Who’s in Charge? Understanding Idaho’s Different Levels of Law Enforcement
By: Idaho Representative Heather Scott
Law enforcement agencies are critical to the safety, security and wellbeing of our cities, counties and state. Citizens may encounter and interact with them daily, sometimes under stressful situations. Because of this, citizens should understand the various layers of law enforcement.
All aspects of our society are becoming more political so it should come as no surprise that law enforcement groups are also becoming more political these days. Knowing their roles, and who they are accountable to may help in your assessment of their endorsements and bring clarity to how decisions are made and who is responsible.
Idaho’s law enforcement system is made up of several layers, each with its own authority and accountability.
At the county level, the most important Idaho law enforcement officer is the Sheriff. Sheriffs are elected directly by the people in their county, which makes them uniquely accountable to local citizens, not to a mayor or governor. They are responsible for law enforcement in the entire county although within city limits, generally defer to city police departments unless requested to assist. Sheriffs operate the county jail, provide court security, and serve legal papers. Because they are elected, sheriffs have a strong degree of independence and are often seen as the closest form of law enforcement to the people in counties.
Within cities, law enforcement is led by a Police Chief. Unlike sheriffs, police chiefs are appointed, usually by the mayor or city council. Their authority is limited to the city they serve, and they are responsible for enforcing local and state laws within city limits. Because they are appointed, they ultimately answer to city leadership rather than directly to voters.
At the state level, Idaho is served by the Idaho State Police. State police officers are appointed through a state-level chain of command, with the ISP Director acting as the leader, who is appointed by and reports to Idaho governor and the state executive branch. Their role is broader and often includes highway patrol, statewide investigations, and assisting local agencies when needed. They can operate across county and city lines and often handle issues that go beyond local jurisdiction. They are held accountable through executive oversight and state government processes.
At the federal level, roughly 100 executive agencies have some sort of law enforcement authority. Examples include the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) and the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). These agencies enforce federal laws. Federal law enforcement agents are federal employees, not elected locally, and they operate under federal authority. Their jurisdiction can overlap with local areas, but their mission is defined at the national level. Some agencies have full arrest powers like the FBI, US Marshals and Secret Service, while others have limited authority like federal park rangers or USDA inspectors.
Local, state, and federal law enforcement agencies may enter into mutual agreements, like MOUs and MOAs, to cooperate and exercise law enforcement authority across jurisdictional boundaries.
Prosecutors are attorneys, and play a critical role that many people overlook. In Idaho, county prosecutors are elected by the people. While they are not law enforcement officers, they decide whether charges are filed, what charges to pursue, and how cases move through the court system. In many ways, they are a key part of accountability in the justice system.
Each level of law enforcement serves a different purpose. The more you learn, the better off our Republic will be!
June 17, 2026 (Cover Image Credit: Gem State Chronicle)
Should the Idaho GOP Switch to a Caucus?
By: Brian Almon
On the eve of the 2026 Idaho GOP State Convention, some delegates have been discussing bold plans to change the way the party nominates candidates for the general election. Frustrated by primary losses in the Magic Valley and a seeming inability of conservative candidates to break through in eastern Idaho, activists have been searching for answers—both to the cause of this situation and for potential solutions.
Former Blaine County GOP chair and co-founder of the Idaho Freedom Foundation Heather Lauer has come out in support of a caucus system, which she says will reduce crossover voting by Democrats in the Idaho GOP primary:
This debate is not just about process. In much of Idaho, Republican primaries effectively determine who governs the state. Property taxes, government spending, immigration, education reform, regulatory policy, and countless other issues are ultimately shaped by who wins Republican nominations.
I have become increasingly convinced that the long-term solution is not winning every short-term political fight. The long-term solution is electing a Legislature willing to pursue meaningful conservative reforms and fundamentally change the direction of the state.
We are unlikely to consistently elect that Legislature under a system where Republican candidates can be nominated by progressive activists.
