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Guest Columnist Senator Tammy Nichols: Idaho Republicans Leave Convention Ready to Lead

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June 25, 2026

Idaho Republicans Leave Convention Ready to Lead

ID Senator Tammy Nichols (Photo Credit: Tammy Nichols)

By: ID Senator Tammy Nichols

The recent Idaho GOP Convention in Meridian was a strong reminder that the strength of our party comes from the grassroots. Delegates, precinct committeemen, county leaders, volunteers, candidates, and elected officials from across Idaho came together to debate ideas, update the party platform, consider party rules, adopt resolutions, elect new leadership, and prepare for the important work ahead.

At a time when our country is facing serious challenges, it was encouraging to see Idaho Republicans standing firmly for faith, family, freedom, limited government, election integrity, parental rights, and constitutional principles. These are not just campaign slogans. They are the foundation of a free people and a strong republic.

One important part of the convention was the election of the Idaho GOP Executive Committee. Congratulations to Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, 1st Vice Chair Viki Purdy, 2nd Vice Chair Julianne Young, Treasurer Sandra Eaton, and Secretary Carla Mattare. Party leadership matters, and I am grateful for those willing to step forward and serve. As we head toward the general election, it will take strong leadership, organized county and district committees, active precinct committeemen, and committed volunteers to keep Idaho red and advance Republican principles.

The convention was also a time to focus on the serious issues Idahoans will face at the ballot box. One of the most important discussions centered around the proposed abortion ballot initiative. This is not something Republicans can take lightly. We will need to come together, educate our neighbors, and make sure Idaho families understand the serious risks this proposal presents.

As conservatives, we must be clear about what is at stake: protecting innocent life, protecting parental involvement, protecting children, and making sure Idaho does not open the door to policies that allow abortion far beyond what most Idahoans would ever support. Many of us are deeply concerned about language that could weaken safeguards, threaten born-alive protections, remove parents from critical decisions involving their minor children, and potentially be used by activists or courts to stretch “reproductive health care” into areas such as gender transition procedures for minors. Idahoans deserve to know the truth before they vote.

One of the highlights of the convention for me personally was seeing my resolution urging Congress to pass the SAVE America Act pass through the Idaho Republican Convention. This resolution sends a clear message: secure elections matter, citizenship matters, and the voice of lawful American voters must be protected.

The right to vote is one of the most sacred rights of American citizens. It should never be weakened by loose standards, poor safeguards, or policies that undermine confidence in the process. Idaho has worked hard to maintain strong election integrity laws, and we should not be silent while Congress fails to act on federal election security.

I drafted this resolution because states have a responsibility to speak up when Washington, D.C. refuses to lead. The states created the federal government, not the other way around.

You can read all the IDGOP rules, platform, resolutions by going here.

I am grateful to the delegates who supported this resolution and to all who attended the convention. Idaho Republicans are standing for our values, defending our republic, protecting life and families, and reminding Congress that election integrity is not optional.

In Liberty,

Sen. Tammy Nichols

City of Pocatello Water Department Releases 2026 Water Quality Report

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(City of Pocatello Press Release, June 26, 2026)

The City of Pocatello Water Department has released its 2026 Water Quality Report, now available to the public.

This annual report summarizes the results of approximately 2,000 water quality tests conducted over the past year, covering more than 100 different compounds. It provides important information about the source of Pocatello’s drinking water, what it contains, and how the City’s testing and treatment efforts help reduce potential health risks.

The report is available online at pocatello.gov/waterreport.

Residents who would like a printed copy mailed to them can contact the Water Superintendent’s office at 208-234-6174. Paper copies are also available at the following locations:

  • City Hall – 911 N. 7th Avenue
  • Marshall Public Library – 113 S. Garfield Avenue
  • Water Operations Facility – 1889 N. Arthur Avenue

The Environmental Protection Agency sets standards to limit the presence of certain contaminants in public water systems to ensure that tap water is safe to drink. As part of those standards, water utilities are required to provide customers with an annual report to help them stay informed about the quality of their drinking water.

