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Ski Ingram: A Veteran’s Thoughts – Domestic Tranquility

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September 15, 2026

A Veteran’s Thoughts
Domestic Tranquility

By: Ski Ingram

When you read the Democratic Party’s platform or the Democratic Socialist’s (DSA) platform you will find that they want to eliminate the Senate, abolish ICE, give all illegal aliens amnesty, end all deportations, abolish the police and prisons, establish a wealth tax, pass the Green New Deal, reform the Supreme Court, and defund the war in Iran. This should make clear to every American that the DSA wishes to fundamentally change the country into something none of us would recognize.

Whenever an elected official takes office he or she puts their hand on a Bible or a Q’uran and promises to “protect and defend the Constitution of the United States,” which includes the second principle listed in the Preamble to our Constitution, which is “Domestic Tranquility”. They are pledging to adhere to the Constitution and do all they can to promote the principles of our Democratic Republic.

“Domestic” in this sense refers to our country and everything that goes on within it. That includes all the work, the industry, social activities, everything that affects our lives. The word “tranquility” means having a sense of peace, order, and calm. The use of the word “insure” means to protect, uphold and preserve these rights for all Americans. So, domestic tranquility as used in the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution, guarantees that citizens are protected and that they enjoy a lawful environment. It charges the federal government with the duty to protect that right for us.

Domestic tranquility is important to a free society. It guarantees that people are free to conduct their lives in peace. Without domestic tranquility there is no way to prevent conflict and social breakdown. Without it there can be no justice. Without it the government cannot promote the general welfare and secure the blessings of liberty.

Remember the words of Thomas Paine from his pamphlet “American Crisis” written in 1776, “These are the times that try men’s souls.” What I see today is chaos. I see a country in crisis. There is little tranquility when “woke” District Attorneys ignore laws and refuse to prosecute criminals for their crimes. The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) party is attempting to rewrite the Constitution and fundamentally change the country in everything they do and promote.

We have the responsibility to remember these things when we go to vote in November. Do not be fooled by politicians who have said they want to defund the police and ICE, and now are trying to walk those statements back, hoping that we will forget their past speeches. They do not have our best interests at heart. They are not concerned about you or preserving your domestic tranquility. Human nature does not like chaos, upheaval, turmoil, or confusion and that is what we are experiencing in America today. I do not see a place that feels safe and secure so there can be no domestic tranquility.

Today we have high inflation, high crime, high gas prices, and the eroding of many of our rights, such as free speech. I see the Democratic Socialists doing everything in their power to destroy our Constitution. All of these erode our confidence and our tranquility, which is their intent

I believe our Constitution was inspired by God and written by men who loved mankind and believed that God would bless America. I have faith that most Americans believe this same thing. I also believe that it’s a very small minority who believe otherwise. It is just unfortunate that they receive most of the press leaving us with the impression that there are more of them, than us, the patriotic American.

It is only two short months before the mid-term elections. We must be unwavering in our belief that America is the best country on earth. We must continue to fight for our Constitution and our way of life, so I urge you to vote for the candidates who love America as much as you do.

Ski Ingram, a combat veteran, can be reached at Ski@Skiingram.com or www.Skiingram.com

Pocatello: Road Closure and Traffic Report for Week of September 14, 2026

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Observer Staff
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(Photo Credit: City of Pocatello)

September 14, 2026 (Cover Photo Credit: City of Pocatello)

The City of Pocatello’s Road Construction & Traffic Report for the week of September 14, 2026, has been published and may be read here.

Highlights include:

  • Street sweepers are currently performing their regular sweeping schedule.
  • The Street Services crew will be patching potholes and curb lines throughout the City.
  • Traffic Operations crews are repainting crosswalks throughout the City.
  • Crews will be jetting and cleaning sewer mainlines throughout the City.
  • Street Services will be milling and paving sections of Gray Ave, E Griffith Rd, and Willard Ave.
  • The Water Department will be working on the water mains on Gray Ave, Howard Ave, and W Wyeth St.
  • Demolition of the Monarch Building continues.
  • Work continues on the Benton Street Bridge, Johny Creek’s Expanded Sewer Project, the Center Street Underpass, and the safety improvements in the area of Hiline Rd. and El Rancho Blvd.
  • Fruitwood Lane will be closed between Indian Tree Lane & Old Ranch Road from 5:00 PM to 9:00 PM on Saturday, September 19, for a Block Party.
  • E Lewis St will be closed between S 7th and S 8th Ave from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM on Sunday, September 20, for a Harvest Sunday event.
  • South Garfield Avenue between Center Street and West Lewis Street will be closed from 2 PM to 9 PM on Mondays for Curbside Cravings.
  • South Garfield Avenue between Center Street and West Lewis Street will be closed from 6 AM to 3 PM every Saturday for the Portneuf Valley Farmers Market.

