Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities: Keeping Government Accountable
(Pocatello for Accountable Government Agencies, August 12, 2026)
Bannock County–A second Bannock County Commissioner, Ken Bullock, appears to be favoring a special interest involved in an industrial solar project in southern Bannock County. In an email dated January 10, 2026, between Bullock and a private landowner (from a family seeking to lease the largest amount of acreage to the solar interest), the individual requested a meeting with Bullock and he responded, “You have me as an ally. I can’t be bullied and I have a vote. Anytime next week.”
Why is this a problem? In a previous post, we related how Commissioner Jeff Hough had shared a draft of the County’s Land Use and Development Ordinance (LUDO) with an attorney representing the solar development interests while, at the same time, the County was denying access to the public for the same document.
This draft LUDO document is a comprehensive rewrite and compilation of eight separate ordinances, including an added chapter (Ch. 7) for Alternative Energy Regulations. Chapter 7 of the document, along with the revised land use chart, proposes to reverse a 2024 ban and now allow Industrial Solar Projects (both large scale and small scale) through a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) on land zoned Commercial General, Industrial, Light Industrial, and Agricultural.
This proposed project is/was extremely divisive. Residents in the Downey area overwhelmingly expressed opposition to this effort in 2024, in large part, due to the project bordering rural residential zoned areas where people reside.
It increasingly appears that a few of our commissioners have exhibited preferential treatment and favor to outside special interests and/or a few landowners seeking to lease thousands of acres of Marsh Valley to the industrial solar projects.
Whether or not you are in favor of these projects or not, communicating favor to any specific group while in the ACTIVE process of the development of a critical Land Use and Development Ordinance destroys the publics’ trust that their elected representatives intend to make a decision with neutrality. A fair process in which all the evidence, plus the pros and cons, are weighed before making a decision is essential. This fairness ensures that a new law represents the best interests of the public as a whole and is not designed to benefit specific groups. Secretly favoring a special interest group is also disrespectful toward County staff who are tasked with working to ensure a fair and equal process.
The public needs to know if their elected officials are representing them or favoring special interest groups while performing their official duties.
P.A.G.E. will continue to investigate this issue and do all that we can to ensure that the public is informed about how their elected officials are acting when they think nobody is paying attention.
Editor’s note: A representative of P.A.G.E. informed us that as of this morning, Commissioner Bullock had not responded to repeated efforts to reach him for comment. Should he respond, this story will be updated to reflect his response.
Idaho Power is warning customers about a rise in scam-related activity involving door-to-door visits and phone calls claiming to be from Idaho Power.
Phone scams involve spoofing Idaho Power’s phone number and demanding immediate payment or discussing information related to service at your home. Idaho Power never demands payment over the phone or requests payment through pre-paid cards.
Idaho Power also NEVER:
Requires a payment for a defective meter
Asks for same-day payment via pre-paid cards, such as Green Dot MoneyPak
Accepts pre-paid cards, like Visa or Green Dot
Asks customers to pay using Bitcoin or QR codes
One way to stop scammers is to be familiar with your account. Use My Account or download Idaho Power’s mobile app to check your bill details, sign up for account alerts, and make secure payments.
Although there are situations where Idaho Power employees may need access to your property — with or without advance notice — they will arrive in logoed company vehicles and clothing or be able to present a company ID badge.
If you receive a phone call, text, email, or visit from someone claiming to be from Idaho Power and anything seems suspicious, do not provide payment or personal information. Instead, hang up and call Idaho Power customer service immediately at 208-388-2323 or 1-800-488-6151 (toll free). Their Customer Care team can confirm if they have any work activities scheduled for your address or whether the communication is legitimate.
(Idaho Fish and Game Press Release, August 12, 2026)
Idaho Fish and Game has issued a salvage order for Winder Reservoir in Franklin County, effective Aug. 14 through Oct. 31, 2026.
During the salvage order timeline at Winder Reservoir:
Fish may be taken by any method except use of firearms, explosives, chemicals, or electric current.
All bag, possession, size, and limits, including the number of rods, are suspended.
A valid Idaho fishing license is still required.
No live fish may be transported from the reservoir.