For more information about the City of Pocatello Water Department, visit pocatello.gov/Water.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is the policy of the City of Pocatello to offer its public programs, services, and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.  If you are disabled and require an accommodation, please contact Skyler Beebe with two (2) business days’ advance notice at sbeebe@pocatello.gov; 208.234.6248; or 5815 South 5th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho.  Advance notification within this guideline will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility.

Shelter Full: Generous Donation Funds Half-Off Dog Adoptions at Pocatello Animal Services

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(City of Pocatello Press Release, June 25, 2026)

Pocatello Animal Services is at capacity with dogs and is asking for the community’s help to open kennels by choosing adoption.

Thanks to a generous donation from Ms. Rose Stevens, the shelter is offering half-off dog adoptions for the next 20 dogs adopted. The special begins Friday, June 26 at 10 a.m. and will continue until all 20 discounted adoptions have been claimed.

During the promotion, dog adoption fees are reduced from $130 to just $65. This discount applies only to dog adoptions and cannot be combined with any other discount or promotion. Adoptions are on a first-come, first-served basis.

Every dog adopted from Pocatello Animal Services goes home spayed or neutered, microchipped, and vaccinated, and also includes a free City of Pocatello dog license.

“We’re grateful to Ms. Stevens for making this adoption special possible,” said Pocatello Animal Services Management Assistant Sarah Moore. “Our kennels are full, and every adoption creates space for another dog in need while giving a deserving pet the chance to find a loving home.”

Pocatello Animal Services is open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn more, visit pocatello.gov/animalshelter or contact Pocatello Animal Services at 208-234-6156. Click link to view adoptable dogs currently at the shelter: pocatello.gov/155/Adoption

Community members interested in adopting are encouraged to visit the shelter as soon as possible, as the promotion will end once all 20 discounted adoptions have been claimed.

In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, it is the policy of the City of Pocatello to offer its public programs, services, and meetings in a manner that is readily accessible to everyone, including those with disabilities.  If you are disabled and require an accommodation, please contact Skyler Beebe with two (2) business days’ advance notice at sbeebe@pocatello.gov; 208.234.6248; or 5815 South 5th Avenue, Pocatello, Idaho.  Advance notification within this guideline will enable the City to make reasonable arrangements to ensure accessibility.

Guest Column – ID GOP Chairwoman Dorothy Moon: The Idaho GOP is United and Ready to Work

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June 25, 2026 (Cover image credit: IDGOP FB)

The Idaho GOP is United and Ready to Work

Dorothy Moon, Chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party

By: Dorothy Moon, IDGOP Chairwoman

What a week! The 2026 Idaho GOP State Convention is in the books. Delegates from throughout the state came to Meridian to discuss ideas, plan strategy, and elect officers to lead the Idaho Republican Party for the next two years. Though we had our share of debates, one thing everyone agreed on was that we must fight the radical abortion initiative with everything we’ve got.

I was honored to be elected to another term leading the Idaho GOP, and I could not be happier with the new officers who were also elected last Saturday:

  • I’ve worked with new First Vice Chair Viki Purdy for quite some time, and in addition to her expertise on land-use issues, she brings a fierce passion for doing what’s right.
  • I served with Second Vice Chair Julianne Young in the Legislature for several years and found her to be an incredibly articulate voice for life and traditional values. She will be a great spokesman for the cause of life in Idaho.
  • Treasurer Sandra Eaton has 35 years of accounting experience and will bring a professional eye to our finances as we ramp up fundraising for November.
  • Secretary Carla Mattare is an incredible organizer—someone who can handle any task you give her.

I’m excited to get to work with this new team of leaders, and I’ll tell you what: we’re getting to work right away. We have Republican candidates to elect not only to Congress, the Legislature, and statewide offices, but also as county commissioners, sheriffs, prosecutors, coroners, and so many more. Idaho has remained a bastion of prosperity and freedom because of the great Republicans who have stepped up to lead in every corner of our state.

Even as we see socialists and radical Muslims winning Democratic primary elections throughout the country—people who have publicly stated their desire to destroy the country we love—Idaho Republicans will continue standing up to defend our history, our heritage, and the liberties that made America great in the first place.

