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Idaho Secretary of State: A Veterans Day Reflection on What We Inherit

By
Karyn Simmons
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(Idaho Secretary of State, November 11, 2026)

I have been through countless Election Days. None began like this one.

Several weeks ago, the Kilroy Coffee Klatch, a group of Idaho veterans, asked me to speak on the morning of Election Day, and I hesitated. Election Day is unpredictable, and I never know what challenges might crop up as hundreds of thousands of Idahoans head to the polls. By the time I arrived at the Warhawk Air Museum last Tuesday, I’d already spent much of the morning putting out fires. Part of me wondered whether I should be there at all.

Yet, as I stood before more than 400 veterans, the stress of the morning fell away. This was exactly where I needed to be.

I spend a lot of time and energy encouraging Idahoans to vote. I talk about close elections and how every vote counts. I talk about the decisions that shape our communities and the legacy of our nation’s founders in the year of America’s 250th anniversary.

Standing in that room, surrounded by men and women who had served our country across generations and branches of the military, I felt the weight of what we have inherited. America has been through periods of intense disagreement and struggle before. The people in that room had served through many of them. Whatever the challenges of their time, they had taken responsibility for protecting a country that would outlast them.

Later that day, my three kids came with me to my polling place, so I could cast my own ballot. My oldest asked if she could follow me to the voting booth. She wanted to know who I was voting for, what the issues were, and why I’d made those choices. It was a small moment in a very long day, but it made me pause.

From the veterans who packed that room to my daughter asking questions at the voting booth, I found myself thinking about how much we receive from people who came before us, and how much those who follow will depend on what we do now.

Voting is about making our voices heard. It’s about choosing the direction of our communities and our state. But it’s also about sharing what has been passed down to us and recognizing our responsibility to maintain and to pass along.

I’m grateful I said yes to that Election Day invitation.

To all our veterans, Thank You for Your Service. You have helped protect a country that each of us has a responsibility to care for and pass along.

Phil McGrane

ABOUT SECRETARY PHIL McGRANE

Phil McGrane was elected Idaho’s twenty-eighth Secretary of State and took office on January 2, 2023. McGrane served as elected Clerk of Ada County from 2019-2022.McGrane holds a bachelor’s degree in philosophy, a juris doctorate, and a Master of Public Administration. As a fourth-generation Idahoan, Phil has dedicated his career to making elections in the state of Idaho accessible, secure and transparent.

Mountain America Credit Union, ISU Bengals Raise $13K To Provide New Coats and Shoes for Idaho Kids

By
Observer Staff
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(MACU Newsroom, November 10, 2026)

Mountain America Credit Union recently donated $13,000 to Operation Warm through its partnership with Idaho State University (ISU) football, turning every Bengals first down this season into support for local children. Representatives from Mountain America presented the donation on the field during the November 7 game. The funds will provide new coats and shoes to children throughout Idaho.

“Hundreds of Idaho kids will be able to enjoy new coats and shoes that fit thanks to every first down the ISU Bengals picked up this season,” said Rob Brough, chief marketing officer at Mountain America Credit Union. “Every time the team moves the chains, it means another child gets a little warmer. That’s a scoreboard we love watching.”

How long has Mountain America been supporting Operation Warm? Since 2019, Mountain America has helped Operation Warm outfit kids across the credit union’s footprint. With this season’s donation, the credit union’s total contributions have reached nearly $190,000.

“A new coat or a pair of shoes tells a child that someone is looking out for them,” said Grace Sica, executive director of Operation Warm. “Thanks to Mountain America Credit Union and Idaho State University, the Bengals’ success on the field is making a real difference for Idaho families. Go Bengals!”

Where can I learn more? For more information about Operation Warm, visit operationwarm.org.

Guest Columnist Rep. Heather Scott: What Can I Do Here in Idaho?

By
Observer Staff
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November 10, 2026

What Can I Do Here in Idaho?

By: Idaho Representative Heather Scott

Three days after the November 3rd election I received an email from a woman I had met earlier this summer. The questions in her email prompted me to write this newsletter today.

Here is what she wrote:

Who’s our leader now? Where do we go from here? What can I do here in Idaho to keep us a free state and prepare for federal overreach?

