(Statement from the Attorney General’s Office, December 19, 2025)
Since before President Trump took office, many of us—the Attorneys General of Nebraska, Indiana, Iowa, Idaho, Kansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Wyoming—have argued against the rescheduling of marijuana as a Schedule I drug. See July 2024 Comment of Nebraska and 10 Other States. We all believe the science surrounding marijuana—which has become only more clear in recent weeks—properly establishes it as a Schedule I drug, and we have seen firsthand the harm the drug has caused in our communities. The negative impacts of expanded marijuana use, especially on children and adolescents, are worrisome. And the public policy challenges, such as the exponential increase in difficult-to-combat driving under the influence, are both significant and serious. We have conveyed our concerns to the Administration, and we are grateful for the Administration’s good faith consideration of our views.
Because of our long-held views, we are concerned with the issuance of this Executive Order, which directs the U.S. Attorney General to “take all necessary steps to complete the rulemaking process related to rescheduling marijuana to Schedule III.” We will evaluate the order closely to determine how we can best continue to engage, protect the public health, and ensure the safety of our citizens.
According to Chairman Jeff Hough, referring to how the meeting came about, “Aaron (with Renewable Northwest) approached me a few months ago about renewable energy stuff, and one of the things that we don’t know very much about is Battery Energy Storage Systems. And so, when Aaron reached out to me about a month ago to say we had an expert in the field coming, an expert I’m assuming. So, we’re, I, I want to take the opportunity to have a meeting to, to learn a little bit more.”
You can watch the full meeting by clicking on the image below.
(Idaho Fish and Game Press Release, December 11, 2025)
Winter is already tough for deer, elk, and other big game animals, and being near busy roads and highways can be deadly, so drivers are asked to keep a sharp eye out and avoid costly and potentially dangerous collisions.
Hitting a deer or an elk is hazardous to drivers and passengers, and often results in thousands of dollars in vehicle damage, not to mention a preventable loss of wildlife.
“Increased activity and decreased visibility is a dangerous combination. Motorists need to be extra cautious and slow down,” said Toby Boudreau, Fish and Game Deer and Elk Coordinator. “Being extra diligent while driving is your best defense.”
The following precautions will help reduce your chances of an animal collision:
Big game animals are especially active at dawn, dusk and at night. Motorists should drive extra cautious during these times.
Scan ahead and watch for movement, especially near the fog line and side of the road. When driving at night, watch for shining eyes in headlights.
If you see one animal cross the road, slow down immediately and look for more to follow.
Pay extra attention in areas posted with wildlife crossing signs. They are there for good reason.
Using high beams can help you spot wildlife, but be considerate of other drivers when using them.
Don’t tailgate. Always keep a safe distance between you and the car in front of you to avoid an accident. If that driver brakes suddenly for an animal in the road, you may not be able to react in time.
Don’t swerve and risk losing control of your vehicle. Try to brake as much as possible and stay on the roadway.
The most serious crashes occur when drivers lose control of their vehicles trying to avoid an animal. It is usually safer to strike the animal than another object such as a tree or another vehicle.
Motorists should report any injury collision to the public safety dispatcher by calling 911, which will send officers to the scene. If possible, move your vehicle to a safe place and alert oncoming traffic with your emergency flashers until law enforcement authorities arrive.
Drivers who come across a dead animal on the side of the road are encouraged to report the roadkill on Idaho Fish and Game’s website. The information collected on wildlife collisions helps identify high-risk areas and possible solutions to make highways safer.
People may also recover and keep some game animals killed by accidental auto collisions. You have 24 hours to notify Fish and Game if you salvage an animal, and 72 hours to obtain a salvage permit.
For more information on Fish and Game’s roadkill and salvage webpage, including reporting requirements and a list of species legal to salvage, refer to or contact your nearest Fish and Game office.
(City of Pocatello Press Release, December 19, 2025)
On December 19, the Pocatello Police Department received information regarding a potential threat involving Pocatello High School.
Out of an abundance of caution, officers responded to Pocatello High School this morning and increased police presence at other area high schools to ensure the safety of students and staff. This precautionary response was taken to fully assess the information received and to account for the possibility the threat could have involved another location.