We also have a radical abortion initiative to deal with. This week, we celebrated four years since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade and allowed Idaho’s laws protecting unborn babies to go into effect. Now, the progressive left wants to undo that accomplishment and bring back abortion—even up to nine months of pregnancy—to Idaho.

The Idaho GOP will not allow that to happen. Alongside other great organizations that believe in the inherent value of unborn life, we will fight to ensure every Idaho voter knows the truth about this radical initiative, and we will defeat it in November should it make the ballot.

Debates within the Idaho GOP during the primary election and at the state convention have been intense, as they should be. Now, we stand united not only to keep Idaho red, but to keep Idaho a place where all life is valued.

Guest Columnist Julianne Young: Idaho’s “Life” Story

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June 25, 2026

Idaho’s “Life” Story

Idaho GOP 2nd Vice Chairwoman Julianne Young (photo credit: Julianne Young)

By: Julianne Young

The protection of life was engrained in the very substance from which America was formed long before our birth. When the founders gathered in Philadelphia in the summer of 1776, they didn’t just declare independence from a distant crown — they grounded their case in self-evident truth: that all men are created equal and endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, and that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Life came first. Surely, this was no accident.

Respect for the sanctity of life was inherent in American law and medicine. The Hippocratic Oath, first penned around 400 BC, contained prohibitions on abortion and euthanasia, and was widely accepted as fundamental in Western medicine for centuries. With the moral case already firmly established, organized medicine made the scientific case beginning in the mid-1800s: human life begins at fertilization.

The American Medical Association was among the most vocal advocates for that truth. This was not a religious argument — it was a scientific one, advanced by physicians who understood that the moment of conception marks the beginning of a distinct human life deserving of legal protection. The AMA’s campaign was instrumental in the enactment of pro-life statutes across the country throughout the latter half of the 19th century. Those laws were understood as life-saving measures, protecting both mother and child.

Idaho was no different.

When the first Idaho Territorial Legislature convened at Lewiston on December 7, 1863, eighteen men faced the task of building a civilization from the ground up. Among the most urgent was the adoption of a comprehensive criminal code — a body of law expressing what the people of this new territory believed about right and wrong, human dignity, and the obligations of a just society.

Drawing from the established criminal codes of California and Nevada, the lawmakers adopted an omnibus penal package that Governor William H. Wallace signed without recorded objection. Idaho had not yet achieved statehood — it would not for another quarter century. But from its very first days as an organized territory, Idaho declared in law what its people already knew in conscience: that the destruction of innocent life was a criminal act.

Section 42 of that 1864 criminal code imposed imprisonment of not less than two nor more than five years on any person who administered substances or used instruments with the intention of ending a pregnancy. The sole exception was the same one that physicians and lawmakers across the country recognized as essential: a doctor acting in the discharge of professional duties who deemed the procedure necessary to save the life of the mother.

Even this exception was a precise expression of the legislature’s overarching purpose. The law existed to protect life — the life of both the unborn child and the mother. Medicine’s role was to save patients, not to end lives. Formal prosecutions under Section 42 were rare, because the law’s primary function was declaration, not enforcement: a civilized society protects its most vulnerable members. This was not a fringe view. It was the overwhelming consensus of the era — shared across states and territories, grounded in medical science, and consistent with our founding conviction that life is the first among unalienable rights.

Idaho has carried that conviction forward through every generation since. When the Supreme Court returned the question of abortion to the states in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization in 2022, Idaho did not hesitate to restore the protections that have always reflected its values. And when the federal government attempted to override those protections — misusing federal law to compel Idaho physicians to perform abortions in violation of state statute — Idaho’s Attorney General went to the Supreme Court to defend them. The argument made in that courtroom was the same one made by those eighteen men in Lewiston in 1863, and by the founders in Philadelphia in 1776: life is not a policy preference. It is the first right. And it is worth defending.