State Tax Relief Drops PCSD 25 Supplemental Levy Rate to $0 for Second Year

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Observer Staff
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(Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25 Press Release, September 14, 2026)

POCATELLO, ID— For the second consecutive year, state property tax relief will fully offset Pocatello/Chubbuck School District 25’s voter-approved Supplemental Levy, resulting in a $0 local property tax rate for the levy in 2026.

PCSD 25 received $10,789,319 in state property tax relief this year, an increase of approximately $665,000 over last year. The funding fully covers the district’s $8.25 million Supplemental Levy and provides additional relief that further reduces PCSD 25’s overall local property tax collections.

The $0 tax rate does not mean the Supplemental Levy has gone away. The $8.25 million annual levy remains in place and is up for renewal on Tuesday, November 3. The levy has been community-supported since 1949—more than 75 years.

State Relief Further Reduces Local Property Tax Collections

For 2026, PCSD 25’s local voter-approved levies totaled $15,592,985. After applying $10,789,319 in state property tax relief, the amount levied locally is estimated at $4,495,909, down from $5,188,916 in 2025.

The district’s overall levy rate is also estimated to decline from 0.000581891 in 2025 to 0.000516820 in 2026. The percentage of an individual property owner’s total property tax bill attributable to PCSD 25 will be known in December.

Superintendent Douglas Howell expressed appreciation for the continued investment in property tax relief.

“We appreciate the Legislature’s continued investment in property tax relief for Idahoans. For the second consecutive year, this funding provides meaningful savings for local property owners while maintaining important resources that support our learners, staff and schools.”

The Voter-Approved Supplemental Levy Remains an Important Source of Local Funding

While state property tax relief has reduced the local Supplemental Levy rate to $0 for two consecutive years, the relief does not eliminate the voter-approved levy. Instead, state funds are offsetting the amount that otherwise would have been collected locally for the levy.

The Supplemental Levy has been community-supported since 1949—more than 75 years—and has long provided local funding to help bridge the gap between state and federal funding and the cost of maintaining educational services in PCSD 25. The current levy provides $8.25 million annually and funded approximately 8 percent of PCSD 25’s operating costs for the 2025–2026 school year.

PCSD 25’s current Supplemental Levy expires June 30, 2027. Voters will consider renewing the existing $8.25 million annual levy for two years on November 3, 2026. The amount requested remains unchanged from the previous renewal.

The estimated tax impact required for ballot disclosure does not assume future state property tax relief. State property tax relief reduced PCSD 25’s Supplemental Levy rate to $0 in both 2025 and 2026, but future state relief is determined separately and is not guaranteed.

What the Supplemental Levy Supports

The $8.25 million Supplemental Levy supports six areas of district operations:

  • Classroom Instruction — $4.25 million: Salaries and benefits for teachers, paraprofessionals, administrators and support staff, as well as maintaining class sizes.
  • Safe & Well-Maintained Schools — $1.375 million: Daily custodial services, clean classrooms and healthy learning environments.
  • Teaching & Learning Resources — $1.1 million: Textbooks, classroom supplies, curriculum materials and instructional resources.
  • Technology & Instructional Support — $750,000: Instructional software, classroom technology, technology support staff and teacher training.
  • School Safety — $575,000: School Resource Officers, safety technology and safe school environments.
  • Learning Beyond the Classroom — $200,000: Regional academic, athletic, music, CTE and student competition participation, activity advisors and supervision.

Commitment to Responsible Financial Stewardship

PCSD 25 remains committed to transparent and responsible financial stewardship and to helping taxpayers understand how state funding, local levies and property tax relief work together to support local schools.

State property tax relief has significantly reduced the amount PCSD 25 collects locally in recent years. The amount levied locally has declined from approximately $10.4 million in 2023 to an estimated $4.5 million in 2026.