Former state senator Brandon Durst launched his campaign for first vice chair of the Idaho Republican Party at this week’s convention on a pledge to change the way Republican candidates are nominated:
Durst has outlined two core priorities for his candidacy: enforcing existing party affiliation and deadline rules — through federal litigation if necessary — and working with the State Central Committee to adopt a new nomination method for federal and statewide offices that closes the door on outside interference once and for all.
Idaho GOP chairwoman Dorothy Moon wrote last week that she is prepared to lead a caucus should the party decide to go in that direction:
If the Idaho GOP decides to return to a caucus or convention system for choosing its nominees, that is its right, and as chair it will be my duty to carry it out. It certainly wouldn’t be my first rodeo. Remember when the Idaho Legislature “accidentally” eliminated the March presidential primary a couple of years ago? My team and I had to scramble to ensure Idaho Republicans would still have a meaningful voice in selecting our presidential nominee.
Not all are in favor of such a change. As I was writing this article, I received a mailer warning against switching to a caucus. It did not disclose who paid for it, but the permit number on the mailer matches that on fliers sent by the Gem State Conservatives during the 2024 primary. It appears to have been sent to convention delegates, the master list of which was made available to declared officer candidates.
Mailing fliers like this isn’t cheap, so somebody clearly feels very strongly about the issue.
The Idaho GOP has been struggling with the crossover issue for more than a century. I recently wrote about various attempts to mitigate the ability of Democrats or those who lean in that direction to influence the Republican primary:
The Idaho Republican Party has long been concerned about crossover voting. Dr. Matthew May’s dissertation on the history and effects of primary elections in Idaho reports that Republicans took issue with the direct primary as far back as the early 1900s due to fears that Democrats would influence the selection of Republican nominees. In 2007, the Idaho Republican State Central Committee voted in favor of a rule calling for a closed primary, along with a court challenge should the Legislature fail to respond during the following session.
I brought the issue up to Secretary of State Phil McGrane, and he suggested that the motivation of any faction to change election systems stems from a desire to win more than they currently are:
Last week, Rufo & Lomez examined the Los Angeles mayoral election, in which Spencer Pratt’s position in a potential runoff evaporated as mail-in ballots came in over the week following Election Day. The entire first half of this episode is worth watching, as they conclude that there are no neutral election systems, and that any system will necessarily advantage one group over another:
The state, as the neutral arbiter of elections, believes participation is the highest priority, while the party, as a private coalition of activists working toward particular policy goals, believes ideology is more important. In other words, the government wants more people to participate regardless of their views, while parties want their collective views to prevail.
Elections officials such as Secretary McGrane want to maximize turnout, which necessarily includes citizens who have zero civic engagement and little idea of what they’re voting on. On the other hand, party activists like Lauer and Durst want to ensure that Republican nominees are selected by engaged Republican voters who believe in Republican values. Personally, I don’t believe turnout is the end-all, be-all of voting. I’d rather have 25% turnout in which those who vote have deeply considered the issues on their ballot than 75% in which people vote randomly, or simply based on which sign or mailer they happened to see most recently. Nevertheless, the importance of the right to vote (notwithstanding most people deciding not to exercise it) remains a core principle of the American experience.
The issue at hand is legitimacy. Do nominees have legitimacy because of high turnout, or because of majority support from highly engaged, ideologically motivated voters? Rufo and Lomez are correct that there are no neutral systems, which means that policy must take a position.
The question, then, is a caucus the solution?
I don’t have a glib yes-or-no answer. On the one hand, as a political junkie I think a caucus would be great fun. What could be more exciting than gathering with your community, talking politics, debating the candidates and the issues, and winning support for your cause through sheer strength of oratory? Even a hybrid system, like the firehouse caucus the Idaho GOP hosted to nominate its presidential candidate in 2024, was a great time. I was a caucus captain for my precinct and welcomed hundreds of voters to Seven Oaks Elementary School in Eagle, where we had refreshments, chatted about politics, watched videos from the two remaining candidates, cast our ballots, and then watched Rep. Ted Hill and Eagle Council Member Mary May count the votes.
