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Pro-2A Letter Writer Backs David Worley for Idaho Senate

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Observer Staff
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May 16, 2026

Liberal Republicans often wait until they are in a position of influence before exposing an anti-gun agenda.  One of Idaho’s prominent adversaries of Constitutional Carry, former Representative Rich Wills, was massacred at the ballot box by Christy Zito in 2016, just two months after claiming Idaho was the “Wild West” with Constitutional Carry.  Perhaps it should surprise no one that Wills later came out in favor of multiple Democrat Party Pet Projects, most infamously backing Prop 1 in 2024.  Senator Guthrie, who has now served sixteen years in the Idaho Senate, fits this Rich Wills mold.

Here are a few examples of Senator Guthrie’s interference with pro-Gun Rights legislation:

Idaho’s “Parade Ban” Infringement: In 2024, Senators Foreman and Herndon introduced S1240, which would have removed the section of Idaho Code that prohibits a group of private citizens from carrying guns in a group setting or from parading with them. The “Militia Parade Ban” dates back to 1927 and is a relic of the Al Capone era of gun battles between the Mob and the Federal Government.

Pro-gun advocates can’t get a repeal of this statute through Guthrie’s committee because of his “drawer-veto” power, as was the case in 2024.  Senate Bill 1240 never got a public hearing.

Gun Free Zones: In the 2024 Legislative Session, H415 was introduced.  It progressed through the House and was transmitted to the Senate.  This bill would have allowed teachers with Enhanced Concealed Carry Permits to defend Idaho Public Schools, just like the bill that the State of Tennessee recently passed.  H415 would have hardened our schools.

As an alternative, Chairman Guthrie introduced S1418 that would have required yearly training for school staff and faculty and would have authorized a local school board to cancel the program.  S1418 was voted down in Guthrie’s committee on a 4 to 5 vote, while H415 never progressed past Guthrie’s “drawer-veto”.

Concealed Carry: In 2024 two bills that attempted to expand concealed carry rights were assigned to the Senate State Affairs Committee.  There, they received “drawer-veto” treatment by Chairman Guthrie without even a public hearing.  S1228, authored by Senator Foreman, would have allowed for concealed carry on Idaho’s colleges and universities.  S1310, authored by Senator Herndon, would have allowed for concealed carry at private events held at locations leased, rented, loaned, etc. from a public entity.  Neither bill got a public hearing as Chairman Guthrie did not allow them to advance to the next step.

Vote David Worley. There is an alternative to Chairman Guthrie’s “drawer-veto” that has been killing gun rights legislation: it is Mr. David Worley, who is challenging Guthrie in the May 19 GOP Primary.

Worley is a Pro-2A Conservative and a career armed services soldier who considers a gun a “tool in the toolbox”.  Please vote for David Worley on May 19th.

-Devin Miller

Guest Columnist Chris Schnitzler: Voters Deserve Honesty, Not Gaslighting

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Observer Staff
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May 11, 2026

Voters Deserve Honesty, Not Gaslighting

By: Chris Schnitzler, Candidate for Bannock County Commissioner

Voters deserve honest answers when candidates are campaigning.  Unfortunately, it is not something that they usually get.  Politicians work themselves into all kinds of knots in their attempts to obscure their records.

Case in point:  Sitting Commissioner Jeff Hough’s recent post on his Facebook page where he stated, “I’ve been your Commissioner for six years.  In that time, we cut your property tax levy by $15 per $100,000 of value.”  This is a classic example of misdirection.

Having worked in real estate for many years, I know a bit about property taxes and how they’re calculated.  The levy rate, which he claims to have lowered, is a calculated number, derived by taking the budget set by a taxing authority and dividing it by the total taxable value of properties within the district that are subject to assessment.

The county commissioners play a part in setting only one of the two numbers used in determining the tax levy: the amount they plan to spend. Hough’s record over the last six years in county spending shows that the levy rate changed in spite of his and his colleagues continued spending increases.  In FY 2021, the portion of Bannock County spending attributable to property taxes was (after adjusting for the Governor’s public safety grant subsidy of $4.9M) $27.8 million.  In the current fiscal year 2026, that number is now $31.3 million…an increase of $3.5 million.  In fact, there was only one year in which the portion of spending attributable to property tax by the county declined.  It was in FY 2024, when fiscal hawk John Crowder was commissioner and was able to push through his agenda of putting taxpayers first…without defunding seniors, veterans, the homeless and others…and without giving himself a 14.5% raise, as the commissioners did this year.