Now, in 2026, Idahoans face a radical pro-abortion ballot initiative that would fundamentally alter our cultural and legal fabric, enshrining an unlimited “right” to abortion in Idaho law. This is not progress. It is a repudiation of Idaho’s oldest and most deeply held convictions regarding the meaning of humanity and civilization.

Idaho’s “Life” story did not begin in 2022 with Dobbs. It is a self-evident truth articulated at our founding — of this territory, and of this nation. That truth is worth knowing. And it is worth defending.

Julianne Young is a Bingham County Mom who loves faith, family, and freedom; a former state representative; founder of the nonprofit Idaho Family Strong; regional coordinator for Idaho Chooses Life; and 2nd Vice Chair of the Idaho State GOP.

Pocatello PD: Happy Independence Day!

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(Pocatello Police Department Advisory Message, June 25, 2026)

The Fourth of July is a time to celebrate, spend time with family and friends, and enjoy the traditions that make this holiday special. As our community prepares to celebrate America’s 250th birthday, we want everyone to have a safe and memorable holiday.

Before lighting fireworks, take a moment to review what fireworks are legal in our area and what is prohibited. Our dry conditions mean even a small spark can create a big problem.

  • Celebrate responsibly
  • Keep water nearby
  • Dispose of fireworks safely

AG Labrador Leads Multistate Coalition to Second Amendment Victory at U.S. Supreme Court

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(Attorney General’s Office Press Release, June 25, 2026)

BOISE, ID – Attorney General Raúl Labrador led a coalition of states to a major Second Amendment win today at the United States Supreme Court in Wolford v. Lopez. In a 6-3 decision, the Court struck down Hawaii’s law, known colloquially as the “Vampire Rule,” which barred concealed carry permit holders from entering private property open to the public with a firearm without first obtaining the owner’s express permission. Violating the law was a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in prison. The Court held that while private property owners may restrict firearm possession on their own property, the state itself cannot impose that restriction as the default rule for everyone.

“States do not have the discretion to decide which constitutional rights their citizens may exercise,” said Attorney General Labrador. “The Second Amendment puts explicit restrictions on government itself. Constitutional rights are not a menu from which states may select only the options they find politically convenient.”

California, New York, New Jersey, and Maryland have similar “Vampire Rule” laws restricting concealed carry on private property open to the public. Today’s decision will be the controlling precedent for legal challenges to those laws going forward.

Justice Samuel Alito, writing for the majority, stated plainly: “This regime hobbles what the Second Amendment protects: the right of Americans to carry arms for self-defense as they go about their daily lives. We hold that the law is unconstitutional.”

Justice Amy Coney Barrett, in a concurring opinion, wrote: “[A] majority’s opposition to a constitutional right is not a permissible basis for restricting it. After all, ‘[t]he very purpose of a Bill of Rights was to withdraw certain subjects from the vicissitudes of political controversy’ and ‘to place them beyond the reach of majorities and officials.'”

Attorney General Labrador, along with Montana Attorney General Austin Knudsen, led a coalition of state attorneys general in filing an amicus brief supporting petitioner Jason Wolford in this case.

Read the Supreme Court opinion here.

Resolutions of the Idaho GOP: Report from Gem State Chronicle Publisher Brian Almon

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(Image Credit: Gem State Chronicle)

(Gem State Chronicle, June 24, 2026)

Every six months, the Idaho Republican Party passes a series of resolutions—statements, essentially, calling for action or declaring a position. Those resolutions usually come from the State Central Committee, but every two years convention delegates issue their own as well. This year, delegates passed eighteen resolutions following debate in both the Resolutions Committee and on the floor during the general session.

Among the resolutions that did not pass were two calling on the Legislature to allow the Idaho GOP to select its precinct committeemen and general election nominees through a caucus rather than a state-run primary. Considering the amount of debate leading up to the convention, including an anonymous mailer sent to delegates the day before it began, I was surprised to see the idea fizzle out with barely a whimper in committee.