There are two questions to consider regarding switching to a caucus system:
Is it feasible?
Will it accomplish what our goals?
Both Lauer and Durst answer the first question in the affirmative, though both recognize it would be a tough hill to climb. Durst says he is prepared to engage in litigation to accomplish it, while Lauer wrote:
Moving Idaho toward a caucus system will not happen overnight. Idaho Republican Party rules would need to change, and Idaho law would eventually need to change as well. It will require organization, resources, and dedicated volunteers.
There will also be resistance, including from Republicans who believe the problem is overstated or impossible to fix (as well as Republican elected officials who have benefited from crossover voting).
But difficult does not mean impossible.
Idaho Republicans should at least be willing to begin the conversation now rather than waiting until confidence in the primary system erodes even further.
I’m not a lawyer, so accept my take with a grain of salt. As I see it, the party could change its rules to require a caucus to select its nominees for the general election. However, state law still says that the winners of the May primary appear on the November general election ballot. This would create a legal dilemma, and I’m not sure the party would win that battle in court. The next step would be to pressure the Legislature to change the law, but every lawmaker in that body was elected under the current system, so getting a majority to vote to change it seems unlikely.
Should this issue come up for debate, those who want to maintain the status quo will surely present public opinion polling showing a vast majority of voters want to maintain a primary. Americans have an almost mythological belief in the franchise. Despite primary election turnout only reaching 30% this year, many more will defend mechanisms that make it easier for more people to vote, even when they do not personally participate.
Of course, a caucus doesn’t disenfranchise anybody, but it does make voting slightly less convenient, which to some is the same thing. During the 2024 Idaho GOP presidential nomination caucus, several people complained to me that it was not nearly as convenient as voting in a primary, which has early and mail-in options. When I explained that waiting until May to vote for a presidential nominee would be pointless, since the race would be over by then, most didn’t care. They just wanted to vote.
I’m not arguing against a caucus here, rather I am simply doing my best to present the potential arguments as strongly as possible. Before embarking on such an audacious course, we must take seriously the hurdles ahead.
The answer to the second question is even more difficult, because it’s impossible to perfectly predict the future. I suspect, however, that should all the challenges listed above be defeated and the Idaho GOP is able to adopt a caucus as its nominating procedure, political players would change the way they play the game. After Notre Dame used the relatively new concept of the forward pass to upset heavily favored Army in 1913, every other team quickly adopted the same strategy, and football once again reached parity. When the Oakland Athletics began using “sabermetrics” to evaluate players in the early 2000s, they briefly had a competitive advantage, but soon every other team started doing the same thing.
Even if conservatives are able to gain a brief advantage by switching to a caucus, the same big players that engage in elections today will start playing by the new rules. The same PACs and lobby groups that spent millions of dollars influencing this year’s primary will adapt, spending just as much money to influence the outcome of a caucus instead. Iowa famously uses a caucus system to select its presidential nominees, and in 2024 alone Republican candidates and organizations spent more than $100 million to influence the outcome.
Money and influence will flow to wherever the power is, simple as.
In the end, I don’t have a pat answer. I think the idea of a caucus is intriguing, but I recognize it faces many challenges. I also wonder if we have room to improve our engagement in the existing primary. Have we reached every engaged conservative Republican in the state already, or can we further increase turnout of informed voters? Are there candidates we could support who might inspire voters in a way past candidates have not? Is it simply a question of cash—increasing donations to conservative candidates and PACs, and being smarter about where that money is allocated?
Above all, we must keep our true goal in sight: electing candidates who share our values and our legislative priorities. Whatever system can best accomplish that, with a reasonable cost in time and resources, is worth our support. I look forward to the debate at the convention this weekend.