So, why did the levy rate decrease? It’s because of the denominator in the levy rate calculation.  From 2021 to 2025, the latest year for which numbers are available, the total taxable assessed value of property in Bannock County went from $5.5 Billion to $10.3 Billion.  It was the increase in property values that drove the reduction in the levy rate…not Hough’s increased spending, which worked in the opposite direction.

The important number for property taxes isn’t the levy rate; it’s what you actually pay in taxes.  One of my friends recently shared how the annual county property taxes that she and her husband pay have increased from $1355 per year to $1783 over the last five years.  That’s an increase of 32%, and that number is directly related to the commissioners’ spending.

I’m running for Bannock County Commissioner to bring back an honest and transparent government that works for the citizens of Bannock County, not one that tries to gaslight them.  If that’s something that you value, I’d be honored to have your vote on May 19.

 

AG Labrador Meets with U.S. Attorney General, FBI Director at White House for National Police Week

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Observer Staff
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(Attorney General’s Office Press Release, May 15, 2026)

BOISE, ID — Attorney General Raúl Labrador traveled to Washington, D.C. this week to participate in a National Police Week roundtable at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building alongside Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche and FBI Director Kash Patel. The roundtable brought together attorneys general and law enforcement leaders from across the country to discuss public safety and federal support for state and local agencies.

Attorney General Labrador used the opportunity to highlight the exceptional work of Idaho’s sheriffs, county prosecutors, police departments, and Idaho State Police in protecting communities across the state. He also discussed the work of his Idaho Internet Crimes Against Children Unit, which coordinates with dozens of federal, state, and local agencies to investigate and prosecute those who exploit children online.

Labrador also requested support from the administration in Idaho’s efforts to combat human trafficking. Earlier this year, the Idaho Legislature granted the Attorney General’s office new authority to investigate and prosecute human trafficking cases referred by state and local law enforcement agencies. Both Blanche and Patel were very receptive to finding ways to support that mission and work together.

“Idaho’s sheriffs, county prosecutors, and police officers do outstanding work protecting our families, and I was honored to represent and advocate for them at the White House this week,” said Attorney General Labrador. “I also made clear that we need federal support in our fight against human trafficking and the exploitation of children, which knows no state or local borders. The Trump Administration heard us, and I look forward to building on that conversation.”

National Police Week, observed May 10-16, honors officers killed in the line of duty and recognizes law enforcement communities across the country.

INL Leads Testing of Next-Generation Power Lines for a More Resilient Power Grid

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Observer Staff
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(INL Press Release, May 15, 2026)

(IDAHO FALLS, Idaho) – The Idaho National Laboratory has published results from more than 50 evaluations of next-generation advanced conductors on a new public website. The site gives utilities, manufacturers and industry partners open access to credible, standards-based performance data on advanced conductors for the first time.

Building power lines from advanced conductors — high-performance materials designed to carry electricity more efficiently — is one solution to address threats to electric grid stability and national security. These threats include surging energy demand, aging power infrastructure, rapid load growth and increasingly extreme weather.

The website provides the results of independent testing that shows how advanced conductors perform under extreme conditions including wildfire temperatures, ice loading and mechanical fatigue. The data will help utilities reduce technical risk and make informed investment decisions as they choose advanced conductors that will maintain operations during high-demand events, reducing the risk of cascading grid failures.

“INL is testing advanced conductors donated by utility partners because upgrading power lines requires credible, verifiable results,” said Jake Gentle, a senior technical manager at INL. “INL is generating objective evidence that helps utilities reduce technical risk, make investment decisions and adopt advanced conductors with confidence to add capacity and improve the reliability of existing transmission corridors.”