One resolution passed the committee but was voted down by delegates during the general session. Sen. Brian Lenney, serving as a Canyon County delegate, moved to strike Resolution 2026-11, which expressed support for Israel and President Trump’s actions in the Middle East. Lenney, along with Canyon County GOP Youth Chair Marco Fiorello, argued that the resolution went beyond the proper scope of the Idaho GOP. Lenney called it a “globalist foreign policy w/a conservative paint job.” A majority of delegates agreed, voting to remove the resolution from the report.

I’ll briefly go over the resolutions that passed:

  • Resolution 2026-01, presented by Nampa council member and District 12 delegate Sebastian Griffin, expressed support for making municipal elections partisan. This has long been a priority for many Republican activists, including Chairwoman Dorothy Moon, so it is interesting that the resolution was brought forward by a sitting municipal elected official.
  • Resolution 2026-02 was presented by District 17 delegate Matthew Jensen and condemns the practice of legislative committee chairs withholding bills from having committee hearings. This has obviously been a contentious issue over the past few years, with a lot of attention paid to Sen. Jim Guthrie, chairman of the Senate State Affairs Committee.
  • Resolution 2026-04, presented by two Owyhee County delegates, addresses specific details regarding the way in which county commissioners can appoint replacements for county prosecutors midway through a term.
  • Resolution 2026-05 calls upon our congressional delegation to pass the SAVE America Act, which would require photo ID for voting among other items related to election integrity. The bill has already passed the House but remains stuck in the Senate, with leadership seemingly unwilling to force a true filibuster attempt from the Democrats while several Republicans have already signaled opposition. Sen. Tammy Nichols, a Canyon County delegate, carried the resolution and says she intends to continue pursuing options to pressure Congress to get it done.
  • Resolution 2026-06 opposes indemnification of private entities, and was presented by Gresham Bouma from District 6. It essentially demands that people or groups that are involved in things like mRNA vaccine development or pesticides must not have immunity from liability. Vaccine manufacturers have enjoyed immunity since the 1980s, while bills to give Bayer/Monsanto immunity from lawsuits related to products such as Roundup have been brought forth in Idaho and other states, thus far to no avail.
  • Resolution 2026-07 opposes the recent rescheduling of marijuana as well as any attempt to legalize the drug in Idaho. It was brought by Paul Dye from Madison County.
  • Resolution 2026-09, presented by Randy Rieken from District 12, calls for a Traditional American Family Values Month between Mother’s Day and Father’s Day.
  • Resolution 2026-10, brought by Bruce Loertscher from Bonneville County, calls for our federal and state lawmakers to become familiar with the threat posed to our beef supply by the new world screwworm, which has been found crossing our southern border.
  • Resolution 2026-12, brought by Karen Seibold from Lemhi County, opposes the radical abortion initiative that is likely to be on our November ballot.
  • Resolution 2026-13, submitted by Mike Colson from Bonneville County, is a statement in support of nuclear energy research and development at the Idaho National Laboratory.
  • Resolution 2026-14 demands local control over where wireless telecommunications equipment can be placed. It was presented by Grace Bauer from Bonner County.
  • Resolution 2026-15 demands a vote of the people before a government entity can give away any property that is valued at higher than $500,000. This is a clear reaction to the conveyance of the Ford Idaho Center by the Nampa City Council to the College of Western Idaho. It was presented by Glen Rimbey from Canyon County.
  • Resolution 2026-16, submitted by Brent Regan and presented by Jeff Populous, both of Kootenai County, calls for legislation against the secretary of state and county clerks from taking an active role in endorsing candidates in elections they oversee.
  • Resolution 2026-17, presented by Vince Rhundaug from Idaho County, calls for restrictions on standing for elective office for people with certain criminal convictions. I assume this is a response to something specific but I’m not aware of the details.
  • Resolution 2026-20, from Pete Moyer of Teton County, calls for an increase in the homeowner’s exemption for property taxes. The Resolutions Committee amended it to demand an eventual end to property taxes entirely, aligning with the position of a majority of the delegates in general session.
  • Resolution 2026-21, also from Pete Moyer, calls for a two-thirds majority rather than a simple majority of votes to approve new taxing districts.
  • Resolution 2026-22 from Kelly Ann Gomes of Cassia County calls for more training for precinct committeemen as well as a greater understanding by PCs of their responsibilities.
  • Resolution 2026-23 was submitted by Rep. Barbara Ehardt, a delegate from District 33. It addresses an issue she has been discussing for a long time: the limits of local authority. Ehardt maintains that city or county governments should not necessarily make the final decisions on all issues, and that the state government must be able to step in to protect our constitutional rights.