Brian Almon is the Editor of the Gem State Chronicle. He also serves as Chairman of the District 14 Republican Party and is a trustee of the Eagle Public Library Board. He lives with his wife and five children in Eagle.
Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the Gem State Chronicle. I encourage our readers to visit their website and consider subscribing. Find this and other informative articles at the Gem State Chronicle here: About – Gem State Chronicle
(Idaho Fish and Game Press Release, June 15, 2026)
With severe drought in Idaho and summer heat on the way, it’s likely anglers will lose some fishing opportunities, but Idaho Fish and Game will work to mitigate if it will provide benefits.
“Drought affects many aspects of Idaho life, including fisheries, and we’re concerned,” Fish and Game Fisheries Bureau Chief Lance Hebdon said. “We will be watching them carefully, but there may be little we can do in some places where there won’t be enough water to support fish.”
It’s likely there will be some fish die-offs, and there may be pressure from anglers to translocate those fish before it happens, but there may be little benefit to moving fish to other waters if it won’t improve fishing there. That decision isn’t taken lightly. Biologists have experience and scientific research to guide them. If there’s a reservoir, lake, or pond that’s destined to be drained or overheated, a manager has several options:
Allow anglers to take as many as they can through salvage fishing regulations
Trap and relocate fish
Let the situation resolve itself, knowing some (or all) fish may die
A combination of the above
“Our staff works hard to provide and maintain fishing opportunities, so it’s tough to see a year like this,” Hebdon said.“Some anglers may think we’re reluctant to trap and relocate fish, but under the right circumstances, we can and will do it.”
Salvage harvest vs. relocation
When a body of water is about to be drained or become uninhabitable to game fish, fisheries managers face a couple of key questions.
First, can the fish be effectively and efficiently captured and transported. There must be access to open water, and the fish can’t be too stressed to be transported and released safely. There must also be personnel and resources available to do the job.
Next is the most important question: Will translocating fish significantly improve the fishery in the receiving water? It’s not a wise use of resources to translocate fish if there’s no benefit to anglers.
“We face a cost/benefit decision, and there may be other projects that provide more benefits,” State Fish Manager Joe Kozfkay said. “But we also know how hard it is for anglers to see fish die-offs.”
Giving anglers the opportunity to harvest fish through salvage fishing is often a better alternative, even though the uncaught fish are likely to die.
Water is a vital and finite resource
It’s also common for anglers to get frustrated when their favorite fishery loses its water, but consider this: Most Idaho reservoirs were built to store irrigation water.
Game fish exist there because water owners and managers have worked with Fish and Game to provide fishing. But an irrigation company’s main obligation is to deliver irrigation water, and during droughts, they can’t always meet demand.
Fisheries managers know they may periodically lose fish populations in these reservoirs, and in most cases, it’s a short-term setback. When the drought ends, and reservoirs refill, Fish and Game can often restock catchable trout and immediately resume fishing opportunity.
In other cases, it may take longer, such as translocating warmwater fish like bass and panfish. The goal with warmwater fish is to stock adults in the spring and let those fish spawn, then the next generation grows up and provides fishing opportunity. That process may take several years, assuming the water conditions remain favorable.
Low, warm water can have a much greater impact on sturgeon populations. Fish and Game temporarily shut down sturgeon fishing in recent years in portions of the Snake River after getting reports of sturgeon dying, and they may have to do it again. Even with the fishing shut down, some sturgeon may die, and those can take decades to replace due to their slow growth.
Rivers and trout are more resilient, but not immune
Many of Idaho’s rivers have a variety of elevations, habitat and environments. When rivers warm in summer, fish can usually migrate to cooler water, such as higher elevations, or cool, shady tributary streams.
But even if fish escape summer, some fish mortality may be delayed because die-offs also occur during winter, and stressed fish are more susceptible.