As per Twin Lakes Canal Company rules, no motorized watercraft are allowed on this waterbody. All floatation devices must be inspected for aquatic invasive species and show proof of their inspection.
Twin Lakes Canal Company is draining Winder Reservoir to serve irrigation needs. The reservoir’s water levels are decreasing rapidly and are anticipated to drain by Sept. 4. Fish will not survive when water levels in the reservoir become unsuitable; therefore, an order of salvage is warranted to maximize public use of these fish.
For more information about this salvage order, contact the Southeast Region Fish and Game office in Pocatello at 208-232-4703.
(From the Desk of Senator James E. Risch, August 12, 2026)
Every summer, Idaho and the West witness the devastating effects of wildfires. This year is no different, and my heart goes out to those who have lost homes, property, and so much more.
I hosted Interior Secretary Doug Burgum, Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins, and fellow Idahoan Tom Schultz, Chief of the U.S. Forest Service at the National Interagency Fire Center in Boise this week to discuss this issue directly.
As the only trained forester in the U.S. Senate, and one of the few members of Congress who has worked on a fire line, I’ve seen what happens when our public lands are not properly managed.
Idaho’s public lands are one of our greatest assets. They are not only beautiful landscapes, but are vital to our economy and rural communities.
However, years of fuel build up, insects, and disease have left these lands vulnerable.
Active management of our public lands is essential to preventing catastrophic wildfire. That means removing hazardous fuels, responsibly managing our firesheds, expediting timber projects, and encouraging collaboration at federal, state, and local levels.
With two-thirds of Idaho being public lands, how we manage them matters greatly.
Secretaries Burgum and Rollins and Chief Schultz agree with me on the importance of this issue. They are strong partners in our mission to bolster wildfire prevention and mitigation and ensure Idaho is well equipped to fight fire when it happens.
As your Senator, I’ll continue leading the charge for more active management of our public lands to protect Idaho communities and our way of life for generations to come.
For the latest press releases and constituent services visit risch.senate.gov. To receive email updates on what I’m working on as your Senator, click here. To connect with me on Twitter, visit my Twitter page. To connect with me on Facebook, visit my Facebook page.
August 11, 2026 (Cover Image Credit: Gem State Chronicle)
Evangelist Charged with Trespass at Public Park
By: Brian Almon
Brian Almon
The Idaho Family Policy Center announced [yesterday] morning that it is defending pro-life evangelist Titus Folks, who was cited for trespassing at Canyon County Pride at Lakeview Park in Nampa last June. According to Caleb Pirc, director of the IFPC Legal Center, Folks was in the process of setting up a table at the park when organizers demanded he leave and called the police. Folks moved his table across the street, but police still cited him for trespassing.
Pirc explained the situation in a video posted on Tuesday:
According to the iCourt Portal, Folks was charged in Canyon County Magistrate Court with a first-offense trespass, no property damage, having left when ordered, which carries a $300 fine:
Idaho code says that a person has committed criminal trespass when he “enters or remains on the real property of another without permission, knowing or with reason to know that his presence is not permitted.” It goes on to explain various circumstances under which criminal trespass can occur, such as a residence or place of business, a cultivated property, a fenced boundary of a private property, or a church or house of worship.
It’s unclear exactly how being at a city park that is open to the public constitutes trespassing. Nampa’s rules regarding use of city parks prohibit selling food or goods, camping, consuming alcohol, and driving vehicles on the grass, but do not explicitly prohibit evangelism. Nampa’s guidebook for reserving park facilities even explicitly states that organizers cannot prohibit anyone from using the park:
Nampa Parks and Recreation is a public agency and, therefore, exclusive use of a park facility cannot be granted. Public access to non-reservable park amenities such as playgrounds and splash pads must be maintained at all times. An event organizer may choose to restrict public access to an event, but may only restrict access to reserved facilities, such as picnic shelters.
More details will surely come out as this case progresses, including whether Folks was within the area designated for the pride event or without, and exactly how he responded when asked to leave. I’m not a lawyer, but I find the citation difficult to understand based on the facts currently available. The park was open to the public, the Pride event itself was open to the public, and Nampa’s own rules make clear that reserving a park facility does not give an event organizer exclusive control over the entire park. If Folks was in an area that remained open to the public and was not violating a lawful park rule or other condition of access, what legal authority existed to order him to leave?