These resolutions will remain available on the Idaho GOP website, and the party will forward them to the various stakeholders named in each one. Resolutions have no power in and of themselves, but they can be used by elected officials, party officers, activists, and voters to draw attention to important issues. If you care strongly about any of these issues, take them to your elected officials and start working on a plan of action. Words without action are worth no more than the paper they are printed on.

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

Guest Columnist Rep. Heather Scott: Understanding the Prosecutor’s Role

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June 24, 2026

Understanding the Prosecutor’s Role
Government 101 Series

By: Idaho Representative Heather Scott

In my last newsletter, I explained the different jurisdictions of law enforcement in Idaho and who they were accountable to. Enforcing laws is only the beginning. Should an arrest occur, the next important actions in the process of “law enforcement” becomes critical to understand.

Most people think of law enforcement as police officers interacting with the public, responding to a call, or making an arrest. Those are important duties, but officers DO NOT decide whether a criminal case moves forward in a court of law. That decision belongs to the prosecutor.

Police officers investigate crimes, gather evidence, write reports, and make arrests when appropriate. After that, the case is sent to the prosecutor, be it city, county, state or federal, depending upon the type of crime.

The prosecutor reviews the evidence and decides:

  • Should charges be filed?
  • What charges should be filed?
  • Is there enough evidence to win in court?
  • Should the case be dismissed or prosecuted?

Without a prosecutor filing charges, an arrest alone DOES NOT result in a criminal conviction.

In simple terms, police officers investigate crimes and prosecutors enforce criminal laws through the court system.

What Does Idaho Law Say?

Many Idahoans assume that police departments are primarily responsible for enforcing state laws. While they play an important role, Idaho law says something different:

Idaho Code 31-2227 states that the primary duty of enforcing Idaho’s criminal laws in court is vested in the county sheriff and the county prosecuting attorney.

That means the prosecutor is not just another attorney. The prosecutor is one of the key officials responsible for making sure Idaho’s criminal laws are actually enforced.

Just like sheriffs, county prosecutors are elected by the people. Citizens often pay close attention to sheriff elections, but prosecutor elections may have an even greater impact on how laws are enforced.

A prosecutor can choose to aggressively pursue certain crimes, focus resources on specific problems, or in some cases decline to pursue certain offenses. These decisions can significantly affect public safety and how justice is carried out in a community.

Understanding who does what helps citizens know where accountability lies. When it comes to deciding whether criminal laws will actually be enforced in court, prosecutors play one of the most important roles in Idaho’s justice system.

The more citizens understand how government works, the better equipped we are to hold public officials accountable and participate in our Republic.

In Liberty,

Rep. Heather Scott

‘Stand Up For Idaho’ to Host East Idaho Premiere of ‘Duty to Disobey’ Film

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(Stand Up For Idaho, June 22, 2026)

We will be showing the documentary “Duty to Disobey” from Children’s Health Defense (Robert F. Kennedy Jr’s organization). The movie premiers nationally in theaters on June 30th. However, a theater is Boise was the only place in Idaho where it was to be shown. I contacted the producer they agreed to us premiering it in East Idaho at our July 1st meeting.

Many of our military service members were forced to either take the COVID-19 shots or be dishonorably discharged. This had significant impact on many. Duty to Disobey documents some of the things our brothers and sisters faced.

Hopefully we can learn something from history.

This event WILL NOT be live-streamed or recorded and there will be a $5 per person fee charged. All proceeds will be sent to the movie’s producer to help cover the cost of producing the film. DVDs will also be available for purchase.

The Westbank Conference Center, 525 River Parkway, Idaho Falls.
6:30pm (Doors open at 6:00pm)