Idaho
Idaho's 'Internet for All' initial broadband proposal approved. State could request $583M. • Idaho Capital Sun
The U.S. Department of Commerce’s National Telecommunications and Information Administration has approved Idaho, North Dakota and American Samoa’s initial proposals for the Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment program, a part of Biden-Harris administration’s “Internet for All” initiative.
The approval enables the states and territory to request access to funding and begin implementation of the equity and access program — “a major step toward closing the digital divide and meeting the president’s goal of connecting everyone in America with affordable, reliable, high-speed internet service,” according to a National Telecommunications and Information Administration press release.
The approval allows the states and territories to request:
- over $583 million in Idaho
- over $130 million in North Dakota
- over $37 million in American Samoa
The equity and access program is a $42.45 billion state grant program authorized by the Biden-Harris administration’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law.
Once the program’s broadband deployment goals are met, any remaining funding can be used on high-speed internet adoption, training and workforce development, among other eligible uses, according to the release.
“Today, Idaho, North Dakota, and American Samoa can move their Internet for All efforts from planning to action,” said Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Communications and Information and NTIA Administrator Alan Davidson in the release. “I congratulate the state and territory broadband offices for developing strong proposals for how they will connect all of their residents to high-speed internet service.”
Eligible entities — states, territories, and the District of Columbia — are required to submit an initial proposal detailing how they plan to spend their allocation to deliver high-speed internet access to all unserved and underserved locations within their borders. All states submitted their proposals by Dec. 27, 2023. One year from the initial proposal’s approval, states must submit their final proposal for ensuring broadband coverage.
GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
PAYETTE — A Payette mom’s bond was revoked Tuesday after she was charged with suffocating her twin children earlier this month and is believed to pose a danger to the life of her newborn child.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.
-
Nebraska5 minutes agoRoanoke County teen heads to national rodeo finals in Nebraska
-
Nevada11 minutes agoNevada’s modern boomtowns are these fast-growing cities, study said
-
New Hampshire17 minutes agoNH Forests: A Story of Revival and the Challenges Ahead: Business NH Magazine
-
New Jersey23 minutes agoNJ Spine Doctor, Daughter, Granddaughter Killed In Plane Crash, Police Say
-
New Mexico29 minutes agoMcCauley Springs Fire Reaches 100% Containment
-
North Carolina35 minutes agoMassive great white shark spotted off NC coast. See where its headed
-
North Dakota41 minutes agoNeighbors, not competitors
-
Ohio47 minutes agoFormer Powell residents indicted in $9.3M Ohio Medicaid fraud scheme