The Idaho Supreme Court considered a related question in 2025 in State of Idaho v. Bundy. The court rejected Ammon Bundy’s argument that Idaho’s trespass statute applies only to private property, holding that it can apply to public property as well.
But the circumstances were substantially different. Bundy’s case arose from an incident at the Idaho Capitol in 2020. After a disturbance, then-Speaker Scott Bedke ordered the Lincoln Auditorium closed. Bundy refused to leave and was eventually removed by law enforcement. The Supreme Court upheld his trespass conviction.
Folks’ situation, at least according to the account provided by his attorneys, is quite different. He was in a public park, setting up a table, and left when he was asked to do so. The citation itself reflects that distinction: Idaho law provides a $300 infraction for a first offense when no property damage occurs and the defendant does not remain after being ordered to leave.
At a higher level, it is telling what pride organizers chose [to] reject and what they chose to accept. A gaggle of satanists, mocking Folks, Charlie Kirk, and Christianity in general, was apparently acceptable—I’ve not heard that pride organizers asked them to leave. But a pro-life activist preaching the gospel was offensive to them.
Nearly four years ago, I attended the Boise Pride event on September 11 to see it firsthand. I noticed how the satanists were always mugging for the camera, just outside the main area, being as vulgar, rude and offensive as they could in order to provoke outrage in Christian conservatives:
The vile counter-protestors were definitely not the majority of festival-goers. I presume that these people show up to every controversial event, hoping to get attention and cause conservatives to clutch their pearls in shock. Most of them did not take part in the festival itself – they spent the entire day yelling at protestors. Yet their tactics worked – conservative media dutifully published their pictures and implied that they were the norm, which was clearly not the case.
This has two effects. First, it distracts conservatives from what is really going on. We breathlessly share pictures of satanists and say “this is what we oppose,” meanwhile the LGBTQ+ community simply dismisses our complaints, because they know that those people do not represent the community as a whole. Second, it serves as a shield for the activists themselves, who are spared from having to defend what is really going on beneath the surface.
Nevertheless, if the Canyon County Pride organizers saw fit to ask Titus Folks to leave, they could easily have asked the satanists to leave as well. They apparently chose to tolerate one form of offensive expression while rejecting another.
Why is that?
As Christians, we believe the Gospel of Christ is an offense to the world, and a necessary one. Yet that does not mean that those who are offended by it should be able to call upon law enforcement to evict the Gospel from a public park.
Just two years ago, Nampa’s first Pride event outraged much of the conservative community. A transgender-identifying man flashing his surgically augmented breasts led to changes in the law. Now, just two years later, Nampa police have cited a Christian evangelist for trespassing after Pride organizers objected to his presence at a public park.
What is going on in Nampa? In Idaho?
IFPC Legal Center director Caleb Pirc provided this exclusive comment to the Gem State Chronicle:
Nampa’s prosecution of Titus Folks for simply showing up to evangelize at a public park is unconstitutional and unjust. The First Amendment exists to protect the right of people like Titus to share the Gospel with their fellow man. We look forward to getting justice for him in this case.
Note: I’ve known Titus for several years, and Caleb at IFPC is a friend of mine as well. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, I believe that conservative Christians need to hang together in these battles, otherwise we will surely hang separately!
Brian Almon is the Editor of the Gem State Chronicle. He also serves as Chairman of the District 14 Republican Party and is a trustee of the Eagle Public Library Board. He lives with his wife and five children in Eagle.
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
(ISP Press Release, August 11, 2026; Cover photo credit: ISP)
TWIN FALLS, Idaho — The Idaho State Police (ISP) continues to extend its deepest condolences to the families of those who lost loved ones, those who were injured, the first responders, and the entire Twin Falls community as they continue to cope with the tragedy that unfolded at the In-N-Out Burger restaurant on August 1, 2026.
Today, ISP is identifying the off-duty trooper involved in the incident as Specialist Steve McClain. Specialist McClain’s identity was withheld at the request of the prosecutor’s office while investigators completed their review of the incident and determined that releasing his name would not affect the ongoing investigation.