Following a thorough review, officers determined the information was not credible. Police presence was reduced, officers returned to normal duties, and school operations continued as normal.
“The safety of students, staff, and our community is always our top priority,” said Chief Roger Schei. “When we receive information like this, we take it seriously and respond quickly. In situations like these, it is always better to be cautious while we work to confirm the facts.”
The Pocatello Police Department takes all reports of potential threats seriously and responds accordingly to protect the community. The department appreciates the cooperation of school officials, students, staff, and parents during this response.
Dorothy Moon, Chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party
A lot of folks ask me what the Idaho GOP stands for. With 90 elected legislators, seven elected statewide officials, two senators, two congressmen, hundreds of precinct committeemen, thousands of volunteers, and over 600,000 Republican voters, we have a lot of healthy debate on a variety of issues.
However, there is one document that defines the mission of the Idaho Republican Party, and that is our Platform—a statement of principles that Idaho Republicans are expected to uphold. It is debated, amended, and adopted every two years by delegates at our State Convention. You can check out the current Idaho GOP Platform on our website, idgop.org, right now.
The question for voters is: how do you know if someone is upholding the principles and ideas in the Platform? Lawmakers vote on hundreds of bills each year, and even more in committee—not to mention the countless statements they make in debate, to the press, or on the campaign trail. How can voters know whether their elected officials are voting the same way they campaigned?
There are many outside organizations that score legislation and lawmakers, aiming to give voters additional information before they cast their ballots. I believe this is commendable, and I think these scorecards can be important resources for voters and citizens.
Recently, some publications have issued scorecards claiming to rate lawmakers based on the Idaho GOP Platform. To be clear, none of these scorecards are officially endorsed by the Idaho Republican Party or the Republican National Committee. These ratings reflect only the opinions of the organizations that create them.
The Idaho GOP does not rate legislation or individual lawmakers. Our mission is to enlist and engage voters in support of Republican candidates and the principles expressed in our Platform. Ultimately, it is the voters who decide who represents them in the State Legislature.
I am also deeply concerned about the growing use of artificial intelligence to “analyze” legislation in relation to our Platform. While AI is advancing rapidly, it can never replace God-given human reason and discernment—especially when it comes to judging a person’s commitment to our values.
Too often, scorecards have been used as weapons against fellow Republicans rather than as tools for understanding. Voters deserve accurate, honest information about where their lawmakers truly stand on the issues that matter most, and how those positions align with the principles of our Platform—not interpretations distorted to serve a factional agenda.
The Idaho Republican Party will continue to stand for faith, family, and freedom, as outlined in our Platform. I look forward to the 2026 Idaho GOP Convention in Meridian next summer, where delegates will once again discuss and debate the direction of our party for the years ahead.
December 17, 2025 (Cover Image Credit: Gem State Chronicle)
Taxation as Charity When did donating to nonprofits become compulsory?
By: Brian Almon
Brian Almon
In my last job before moving to Idaho, I worked as a network administrator for World Vision USA. It is the sister organization to World Vision International, a Christian nonprofit founded by missionary Bob Pierce in 1950. Originally meant to support war orphans in Korea, World Vision eventually expanded throughout the world. Donors, many in the United States, “sponsor” a child in a faraway country, with the money being used for schools, clean water, medical care, and other necessities.
Pierce left World Vision in 1967, having apparently grown disillusioned with the organization’s direction. He founded Samaritan’s Purse in 1970, seemingly to be what World Vision had been in the beginning. Franklin Graham took over the organization shortly before Pierce’s death and still serves as its president to this day.
One thing I found concerning while I worked there was how important government grants had become to the organization’s operations. Individual sponsorships were still heavily promoted, but tax dollars provided a large share of World Vision’s operating revenue. According to website MinistryWatch, World Vision USA took in more than $660 million in government grants in 2023—43.8% of its $1.5 billion in revenue that year.
This is not necessarily meant to slag my old employer. It was a reasonably positive place to work, and I think its heart is in the right place. Yet there is something unsettling about the way private charity has been transformed over the past half century. Charitable organizations and philanthropic foundations were once focused on direct aid to the needy. Donations were freely given by people out of their own generosity, knowing they would directly help their neighbors. This is why the nonprofit classification was created in the first place: to incentivize giving to organizations that directly helped people in need.
