Rigby–The Fort Henry Buckskinners hosted their first-ever homeschool day yesterday as part of their 34th Annual Junior Rendezvous at Krupp Scout Hollow. Around seventy-five homeschoolers attended, learning first-hand what life was like for the mountain men. Re-enactors demonstrated period weapons; taught skills like fire-starting, metal work, and trapping; and discussed native culture.
Event organizer Major Andrew Henry (known as Reef Brague when he is not bringing history to life) explained that in contrast to a normal rendezvous, the goal of the Junior Rendezvous is to provide an educational experience for children. They hope to make the Homeschool Day an annual feature of the Rendezvous.
May 11, 2026 (Cover Image Credit: Gem State Chronicle)
The Winner-Take-All World of Idaho Politics
By: Brian Almon
Brian Almon
Politics is the adjudication of power, simple as that. A former Idaho GOP state chairman vehemently disagreed when I said that once, framing it as the antithesis of conservative ideology. Yet that same figure spent six figures of his own money in 2024 in an attempt to regain power within the Idaho Republican Party. Actions speak louder than words.
Even anarcho-libertarians who want to abolish 99% of government so they can simply be left alone must first amass political power to make their dreams a reality. That is the nature of our republican form of government. It’s simple math: creating law in Idaho requires the assent of 36 members of the House, 18 members of the Senate, and one governor. That is why, as I wrote a few weeks ago, despite the fact that legislators are elected by and meant to serve their own constituents, we have seen the growth of factions and coalitions seeking a majority in the Legislature so they have the power to implement their shared goals.
We are watching this play out in real time at the national level with the battles over congressional districts. Democrats have long enjoyed disproportionate political power in the South due to the way courts interpreted the Voting Rights Act of 1965 to guarantee majority-minority districts. With the Supreme Court striking down this interpretation in Louisiana v. Callais last month, southern states are free to redraw their maps to better reflect the population in general, which will likely shift the House of Representatives toward the GOP.
Southern states might not have been quite so aggressive in redistricting had Democrats in Virginia not attempted to impose a map intended to eliminate four Republican congressmen. That map, which created numerous districts with slivers extending into the DC metro area to ensure Democratic dominance, was struck down by the Virginia Supreme Court because Democrats blatantly ignored state law in their rush to place it on the ballot.
Politics is increasingly becoming a zero-sum game in America, as the consequences for the party out of power become increasingly existential. Idaho does not have the same two-party dynamic, but the same principle is nevertheless playing out within the Idaho GOP. For many years, a political machine centered around Gov. Brad Little has dominated Idaho politics, moving large sums of money and influence to ensure the Legislature is structured to achieve its desired outcomes. The last few years have seen a decentralized conservative insurgency gain significant political power within the Legislature, though it still lacks the cohesion and resources attached to the governor.
Those surrounding the governor’s machine cried foul when Rep. Jordan Redman put six figures toward conservative challengers, but they themselves have long benefited from constant contributions and independent expenditures from that same machine. Indeed, Gov. Little himself visited Twin Falls and Idaho Falls last week, campaigning for challengers to Magic Valley conservatives as well as moderate eastern Idaho incumbents. While he has signed nearly every conservative bill passed by the Legislature in the past two years, he is actively working to reshape the Legislature into something more aligned with his agenda.
What is the governor’s agenda? In short, more of the status quo. I’ve written before that Gov. Little seems to see himself as the manager of a system rather than the iconoclast many conservatives wish for. Many Idaho conservatives remain outraged over the way the governor handled the COVID-19 pandemic and have expressed frustration that he has not been more active in fighting culture war issues or rooting out waste, fraud, and abuse in Idaho government. Nevertheless, the economy continues to perform well, unemployment remains low, and Little’s approval rating is still north of 60%.
That dichotomy was on display in a hot mic recording released last week in which Little characterized supporters of gubernatorial challenger and Old State Saloon owner Mark Fitzpatrick as Californians who moved here within the last three years, some of whom, he said, were openly racist against Mexicans.
Other figures in the recording included farm and dairy lobbyists who defended the industry’s use of illegal migrant labor and denounced legislative attempts to hold employers accountable for hiring illegal immigrants. Austin Smith, a field director for the governor’s reelection campaign, indicated that he did not believe Little would have signed bills to combat illegal immigration had they reached his desk.