Specialist McClain has served with ISP for 12 years and is assigned to the Commercial Vehicle Safety program. He and his family are members of the Twin Falls community.
Colonel Bill Gardiner, director of the Idaho State Police, released the following statement:
“Although off-duty, Specialist McClain made the conscious decision to confront the threat in an effort to protect others. Years of training, experience, discipline, and commitment were compressed into a matter of seconds. Faced with an active threat, he willingly put himself in harm’s way to protect others. In doing so, he undoubtedly helped save lives.
The public often sees only a single point in time, but moments such as these are built on years of preparation and a commitment to serving others. On August 1, Specialist McClain demonstrated exactly what that commitment looks like.
Countless ordinary people made extraordinary decisions that day. We recognize the courage shown by those who rendered aid, protected others, and responded in the face of unimaginable circumstances.
Specialist McClain’s actions reflect the courage, character, professionalism, and selfless commitment that define the men and women of the Idaho State Police.”
Specialist Steve McClain released the following statement:
“My heart remains with the victims, their families, those who were injured, and everyone whose lives have been changed by this tragedy.
Like many others who were there that day, I simply did what I believed needed to be done. Many people stepped forward to help complete strangers, often at great personal risk, and I am grateful for their courage and compassion.
I am thankful for the training I have received throughout my career that prepared me for this horrific incident. I am proud to serve alongside the men and women of the Idaho State Police, as well as those with the Twin Falls Police Department and other members of our law enforcement community. I pray that the community can continue to heal and be strengthened through one another. Twin Falls Strong!”
ISP asks that the privacy of the victims, their families, Specialist McClain, and everyone affected by this tragedy be respected as the investigation continues.
ISP continues to provide resources and support to local, state, and federal partners as the investigation moves forward and will support the community in the days, weeks, and months ahead.
(U.S. Attorney’s Office Press Release, August 4, 2026)
BOISE – Shone Jem Bache, 47, of Fort Hall, was sentenced to 210 months in federal prison for Abusive Sexual Contact with a Child Under 12 Years of Age, U.S. Attorney Bart M. Davis announced [August 4].
“I hope this outcome provides some closure and justice to the victim and her family,” said U.S. Attorney Davis. “I am grateful for the partnership between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department and their dedication to identifying and investigating those who commit egregious acts of sexual abuse on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation.”
According to court records, the investigation began when a nine-year-old child victim disclosed to family members and school staff that Bache had sexually abused her. The child victim disclosed multiple instances of sexual abuse that occurred on the Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department conducted a thorough investigation and were able to corroborate aspects of the victim’s disclosure through physical evidence and witness statements.
“No punishment can ever undo the trauma inflicted on a child or erase the lifelong impact of these crimes, but we hope this offers some comfort on their journey toward healing,” stated Robert Bohls, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Salt Lake City Field Office. “Children deserve to grow up safe. Alongside our Tribal and law enforcement partners, the FBI will never stop fighting to protect the most vulnerable and bring offenders to justice”.
U.S. District Judge David C. Nye also ordered Bache to serve five years of supervised release following his prison sentence. Bache will be required to register as a sex offender as a result of his conviction.
U.S. Attorney Davis commended the work of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Fort Hall Police Department, which led to the charge. Assistant U.S. Attorneys Kassandra McGrady and Justin Paskett prosecuted the case.
These cases were brought as part of Project Safe Childhood, a nationwide initiative to combat the growing epidemic of child sexual exploitation and abuse launched in May 2006 by the Department of Justice. As part of Project Safe Childhood, the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Idaho and the Idaho Attorney General’s Office partner to marshal federal, state and local resources to better locate, apprehend and prosecute individuals who exploit children via the Internet, as well as to identify and rescue victims. For more information about Project Safe Childhood, please visit www.justice.gov/psc.
(Sixth Judicial District Press Release, August 10, 2026)
Idaho’s Sixth Judicial District has launched a new public website today as part of efforts to modernize how court information is presented across this state’s unified court system.
The new website offers a more streamlined way to access information about courts in this district, including specific local rules, forms or services.