Yet a double transformation has taken place. First, governments began making grants available to nonprofit charities. It became easier to fund operations by applying for grants than by raising large numbers of small-dollar donations. The second transformation was the shift by many nonprofits from direct aid to indirect action, such as lobbying governments for political change. These lobbying efforts are often aimed at increasing government funding for programs—including the organizations themselves.
Today, there are countless nonprofits that not only survive off the taxpayer, but use that money to lobby the government, often in ways that are detrimental to the very citizens funding their operations. Remember the Jannus hydra? An affiliation of organizations, each with its own branding, lobbies government to increase funding for its own operations, which already include tens of millions of dollars from the American taxpayer.
So how independent is ICFP, which just released a report lamenting that the government “allowed” citizens to keep too much of their own money? Not very. It is one small part of a massive web of NGOs and nonprofits, all designed to convince the government to take more of your money and give it to them for their own purposes. While the mythical Janus had two faces, the modern Jannus is akin to the hydra, which had many.
One head of this hydra issues reports like this, claiming that we need higher taxes to support more government spending on social programs. Another head lobbies the Legislature to create more of these social programs and to appropriate more money—federal and state—to them. Finally, yet another head stands ready to apply for these new grants and distribute them as they see fit. Oftentimes, the purpose of the grants is to incorporate more people into government dependence. Refugees, for example—the primary focus of Jannus now—are brought here and immediately enrolled in myriad taxpayer-supported programs, all with Jannus acting as the middleman.
All of this came to mind when I read an article in Idaho Ed News this morning about the cancellation of government grants for the Community Schools Program in Idaho. In 2023, the U.S. Department of Education awarded $45.9 million over five years, with funds distributed through the United Way of the Treasure Valley. According to reporter Sean Dolan, this money currently funds 60 full-time staff members in 47 different schools. The job of these staff members is to “connect families with local resources.”
The Trump administration has canceled the grant, saying it prioritizes DEI over “merit, fairness, and excellence in education.” Those invested in the grant reacted sharply. From the article:
“We’re gonna fight like hell so it doesn’t happen,” Roghaar said.
Laura Roghaar works for United Way of Treasure Valley as project manager for the program funded by this grant.
“These are things that the governor believes in and wants, and so I’m just hoping some of our state leaders really step in and try to help us out here in the appeal,” Jensen said.
Randy Jensen is superintendent of American Falls School District.
In the Moscow School District, community schools coordinator Brian Smith said losing the grant funding will leave them “gutted.”
Staff members at the United Way of Idaho were devastated when they received the notice of discontinuation on Friday, said marketing and communications specialist Lukas Robertson.
In addition to employing 60 people, the grant funded free clothing, books, supplies, after-school programs, and free lunches in the summertime. Is it necessary that government fund these things? Are there no private charities that could handle needs like this within their own communities?
Highlighting this story on X, Brandy Paradee pointed out pointed out that American Falls superintendent Randy Jensen—quoted in the story lamenting the potential loss of grant money—responded to federal immigration enforcement very differently just last January:
It makes one wonder how many illegal aliens are enrolled in American Falls schools. It also makes one wonder how many noncitizens are taking advantage of resources provided by federal grants.
The scope and scale of how our tax dollars are redistributed through NGOs and nonprofits is staggering. Consider how many people live off programs like this, whether as direct beneficiaries or as employees of organizations that depend on tax dollars for revenue. Take United Way of the Treasure Valley, for example, the organization tasked with managing millions of dollars for these community schools programs. According to a 2025 audit, more than half of the organization’s revenue comes from government grants, while nearly a third of total revenue is used for employee salaries, benefits, travel, and related expenses.
I get it. Nonprofits have to pay employees too, no matter how much good they might be doing in the community. Yet we have reached a point where tax dollars—either directly confiscated from citizens or indirectly extracted through the hidden tax of inflation—are being used in place of private charity. I have taken some flak for presenting arguments in favor of keeping property taxes, for example, but those are imposed by local governments to pay for local projects. The trustees who set budgets based on those taxes must answer to the voters. I do not remember voting to give $45.9 million to United Way to fund “community schools coordinators” whose job is to “organize resources that already exist in the community and bring them into the school, where they can be accessed by kids and families.” Do you?