The video has energized opponents of the governor on social media, but it remains an open question whether or not it will impact the election. As of this writing, Gov. Little has raised just under $2 million for the 2026 campaign, while Fitzpatrick is nearing $200,000.
Both major factions in Idaho politics believe they are representing the people. The governor and his machine are connected to large industries, many of which claim to employ a substantial portion of Idaho’s working citizens and pay a significant amount of taxes. On the other side are what one could call the grassroots: ordinary people who have taken an interest in politics, especially after the COVID-19 lockdowns demonstrated how oppressive government could become. Fitzpatrick boasts endorsements from ten Idaho GOP county central committees, compared to none for Gov. Little. That reflects the zeal of the grassroots, who have become involved in party politics precisely because they believe the political system is controlled by big businesses and special interests.
There is also a regional component at work. The large rural counties in southeastern Idaho, which are economically dependent upon Big Ag and government subsidies, generally support the governor and his agenda, while those who make their living in other industries, or who have a more libertarian streak, tend to oppose him. Little was correct that many Fitzpatrick supporters are California transplants, but that reflects the fact that many people who have recently moved from blue states are more conservative than those who have lived here longer.
It’s ironic that, in a single audio clip, Gov. Little and his allies both denounced Idahoans who recently moved from California while defending the use of migrant labor from foreign nations. The same people who will call you racist for objecting to mass foreign migration will ridicule anyone who is not at least a fifth-generation Idahoan when it comes to local politics.
While the results of next Tuesday’s primary will be insightful, they will not end this factional battle. The contest between big government and small government, active government and passive government, corporatism and individualism, and progressivism and libertarianism will never end. Politics is a team sport, so teams will always coalesce and attempt to capture a majority capable of implementing their agenda. No matter what happens on May 19, conservatives must continue developing a positive vision for the future and do the work necessary to make that vision possible.
The two factions have competing visions for the future, in fact. The machine views stability and management as the most important functions of government, while the grassroots seek disruption and reform in order to preserve liberty. Conservatives must accept that the question is not whether politics is about power, but rather what we choose to do with the power that already exists. The liberty and prosperity of our grandchildren depend upon what we accomplish today, so let’s get to work.
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
If You’re Mad About the Scorecard, You’re Telling On Yourself
By: Stop Idaho RINOs
It’s been fun watching the reaction.
The “Votes With Dems” scorecard has been out there for a few weeks now, and the louder the pushback gets, the more the pushback itself becomes the story. Legislators are publishing counter-math. PACs are publishing fake investigations. Operatives are building entire websites accusing the scorecard of manufacturing numbers.
And mixed in with all of that, a whole other group has started showing up: Democrats and independents who want Republicans to know that being bipartisan is good and that we should focus on Idaho ideas instead of partisan voting records.
These are reasonable-sounding objections. They are also completely irrelevant.
The Idaho primary is closed. On purpose.
In Idaho, the Republican primary is closed. Only registered Republicans can vote in it. The election on May 19 is not a general election. It is not open to independents. It is not open to Democrats. It is the moment when registered Republicans, and only registered Republicans, decide which candidates carry the Republican label into November.
That is the entire reason a scorecard like this matters right now. It is information for the people who are about to make that decision. It is not addressed to independents. It is not addressed to Democrats. It is addressed to Republican voters, who are about to determine who represents the Republican Party in Idaho.
When someone who cannot vote in this primary tells Republicans how to evaluate Republican candidates, they are not making a neutral observation about civility. They are telling a club that they do not belong to how it should pick its members.
To the “bipartisanship is good” crowd
Let’s be honest about what bipartisanship means in Idaho.
There are roughly 15 Democrats in the entire Idaho House and Senate. Republicans hold a supermajority in both chambers and every statewide office. Idaho voters have made their preference clear in election after election: they want conservative governance.
In a state like this, “reaching across the aisle” is not statesmanship. It is Republicans with overwhelming numbers handing influence to a tiny minority that Idaho voters specifically rejected. There is no policy reason for it. There is no math reason for it. The Republican caucus has the votes to pass anything it actually wants to pass.
