua Resources president and CEO Jon Cherry said his company believes “the Stibnite Gold Project is a win-win-win,” adding, “It’s a win for Idaho, it’s a win for the environment, and it’s a win for America’s national security.”
Map showing the location of the Stibnite Gold Project in central Idaho.
As I noted here in 2021, antimony is a strategic critical mineral that is used in all manner of military applications, including the manufacture of armor piercing bullets, night vision goggles, infrared sensors, precision optics, laser sighting, explosive formulations, hardened lead for bullets and shrapnel, ammunition primers, tracer ammunition, nuclear weapons and production, tritium production, flares, military clothing, and communication equipment. It is the key element in the creation of tungsten steel and the hardening of lead bullets, two of its most crucial applications during WWII. The Stibnite mine provided as much as 90% of U.S. antimony needs throughout World War II.
Today, in addition to the needs of the military, antimony is a critical ingredient in most modern technologies, including those critical to the success of electric vehicles and wind and solar power development. From a national security standpoint, it is problematic that the U.S. is reliant on supply chains dominated by China for the vast majority of its antimony needs.
The Bottom Line
The permitting of any mining operation in the U.S. is an incredibly difficult achievement. The successful restart of the Stibnite mine would ultimately serve to enhance U.S. energy security by lessening the country’s reliance on a country, China, increasingly seen as a potential adversary. If the process does proceed to a final conclusion in the coming months, the reopening of the Stibnite mine would demonstrate that America is still capable of doing big things.
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — A man wanted in connection with a robbery at a Meridian home where a firearm was allegedly stolen has been arrested after investigators tracked him to eastern Idaho.
The U.S. Marshals Service located and arrested Francisco Salazar on an arrest warrant issued May 7, 2026, in Ada County. Salazar was wanted in connection with a robbery that occurred at a Meridian, Idaho, residence on March 16, 2026. During the robbery, it was alleged that a firearm had been stolen.
On May 11, 2026, the Meridian Police Department forwarded the arrest warrant to the U.S. Marshals Service for investigation. Investigators determined Salazar had fled the Treasure Valley area.
On June 29, 2026, the U.S. Marshals Task Force received a tip about Salazar’s location in the Idaho Falls area. The U.S. Marshals Service said it maintains a network of agencies throughout Idaho as members of the Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force.
During the operation, task force members from the Ada County Sheriff’s Office, Chubbuck Police Department, Rexburg Police Department and Idaho Falls Police Department joined with U.S. marshals to locate and arrest Salazar.
On June 30, 2026, investigators said task force members were led to a residential area of Idaho Falls, where they positively sighted Salazar. After brief surveillance, they followed him to an unoccupied area adjacent to the Walmart in Ammon, Idaho.
Authorities said an arrest action was initiated as Salazar was exiting a vehicle. Task force members detected Salazar may have been about to flee on foot and deployed a distraction device, which authorities said de-escalated the situation and allowed Salazar to be taken into custody safely.
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — The firing squad will become the primary method of execution in the State of Idaho starting July 1, 2026. Those in support of the change argue it’s a more humane and efficient method, while some are more skeptical.
Idaho is now one of five states to authorize the firing squad as a means of execution. Other states include Mississippi, Oklahoma, Utah and South Carolina. Where Idaho differs, it’s the only state to make it the primary method.
The death penalty in Idaho
In 1977, the Supreme Court of the United States reinstated use of the death penalty in the case Gregg v. Georgia. Leading to states updating their death penalty statutes and procedure.
Since then, Idaho has successfully carried out three executions through lethal injection. In 1994, 2011 and 2012.
The last attempted execution was in February of 2024. Thomas Creech, the longest serving inmate on death row in Idaho, received the death penalty after beating another inmate to death in 1981.
On the day of Creech’s scheduled execution, the execution team failed after eight attempts to find a vain to set the IV that would administer the lethal injection.
Rep. Bruce Skaug co-sponsored House Bill 803 in the 2026 legislative session. The bill made the firing squad the primary method as well as added new provisions to protect parts of execution procedure from review.
He said in an interview that the lethal injection has the possibility to fail about six or seven percent of the time.
“We needed something that was sure and humane, and firing squad is humane because it is sudden, it is quick and it is certain,” Skaug, R-Nampa said.
