Idaho
State officials worry about financial impact after bird flu cases detected in Idaho cattle • Idaho Capital Sun
As cases of highly pathogenic avian influenza spread across U.S. cattle, Idaho officials say their biggest concern is the virus’ impact on Idaho’s economy.
The illness, also coined the bird flu, has sickened cattle across at least eight states, with the first case detected in Texas cattle in late March, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
On April 1, the Idaho State Department of Agriculture reported its first case of the bird flu in cattle in Cassia County. The cattle infected had been recently imported from Texas, Sydney Kennedy, the spokesperson for the department of agriculture told the Idaho Capital Sun.
And on Monday, the department confirmed a second herd in Cassia County is positive for the bird flu.
Kennedy said the state is well-prepared with financial resources and trained staff to respond to animal diseases. The Idaho facilities with infected cattle have been placed under a quarantine to limit the movement of cattle, she said.
“Idaho is a major livestock state, and we cannot forget about what this truly means to the dairymen,” she said. “The outbreak in dairy herds primarily affects lactating cows, reducing milk production, this leaves the greatest amount of financial impact on the dairymen. Idaho’s dairy industry contributes significant economic value ($3.5 billion) to our state.”
What is the highly pathogenic avian influenza — a.k.a. bird flu?
The bird flu spreads naturally among wild aquatic birds worldwide, and it can infect domestic poultry and other species, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
While the virus emerged through birds, it has been detected in cattle, which is unusual, according to University of Idaho veterinary medicine assistant professor Lauren Christensen.
“This is not something that we’re typically looking for in mammals because the virus typically is only able to infect other poultry or other birds,” she told the Idaho Capital Sun. “We usually don’t see the virus able to switch over to mammals.”
The virus is mostly seen in wild flocks of geese or ducks that are migrating, Christensen said. Like with the flu, she said it’s virus particles coming from one infected animal or person going to another — usually in close contact.
Christensen said the virus causes significant disease and even death among chickens. But so far, no cows across the country have died from it.
Christensen said the main symptoms of the virus in cows include decrease in milk production and loss in appetite. Other symptoms may include a low grade fever, color changes in milk or thickened milk.
Pasteurized dairy products are safe, experts say
Christensen said milk bought at the grocery store is safe for human consumption because it’s been pasteurized, or heated to a high temperature to kill harmful bacteria.
“Wash your hands, drink pasteurized milk, and you’ll be fine,” Christensen said.
While the bird flu does not normally infect humans, some human infections have occurred, according to the CDC. Earlier this month, federal officials identified the first human case of the illness in a Texas dairy worker, Politico reported. The symptoms are mild and the worker is expected to recover.
Rick Naerebout, the CEO of the Idaho Dairymen’s Association, told the Sun the biggest concern for Idaho is its financial impact on the dairy industry.
Naerebout said Idaho dairy workers are encouraged to follow biosecurity measures such as wearing personal protective equipment such as gloves, aprons and glasses. Dairy workers are also encouraged to separate their work clothes and everyday clothes, he said.
“What we’re hearing coming out of the Southwest is you can lose up to 20% of your milk production, and our dairymen are coming off over a year of negative margin,” he said. “That’s just really stressful on the finances and trying to be able to continue to wander through the storm that we’re in.”
To learn more about detections of the virus, visit the U.S. Department of Agriculture website. For updates about detected reports in Idaho, visit the Idaho State Department of Agriculture website. To learn more about the virus and how to prevent it, visit the CDC website.
The department recommends dairy producers contact their local veterinarian immediately if their cattle are showing the following symptoms:
- Drop in milk production
- Loss of appetite
- Changes in manure consistency
- Thickened or colostrum-like milk
- Low-grade fever
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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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