Testing for extreme conditions

INL partnered with the Department of Energy’s Office of Electricity; Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security and Emergency Response; the National Electric Energy Testing Research and Application Center; and the Electric Power Research Institute to conduct four categories of tests:

  • INL’s wildfire simulation chamber uses propane to reach temperatures up to 1,900 degrees Celsius (3,452 degrees Fahrenheit), well above the 1,200 degrees C (2,192 degrees F) that wildfires can reach, to test how conductors hold up to extreme heat.

  • Ice-load and cold-climate testing chambers assess how conductors perform in extreme cold, with chambers reaching minus 70 degrees C (minus 94 degrees F).

  • Mechanical testing provides aging assessments and evaluates tensile strength, fatigue and stretching.

  • Fully instrumented installation testing assesses performance in both standard and extreme environments.

Recent work includes assessment of how different conductor types withstand wildfires and physical stress and development of a new testing method to address challenges unique to advanced conductors.

Industry context

To complement the test data, INL maintains the Advanced Conductor Scan Report, a practical guide that shows where U.S. power lines can be upgraded and how utilities are using advanced conductors. The report also helps utilities plan projects, justify costs and improve grid reliability.

Industry partners also asked INL to develop installation training as part of a broader effort to strengthen the grid. INL’s 890-square-mile research and development Site includes facilities such as the Power Grid Test Bed, the Critical Infrastructure Test Range Complex, the Modular Power Systems Testbed and the new Energy Technology Proving Ground, which provide opportunities for hands-on training, testing and validation of new technologies.

Future work

Upcoming work covers ice-load and wildfire testing of protective devices such as wildlife diverters, conductor wraps and utility pole wraps. INL also plans to present recommendations to the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Standards Committee for potential integration into national standards.

Learn more: inl.gov/national-security/advanced-grid-solutions/advanced-conductor-testing

About Idaho National Laboratory
Battelle Energy Alliance manages INL for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Nuclear Energy. INL is the nation’s center for nuclear energy research and development, and also performs research in each of DOE’s strategic goal areas: energy, national security, science and the environment. For more information, visit www.inl.gov. Follow us on social media: Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X.

This Week’s Job Openings at Bannock County

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Observer Staff
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(Bannock County HR, May 15, 2026)

Deputy Sheriff – Detention
Bannock County – Pocatello
Read the full job description:  CLICK HERE!

Accountant & Payroll Specialist
Bannock County – Pocatello
Read the full job description:  CLICK HERE!

Seasonal Laborer
Bannock County – Pocatello
Read the full job description:  CLICK HERE!

Appraisal Data Analyst I and II
Bannock County – Pocatello
Read the full job description:  CLICK HERE!

Deputy Prosecutor III
Bannock County – Pocatello
Read the full job description:  CLICK HERE!

Assistant Parks Coordinator
Bannock County – Pocatello
Read the full job description:  CLICK HERE!

Maintenance Technician, Level 2
Bannock County – Pocatello
Read the full job description:  CLICK HERE!

Accounts Payable Technician – Deputy Auditor
Bannock County – Pocatello
Read the full job description:  CLICK HERE!

For a complete list of available jobs… please visit our career site at: https://bannockcounty.applicantpro.com

Guest Columnist Brian Parsons: Common Sense & the Appeal To Consensus Fallacy

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Observer Staff
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May 12, 2026

Common Sense & the Appeal To Consensus Fallacy

By: Brian Parsons

“If peeing your pants is cool, consider me Miles Davis.” – Gladys O’Connor, Billy Madison

In the 1995 film Billy Madison, starring Adam Sandler, Sandler plays a spoiled nepo baby dropout with no aspirations other than to inherit his rich father’s business.  When faced with his father’s impending retirement, Sandler strikes a deal with his father that he will return to school from the beginning and inherit the keys to the kingdom upon graduation.  During one famous scene, Sandler is on a 3rd-grade field trip when one of his classmates wets himself and hides in a corner to mask his shame.  To soften the classmates’ embarrassment, Sandler splashes his own pants with water and then proclaims to the 3rd grade that peeing your pants is actually cool.  What follows is the entire class peeing themselves to not be left out.