There will be no shortage of analysis, opinions, and arguments about the November 3rd election and what it means for our country. Many hours will be spent looking backward trying to explain what really happened, honest or other.

But her question reminded me of something important. While we may not be able to control everything happening at the national level, we are not powerless. And I believe that Idaho is one of the most important places in America right now.

We still have something here that much of America has lost or allowed to be weakened: strong local communities, independent people, families who know their neighbors, small businesses, churches, volunteers, and citizens who are still willing to step up when something needs to be done. We need to recognize the value of that and work to protect and strengthen it.

And that brings me back to her question: What can we do right here in Idaho to help keep Idaho free?

I picked up the phone and called this woman. During our conversation, I told her about a handout I created over 6 years ago that is still relevant today: 101 Things You Can Do. I created this list because I have always believed that too many people underestimate the power they still have. When things aren’t going well, it is easy to focus on what everyone else should be doing. We wait for Washington to fix things. We wait for the Governor, the Legislature, the next election, or the next great leader to come along and save the day. Showing up once a year doesn’t keep our Republic.

Two days after our conversation, just 5 days after the election, I received this email from the same woman:

I love this!!! Not because she had completed some enormous political task, but because she understood the point. She didn’t wait for permission. She didn’t wait for someone else to organize her. She didn’t sit around complaining about everything that was wrong in the country. She simply started where she was and began doing something.

That is exactly what I believe we need more of right now. Freedom isn’t preserved by people sitting on the sidelines waiting for someone else to do the work.

My 101 Things You Can Do handout was created around a simple idea: the people still have enormous power when they are willing to use it. The list shares ways citizens can get involved locally, understand their rights, know their elected officials, attend meetings, support local businesses, build relationships, mentor young people, volunteer, and learn how government actually works.

I believe one of the most important things we can do right now is build networks within our own communities. Get to know your neighbors. Find people who care about the same things you care about. Get together regularly. Talk about what is happening. Share information and ideas. Help one another. Learn together.

You don’t have to agree on every issue to build a strong community. In fact, you probably won’t. But when people develop relationships and learn to work together, they are no longer isolated when a problem arises. When it is time to stand up, speak out, help a neighbor, challenge a bad policy, or protect something important, there is strength in knowing you are not standing alone.

We have become far too disconnected from one another and, in many ways, too dependent on institutions and government to solve every problem. But government cannot replace community. A politician cannot replace a strong family. A government program cannot replace a good neighbor. And one elected official, even one who is fighting as hard as possible, cannot accomplish what thousands of engaged citizens can accomplish when they decide to take responsibility for their own communities.

So, to those of you who are discouraged today, my message is simple: don’t give up. Go local.

Take a break from the national noise and look around your own community. Who is making decisions that affect your family? What is happening in your local schools? What is your county doing? Who represents you in your taxing districts? What businesses are you supporting? Do you know your neighbors? And perhaps most importantly, what can you bring together?

Take the 101 Things You Can Do Challenge. Don’t just read the list, choose something and do it. Pick one thing, and then another. Better yet, gather some friends and make it something you do together. Meet once a month and choose something from the list to accomplish as a group.

We cannot control everything happening in Washington, D.C., but we have far more influence than most people realize over what happens in our own communities. If Idaho is going to remain the unique place we all love, it will not happen because we elected one perfect person or won one perfect election. It will happen because Idahoans refuse to become spectators.

It will happen because ordinary people take responsibility. It will happen because we build strong communities and strong networks of people who are willing to stand together. And it will happen because we remember that we are not powerless.

Please don’t sit back and wait for someone else to save Idaho. Idaho is ours to protect.

And there is no better time than now to get started.