The district will continue to communicate clearly with the community about local tax impacts, state property tax relief and the November 3 Supplemental Levy renewal election.

For more information about the Supplemental Levy renewal and local tax impact, visit www.sd25.us/elections.

USAF Officer Rescued in Iran Last Spring Shares Story

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Observer Staff
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An F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to 366th Fighter Wing, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, takes off from Nellis AFB, Nevada, Oct. 19, 2023. The F-15E is a dual-role fighter aircraft designed to perform air-to-air and air-to-ground missions. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jose Miguel T. Tamondong)

(White House Communication Office Press Release, September 14, 2026; Cover photo credit: USAF)

For the first time, a U.S. Air Force officer shot down over Iran — mission call sign DUDE 44 Bravo — told America his story. In an exclusive 60 Minutes interview, Bravo delivered a powerful account of survival, faith, and combat leadership — a testament to the unmatched bravery of our nation’s warfighters and to the Trump Administration’s renewed focus on readiness, lethality, and standards.

In April, after their F-15E Strike Eagle went down deep inside Iran, Bravo and his pilot, DUDE 44 Alpha, ejected — landing miles apart behind enemy lines. What followed was one of the most daring rescue operations in modern military history, culminating in Bravo’s Easter Sunday rescue.

  • “Given the terrain that I faced, I think you’d find it surprising what I was able to go to overcome given those injuries — but I did it because of the WARRIOR ETHOS that we talk about. My airmen that we led in theater had months of hearing of the importance of warrior ethos and how we are going to apply it — and I saw them apply that in the lead up to the conflict, during the conflict, night after night with unprecedented threats against them, and yet they’re doing their job at a way that no one would have thought possible. I owed it to them to show the same warrior ethos in my situation and walk the same walk that I’ve been talking for months.” (Watch)
  • “It’s hard to describe the depth of my gratitude, not just for those who came to get me but for millions of Americans that were supporting me… It’s important for America to hear what we’re capable of and remember that there are thousands of Americans that are out protecting us and defending us every day.” (Watch)
  • “This is not a story about what I went through. Instead, it’s a story of the teamwork, the training, of the faith, of the decisions, the leadership, to do something that will live in history as an example of what America is willing to do in order to uphold our promise and leave no man behind.” (Watch)

No American lives were lost and both aviators came home. This is this Administration’s promise in action: fight to win, hold the line on standards, and never leave our people behind.

AG Labrador Defends Parents’ Right to Raise Their Children

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Observer Staff
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(Attorney General’s Office Press Release, September 14, 2026)

Boise–Attorney General Raúl Labrador is defending the fundamental right of parents to direct the upbringing of their children, urging the Ninth Circuit to affirm a federal district court ruling against California policies that allow public schools to facilitate a child’s gender identity and social transition and actively conceal it from their parents.

Idaho joined Florida and 15 other states in filing an amicus brief in Mirabelli v. Bonta, arguing that parental rights are among the oldest and most established fundamental rights recognized by American law. The brief asks the Ninth Circuit to recognize that those rights extend to parents’ ability to make lawful decisions concerning their children’s education, care, and well-being.

“Children suffering from gender dysphoria deserve understanding, compassion, and competent mental health support,” said Attorney General Labrador. “The last thing they need is to have the state and schools drive a cruel wedge between a child and their parents at a time when that child needs the guidance of their parents the most.”

The case involves California policies that allow public schools to withhold information about a student’s gender expression from parents, protect school officials who refuse to disclose that information, and prohibit schools from requiring parental notification concerning a student’s social transition.

The brief reads: “Whereas a “child may balk at hospitalization or complain about a parental refusal to provide cosmetic surgery,” (Parham, 442 U.S.) a parent typically will know better and should have the “authority to decide what is best for the child.” (Id. at 604.) That basic right is only more pressing when the ideology pushed by schools ignores basic reality about the two sexes and further confuses innocent and impressionable children.”

The states also warn that California’s approach is part of a growing national problem. The brief cites evidence that more than 1,200 school districts have adopted policies allowing schools to facilitate a child’s social transition without parental knowledge, potentially affecting approximately 12.3 million public-school students.

Idaho and the other states urge the Ninth Circuit to affirm the district court and protect parental rights nationwide.