Aside from this scene being absurd, the moral of this story is that consensus is often a desirable but foolish goal.  Every ridiculous trend throughout history finds its appeal in consensus.  Consensus is not based on the worthiness of an idea, but merely that an idea is coveted by many.  This is the logical fallacy known as the Consensus Fallacy.

I’ve discussed it elsewhere, but the Consensus Fallacy is perfectly demonstrated in the 1950s experiments by psychologist Solomon Asch. Asch’s experiments placed a group of individuals in a room with one unwitting participant and then tasked the supporting cast with uniformly agreeing on the wrong answers to the questions.  What Asch’s experiments showed is that an individual will often deny reality to conform to public sentiment, not to be cast out as a pariah.

The Consensus Fallacy is why the political season sees a flood of candidate signs, creating the appearance of mass public appeal.  If everyone supports this candidate, you don’t want to be the odd one out, do you?  This is why candidates adopt monickers like “Common Sense.”  The objective is to create the illusion that, like you, a candidate or set of candidates is in possession of shared values, without naming or describing those values.  It’s common sense, you see!

The problem with using “Common Sense” as an electable quality is that common sense is rarely common and often nonsense.  The subjective nature of common sense says that it can mean whatever you need it to mean.  There is no declaration of shared ideals.  It is merely a “trust me, bro” variety of statement.  “If you put me in office, you can be assured that I will make the correct vote according to my inherent rightness.”

The good news for Idaho voters, Republican ones in particular, is that the Idaho GOP Central Committee took the guesswork out of the process.  They publish their shared values in the Idaho Republican Party Platform and then ask candidates seeking the Republican nomination to self-identify with them.  If a candidate voluntarily declined, and instead runs on a “Common Sense” platform, you can be assured that those candidates don’t share your conservative values and are instead asking you to “trust me, bro.” A quick review of their voting records will show that, unlike common sense, this is objectively true.

Brian Parsons is a locally and nationally published columnist and the current vice chair of the Bannock County Republican Party. He’s a proud husband and father, saved by Grace, and an unabashed paleoconservative. You can follow him at WithdrawConsent.org or find his opinion columns at the American Thinker, in the Idaho State Journal or in other regional publications.

Guest Column – ID GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon: It’s Time to Vote

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Observer Staff
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May 14, 2026 (Cover image credit: IDGOP FB)

It’s Time to Vote

By: Dorothy Moon, IDGOP Chairwoman

Dorothy Moon, Chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party

Voting is one of the most important privileges citizens have in our republican system, but it’s not enough to cast your ballot in the General Election. Here in Idaho, whoever wins in May almost always wins in November. Next Tuesday is your opportunity to have a say in the direction of our society, and I implore you not to take it for granted.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve explained how to identify candidates who truly believe in conservative and Republican principles, why the Idaho GOP asks candidates to sign the Integrity in Affiliation form, why it’s important to call out dishonest campaign materials, and why voters must step up and participate in our society. Now, with the election only days away, it’s time to turn those words into action.

The purpose of the primary election is to build a team of Republicans to take on the Democrats in November and then carry out the will of the voters next year. Choosing a strong slate of nominees is just as important—if not more important—than showing up to vote in the fall.

Folks, you have to realize what time it is. The leader of the Democrats in Congress promised “maximum warfare, everywhere, all the time.” The radical left has declared war on our history, our values, and our families, and will stop at nothing to impose its twisted Marxist system on our country.

This is a battle we must fight, but our weapons are ballots, not guns. Next Tuesday, we have the awesome responsibility of selecting the Republican team that will go to Boise and Washington, DC, to fight for faith, family, and freedom.

Don’t sit this one out. Next week, you will choose who represents us in Congress, in the Senate, and in the House of Representatives. These men and women make decisions every day that impact our entire country. You will also choose who represents us in the Statehouse. Over the past few years, Republican lawmakers in Idaho have led on medical freedom, school choice, tax cuts, right-sizing the state budget, rooting out DEI in public colleges, and protecting women’s spaces from men playing dress-up.

Let’s keep that momentum growing. Not only must we elect Republicans, we must elect the right kind of Republicans—those who are honest with voters and who stand for the enduring values that made America and Idaho great in the first place. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter how many mailers, television commercials, or text messages you receive. The power to decide who represents you in government belongs to you, the citizen voter of Idaho.