In Liberty,

Rep. Heather Scott

Ambulance District Officials Request Inclusion of $1.77M Levy Override on Bannock County’s May 2027 Ballot

By
Observer Staff
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(Pocatello for Accountable Government Entities, November 11, 2026)

On 11/05/26, Pocatello Fire Chief and administrator of the Bannock County Ambulance District, Shane Grow, asked the Bannock County commissioners to place a levy-override measure on the May 2027 ballot to fund one additional ALS ambulance to be stationed in Chubbuck.
Grow said the district’s call volume rose from about 5,362 calls in 2011 to roughly 10,058 in fiscal year 2026 — a rise he described as about an 88% increase since the last levy override.
The proposed levy was reported by Fire Chief Grow to translate to about $40 per $100,000 of assessed value (current county figures shown to commissioners were about $22.89 per $100,000) and estimated to provide approximately $1,773,000 in new annual revenue to cover staffing, maintenance, supplies and training.
Outlined planned uses include hiring six new paramedics (~$750,000), two positions to complete McCammon staffing (~$250,000), vehicle maintenance, training and one-time capital purchases (new-vehicle and equipment). He also said the district would use federal Ground Emergency Medical Transportation (GEMT) reimbursements as an offset when available but stated those funds are variable and dependent on call volume, etc.
Commissioners did not vote on the levy; they asked for additional supporting data (population-growth figures since 2011, reserve balances, and a clearer breakdown of one-time versus ongoing costs) before deciding whether to formally place the measure on the ballot. The Commissioners expressed general support for adding capacity to the county’s north end.
The levy override request is anticipated to return to a Bannock County Commissioner’s agenda in about a month for additional clarification on dispatch-cost proposals, etc. and further discussion.
Commissioners also briefly mentioned the ongoing, lack of an updated contract. The County/Ambulance District have been operating on an expired contract since approximately 2017. A new contract is anticipated to complete legal review this month.
11/05/26 Video of Presentation to Commissioners:

11/05/26 Agenda:

https://www.bannockcounty.gov/…/20261105-BOCC-Work…

Pocatello Veterans Day Parade Map & Parking Information

By
Observer Staff
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(Pocatello Police Department Community Announcement, November 12, 2026)

Pocatello–Help keep people safe and have fun at the Pocatello Veterans Day Parade starting at 11am. Please do not park along the parade route after 8am on November 14th, 2026. Parking along the route will be in violation of the no parking signage and presents a sight obstruction and endangers those in attendance. (City code 10.30.080).

Guest Columnist Jeff Pierson: Idaho’s Farmland and Public Lands Are not Industrial Wastelands

By
Observer Staff
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November 9, 2026

Idaho’s Farmland and Public Lands Are not Industrial Wastelands
Before sacrificing productive farmland or public lands, developers should be required to demonstrate that they have seriously considered suitable industrial sites

By: Jeff Pierson

Idaho’s farmland, public lands, and residential areas are not industrial wastelands!

There are better places to put massive data centers and renewable energy projects (hyperscale infrastructure) than productive farmland, locations within a few miles of residential neighborhoods, public lands, or over regional aquifers.

Look for alternatives

Before sacrificing productive farmland or public lands, developers should be required to demonstrate that they have seriously considered suitable industrial sites, such as brownfields, military bases, or abandoned industrial zones.

Not every alternative will work, but protecting valuable land should be a priority, not an afterthought. Developers should also be required to clarify the purpose of the project and whom it serves. There are important uses for AI and data centers, but there are also a lot of uses that do more harm than good.

The harm is know and can be irreversible

Once thousands of acres are covered with concrete, roads, power infrastructure, server buildings, steel, solar panels, or wind turbines, restoring that land is neither easy nor inexpensive.

Experts have said that it could take 30 to 70 years or more for public lands to recover AFTER a project is properly removed. Sagebrush, plants, animals, and soil require decades to fully recover, and some may never return.

Farmland occupied by industrial-scale solar installations, wind turbines, or data centers may not return to its original agricultural productivity after those facilities are removed.

Construction and demolition can damage soil structure, increase compaction, disrupt drainage, and alter or destroy productive topsoil. Scientific research documents persistent agricultural impairment following wind farm construction, while USDA and university agricultural guidance identify significant restoration challenges associated with solar facilities.

Complete recovery is possible in some circumstances, but it is not guaranteed, and available research does not establish how frequently heavily disturbed sites recover their original productivity.