Pocatello Man Dies in Crash with Elk near Utah Border

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Observer Staff
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(Idaho State Police Press Release, September 15, 2026)

ONEIDA COUNTY, IDAHO – Idaho State Police is investigating a single-vehicle fatality crash that occurred on September 14th, 2026, at approximately 09:27 p.m., northbound on I-15 near milepost 0.3, just north of Portage, Utah.

A 2022 BMW Z4, driven by a 66-year-old male from Pocatello, Idaho, was travelling northbound on I-15. The BMW collided with an elk that was in the roadway.

The driver succumbed to his injuries on scene. It was unknown if he was wearing a seat belt.

Both northbound lanes were blocked for approximately an hour for responders before opening the right lane. The left lane remained closed for approximately another two and a half hours.

Idaho State Police was assisted by Oneida County Sheriff’s Office, Oneida County EMS, and Idaho Transportation Department.

Guest Columnist Brian Lenney: Why the “Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act” Doesn’t Actually Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media

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Observer Staff
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September 2, 2026

Why the “Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act” Doesn’t Actually Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media
The bill they sold you on protecting all kids doesn’t protect all kids

By: Brian Lenney

You might have seen the headline in April. Something about finally making social media companies stop hurting kids.

If you’re a mom, you probably felt some kind of relief. Finally. Somebody did something.

But they didn’t.

The bill is called the Stop Harms from Addictive Social Media Act (SHASM, if you want the acronym). Idaho signed it April 2. South Carolina passed it in May. Minnesota passed it this spring, almost unanimously.

Its sponsors said the day it was signed that the law tells social media companies they “can no longer get away with addicting our children.”

In March, a Minnesota committee was told the bill “protects all teens and kids on social media.” All teens and kids on social media.

That’s the sentence I need to talk about, because it isn’t true, and the reason is sitting in the bill itself: the new law only applies to companies that make at least $1 billion a year selling ads.

That’s the entire test for whether a platform has to follow this new law.

  • Do you sell a billion dollars in ads? Then yes.
  • Do you make your money some other way? Then no.

The law never asks whether kids get hurt on a platform. It asks how the platform makes money.

Roblox isn’t covered by this new law.

Because they don’t sell ads for a living. They sell Robux, the little currency your kid begs you for. Kids buy Robux, game developers take a cut, Roblox keeps the rest. Last year that came to $4.9 billion in revenue and nearly $7 billion in bookings.

So how much of that was ad revenue?

In its February letter to shareholders, the company describes its ad revenue as modest, and then says it monetizes a young user base “without significant reliance on advertising.”

They wrote that to investors as a selling point. It is also the exact reason this law can’t touch them. The law asks how you make your money. Roblox put the answer in writing, and the answer was: not ads.

So Roblox isn’t covered. The new law has nothing to say about it. Not one line.

Now look at what else is happening with Roblox right now.

Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton sued the company last fall, accusing it of putting “pixel pedophiles and corporate profit” ahead of kids’ safety. Tennessee’s attorney general sued in December and called Roblox the digital equivalent of a creepy cargo van. Louisiana, Kentucky, Florida, Oklahoma, and Iowa have all filed lawsuits too. So has Los Angeles County. There’s a big federal case in California pulling a lot of these claims together.

These are lawsuits filed by the top law enforcement officer in seven states, saying adults are using this platform to get to children. Yes, the law that was supposed to protect all kids on social media doesn’t protect kids on Roblox.

Discord gets a pass too.

It’s the chat app where a lot of the grooming cases start. And it’s named in that same federal case alongside Roblox.

If you made a list of places where American kids get approached by adults who shouldn’t be approaching them, Discord is on the first page of it.

But this new law doesn’t touch them.

Because Discord makes its money on subscriptions (no real ad business).

Telegram is a messaging app that made $125 million on ads in the first half of last year, out of $870 million total. Untouched.

Then there are the AI companion apps, the chatbots kids talk to for hours at a time. They sell subscriptions, not ads. Texas opened an investigation into Character.AI last year over what those bots were telling children about their own mental health.

The new law doesn’t touch them.

So who does this new bill actually cover?

Facebook and Instagram. TikTok. YouTube. Snapchat. Reddit and Pinterest too.

It’s the ad-funded giants. Every one of them is already getting sued by somebody, already dragged in front of Congress, already in every documentary your sister-in-law forwards you. They were getting regulated with or without this law.

And the next one won’t be covered either.

Not because it’ll be too small. But because of where the money comes from.