If you haven’t already voted early or by mail, please make a plan to vote on Tuesday, May 19. The future of Idaho depends on it.

BLM Reminds Public Lands Visitors to Be Bear Aware as Spring and Summer Bear Activity Increases

By
Observer Staff
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Grizzly Bears, Photo by Taylor Bunn

(Bureau of Land Management Press Release, May 14, 2026)

WASHINGTON — The Bureau of Land Management is reminding visitors to take extra precautions in bear country after recent bear incidents in several national parks.

Spring and early summer are periods of increased bear activity. Bears may be moving through habitat, searching for food or protecting cubs. Public lands visitors can reduce the chance of a dangerous encounter by staying alert, hiking in groups, making noise in low-visibility areas, storing food and trash properly and never approaching bears.

“Public lands managed by the BLM are wild places, and wildlife safety is visitor safety,” said BLM Acting Director Bill Groffy. “Simple actions, like giving bears space, securing food and knowing what to do before you enter bear country, can protect visitors and bears.”

Core safety reminders include:

  • Never approach a bear
  • Stay alert and avoid headphones on trails
  • Hike in groups when possible
  • Make noise near streams, dense vegetation and blind corners
  • Store food, trash and scented items properly
  • Carry bear spray where recommended and allowed
  • Never run from a bear
  • Remember: Bear deterrents like spray and firearms are tools, not substitutes for common sense

If you encounter a bear, stay calm, speak in a steady voice, back away slowly and do not make sudden movements. Visitors should report bear encounters to BLM field offices as soon as it is safe to do so.

The BLM manages about 245 million acres of public land located primarily in 12 western states, including Alaska, on behalf of the American people. The BLM also administers 700 million acres of subsurface mineral estate throughout the nation. Our mission is to sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of America’s public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

Gov. Little Comments on Strong Revenue Outlook for State

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Observer Staff
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(Photo Credit: Karyn Simmons)

(Governor’s Office Press Release, May 14, 2026)

Boise, Idaho – Governor Brad Little commented [Thursday] on the news that Idaho state revenues exceeded projections for the month of April and are on track to end the fiscal year with a balanced budget.

“Idaho’s strong revenues are a testament to our growing economy, and in Idaho the government lives within the means of the taxpayers. We made responsible decisions to rein in spending, protect our balanced budget, and keep Idaho on strong financial footing. At the same time, we are continuing to invest in the priorities that secure Idaho’s long-term success — strong schools, reliable infrastructure, water projects, and public safety. Fiscal discipline and strategic investments are how Idaho will continue leading the nation in good government and a high quality of life,” Governor Little said.

PHS Grad Abigail Allen Selected as District 5 Recipient for Idaho Association of Counties Scholarship

By
Observer Staff
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(Bannock County Press Release, May 14, 2026)

BANNOCK COUNTY, Idaho – Abigail Allen, a sophomore at Montana State University and the child of deputy at the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office, has been awarded one of seven Idaho Association of Counties (IAC) Scholarships. She will receive $1,000 to support her college education in becoming a nurse anesthetist.

Allen graduated in 2025 from Pocatello High School with High Honors. This year’s recipients were selected from a competitive pool of 56 applicants. Allen is the recipient for the 5th District of IAC, which also includes Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida, and Power Counties.

The IAC Scholarship Fund was established to provide financial assistance to the children of county employees, as well as the children or grandchildren of county elected officials, who are enrolled full-time in a college, university, or vocational/technical program. The fund is supported through personal contributions from county elected officials and employees, along with fundraising efforts.

This marks the 23rd year the IAC has awarded scholarships. Thanks to the continued support of county officials, employees, and corporate sponsors, the IAC Scholarship Fund has awarded 178 scholarships since 2003.

Abigail Allen and Sheriff Tony Manu smile for a photo with the award certificate at the Bannock County Sheriff’s Office (Photo credit: Bannock County)
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The Pocatello Chubbuck Observer seeks to be a fair and objective portal, where readers can find the local, regional and national news, recent facts and entertainment.
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