The science behind recovery

The USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service identifies soil compaction, erosion, water ponding, contamination, and loss of organic matter as concerns associated with utility-scale solar projects.
The August 2024 environmental impact report for the Gilroy Data Center in California provides a particularly relevant example.
A Purdue University study examined soil and crop damage at two Indiana wind farms.
North Carolina State University’s Cooperative Extension specifically addresses whether farmland can return to agricultural production after a solar installation is removed.
* The USDA’s 2025 conservation guidance further recognizes that removing solar infrastructure can itself produce substantial soil compaction, erosion, and vegetation damage (Read More)

There is limited farmland available in southern Idaho.

Southern Idaho soils are considered some of the best in the nation.

Dedicating hundreds or thousands of acres of farmland to industrial and hyperscale projects is simply irresponsible, shortsighted, and so grossly outside existing zoning laws that this practice should be banned under any circumstances. It creates environmental damage, and the impact is so large that it can affect the lives of an entire rural community.

Accountability

Local governments need to work with their citizens to determine what is acceptable and establish clear zoning restrictions, including the consideration of complete bans on farm land.

Citizens have good cause to be concerned about inappropriate influence

The danger of developer influence over local government is well documented.

Federal corruption prosecutions have exposed cases in which developers purchased favorable zoning and permitting decisions, while academic research demonstrates that developer campaign contributions can influence municipal land-use outcomes.

These findings reinforce the importance of transparent proceedings, independent technical review, conflict-of-interest disclosures, and consistent zoning standards established before individual development proposals are considered.

Examples of Corruption in Hyperscale Development

Saline Township, Michigan: Developer lawsuits and financial pressure (2025–2026)
Carroll County, Kentucky: Ethics complaints against officials (2026)
Box Elder County, Utah: State agency advocating for a private developer (2026)
Fort Worth, Texas: Potential conflicts involving data center lobbying (2026)
Data center developers exchanging financial benefits for government concessions (2026)
FirstEnergy, Ohio: Proven bribery and regulatory corruption

Our farmland feeds people. Our public lands belong to all of us. Neither should be treated as disposable.

I personally advocate Ban Hyperscale Data and Energy Projects on Farmland and Near Residences. Protect Public Lands.

References and Further Reading

1. Arivmed, O., Lauenroth, W. K., Burke, I. C., & Mobley, M. L. (2015). Sagebrush steppe recovery on 30–90-year-old abandoned oil and gas wells. Ecosphere, 6(7).
https://doi.org/10.1890/ES14-00175.1

2. Belnap, J., & Gillette, D. A. (1998). Vulnerability of desert biological soil crusts to wind erosion: The influences of crust development, soil texture, and disturbance. Journal of Arid Environments, 39(2), 133–142.
https://doi.org/10.1006/jare.1998.0388

3. Belnap, J., Kaltenecker, J. H., Rosentreter, R., Williams, J., Leonard, S., & Eldridge, D. (2001). Biological soil crusts: Ecology and management (Technical Reference 1730-2). Bureau of Land Management.
https://www.ntc.blm.gov/krc/system/files/legacy/uploads/2939/CrustManual.pdf

4. Coates, P. S., O’Neil, S. T., Munoz, D. A., Dwight, I., & Tull, J. C. (2021). Sage-grouse population dynamics are adversely impacted by overabundant feral horses. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 85(6), 1132–1149.
https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.22089

5. Cross, T. B., Tack, J. D., Naugle, D. E., Schwartz, M. K., Doherty, K. E., Oyler-McCance, S. J., Pritchert, R. D., & Fedy, B. C. (2023). The ties that bind the sagebrush biome: Integrating genetic connectivity into range-wide conservation of greater sage-grouse. Royal Society Open Science, 10(2), Article 220437.
https://doi.org/10.1098/rsos.220437

6. Jahner, J. P., Gibson, D., Weitzman, C. L., Blomberg, E. J., Sedinger, J. S., & Parchman, T. L. (2016). Fine-scale genetic structure among greater sage-grouse leks in central Nevada. BMC Evolutionary Biology, 16, Article 127.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12862-016-0702-4

7. Lan, S., Elliott, D. R., Chamizo, S., Felde, V. J. M. N. L., & Thomas, A. D. (2024). Editorial: Biological soil crusts: Spatio-temporal development and ecological functions of soil surface microbial communities across different scales. Frontiers in Microbiology, 15, Article 1447058.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2024.1447058