So when a Republican legislator votes with Democrats on a contested bill, it is not because Democratic support was needed. It is because that legislator agreed with the Democratic position over the Republican one. That is a choice. It is a choice voters are entitled to see and judge.
Bipartisanship is a virtue in a 50-50 legislature, where neither side can govern alone. Idaho is not that legislature. In Idaho, “bipartisanship” is a word legislators use to make their crossover votes sound like principle instead of preference.
The scorecard exists because Republican primary voters deserve to know the difference.
The pattern
Look at who is upset.
The legislators at the top of the scorecard. The PACs defending those legislators. The operatives building counter-sites and fake investigations. And a steady chorus of Democrats and independents explaining to Republicans that this kind of scorecard is divisive and unfair.
None of these people can vote in the Republican primary on May 19. But all of them are loud right now, and the volume tells you something.
The scorecard is making the right people uncomfortable. The legislators whose records will not survive scrutiny. The PACs whose business model is keeping those legislators in office. And the cross-party voters who would prefer Republicans pick the most moderate options available.
When that is the coalition pushing back, the scorecard is doing what it should.
The bottom line
Republican primary voters are about to make a decision. They deserve information. The scorecard publishes it. The methodology is one paragraph. The data is public.
If you can vote in the Republican primary on May 19, use it however you want. Agree with it, disagree with it, weigh it against everything else.
If you cannot vote in the Republican primary on May 19, you are welcome to your opinion. But your opinion is not the question this scorecard is trying to answer.
Republicans want Republicans to vote like Republicans. That is not extreme. That is not radical. That is not divisive.
When someone needs an ambulance, they want reliable, high-level care, and they want it fast. Bannock County is making moves to ensure everyone, regardless of where they live, gets access to that care.
The Current System: Volunteers with support from Pocatello paramedics
For decades, the Bannock County Ambulance District has contracted has contracted with the Pocatello Fire Department to provide EMS coverage for our rural residents using local volunteers within their respective communities.
The trained volunteers are stationed in Inkom, Downey, and Lava to provide Basic Life Support (BLS), which includes CPR, oxygen, and automated defibrillators. These volunteers have dedicated countless hours to helping their neighbors in need – leaving work, church, weddings, and family dinners to respond to emergency calls.
But when a stroke, heart attack, or severe trauma occurs, Advanced Life Support (ALS) is needed to provide the highest-level of emergency care, like heart monitoring, IVs, emergency medication administration, and advanced trauma care.
This system has worked, but with a few kinks.
First, volunteer reliability is declining, both nationally and locally, meaning BLS units aren’t always available for that initial response.
Second, the closest ALS unit to our southern communities is located in Pocatello — 30 minutes from Downey or Swan Lake.
Finally, the number of calls for EMS in Bannock County has increased by nearly 40% in the past five years.
So as volunteer availability declines and the need for high-level emergency care grows, it has become clear that something needs to change.
Three years ago, the search for a solution began. The goal: find a way to continue providing quality, reliable, and fast EMS care to all residents south of the Gap, without breaking the bank.
The New System: McCammon paramedics with support from volunteers
On April 30, the Bannock County Commissioners voted to establish a full-time paramedic crew who can provide ALS services at the McCammon Fire Station. The crew will serve everyone in and around McCammon, Inkom, Lava Hot Springs, Arimo, Downey, and Swan Lake.
By housing the paramedics in centrally-located McCammon, the wait time for that advanced level of care is cut dramatically:
3 minutes faster to Inkom
26 minutes faster to Lava
23 minutes faster to Downey
When lives are at stake, those minutes matter.
But these paramedics won’t be operating alone. The volunteer BLS crews in Downey and Lava Hot Springs will stay active to support the full-time crew when multiple calls happen at the same time. And while the ALS unit will be the primary responder, these volunteer crews will still be able to provide fast access to basic level of emergency care within their communities.
The Inkom volunteer unit will be retired due to declining availability of volunteers. However, those volunteers will have the opportunity to maintain their EMS affiliation by assisting the other crews, and the equipment used in Inkom will be repurposed for the McCammon crew.