The apps kids are moving to sell subscriptions, or currency, or a battle pass, or a premium tier with a better chatbot. Ads are how the last generation of platforms made money. Whatever your kid finds in 18 months will have figured out something else, and this law won’t touch them.

It just reaches the apps kids are leaving.

Sadly, these bills are coming from conservatives.

Not from the left. From us.

And they pass by numbers that should embarrass everyone involved: 62 to 7 in the Idaho House, 132 to 2 in the Minnesota House, 66 to nothing in their Senate.

That happens the same way every time. A bill arrives with a title no one can vote against. Somebody says it will “help the kids.” And at that point the hard questions stop getting asked out loud, because asking who this actually covers, in public, on the record, sounds like you’re soft on the thing in the title.

So nobody asks (well, almost nobody).

The vote is lopsided, everyone goes home feeling like they did something, and the check on all of it, the part where a conservative reads the text and asks what it really does, gets left at the door.

So it passes, and it reaches you as a news story that says a new law protects kids online, next to a photo of a governor with a pen. The money rule never makes the article. It isn’t hidden either. It’s the fourth definition in the Idaho bill, on page two.

So what you walk away with is a feeling. Relief.

“The legislature protected my kids!”

Except they didn’t. That’s just what got sold. Because a mom who knows the law doesn’t cover Roblox and Discord keeps checking the iPad. But a mom who was told the law “protects all teens and kids on social media” relaxes.

The distance between those two moms is exactly where a kid gets hurt, on a platform seven attorneys general are suing right now, that this law doesn’t cover and was never going to cover.

It says a billion dollars in ad sales. Roblox told its own investors it doesn’t rely on ad sales… but the promise went out to millions of parents anyway.

One more thing worth knowing: the apps it does cover may not survive court. Laws like this have already been struck down in Arkansas, Utah, Ohio, Texas, Louisiana, and Virginia.

Nobody has even sued over this one yet.

So, here’s what tonight actually looks like:

  • Your kid opens Roblox at 9 p.m. – Not protected
  • Switches to Discord at 10 p.m. – Not protected
  • Gets a friend request from someone who says he’s 14 – Not protected
  • Finds whatever social media app gets built next spring – Not protected

This has been law in Idaho since July 1. It’s been in effect for two months. Your kid opened Roblox last night anyway, and he’ll open it again tonight, and nothing in Chapter 21 of the Idaho Code has a word to say about it.

There will be lawsuits, deadlines, compliance reports.

But none of that is tonight.

Because tonight:

  • You decide whether there’s a phone
  • You decide what’s on it
  • You decide where it charges overnight (and it isn’t the bedroom)
  • You pay for the Wi-Fi and the router has a settings page (you’re allowed to use it)

Your authority covers Roblox. It covers Discord, Snapchat, and the app that hasn’t been invented yet. It doesn’t have a money rule, it doesn’t have an effective date, and no judge anywhere can throw it out.

It’s also the only thing on this whole page that works tonight.

No bill makes you a good parent or protects your kids on social media. Not this one, not a better-written one, not the federal version coming behind it.

Only involved parents protect kids.

Guest Columnist Brian Almon: Our Byzantine Bureaucracy

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Observer Staff
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(Image Credit: Gem State Chronicle)

September 12, 2026 (Cover Image Credit: Gem State Chronicle)

Our Byzantine Bureaucracy

By: Gem State Chronicle Publisher Brian Almon

Brian Almon

The Idaho State Capitol is a visible reminder of the existence of our state government. It houses the office of the governor, as well as the lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, and state treasurer. It is home to the State Senate and State House of Representatives. It is one of the most recognizable buildings in the state. Yet there are quite a few other buildings that house our state government. In fact, there are so many scattered throughout not only Boise, but the entire state, that it would be impossible to house them in a single structure.

Over the past week or so, I have been building the State Agencies section of Idaho Insider, collecting as much information about the offices and personnel that run the day-to-day operations of our government. Depending on your definitions, there are anywhere from 20 to 200 state agencies. These agencies were not all created at the same time by the same lawmakers; rather, they were created, modified, consolidated, and reorganized over the course of Idaho’s 163-year history. There is bound to be a little chaos in such a system, which is why every few years governors, legislators, and activists attempt to reform it. The last major reformation of Idaho government was in the 1970s, but last year’s legislative DOGE Task Force examined numerous ideas.