Nobody voted for USAID. Nobody voted to create an entire ecosystem of quasi-governmental agencies that use our tax dollars to reshape our society. Yet here we are.
Even if we had voted for it, there is a limit to the proper scope and role of government. Taxing citizens to pay for roads and law enforcement is one thing; taxing us to fund nonprofits that usurp the role of private charities is quite another. I applaud the Department of Education for ending this grant. I am sorry for those who may lose their jobs, but those positions should never have existed in the first place. Returning to a system of private charity and limited government will not be painless, but it is necessary.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Gem State Chronicle. I encourage our readers to visit their website and consider subscribing. Find this and other informative articles at the Gem State Chronicle here: About – Gem State Chronicle
(Attorney General’s Office Press Release, December 18, 2025)
BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced the retirement of Scott Campbell as Chief Deputy Attorney General of the Energy and Natural Resources Division and the promotion of Joy Vega to lead the division.
Scott Campbell has served as Division Chief since January 2023. He brought to the Office of Attorney General his extensive experience with water law, natural resources, environmental litigation, and water quality issues. A practicing attorney in Idaho since 1978, Campbell spent five years in the Ada County Prosecutor’s Office before entering private practice in 1984. Campbell was the partner in charge of the environmental law section of Elam & Burke and then Moffatt Thomas. In 2017, he started his own firm. His illustrious career includes being involved in the earliest stages of the Snake River Basin Adjudication, even attending the legislative committee hearings where the adjudication statutes were debated. A fourth-generation Idaho native, Campbell’s great-grandfather established a trading post on the Oregon Trail in 1865 at present-day Mayfield, Idaho.
“Scott proved invaluable to this team and the people of Idaho from day one,” said Attorney General Labrador. “From the outset, he took on the Biden administration and secured major legal victories relating to Waters of the United States (WOTUS), protecting Idaho’s natural resources from federal encroachment. Beyond his skills in negotiations and in the courtroom, his advice and leadership have been invaluable to me personally as Attorney General. I’ve relied on his counsel and judgment repeatedly. Scott’s lifelong passion for Idaho’s water and natural resources made this role the perfect capstone to an extraordinary career, and I’m deeply grateful for everything he’s given me and to this state.”
Joy Vega joined the Attorney General’s Energy and Natural Resources Division in 2017, initially providing legal counsel to the State Board of Land Commissioners, the Idaho Department of Lands, and the Idaho Oil and Gas Conservation Commission in both litigation and transactional matters. She was promoted to Lead Deputy Attorney General in 2021 and transitioned her representation to the Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation while leading a team of attorneys in the State’s General Stream Adjudications and various federal litigation matters on behalf of Idaho.
Born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Vega graduated from Northern Arizona University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences with an Emphasis in Public Policy and Administration. She obtained her Juris Doctorate with Distinction from the University of North Dakota School of Law. After working as a judicial law clerk in Minnesota’s 9th Judicial District, Vega practiced civil litigation with Jones & Swartz PLLC for eight and a half years, concentrating on contract disputes, employment disputes, commercial litigation, consumer protection claims, insurance claims and disputes, and civil rights litigation.
“Joy has done outstanding work in our Energy and Natural Resources Division and is the right person to lead it going forward,” Labrador said. “Protecting Idaho’s sovereignty over its water and natural resources is essential to preserving our way of life. I have complete confidence in Joy’s ability to defend Idaho’s interests and provide the strong, principled leadership this division requires.”
(Governor’s Office Press Release, December 17, 2025)
Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little announced [on Wednesday that] he hired Kristin Sleeper to serve as his new Policy Director starting Jan. 5, 2026.
Sleeper is serving as the Deputy Under Secretary for Natural Resources and Environment at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) under USDA Secretary Brooke Rollins.
“The addition of Kristin Sleeper as my Policy Director marks a strong step forward for Idaho. Her depth of experience in natural resources policy combined with her sound political and governing acumen will enhance our work on behalf of Idahoans,” Governor Little said.