8. Maxwell, L. M., Rutherford, T. K., Kleist, N. J., Teige, E. C., Lehrter, R. J., Gilbert, M. A., Wood, D. J. A., Johnston, A. N., Tull, J. C., Haby, T. S., & Carter, S. K. (2024). Effects of noise from oil and gas development on raptors and songbirds: A science synthesis to inform National Environmental Policy Act analyses (Scientific Investigations Report 2024-5087). U.S. Geological Survey.
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20245087

9. Ngo-Cong, D., Antille, D. L., van Genuchten, M. Th., Nguyen, H. Q., Tekeste, M. Z., Baillie, C. P., & Godwin, R. J. (2021). A modeling framework to quantify the effects of compaction on soil water retention and infiltration. Soil Science Society of America Journal, 85, 1931–1945.
https://doi.org/10.1002/saj2.20328

10. Obour, P. B., & Ugarte, C. M. (2021). A meta-analysis of the impact of traffic-induced compaction on soil physical properties and grain yield. Soil and Tillage Research, 211, Article 105019.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.still.2021.105019

11. Pitt, R., Chen, S.-E., Clark, S. E., Swenson, J., & Ong, C. K. (2008). Compaction’s impacts on urban storm-water infiltration. Journal of Irrigation and Drainage Engineering, 134(5), 652–658.
https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9437(2008)134:5(652)

12. Prose, D. V., & Wilshire, H. G. (2000). The lasting effects of tank maneuvers on desert soils and intershrub flora (Open-File Report 00-512). U.S. Geological Survey.
https://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2000/0512/

13. Rutherford, T. K., Maxwell, L. M., Kleist, N. J., Teige, E. C., Lehrter, R. J., Gilbert, M. A., Wood, D. J. A., Johnston, A. N., Mengelt, C., Tull, J. C., Haby, T. S., & Carter, S. K. (2023). Effects of noise from oil and gas development on ungulates and small mammals: A science synthesis to inform National Environmental Policy Act analyses (Scientific Investigations Report 2023-5114). U.S. Geological Survey.
https://doi.org/10.3133/sir20235114

14. Sage-grouse National Technical Team. (2011). A report on national greater sage-grouse conservation measures. Bureau of Land Management.
https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GOVPUB-A13-PURL-gpo90829

15. Sawyer, H., Middleton, A. D., Hayes, M. M., Kauffman, M. J., & Monteith, K. L. (2016). The extra mile: Ungulate migration distance alters the use of seasonal range and exposure to anthropogenic risk. Ecosphere, 7(10), Article e01534.
https://doi.org/10.1002/ecs2.1534

16. Teige, E. C., Maxwell, L. M., Jordan, S. E., Rutherford, T. K., Dietrich, E. I., Samuel, E. M., Stoneburner, A. L., Kleist, N. J., Meineke, J. K., Selby, L. B., Foster, A. C., & Carter, S. K. (2023). Annotated bibliography of scientific research on greater sage-grouse published from October 2019 to July 2022 (Open-File Report 2023-1082). U.S. Geological Survey.
https://doi.org/10.3133/ofr20231082

17. U.S. Geological Survey. (2023). Annotated bibliography of scientific research relevant to oil and gas reclamation best management practices in the western United States, published from 1969 through 2020 (Open-File Report 2023-1068).
https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/ofr20231068/full

18. Maguire, K., Tanner, S., & Winikoff, J. B. (2024, September 12). Agricultural land near solar and wind projects usually remained in agriculture after development. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
https://www.ers.usda.gov/amber-waves/2024/september/agricultural-land-near-solar-and-wind-projects-usually-remained-in-agriculture-after-development

19. Maguire, K., Tanner, S., Winikoff, J. B., & Williams, R. (2024). Utility-scale solar and wind development in rural areas: Land cover change (2009–20) (Economic Research Report No. 330). U.S. Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.
https://doi.org/10.32747/2024.8374829.ers

20. Carroll, M. (2021, October 12). Can solar energy production be converted to farmland? North Carolina Cooperative Extension.
https://craven.ces.ncsu.edu/news/can-solar-energy-production-be-converted-to-farmland/

21. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. (2024). Conservation considerations for solar farms.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2024-03/Conservation_Considerations_Solar_Farms.pdf

22. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Natural Resources Conservation Service. (2025). Conservation guidance for utility-scale solar projects.
https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/Conservation-Guidance-for-Utility-Scale-Solar-Projects_2025415.pdf

23. U.S. Department of Energy. (n.d.). Wind energy end-of-service guide.
https://www.energy.gov/cmei/systems/windexchange/wind-energy-end-service-guide

24. Gaudette, J., & de Benedictis-Kessner, J. (2025, September 23). Funding the growth machine: The effects of municipal campaign contributions on housing policy outcomes. Harvard Kennedy School.
https://www.hks.harvard.edu/publications/funding-growth-machine-effects-municipal-campaign-contributions-housing-policy

25. Lo, L., & Freemark, Y. (2022, November 15). Influencers, bias, and equity in rezoning cases: An evaluation of developer-initiated zoning changes in Louisville, Kentucky. Urban Institute.
https://www.urban.org/research/publication/influencers-bias-and-equity-rezoning-cases

26. U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. (2024, January 26). Former Los Angeles politician José Huizar sentenced to 13 years in federal prison for racketeering conspiracy and tax evasion.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-los-angeles-politician-jose-huizar-sentenced-13-years-federal-prison

27. U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. (2024). Former Los Angeles deputy mayor sentenced to 12 years in prison for racketeering conspiracy that corrupted city real estate projects.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/former-los-angeles-deputy-mayor-sentenced-12-years-prison-racketeering-conspiracy

28. U.S. Department of Justice, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Central District of California. (2023, July 21). Real estate developer sentenced to 6 years in federal prison for paying $500,000 cash bribe to corrupt L.A. politician and official.
https://www.justice.gov/usao-cdca/pr/real-estate-developer-sentenced-6-years-federal-prison-paying-500000-cash-bribe

29. Federation of American Scientists. (2026). A guide to better data center policy for local governments.
https://fas.org/publication/before-breaking-ground/

30. New York State Department of Environmental Conservation. (n.d.). Full environmental assessment form, Part 2: Question 8, impact on agricultural resources.
https://dec.ny.gov/regulatory/permits-licenses/seqr/eaf-workbooks/part-2-feaf/question-8

Author’s Note
I am not against data centers. I use AI and data centers daily, it is the field I work in and around. I am against sacrificing valuable land, public resources, and the right of citizens to control their local government.

© Copyright 2026, Jeff A Pierson JeffAPierson.com. Republished by permission.

Jeff A. Pierson is the owner of Confidential Solutions LLC and a policy researcher. He writes on Idaho energy, land use, and technology policy at jeffapierson.substack.com.

Sen. Risch: Honoring our Men and Women in Uniform

By
Observer Staff
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(Senator Risch Press Release, November 10, 2026)

Today, we do something we can never do enough: honor and thank the men and women who courageously answered the call to serve our nation, as well as their families, who help carry the sacrifice service demands.

Veterans Day is a powerful reminder that freedom is not free. It’s paid for by the heroism and sacrifice of hundreds of thousands of Americans who have sworn to defend it. Whether they served in combat or support, in times of war or peace, our veterans put country above self, and America is stronger because of them.

For 250 years, the United States has stood as a beacon of freedom, opportunity, perseverance, and innovation. Generations of Americans have carried those ideals forward – triumphing in revolution, conflict, and hardship – to ensure our nation remains the unequivocal leader of the free world.

None of that would have been possible without the steadfast commitment, bravery, and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. While we can never fully repay the debt we owe them, we can, and must, do everything in our power to try.

On behalf of the people of Idaho, Vicki and I extend our sincere gratitude to every veteran and military family.

Thank you for your heroism. Thank you for your dedication, and thank you for defending our freedom.

For the latest press releases and constituent services visit risch.senate.gov.
To receive email updates on what I’m working on as your Senator, click here.
To connect with me on Twitter, visit my Twitter page.
To connect with me on Facebook, visit my Facebook page.