Screenshot of the Gem State Chronicle / Idaho Insider "State Agencies" hub page.

First, recall that there are three branches of government: executive, legislative, and judicial. What I colloquially call the “bureaucracy” exists within the executive branch. Idaho has seven elected executive officers: governor, lieutenant governor, secretary of state, state controller, state treasurer, attorney general, and superintendent of public instruction. Nearly all of the agencies that I refer to as the bureaucracy report to the governor. This government website has a pretty good interactive organizational chart.

There are currently 19 cabinet-level departments in the executive branch of Idaho’s government. (We’ll get to why that number is special in a moment.) These departments are each headed by a director who is either appointed by the governor, and requires Senate confirmation, or hired by a board that is appointed by the governor. In 2026, the Legislature passed a law transferring appointment authority for the directors of the Idaho Transportation Department, Department of Parks and Recreation, and the Department of Fish and Game from each agency’s respective board to the governor. I wrote about that debate earlier this year.

The cabinet-level departments are:

You might wonder why Corrections and Juvenile Corrections are two entirely separate departments. Juvenile Corrections was made its own department in 1995 by splitting it not from IDOC, but from DHW, based on the idea that it should be focused more on rehabilitation than punishment.

There are a few other unique things to point out, for example, the director of the Military Division has the title adjutant general, and also serves as the commanding general of the Idaho National Guard. Major General Timothy Donnellan currently holds that position.

The State Board of Education (eight members appointed by the governor, plus the current superintendent of public instruction) oversees policies for both K-12 and higher education; however, the Department of Education exists in the Office of the State Superintendent, so there’s surely a bit of overlap there.

So why is 19 such an important number? Back in the 1970s, Idaho amended our state constitution to cap the number of executive departments at 20. This was presumably meant to limit the growth of government, but government—like life, as Jeff Goldblum said in Jurassic Park—finds a way. Around the same time that the Legislature approved the amendment, it also passed legislation creating a Department of Self-Governing Agencies, essentially a placeholder for more than a dozen additional offices. Current Idaho Code recognizes 20 such self-governing agencies:

There are some things that jump out from this list as well. The Board of Examiners is not really a separate office, but the governor, secretary of state, and attorney general—with the state controller serving as ex officio secretary—acting in a special capacity to examine claims against the state. Its website is nested under the Office of the State Controller.

The Idaho State Bar operates under the Idaho Supreme Court, so it’s more of a judicial branch agency than executive.

The Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses (DOPL) is an umbrella office for between 44 and 51 separate boards that oversee occupational licensing in fields as varied as medicine, HVAC maintenance, and aesthetics. Why don’t I have a precise number? DOPL itself was only created about six years ago to bring all of those separate boards under one roof. Since then, the Legislature has been consolidating some of them, such as integrating the Board of Midwifery into the Board of Nursing in 2024 and combining the Board of Dentistry and the Board of Denturity earlier this year.

There are other commodities commissions, including those related to barley, hops, and mint, that do not appear to fall under the purview of Self-Governing Agencies. These appear to exist somewhere in the orbit of the Department of Agriculture instead, but the precise structure is not clear to me.

Finally, there are numerous agencies and offices that are organized under the Office of the Governor. For example, the Commission on the Arts, the Division of Financial Management, the Office of Information Technology Services, the Military Division, the Liquor Division, and the Office of Drug Policy all fall under this umbrella.

Agencies can sometimes share personnel, even directors. Dean Cameron has long served as director of the Department of Insurance, but he also took over as interim director of the Department of Health and Welfare after Dave Jeppeson resigned in 2023. Andrew Arulanandam serves as director for both the Liquor Division and the Lottery, which makes me think he deserves some special title like Minister of Vice.

The first step in figuring out how to account for all of these departments, divisions, agencies, offices, boards, and commissions is deciding how to categorize them. As I mentioned earlier, Idaho.gov has a great organizational chart, but it doesn’t include everything, such as the commodities commissions, and it’s slightly behind, as it does not reflect the merger of the Office of Species Conservation, Office of Energy and Mineral Resources, and the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) into one new agency—the Office of Species, Minerals and Energy Coordination (OSMEC)—during the last legislative session.