Meanwhile, the Lava BLS unit is still struggling to recruit and retain volunteers as well. They currently have a 17.8% reliability rate for being available when 911 calls come in. So the Ambulance District is encouraging folks who live in or near Lava Hot Springs (and have a current EMT licensure or are interested in becoming licensed) to consider volunteering. You can complete the Volunteer Information Request form.
A Path Forward
The new system will begin operating in July 2026, with a target date of July 25th. In the meantime, the Ambulance District will begin hiring, training, and equipping the new crew while finalizing the specific details of how the new system will operate.
An exciting and long-awaited solution to ensuring the people of Bannock County know that help is just minutes away when they need it.
Three access gates within Idaho Fish and Game’s Portneuf Wildlife Management Area (WMA) will now open May 15 to allow for motorized vehicle travel on Robbers Roost Canyon Road, Bonneville Road, and the main road leading from the Quinn Creek parking area. Previously, these gates would not open until June 1 every year.
“This new opening date now aligns with the opening date used by the Forest Service for gates on the federal land neighboring the WMA,” said Curtis Hendricks, regional habitat manager for Idaho Fish and Game’s Southeast Region. “Consistency in opening dates will help reduce confusion and improve access for motorized travelers who enjoy recreating on both the WMA and adjacent public land.”
When are the gates closed to motorized traffic?
Though the opening date for these three gates on the WMA has moved up, the standard closing dates for these gates remain the same. The gates providing access to Robbers Roost Canyon and Bonneville Roads will continue to close to motorized travel on Nov. 15. The gate at the Quinn Creek parking area closes on Nov. 30, allowing extended motorized access for upland game hunters using that area of the WMA.
WMA visitors should also be aware that Robbers Roost Canyon Road is not recommended for travel by full-sized vehicles due to its narrow width and rough conditions. There is a last turnaround point approximately 1.5 miles past the gate. From there only motorized vehicles 50” wide or less are allowed to continue.
A sign posted next to a locked gate at the Quinn Creek parking area within the Portneuf WMA shows the new May 15 opening date for motorized travel on WMA roads.
Why does Idaho Fish and Game close gates to motorized travel on the Portneuf WMA during the winter and spring months?
This nearly 4,000-acre WMA is a key part of a mule deer winter range that wraps around the Portneuf Mountains from Inkom to Lava Hot Springs. The deep draws and brush covered slopes of the WMA provide both forage and security cover for mule deer and other wildlife such as sharp-tailed grouse and turkeys throughout the year, but its general western exposure provides superior habitat in the winter months.
Simply put, reducing disturbance by motorized vehicles helps protect our wintering wildlife seeking refuge at the Portneuf WMA. In fact, all visitors to the WMA in the winter and spring months should do their part to give wildlife their space.
What kinds of outdoor activities can be enjoyed at the Portneuf WMA?
Big game hunting, upland game hunting, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, bird watching, and even primitive camping can be part of anyone’s outdoor recreation experience at this beautiful WMA. For more information, including a map of the area, check out https://idfg.idaho.gov/visit/wma/portneuf or give the Southeast Region Fish and Game office a call at 208-232-4703.
Did you know?
During the 1860s, a stagecoach route passed through Portneuf Canyon linking Salt Lake City, Utah and Virginia City, Montana. The stage often carried gold from Montana mines to Salt Lake City banks. The narrow canyon and thick brush provided the perfect setting for stage robberies, and bandits flocked to the area to ambush gold-laden stages. The site’s popularity with men on the wrong side of the law eventually earned it the name “Robbers Roost.”
At the most basic level, lawmakers represent their constituents. At another level, they must work together to form majority coalitions to implement policy. Sometimes those two things conflict. Conservative activist from the Treasure Valley like me, for example, might look at the way eastern Idaho legislators vote and decide it’s time for a change and donate money to challengers running against incumbents. However, all the money in the world won’t make a difference if those challengers can’t win over the voters in their own district.
A style or argument that works in District 2 might not work in District 12, probably won’t in District 22, and surely won’t in District 32. Yet representatives from each of those districts, and all the rest in between, have equal standing in the Idaho Legislature. Those of us taking the long view face the difficult task of building a coalition from representatives and senators across 35 very distinct districts. It requires hard work, patience, and the wisdom to know when to compromise and when to hold the line.