“This project strengthens the clarity and consistency of how Idaho’s court information is presented to the public,” said Deputy Trial Court Administrator, Lacy Parker. “Visitors can quickly find the information they need and know they are accessing an official Idaho Judicial Branch source.”
Key features of the new district website include:
Streamlined navigation to help users locate district services and information.
Plain-language explanations of local court processes and procedures.
Improved access to self-help tools and commonly requested resources.
Mobile-friendly layouts for easier use on phones and tablets.
Modern, consistent design that helps confirm each site is an official Judicial Branch source.
The Sixth Judicial District currently serves Bannock, Bear Lake, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power Counties in Southeastern Idaho.
The new Sixth District website can be accessed at https://isc.idaho.gov/district-6.
(Social Security Administration Press Release, August 12, 2026)
Baltimore, MD – The Social Security Administration (SSA) today announced the addition of 14 conditions to the agency’s Compassionate Allowances (CAL) list. The CAL initiative accelerates the disability application process for individuals with serious diseases and medical conditions that meet the statutory standard for disability benefits.
The newly added conditions are:
Adenylosuccinate Lyase Deficiency – Neonatal Form and Type 1
Aicardi Syndrome
Baraitser-Winter Syndrome
Beare-Stevenson Cutis Gyrata Syndrome
Bohring-Opitz Syndrome
CASK-Related Gene Disorders
Hepatosplenic T-Cell Lymphoma
Lafora Disease
Malignant Migrating Partial Seizures of Infancy (MMPSI)
OPHN1 Syndrome
Primary Cardiac Sarcoma
Primary Intracranial Malignant Melanoma
Uveal Melanoma – with Metastases
Warburg Micro Syndrome
With the inclusion of these 14 conditions, the CAL list now includes 314 conditions in total. Since the CAL initiative began, over 1.2 million people with severe disabilities have been approved through this accelerated disability process.
“Social Security is strengthening our disability programs and making the disability determination process better, faster, and higher-quality to serve the American public,” saidCommissioner Frank J. Bisignano. “The Compassionate Allowances initiative cuts through red tape and allows us to deliver support to individuals who experience life-changing diagnoses and need help fast.”
When a person applies for disability benefits, SSA must obtain medical records to make an accurate determination. The agency uses technology to identify potential CAL conditions and expedite claims processing. Although not available in every claim, through the Health IT program, SSA securely receives electronic medical records, allowing for adjudicators to make faster and more accurate decisions.
(Attorney General’s Office Press Release, August 11, 2026)
BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador announced today that investigators with his Consumer Protection Division intervened in a scam-in-progress and prevented a victim from losing $14,000 in cash to criminals in Florida.
Criminal scammers contacted the would-be victim posing as a Wells Fargo financial investigator, claiming the victim’s bank account was compromised. The scammer convinced the victim to withdraw the money in his account and send it overnight mail via UPS to an address in Florida for “safekeeping.” After mailing the cash, the victim called the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division and spoke with an investigator, who immediately leveraged a growing nationwide fraud prevention network of professionals, which include law enforcement, financial services, consumer advocates, and retail professionals. Working with UPS, the investigator was able to stop the package in transit and coordinate the return of the entire sum to the victim.
“I’m grateful for the quick action of my investigators at the Consumer Protection Division,” said Attorney General Labrador. “They work hard to protect Idaho families from scams every day through education and awareness, but it’s rare to stop a crime in progress, especially of this magnitude. It’s always easier to prevent a scam than it is to financially recover from one.”
The Consumer Protection Division also followed up with Wells Fargo, as well as the Florida Attorney General’s Office for a continued investigation into the final destination for the package.
The Attorney General’s Office reminds consumers to always verify the identity of anyone claiming to be from banks and financial institutions, from law enforcement or courts, or from a public utility, especially when they are demanding a payment or transfer of funds while claiming to protect you. Never give out personal information, never click on unknown text or email links, and being asked to pay with cryptocurrency, gift cards, money orders, or mailing large amounts of cash are always big red flags for fraud.
Visit ReportScamsIdaho.com for more scam prevention tips, resources, or to file a consumer complaint.
