Idaho
U of I picks a new partner to finance Phoenix deal
The University of Idaho hasn’t begun issuing University of Phoenix bonds — but it is already turning to a Plan B, or a Plan C.
U of I officials are downplaying the impacts on the controversial $685 million purchase.
The Arizona Industrial Development Authority was the U of I’s first choice for issuing the Phoenix bonds. However, AzIDA “passed on the opportunity to participate in the financing,” Dirk Swift, the authority’s executive director, told the Lewiston Tribune Wednesday.
The reasons for AzIDA’s decision are not clear. Idaho Education News has made repeated requests for comment from Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs’ office, but has received no response.
AzIDA became the U of I’s first choice for issuing Phoenix bonds, since the Idaho Housing and Financing Association does not have the authority to finance “intangible assets,” an asset that is not physical in nature. The U of I settled on two possible bonding agents, according to a university “frequently asked questions” page that still lists AzIDA as its Phoenix bonding agent.
“Both Wisconsin (Public Finance Authority) and Arizona IDA can issue debt to finance intangible assets,” the U of I said. “These two issuers have a deep bench of experience with such offerings. Considering fees, experience and other factors, we have selected Arizona IDA.”
The U of I page does not refer to the agency that will apparently issue the bonds: National Finance Authority, based in New Hampshire. The U of I approached “a number” of potential bond issuers, spokeswoman Jodi Walker said in a statement.
“While AzIDA declined to participate, NFA agreed to participate in the financing,” she said. “The AzIDA decision has no impact on our transaction.”
Bonding is a major obstacle facing the Phoenix purchase.
U of I and State Board of Education officials have said that the purchase can’t be financed while the Phoenix acquisition is mired in court. Attorney General Raúl Labrador has challenged the purchase, with an Idaho Supreme Court hearing expected in June. Legislators have also threatened a lawsuit. Legislators have also floated the idea of overhauling the purchase, which would put Phoenix under the masthead of a U of I-affiliated nonprofit.
The purchase faces a nonbinding May 31 deadline. If a deal isn’t closed by that date, the U of I or Phoenix can walk away from the table.
Click here for our exclusive, in-depth coverage of the University of Phoenix proposal.
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.
BOISE, Idaho (CBS2) — A simmering dispute between Idaho’s top elections official and the U.S. Department of Justice escalated this month after federal officials warned Secretary of State Phil McGrane about possible prosecution tied to non-citizens voting in Idaho.
The Justice Department sent a letter earlier this month threatening McGrane with prosecution. The warning came amid a broader conflict between the Trump administration and McGrane, whom the administration has sued over his refusal to provide unredacted voter rolls to the federal government.
Idaho’s chief of civil litigation, James Craig, responded on July 10. In a letter first reported by the Idaho Statesman, Craig pushed back on the federal warning, writing, “Insinuations of criminal violations of the federal election laws are not well taken,” and asking the department to “stop threatening your friends in Idaho.”
Craig also requested that the lawsuit against McGrane be dismissed and criticized the Justice Department for sending its letter directly to McGrane rather than to the Idaho attorney general’s office.
The attorney general’s office said the state has already referred 15 cases of possible non-citizen election violations to the Justice Department but is not aware of any of them being prosecuted. Craig’s letter ends by asking the department to do so.
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