This paradox gains another wrinkle when you consider that executive branch officers, including Gov. Brad Little, as well as other legislators, each have their own priorities that require building a Legislature capable of achieving them. It’s perfectly rational to expect legislators and executive officers to put their thumbs on the scales of legislative campaigns in hopes of building a coalition that suits them. Back in 2023, I wrote about how a PAC connected to the governor was spending big money against three senators in Canyon County—Tammy Nichols, Brian Lenney, and Chris Trakel:
So let’s connect some dots. Big corporations donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to the Idaho Inaugural Committee, also known as the Friends of Brad Little PAC. This PAC shares the same treasurer as Governor Little’s campaign, and received donations from members of his family. After the inauguration, the PAC delivered half a million dollars to the Idaho Victory Fund, which over the last year and a half has donated $340,000 to the Idaho Liberty PAC, which is spending money attacking Senators Trakel, Nichols, and Lenney.
This is clearly a well-established practice in Idaho politics, so I was surprised to see several political figures take to the pages of the Idaho Statesman this week to complain that Rep. Jordan Redman was funding legislative challengers:
Redman’s approach to the primary isn’t sitting well with those incumbents the committee has opposed. Guthrie told the Statesman that he called House Speaker Mike Moyle, R-Star, to express his “frustration and dismay” over the move.
“I guess it’d be great to have that kind of money to just try to buy elections that way,” Guthrie said. “I think it’s bad enough when it’s out-of-state money coming in to try to influence an election. But this is a sitting legislator that’s meddling in races in the other body against an incumbent.
“I am just pretty disappointed in that.
According to Idaho Sunshine, Sen. Jim Guthrie has received more than $60,000 in contributions this year, less than one-third of which came from individuals. He also received $1,000 apiece from the campaign committees of Sens. Van Burtenshaw, Treg Bernt, and Gov. Little. In yesterday’s Daily Digest on Substack, I wrote about how many of us on the right see things through an ideological lens, which can make it difficult to understand the actions of those with different motivations:
Yesterday, five of the seven statewide constitutional officers—Gov. Brad Little, Lt. Gov. Scott Bedke, Secretary of State Phil McGrane, Controller Brandon Woolf, and Superintendent Debbie Critchfield—expressed support for Sen. Jim Guthrie. To me, and presumably to many of you as well, that is mind-boggling. Guthrie voted with Democrats on numerous important issues, including keeping men out of women’s restrooms and protecting children from being socially transitioned without parental notification. He also boasted on the Senate floor this year that he voted against hundreds of millions of dollars in tax cuts. Yet Republicans in the executive branch still want to see him reelected.
Why?
It doesn’t make sense from an ideological perspective. But if you take ideology out of the equation, there is a certain logic to it. Guthrie has been around a long time and has surely built relationships with many of these figures. They probably know they can count on him to do what they believe needs to be done—even taking the blame for holding bills they would rather not see reach the Senate floor. How many favors have been traded over the past decade?
I believe that blind spot works both ways. Sen. Guthrie has taken very public stands against many conservative priorities, yet he’s outraged that fellow legislators would want him replaced. In his world, longevity, favors, and political access matter more than trifles like ideology. Indeed, he issued a not-so-veiled threat against Redman in the Statesman:
“If I’m reelected, it doesn’t mean I’ll be vindictive or anything, but it certainly — you would probably hold that individual at arm’s length and be a little bit more cautious on legislation going forward, because the trust factor has been compromised,” he said.
Rep. Stephanie Mickelsen took the pearl-clutching hypocrisy to a new level, however:
Based on the candidates the committee supported and opposed, Mickelsen assessed that Redman was working to move the Republican-dominated Legislature further to the right — in a way that would send a “bad message” to lawmakers.
“I think what it says is, ‘If you don’t vote exactly the way we want you to, then the next election, the next go-round, we’re going to come after you,’ ” she said. “I think voters across the state ought to be really concerned.”
Mickelsen’s complaint might carry more weight if her family farm had not donated the maximum $1,000 contribution to Christa Hazel, a proud Biden/Harris supporter running against conservative Rep. Elaine Price.
