Idaho
Idaho, DOE agree to boost nuclear research at INL
Key Highlights
- Idaho and DOE waive part of 1995 settlement agreement
- INL gains support for advanced nuclear energy research
- Waiver allows safe handling of university reactor fuel
- Supports U.S. energy innovation and national security
The targeted waiver of a settlement agreement made in 1995 will help researchers at Idaho National Laboratory address a national need.
On April 29, the State of Idaho and the U.S. Department of Energy agreed to the waiver of the 1995 Settlement Agreement, which stemmed from a lawsuit filed by Idaho to limit the shipment of spent nuclear fuel to the DOE’s Idaho site for storage.
According to a release, the agreement set up milestones to remove “legacy waste” at Idaho National Laboratory while also allowing for nuclear research and development at INL.
In the 1995 agreement, the amount of spent nuclear fuel entering INL was limited to 55 metric tons and required the DOE to report on the amount received each year. It also excluded shipments of spent fuel from commercial power plants, imposed a deadline of Dec. 31, 2012, to complete treatment of sodium-bearing waste at the site, and allowed Idaho to suspend shipments if the DOE failed to meet any of its deadlines or obligations, according to the INL website.
“Idaho National Laboratory is DOE’s lead lab for nuclear energy research and development, and it is critical that we continue to grow this research capacity and maintain American competitiveness,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright. “This agreement between the State of Idaho and DOE ensures the lab can continue its cutting-edge research to advance nuclear technology, helping to meet President Trump’s commitment to unleash American energy dominance.”
INL stated that the waiver enables it to play a critical role in supporting a national need with research that will help sustain the current nuclear reactor fleet in the U.S., which produces nearly 20% of the country’s electricity.
“As the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, we look forward to utilizing our unique facilities and expertise to support this critical national need,” said John Wagner, director of INL. “We are thankful to the Department of Energy and the state of Idaho for entrusting us with the safe and secure execution of our vital mission.”
Additionally, the waiver helps to support research reactors at universities in the U.S., educating up-and-coming nuclear scientists and engineers by allowing “INL to safely manage small amounts of spent nuclear fuel from domestic university reactors, preserving this crucial national research and talent pipeline.”
“The collaborative effort between the State of Idaho, the U.S. Department of Energy, and the Idaho National Laboratory showcases our commitment to advancing nuclear energy research while upholding the goals of the 1995 Settlement Agreement,” said Gov. Brad Little. “We are proud to support innovation in nuclear energy that will support national security and energy independence into the future.”
Idaho
Cases of HIV Are ‘Surging’ in Idaho; Here’s What You Need to Know
Local health authorities in Idaho, particularly those in Eastern and Southeastern Idaho, are reaching out to the public about an increase in HIV cases. The increase which is being called more of a ‘surge’, by local health officials, is cause for concern in Idaho and is serving as a stark reminder to be in touch — and proactive — with your health.
Numbers of cases are outpacing not only last year–but the last FIVE years.
In the first three months of 2026, there have been seven new cases and diagnosis of HIV. That is how many the area has seen in a year over the past five years.
Contracting these diseases is no joke–and safety is key. Idahoans are urged to practice safe sex not just amid the uptick–but all of the time. Officials also encourage frequent testing as needed, following sexual activity with new partners.
Reaching out to the public is the Eastern Idaho Public Health Department, which serves Bonneville, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison, and Teton Counties.
According to the World Health Organization–there are signs and symptoms of HIV, but they vary depending on the stage of infection.
HIV spreads more easily after a person is infected. In the first few weeks after being infected there is a chance that some may not experience symptoms at all. Others may have an flu-like illness including:
- fever
- headache
- rash
- sore throat.
As the immune system is progressively weakened, other signs and symptoms include:
- swollen lymph nodes
- weight loss
- fever
- diarrhea
- cough.
And finally, if one is to go without treatment, those living with HIV infection can also develop severe illnesses:
- tuberculosis (TB)
- cryptococcal meningitis
- severe bacterial infections
- cancers such as lymphomas and Kaposi’s sarcoma.
Not to scare anyone–but these infections are serious.
Learn more, HERE.
Four Idaho Hospitals Achieve Impressive ‘A’ Patient Safety Ranking for Fall 2025
Leapfrog just updated their patient safety ratings for Idaho’s 14 hospitals for Fall 2025. These four facilities are this year’s top performers.
Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart
Newsweek’s Top 7 Hospitals in Idaho for 2025
Gallery Credit: Michelle Heart
Idaho
Crash blocking eastbound lanes on Idaho Route 24
MINIDOKA COUNTY, Idaho (KMVT/KSVT) — The Idaho Transportation Department says a major crash has blocked all eastbound lanes of a busy highway in Minidoka County.
The crash has blocked the eastbound lanes of Idaho Route 24 at milepost 2 in between Rupert and Exit 211, according to ITD.
The department advised drivers to expect delays and exercise caution.
This is a developing story; KMVT will provide further updates as they come in.
Copyright 2026 KMVT. All rights reserved.
Idaho
Idaho Senate takes up bill to jail trans people for using public bathrooms
An Idaho bill that could make it a crime for transgender people to use restrooms aligned with their gender identity is now before the state Senate, advancing one of the most punitive bathroom proposals in the country.
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House Bill 752, already approved by the Idaho House in a 54–15 vote, was taken up this week by the Senate, where Republicans hold a 29–6 majority. If enacted, the measure would require people to use bathrooms, locker rooms, and similar facilities based on their sex assigned at birth in both government buildings and private businesses open to the public.
Related: Idaho Republicans pass bill making it a felony for transgender people to use public bathrooms
Related: Idaho Republicans pass House bill forcing doctors to out transgender kids
The penalties escalate quickly. A first violation would be a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. A second offense within five years could be charged as a felony, carrying a prison sentence of up to five years.
“The Legislature has a fundamental duty to protect the bodily privacy and safety of Idaho citizens,” Sen. Ben Toews, the bill’s sponsor, said in a Monday committee hearing, according to the Idaho Capital Sun. “House Bill 752 provides a clear, proactive tool to secure sex-separated private spaces in our state, while accommodating common-sense realities.”
Supporters of the measure have called the bill necessary as a matter of safety and privacy in sex-segregated spaces. But opponents of the legislation, including civil liberties groups, some lawmakers, and law enforcement voices, say the proposal creates an enforcement problem that risks turning suspicion into probable cause.
Related: Thousands of paper hearts flood Idaho capital as lawmakers pass anti-LGBTQ+ bills
Related: Idaho Republicans are trying to strip localities of nondiscrimination ordinances that protect LGBTQ+ people
Transgender people are warning that bills like this put them in danger of being assaulted. For example, the boyfriend or husband may see a transgender man following their girlfriend into a restroom, because the trans man has to use restrooms according to his sex assigned at birth, and could confront them.
In committee testimony, transgender Idahoans described how that could unfold. Nikson Matthews, a transgender man, told lawmakers that someone who recognizes or suspects he is trans could call police, prompting officers to respond to what would otherwise appear to be “a bearded man using the men’s bathroom.” If an officer decides he violated the law, Matthews said, “I could go to jail for up to a year for peeing, washing my hands, or even being in the bathroom.”
Related: Idaho Republicans pass bill making it a felony for transgender people to use public bathrooms
The alternative, he said, could be worse. Being forced into women’s facilities, Matthews warned, risks confrontation or violence. “Every single day when I’m out in public, I have to decide,” he said. “Do I feel like going to jail today, or do I feel like being attacked?”
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