Anglers can help protect fish without realizing it
During the hottest days of summer, we tend to be less active, and so are the fish, particularly trout, which makes them less likely to get caught by anglers.
When fishing is slow due to hot weather and lethargic trout, fewer anglers fish, they spend less time fishing, and tend to catch fewer fish.
Those factors mean angling pressure is generally self-regulating and catch rates decrease to the point that they are unlikely to affect trout populations, so Fish and Game rarely has to alter fishing seasons to protect trout in rivers.
Fish die-offs don’t necessarily mean long-term population decline
Trout populations are resilient for reasons that anglers may find counterintuitive: They’re typically stable because there’s a constant turnover of fish.
It’s common for a third to two-thirds of the trout population in Idaho streams to die each year. One might think that would lead to drastic swings in populations, but the high turnover can actually make the population more stable.
There is a core group of adult fish – the ones anglers are typically targeting – and then there is a larger population of younger, smaller fish. A portion of the adult population is lost each year, which allows some of those younger fish to grow and fill the gaps.
The best long-term protection for trout is healthy rivers and the ability of fish to move freely upstream and downstream and have a variety of habitats to live, spawn and escape warm water.
Nearly all fish populations are cyclical
Whether in a lake, reservoir, pond or river, fish populations have good years and bad years.
Fisheries managers use science and experience to know when it’s time to step in and protect the fishery, which they won’t hesitate to do if needed.
Idaho fisheries have experienced drought many times in the past, and it remains to be seen how bad this one will affect fisheries. Fish and Game will monitor the weather and water conditions, respond when management changes can mitigate damages, and then work to re-establish lost fishing opportunities after water conditions improve.
(Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation Press Release, June 18, 2026)
SALMON, Idaho — The Idaho Department of Parks and Recreation (IDPR) invites the public to celebrate the grand opening and ribbon cutting of Twin Peaks Ranch State Park, Idaho’s first new state park in almost 30 years.
The celebration will take place on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Community members, local leaders, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, and visitors from across the state are encouraged to attend this ribbon cutting and experience Idaho’s newest state park firsthand. We look forward to seeing you there for a day featuring Muzzie Braun from the Braun Brothers Reunion, Salmon Back Country Horsemen Association, Water’s Edge Food Truck, Taco Wagon Food Truck and many other local vendors.
Situated on 677 scenic acres, Twin Peaks Ranch State Park offers visitors an exceptional blend of outdoor adventure, hospitality, and access to the surrounding Salmon-Challis National Forest. Twin Peaks Ranch State Park features 25 full-service rental units, a lodge, and extensive motorized and non-motorized trail access connecting visitors to thousands of acres of public lands.
“Opening Twin Peaks Ranch State Park marks a historic milestone for Idaho Parks and Recreation,” said IDPR Director Susan Buxton. “This park serves as a gateway to endless outdoor recreation opportunities while creating a premier destination for visitors seeking adventure, relaxation, and unforgettable experiences.”
Guests attending the grand opening will enjoy a ribbon cutting ceremony, opportunities to explore the property, meet park staff, and learn more about the future of recreation and tourism in east-central Idaho.
As a special grand opening promotion, the first 250 visitors attending the ribbon cutting celebration will receive an exclusive coupon for 50% off a future stay at Twin Peaks Ranch State Park to celebrate America 250. The promotional code will be provided on-site, and reservations must be made between July 1 and July 15, 2026. Reservations can be booked up to nine months in advance, through April 15, 2026, giving visitors the opportunity to plan their next Idaho adventure well into the future.
While full park operations begin in June 2026, group reservations are available now. Twin Peaks Ranch State Park is an ideal destination for corporate retreats, weddings, family reunions, and other special events. To book a group reservation, call 208-894-2290.
Twin Peaks Ranch State Park represents a significant investment in Idaho’s public lands and local communities. The project reflects IDPR’s mission to improve quality of life through outdoor recreation and resource stewardship while expanding public access to some of Idaho’s most scenic and unspoiled landscapes.