Consider a relatively new PAC, Hometown Heroes. Its donors include other groups, such as the Way Back PAC, registered in Wyoming, as well as the Healthcare Matters PAC and the International Association of Firefighters. Sen. Burtenshaw donated $2,500 to the PAC last month. Hometown Heroes has run ads supporting both incumbent candidates and challengers, such as Michael Collins, who is running against Rep. Kyle Harris in District 7. Yet I don’t see Guthrie or Mickelsen complaining that Burtenshaw is targeting incumbent legislators.
The fact that Rep. Redman contributed $350,000 of his own money to his PAC has seriously rankled moderate Republicans and even Democrats. Lauren Necochea, chairwoman of the Idaho Democratic Party, complained on X that Redman was supporting “far-right extremists.”
What does it mean when Jim Guthrie, Stephanie Mickelsen, and Lauren Necochea are all pushing the exact same narrative?
On the contrary, Redman’s contribution brings welcome balance to the world of Idaho politics, which has long been dominated by big money on the left. Over the past two years, left-leaning PACs including Defend and Protect Idaho, Take Back Idaho, and the PAC for Public Lands have received hundreds of thousands of dollars from Democrats, progressive organizations, and even moderate Republicans. Moderates in the GOP are further boosted by wealthy groups like Idaho Victory Fund and Idaho Liberty PAC, which are adjacent to Gov. Little, and the Idaho Majority Club, which alone has received nearly a quarter of a million dollars.
There are big-money PACs on the right as well, but many of them, such as the American Federation for Children, are much more narrowly focused. Many of the PACs and organizations in the political machine pass money back and forth among themselves, as well as through LLCs, obscuring exactly where the money originated. Perhaps that is Jordan Redman’s biggest sin in the eyes of rattled Republicans: rather than hiding his money behind LLCs and various PACs, he simply came right out and put his name on it.
I’ve been saying for years that conservatives need to build a machine capable of rivaling the one that produced Gov. Little. Has that day finally come?
The governor’s machine has been playing this game for a long time, and now its beneficiaries are angry that conservatives are learning to play too. The days of operating with unbalanced scales are over. If conservatives want to build a Legislature that will protect our values, keep government limited, and preserve liberty for our posterity, then this is how we do it.
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
Idaho Gov’t Agencies Stayed Quiet on 2023 Simplot Slurry Spill in Caribou-Targhee National Forest
By: Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities Co-Founder Heather Disselkoen
In 2023, the J.R. Simplot Company (Simplot) estimated 1,000 – 1,500 cubic yards (201,974 – 302,961 gallons) of phosphate ore slurry (powdered ore mixed with water and transported by pipeline) leaked into the Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF). Idaho government agencies remained largely silent, limiting public awareness.
Google searches produce no mainstream media accounts of the spill and only minimal special-interest coverage of the now-closed federal lawsuit, which resulted from the spill, leaving most Idaho citizens completely unaware.
The 2023-2025 events came to light through a $280M lawsuit filed by the Rasmussens, a ranching family, against: Simplot; the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA); Idaho Department of Environmental Quality (IDEQ); and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). This now-closed federal lawsuit (voluntarily dismissed by the parties) sought damages for alleged toxic contamination of Rasmussen cattle characterized in a 212-page complaint as “nothing short of an ecological disaster” in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest (CTNF). The following is information gathered from the 05/02/25 court complaint, exhibit documents, and related IDEQ public record documents. See Pocatello for the Accountable Government Entities’ webpage for the full court document and pictures at: http://www.pagefiles.org/spill.
In southeast Idaho, near the Wyoming border, Simplot operates the Smoky Canyon Mine (established in the mid-1980s). This mine refines phosphate ore, supplying approximately 1.7 million tons of phosphate ore slurry annually to the Pocatello Don Plant. The plant produces phosphate fertilizer, feed phosphates and industrial products. The slurry is transported 86 miles via an 8-inch underground pipeline, which crosses through the CTNF.
The historic Rasmussen Ranch has raised cattle and been in continuous operation in Idaho for over 154 years, spanning seven generations with one of the oldest brands recorded in Idaho (before Idaho statehood in 1890). It utilizes approximately 4,000 acres of CTNF on four grazing allotments plus the Rasmussens’ 700 private acres and 640 state-leased acres.