The Idaho Blue Book is a great source of authority for categorizing government agencies. Published every few years since the 1930s by the Secretary of State’s office, the Blue Book presents a snapshot of all three branches of Idaho’s government, as well as trivia such as the state flower, how elections work, and more. It shows 19 “Departments of State” and 17 “Self-Governing Agencies”. Of those, nine are commodities commissions, such as the Beef Council and the Potato Commission. However, the Blue Book does not go into detail about the agencies directly under the Office of the Governor.

The final authoritative source for the structure of state government is the budget. The FY2027 Legislative Fiscal Report details how all of these state agencies are funded, often nesting sub-agencies and subdivisions beneath larger offices. However, agencies like the commodities commissions that aren’t funded via legislative appropriations won’t show up here.

The genesis of this idea to add state agencies to Idaho Insider came a year ago when I sat in a Capitol hearing room watching the DOGE Task Force proceedings. Not only were legislators—some of them longtime veterans—not fully aware of the breadth of our state government, even the experts who testified had to defer questions about it for further research. Our state bureaucracy has developed over the course of more than a century as lawmakers add, move, change, and consolidate offices and agencies every session. Sometimes the Legislature isn’t even involved—the original Office of Energy Resources was created by an executive order from Gov. Cecil Andrus in 1975 in the wake of the OPEC oil embargo. It was occasionally renewed (and renamed) by governors over the years until finally codified by the Legislature in 2026 as part of OSMEC.

Why am I spending so much time on this? If I—someone who has been intensely following Idaho politics for nearly half a decade now—find the structure of state government confusing, then what about those who are busy with life but still want to make a difference in state and local politics? It’s one thing for conservatives to demand change, demand reform, demand smaller government. But until we come up with concrete steps to actually accomplish those goals, we’re just shouting into the wind. The purpose of Idaho Insider is to give you tools to make a difference. Use these new pages to become more familiar with the offices that run the day-to-day operations of state government, so that you can come to your legislators prepared with concrete ideas for reforming them.

The State Agencies hub is nearly complete; I just have to finish up the self-governing commodities commissions, then decide what to do with some of the stray agencies and subagencies. Check it out and let me know what you think!

About Brian Almon

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

The Simpson Standard: Remember Charlie Kirk and 9/11

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Observer Staff
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(U.S. Representative Mike Simpson, September 13, 2026)

America changed forever when nearly 3,000 innocent Americans were killed in the terrorist attacks twenty-five years ago. Those lost were fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, friends, colleagues, and more. This week, I cosponsored a resolution to commemorate the anniversary and honor the lives lost on that solemn day.

I would be remiss not to mention a great American, Charlie Kirk, who was senselessly killed one year ago. Charlie was a husband, a father, and a friend to many. He loved his country. We must strive to continue his legacy by having conversations with one another and promoting free speech.

As always, if you have any questions or concerns, you can contact my office. I strive to represent Idaho to the best of my ability, and hearing from you allows me to do just that. I’m looking forward to returning to DC for a busy and productive week ahead.

Remembering 9/11

We will never forget September 11th, 2001.

The tragedy, loss, and fear brought Americans together, and we stood united. For many of us, there was a country before 9/11 and a country after. But as every year goes on, we must ensure that our future generations never forget that solemn day. May they never forget the heroic actions of the first responders and brave civilians who stepped in to help, the families who suffered an unimaginable loss, or the lessons learned to prevent history from repeating itself.

25 years later, we remember and honor those lost and the sacrifices made. May God continue to comfort those in need and bless our great nation.

Honoring Charlie Kirk’s Legacy

Since Charlie Kirk’s tragic death, I have been proud to support and cosponsor congressional resolutions honoring his life and legacy.

  • Speaker Johnson’s resolution to honor his legacy.
  • Mary Miller’s resolution to condemn the assassination.

As we continue to mourn one year later, Americans can take comfort in knowing his life will never be forgotten, and his memory will continue to inspire future generations. 

Patriots for Liberty and Constitution to Continue Discussing “The American Covenant” TODAY, September 14

By
Observer Staff
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0
Patriots for Liberty and Constitution

September 14, 2026

Pocatello–Local book group “Patriots for Liberty & Constitution” plans to meet this evening as usual.  The members plan to begin discussing Chapter 2 of Marshall Foster’s book, The American Covenant.

A PDF of the book is available for download here.

Patriots for Liberty & Constitution meets at Mountain Valley Baptist Church, 202 S. 7th Avenue in Pocatello, every Monday evening at 6:30.

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