Idaho Power Completes Fall Fish Release

By
Observer Staff
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(Idaho Power News Brief, November 10, 2026)

Idaho Power recently added nearly 80,000 pan-sized rainbow trout to popular fishing spots in the Snake River for the benefit of anglers.

About 52,000 fish were released at C.J. Strike Reservoir south of Mountain Home. Another 19,000 were released at the Bell Rapids sportsman’s access on Lower Salmon Falls Reservoir, and 8,000 went to the McTucker Creek access upstream of American Falls Reservoir.

Most of the fish released are about a foot long, while those released near American Falls are slightly larger, at 14 to 16 inches. These fish are raised at hatcheries in the Hagerman Valley.

Idaho Power’s twice-annual stocking events are part of the company’s commitment to providing recreational opportunities for the public under its federal license to operate hydroelectric power plants on the Snake River.

“Some of these fish will make a nice meal for some lucky anglers,” said Travis Long, Hatchery Facilities Coordinator for Idaho Power.

Idaho Freedom Foundation Unveils the 2027 Freedom and Family Agenda

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Observer Staff
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(Idaho Freedom Foundation Press Release, November 10, 2026)

BOISE, Idaho — Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF) is pleased to release the Freedom and Family Agenda, which acts as a conservative blueprint for Idaho and is focused on right-sizing government, reducing taxes, restoring individual liberty, strengthening families, and holding government accountable.

Over the next nine weeks, IFF is publishing a series of articles addressing each Agenda item and policy solutions. Idaho families deserve a government and lawmakers who spend taxpayer dollars wisely and conservatively, respect their freedoms, and keep parents as the primary stakeholders in their children’s lives.

IFF’s work is driven by a commitment to conservative principles, which the Freedom and Family Agenda brings into focus. These Agenda items are not “wishful thinking.” Conservative policy in a conservative state is well within reach for our elected officials. We call on Idaho lawmakers to prioritize policies identified in the Agenda, which are critical for liberty and justice in the Gem State.

A conservative Idaho is a free Idaho, and a free Idaho is a prosperous Idaho.

For more information, please visit idahofreedom.org and follow along for the Freedom and Family Agenda articles to come!

Bannock County Reports Additional Election Day Ballots

By
Observer Staff
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(Bannock County Clerk/Idaho Secretary of State Press Release, November 10, 2026)

Pocatello, Idaho – Earlier today, the Bannock County Clerk’s Office notified the Secretary of State’s Office that 333 ballots cast in the November 3, 2026 General Election in Bannock County Precinct, Pocatello 2 had not been counted on election night. The ballots in question were identified during the post-election review process.

After tabulating the additional ballots, no outcomes were changed. All 333 ballots were from the same precinct. The closest results for any election involving the Pocatello 2 precinct were for the County Coroner’s race, which was separated by 4,857 votes.

“Once again, this demonstrates the importance of the reconciliation process we use to verify election results following every election,” said Secretary of State Phil McGrane. “While I am thankful that these ballots were identified, we will be working to determine why these ballots were not processed on election night and working with counties across the state to reinforce our election processes.”

“Needless to say, this should not have happened. We take pride in Bannock County in the work that goes into running our elections,” said Bannock County Clerk Jason Dixon. “We are working closely with the Secretary of State’s office to ensure full transparency and to determine if additional steps can be taken to ensure this does not happen. I want Bannock County voters to know your votes will count.”

The additional votes from the Pocatello 2 precinct ballots will be added to the reported totals on VoteIdaho.gov later today. On Thursday morning at 9:00 a.m., the Bannock County Commissioners, serving as the county Board of Canvassers, will convene to recanvass the results, including the additional ballots.

On Friday at 1 p.m., the State Board of Canvassers will meet to initiate audits of election results statewide, per Idaho Code. Next week, teams of auditors will be traveling to randomly selected counties and precincts throughout the state to conduct hand counts and review the reported results.

“We have numerous safeguards in place to verify the accuracy of Idaho’s elections,” said Secretary of State Phil McGrane. “My main focus throughout all of this is to ensure that every single vote is counted and that Idahoans have confidence that their voice is heard.”

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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.
Contact us: jcrowder@pocatellochubbuckobserver

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