In May 2023, Simplot discovered an approximate “5-gallon” pipeline leak of phosphate ore slurry in the Caribou-Targhee National Forest and reported it to the U.S. Forest Service (USFS/CTNF). Later that summer, that spill volume was revised to an estimated 1,000 to 1,500 cubic yards.
A second leak occurred and was immediately repaired when Simplot workers accidentally breached the pipeline during excavation in July 2023 to replace 4,000 feet of pipe.
On 09/11/23, Rasmussen Ranch workers encountered a large quantity of dark substance in a dry creek bed while moving cattle. According to the court complaint, phosphate ore slurry had leaked and flowed 2.4 miles down the Hornet Canyon Creek drainage, aided by spring runoff, thereby contaminating both natural forage and water sources. The area of concern was in Unit 2 of the four (4) Rasmussen grazing allotments in the CTNF and is an area that “… includes a mountain stream ‘Hornet Creek’ which drops down a canyon from a high mountain ridge and feeds into a year-round waterway, Diamond Creek and its associated wetlands and riparian areas.” The Rasmussens reported their discovery only to learn that the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) had been aware of the May 2023 spill as reported by Simplot. An exhibit document indicates the Rasmussens expressed frustration with not being notified, since they asserted their cattle could have been redirected to avoid the leaked slurry.
Court filings indicate in October 2023, five months after the spill, Simplot and the USFS “…issued public notices about the slurry line leak with information about the incident as well as the current status of the ongoing issue.” Through a public record request I submitted, CTNF was unable to confirm the 10/04/23 USFS notice was posted on their website’s public information page. Public record requests to IDEQ, CTNF and the Governor’s Office for press releases about the slurry line leak yielded no records.
That same month, Simplot conducted cleanup and removal of slurry material on the lower half mile of Hornet Canyon and deployed sediment controls into Hornet Canyon Creek just above the confluence with Diamond Creek.”
From the information available, Simplot worked with the various Idaho agencies to try to clean up the spill to the extent possible. The spill ultimately resulted in two Notices of Non-Compliance (NONC) being issued to Simplot. One by CTNF dated 09/01/23 and the second by IDEQ, dated 03/26/24, for “illegal unpermitted discharge to waters of the US under the CWA section 301.” (Exhibit 26). Neither of these notices were publicly posted. And, when the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) issued a Facebook notice on 04/15/24 stating Simplot was approved to conduct replacement and maintenance operations to a slurry line within the forest, resulting in temporary road closures, the public notice made no mention of the spill contributing to this maintenance.
After two years of ongoing efforts to reach a resolution, the Rasmussens filed a formal $280M complaint/lawsuit on 05/02/25 against Simplot and the ISDA (which is over the CTNF), IDEQ and the federal EPA, seeking damages for alleged toxic contamination of their cattle caused by this major phosphate ore slurry spill. According to the court filing, “… virtually all the Rasmussen’s cattle exposed to the Slurry and the calves born to these cattle which were tested demonstrated high levels of metal contaminants particularly in the kidneys, as well as signs of distress from the effects of the toxicity.” It also highlights that these tests “conducted under the direction of ISDA’s animal health and safety division were provided to Simplot, the USFS, and the IDEQ, but were never referenced or included in any reports prepared and submitted in relation to the spill.” Plaintiffs included in their lawsuit their estimated 15-year revenue loss of $29.5M plus $250M in punitive damages from alleged willful disregard by Simplot in their response and management of a substantial toxic slurry leak.
Soon after, the plaintiffs filed a motion for emergency injunctive relief to order 740 cattle (alleged to be contaminated) to be condemned/disposed of by Simplot, but on 06/30/25, the judge denied the motion. The judge’s reasoning for the denial, in part, sought to preserve the cattle as evidence for potential retesting. The Rasmussens asserted they could not risk putting contaminated/affected cattle into the open market for consumption or breeding. The judge ruled that for the duration of the litigation, Simplot must (financially) maintain/care for the cattle.
Weeks later, on 07/29/25, a “Notice of Voluntary Dismissal” was filed by the plaintiffs, preceded by a defendant-filed “Stipulation of Dismissal with Prejudice”, quietly ending the entire case on 07/30/25.
The lawsuit raises legitimate questions.
-What happened with these alleged contaminated cattle?