The park is expected to deliver lasting benefits to recreation, conservation, tourism, and community well-being for generations to come.
The Idaho Republican Party has some huge decisions to make this weekend at the Idaho GOP summer convention.
At the top of the list is choosing who will lead the party for the next two years. The establishment previously had Tom Luna at the helm, and in recent years Dorothy Moon has taken the reins. This time around, former state lawmaker Steven Thayn is looking to consolidate the establishment vote, while Moon and Mark Fuller will be fighting for the conservative wing of the party.
No matter who wins, the real questions those at the convention must ask themselves are:
Who actually understands the danger the left and their initiatives pose to Idaho’s conservative values?
Who is best positioned to ensure the party has the resources to fight the radical left, starting with the abortion initiative?
The second major issue coming to the floor at the summer convention is how the Idaho GOP should nominate its candidates.
I’ve long argued that a caucus system produces the most conservative candidates. Naturally, the establishment hates this idea because they benefit from Democrat crossover voting.
You’ll hear the same tired lines:
“But we’ll alienate voters, and participation will go down.”
There will be a litany of excuses like this at the convention. It’s nonsense. The establishment wants to keep the system exactly as it is because they believe they benefit from uninformed and crossover voters.
As a veteran who used to preach, “Go vote, it’s your duty,” I now hold a different view: not everyone should vote. If you aren’t going to research the candidates or understand the issues, you probably shouldn’t be filling out a ballot.
More importantly, we need to remember something the establishment conveniently ignores: the primary isn’t an election. It’s a party function. Party members are supposed to decide who represents the party in November.
Clearly, the current system isn’t working. Between uninformed voters and Democrats voting in a supposedly closed system, we’re left with two realistic options:
Move to a caucus system
Or somehow achieve a miracle-level turnout from voters who already know the primary exists but don’t care enough to participate
And let’s be honest: “Campaign harder” isn’t working.
I’m not claiming a caucus is perfect. But it absolutely makes left-wing infiltration harder, and it ensures the people choosing our nominees are far more aligned with Republican values.
The reality is simple: we cannot keep doing what other states have done and expect a different result. If we want to stop the radical left, we have to change the game.
That fight starts with choosing the next GOP chair and deciding what path the party will take to select its nominees.
Note: This article first appeared on HonorIdaho.com, and is republished here by permission.
Dorothy Moon, Chairwoman of the Idaho Republican Party
By: Dorothy Moon, IDGOP Chairwoman
Can you believe it’s been two years already? I told a story at the 2024 Idaho GOP State Convention in Coeur d’Alene about getting a personalized license plate with the number 2024 to remind me and everyone I drove past just how important that year was going to be.
And what a year it was!
Do you remember ranked choice voting? The Idaho GOP led a united front against that terrible idea, which was designed to forever change the way we elect candidates and was driven by millions of dollars in out-of-state money.
Do you remember that terrible day in Butler, Pennsylvania, when the world came less than an inch away from crashing down? Donald Trump was on the stage floor, having been hit by a bullet from a would-be assassin. But then, miraculously, he stood, fist in the air, urging us to “fight, fight, fight!”
Just a few days later, I led Idaho’s delegation to the RNC in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, just up the road from a little schoolhouse where the Republican Party was born so long ago, to cast our votes for Donald J. Trump.
Then came November 5, 2024, a date that will live forever in our memories. President Trump returned to the White House in triumph, and Idaho rejected ranked choice voting by a 70–30 margin. Republicans won 90 of 105 seats in the House and Senate, setting the stage for perhaps the most conservative legislative session in living memory.
These victories happened because of you—the American people, the good citizens of Idaho—who gave of your time, talent, and treasure to defend the God-given liberties we all cherish. You donated, you knocked, you called, you shared, and you voted. Because of you, Idaho remains the greatest state in the nation.
