Idaho
Idaho Behavioral Health Council releases state mental health four-year plan • Idaho Capital Sun
The Idaho Behavioral Health Council on Tuesday published its latest strategic plan to strengthen Idaho’s mental health care system.
Detailing recommendations through 2028, the council’s new plan — available online — outlines 11 priorities for Idaho’s behavioral health system.
The recommendations include: bolstering Idaho’s behavioral health workforce, improving foster care services, making sure that people who enter and leave the criminal justice system receive continual care, and supporting people exposed to on-the-job trauma, like first responders.
Past recommendations by the Idaho Behavioral Health Council have “helped establish local behavioral health centers, improve crisis response, and provide local treatment options for youth receiving psychiatric care in other states,” council co-chair and administrative director of courts for the Idaho Judicial Branch Sara Omundson said in a news release.
Over several months, the council developed the new plan, which the council says reflects public input from Idahoans.
Sponsors are set up to work on the approved priority recommendations. But the council invites anyone interested in helping to contact the Idaho Behavioral Health Council’s project manager.
The 11 recommendations were winnowed down from a list of 30. But the council’s report included the other 19 ideas, hoping that other Idaho groups would work on them.
“Meaningful change for Idahoans does not come overnight. It requires continued work and dedication from all who can influence our system,” said Jared Larsen, council co-chair and legislative and regulatory affairs chief for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. “We invite all professionals and policymakers in our state to contribute however they can.”
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Idaho
Idaho AG warns Idaho renters about growing scam targetting home seekers
Idaho
Bond revoked for indicted Idaho mother
PAYETTE — A Payette mom’s bond was revoked Tuesday after she was charged with suffocating her twin children earlier this month and is believed to pose a danger to the life of her newborn child.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
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