The firing squad
Since capital punishment was reinstated, there have been six firing squad executions according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Three of those six took place in South Carolina in 2025.
Robin Maher, the executive director for the Death Penalty Information Center, told IdahoNews.com that two of those three in South Carolina “went badly.”
“One of them, only two bullets were found in the prisoner. The third bullet didn’t even hit him and neither of those bullets hit his heart,” Maher said. “So it tells you that the firing squad is not a fool proof method.”
An idea to carry out the firing squad through a remote controlled firing mechanism was considered in Idaho, ultimately being scrapped for a traditional three-member firing squad. Each member of the firing squad team will receive one live round of ammunition and on the call to “fire” will simultaneously discharge their weapons.
The Idaho Department of Corrections has detailed a series of qualifications and requirements to be considered as a possible member of the firing squad, since it operates on a volunteer basis.
Volunteers must hold a Peace Officers Standards and Training, or POST, certification for a minimum of three years, have no disciplinary action in the past 12 months relating to firearms or use of force and be able to demonstrate a proficiency in firearms.
Volunteers must pass a test in which they:
- Fire each IDOC provided firearm with 100% accuracy from at least 21 feet.
- Hit a target of the same size, shape and height as will be used in an actual execution
- A volunteer fails the test if they are unable to hit the target with one round from each of the firearms
The volunteers also cannot have any blood or legal relation to the victim, victim’s family, the prisoner and prisoner’s family.
Maher believes the firing squad fell out of favor due to the method being “graphic” and “bloody.” Leading to the public with a want to move away from the method.
Public opinion of the death penalty
According to a Gallup poll, public support for the death penalty is at a five decade low. While 52% of people still support capital punishment, the amount of people not in favor has steadily grown since the mid 1990’s.
“There are rising concerns about the evidence of bias and of error, the accuracy and whether the death penalty even works, keeps [people] safer,” Maher said.
Are you in favor of the death penalty for a person convicted of murder (Gallup)
Skaug told IdahoNews.com that in Idaho, favor for the death penalty isn’t losing any support. That he has heard from constituents voicing their support for both the death penalty as a whole and the firing squad specifically. Saying some have even expressed a “too eager” desire to be on the firing squad.
“We go through a lot of time and expense to get someone on death row and then ultimately to carry out the justice for the victims and their families,” Skaug said.
The cost of the death penalty
As part of approving the firing squad, IDOC needed to retrofit the execution chamber at F-Block at the Idaho Maximum Security Institution to accommodate the change. Originally being appropriated $750,000 from the legislature in 2023.
For phase two of the update, IDOC estimates the cost at about $910,802.
Skaug said he doesn’t like the up-front cost to retrofit F-Block, but he said “it needed to be done.” He also said it will be easier to acquire ammunition and firearms than it is to acquire the drugs needed for lethal injection. Saying that a manufacturer offered to donate ammunition to the state which was refused.
Exterior of IMSI (Courtesy Idaho Department of Corrections)
Maher said many people are shocked to hear the cost to carry out the death penalty is higher than expected.
“As soon as the prosecutor decides to seek death, the price tag goes up,” Maher said referring to a long series of appeals and security costs required.
As the new procedure is set to take effect July 1, Skaug says that they are ready to carry out the firing squad. There are currently eight people on Idaho’s death row.
NORTON, Kan. (WIBW) – A man was transported to a Denver-area hospital after he was seriously injured in a truck-motorcycle collision Monday morning in Norton County in northwest Kansas, officials said.
The crash was reported at 10:25 a.m. Monday on US-36 highway at Timber Ridge Lane, on the west side of the city of Norton.
According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, a 2010 Ford F-150 pickup truck that was westbound on US-36 attempted to turn south onto Timber Ridge Lane when it collided with a 1997 Harley-Davidson motorcycle that was traveling east on US-36.
The motorcycle collided with the passenger side of the Ford truck, which had turned in front of the bike, the patrol said.
The motorcycle rider, Frank J. Daniels, 73, of Boise, Idaho, was transported to Swedish Medical Center in Englewood, Colorado, for treatment of serious injuries. The patrol said Daniels wasn’t wearing a helmet.
The driver of the Ford truck, Ronald B. Zwickle, 77, of Norton, was reported uninjured. The patrol said Zwickle was wearing his seat belt.
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