As a member of Governor Little’s executive team, Sleeper will work closely with the Legislature, state agency directors, and other stakeholders to advance the Governor’s priorities in natural resources and other policy areas.
Prior to joining the USDA in January of 2025, Sleeper worked for the U.S. Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources in Washington, D.C. She also worked for the U.S. House Committee on Agriculture and was the Director for Policy and Research at the National Alliance of Forest Owners, a national advocacy organization that promotes working forests. She held roles in forestry and wildfire prevention and preparedness at the Montana Department of Natural Resources, and she worked for the U.S. Department of the Interior. Sleeper was a Presidential Management Fellow at the U.S. Forest Service.
Sleeper earned a Master of Environmental Management degree from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies and a Master of Public Administration degree from the University of Montana. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology and Zoology from Michigan State University.
Sleeper replaces Jamie Neill who recently departed the Governor’s Office to work for the Idaho Dairymen’s Association.
(Idaho Fish and Game Press Release, December 10, 2025)
What better way to share your love for the outdoors than by buying your favorite sportsman an Idaho Fish and Game gift certificate. Whether you pony up $5 or $500, a gift certificate opens the door for your friends and family to purchase a whole slew of outdoor opportunities — from hunting/fishing licenses to Super Hunt drawings. And right now, with 2026 licenses on sale, is the perfect time to pull the trigger.
Fishing and hunting provide a good excuse to get outside, see the beauty of Idaho’s wildlife, and spend quality time with family and friends. For outdoor enthusiasts, there is a fishing or hunting season open throughout the year.
Licenses
One of easiest ways to show that sportsman in your life some holiday love is to get them set up with next year’s hunting and/or fishing license. A gift certificate can be a slam dunk Christmas gift that not only fits easily inside an envelope or a stocking, but helps your friend or loved one’s bank account when purchasing a 2026 hunting license, fishing license, or Sportsman’s Package.
NOTE:To purchase a resident license, sportsmen do need to confirm Idaho residency, so a big-hearted person can only buy a resident license for a spouse, a child under the age of 18, or for themselves.
Several options and price ranges are available, depending on the age of the recipient and type of license — hunting, fishing, or combination.
A ‘Super’ Opportunity to Treat Your Loved Ones This Holiday
Don’t forget — if your friend or family member is the type to buy their annual licenses the second they become available, there’s still the exciting prospect of giving your buddy a chance to win a Super Hunt.
Gift certificates can be cashed in for Super Hunt entries for individual deer, elk, pronghorn or moose hunts, and a Super Hunt Combo, which includes a tag for each of the four species.
Winners can participate in any open hunt in the state for deer, elk, pronghorn, or moose with a tag for that species, including general hunts and controlled hunts. Super Hunt tags are in addition to other tags, meaning if winners draw a controlled hunt tag or purchase a general season tag, they can still participate in these hunts as well as the Super Hunt. All other rules of individual hunts apply.
Money raised by Super Hunt drawings supports hunter and angler access to private lands through the Access Yes! Program. Check out our Super Hunt webpage to learn more about the drawings.
Collectible Hard Cards
Waterproof and compact, Fish and Game collectible hard card licenses are the perfect way to save space in your wallet and ensure a quality, responsible hunting or fishing opportunity. While you can’t purchase your buddy or loved one their own hard card, you can snag yourself your own copy. Then, the next time you whip out your one-of-a-kind, commemorative hard card license to show the local conservation officer you’re above board, your hunting or fishing partner will look on with utter wonderment and admiration.
This year’s hard cards will feature the iconic redband trout and a bighorn sheep.
Where to buy and redeem gift certificates
All the major holidays (and 2026 hunting/fishing seasons) will be here before we know it, folks, so head down to your regional Fish and Game office and purchase a gift certificate for that special sportsman in your life. When they are ready to buy their 2026 license, have them swing by a Fish and Game office, where all gift certificates can be redeemed.
Bannock County hereby retracts in its entirety the press release titled “Bannock County Ambulance District to launch 24/7 Advanced Life Support Service for South County in July 2026” issued on December 17, 2026. The release was distributed prematurely and should be disregarded.
An updated announcement will be issued at the appropriate time.
We apologize for any inconvenience or misunderstanding this may have caused.