-Why was the slurry spill kept largely quiet from public awareness by Idaho agencies? Why were there no press releases?
-Why did the regulatory agencies rely almost entirely upon Simplot to conduct its own investigation and report their findings? Isn’t independent verification the responsibility of regulatory agencies?
-Despite snowpack and remoteness of the canyon, upon notification of the slurry spill, did USFS/CTNF fail to verify the quantity of the spill using available inputs (i.e. diameter of pipe, 1500 psi, the quarter sized hole, slurry density, etc.) and to take timely action to mitigate/slow the spread of the phosphate ore slurry, ultimately allowing material to travel approximately 2.4 miles into public forest land and waterways?
The public is not served when information about public land/water is kept from them. We deserve honest, timely reports of incidents and answers to these questions.
BLACKFOOT, IDAHO – Idaho State Police is investigating a two-vehicle crash that occurred at 12:30 p.m. on May 11, 2026, at 450 West and State Highway 39.
A 65-year-old female from Blackfoot was traveling southbound on State Highway 39 in a Dodge van. The female drove left of center and collided with a Peterbilt semi pulling a Western Trailers trailer that was traveling northbound on State Highway 39.
The driver of the van was transported by ground ambulance to a local hospital. The driver of the Peterbilt semi, a 65-year-old male, was not injured.
The driver of the van was not wearing a seatbelt. The driver of the semi was wearing a seatbelt.
The roadway was blocked for approximately 5 hours.
The crash remains under investigation by the Idaho State Police.
As the growing season gets underway, Marshall Public Library (MPL) is once again partnering with The Idaho Foodbank for its annual “Garden to Give” program, helping connect excess garden produce with families in need.
The program encourages community members to donate surplus fruits, vegetables, and herbs from their gardens. Donations can be dropped off at the library, where they will be collected and transported to The Idaho Foodbank.
Since launching in 2019, the program has provided several hundred pounds of fresh, locally grown produce each year, helping reduce waste while supporting those in need throughout the community.
“People’s gardens often produce more than they and their neighbors can use, and it’s easy to drop off the extra when they’re visiting the library,” said MPL Public Services Supervisor Amy Azzouzat. “It saves an extra trip and helps get fresh produce to community members who need it most.”
As summer approaches and gardens begin to flourish, residents are encouraged to share their extra harvest. MPL will accept donations from June through October.
For more information about the “Garden to Give” program, please contact MPL at 208-232-1263, visit marshallpl.org, or stop by the Library at 113 South Garfield Avenue.
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is the policy of the City of Pocatello to offer its public programs, services, and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities. If you are disabled and require an accommodation, please contact Skyler Beebe with two (2) business days’ advance notice at sbeebe@pocatello.gov; 208.234.6248; or 5815 South 5th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho. Advance notification within this guideline will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility.
(U.S. State Department Press Release, May 11, 2026; Cover image credit: White House FB)
The United States did not participate in the International Migration Review Forum and will not support the May 8 “progress” declaration.
The United States has persistently objected to the United Nations’ efforts to advocate and facilitate replacement immigration in the United States and across the broader West. In 2017, President Trump rejected the Global Compact on Migration. The intervening years have confirmed the wisdom of that opposition.
As Secretary Rubio said, opening our doors to mass migration was a grave mistake that threatens the cohesion of our societies and the future of our peoples. In recent years, Americans witnessed first-hand how mass immigration laid waste to our communities: crime and chaos at the border, states of emergency in major cities, and billions of taxpayer dollars funneled towards hotels, plane tickets, cell phones and cash cards for migrants. Much of this was driven by UN agencies and their partners, which did not just facilitate the invasion of our country, but proceeded to redistribute our own people’s wealth and resources to millions of foreigners from the worst corners of the world.
There was nothing “safe,” “orderly,” or “regular” about any of this. And the costs were borne primarily by working Americans forced to compete for scarce jobs, housing, and social services. The UN has little to say about them.
President Trump is focused on the interests of Americans, not foreigners or globalist bureaucrats. The United States will not support a process that imposes, overtly or by stealth, guidelines, standards, or commitments that constrain the American people’s sovereign, democratic right to make decisions in the best interests of our country.
Our goal is not to “manage” migration, but to foster remigration.