But our work is not done. As we speak, the radical left is preparing a campaign blitz the likes of which we’ve never seen to impose radical abortion policies on our state. This ballot initiative would undo Idaho’s long tradition of protecting life—both the unborn and children at risk of irreversible transgender drugs and surgeries.
We won’t let that happen.
Idaho values life, and the Idaho GOP will lead the fight to protect it.
This week is the 2026 Idaho GOP State Convention, where Republicans from across our state will discuss rules, resolutions, platform planks, and elect officers to steward our party for the next two years.
Some of those debates will be fierce—Republicans have never shied away from standing our ground on the issues that matter. But we also know how to work together once the debating is done. We will come out of this convention united and stronger than ever, once again ready to defend our values of faith, family, and freedom.
(City of Pocatello Press Release, June 18, 2026; Cover photo credit: City of Pocatello)
The City of Pocatello Parks & Recreation Department extends its sincere appreciation to the community groups, businesses, and families who participated in the Adopt-A-Section Program at Mountain View Cemetery ahead of Memorial Day Weekend.
Through their generosity and volunteer efforts, these organizations helped prepare and beautify the cemetery, creating a welcoming and well-maintained environment for the many families and visitors who came to honor loved ones during the holiday and every day.
The Parks & Recreation Department would like to recognize the following Adopt-A-Section participants:
Connections Credit Union
The Nelson Family
Walmart
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints 2nd Ward
Idaho Central Credit Union
Christine’s Floral & Gifts
Boy Scout Troop 1295
Poky Justice League
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints Highland South Stake
MoonLight Systems
Enhabit Home Health & Hospice
“The Adopt-A-Section Program is a wonderful example of community members coming together to care for a place that holds special meaning for so many families,” said Parks & Recreation Director Anne Butler. “We are incredibly grateful for the time, effort, and pride these volunteers invested in helping prepare the cemetery for Memorial Day.”\
Beginning Wednesday, June 24, 2026, the City of Pocatello Water Department will begin a water line replacement project along Howard and Gray Avenue off West Alameda Road. Work will be completed in multiple phases, starting on Howard Avenue before progressing to Gray Avenue.
Construction will require temporary street closures and parking restrictions between 6:30 a.m. and approximately 5:00 p.m., Monday through Thursday. Every effort will be made to maintain local access to homes and properties throughout the project. Residents are asked to park vehicles away from active construction areas during working hours. Access to all properties will be restored at the end of each workday.
The project may result in brief water service interruptions. Residents within and near the construction area are encouraged to keep a supply of drinking water available as a precaution.
For safety, parents and guardians are asked to remind children to stay clear of construction zones and equipment.
Construction is expected to take approximately eight weeks to complete, though the schedule may change due to weather, site conditions, or other unforeseen circumstances.
Residents with questions about this or other Water Department projects may contact the Water Department at 208-234-6182. Additional information is available at pocatello.gov/water.
Last year, President Donald J. Trump designated Antifa a domestic terrorist organization and directed the full power of the federal government to hunt down, disrupt, and dismantle the violent anarchist network. This week, the Department of Justice struck another decisive blow by charging 15 Antifa-linked terrorists in a conspiracy to violently obstruct lawful immigration enforcement operations in Minneapolis.
These charges are the latest in the Trump Administration’s relentless campaign to eradicate Antifa’s domestic terrorism threat:
Minnesota: [Tuesday], 15 Antifa operatives were charged with coordinating violent attacks on ICE agents and facilities during Operation Metro Surge in Minneapolis, where they deployed blockades, vehicle tracking, intimidation, and other militant tactics to sabotage the operation. In February, a self-described Antifa member was charged with cyberstalking and threatening ICE officers.
Oregon: Since mid-2025, dozens of Antifa militants have been arrestedandcharged — with multiple convictions already secured — following their prolonged siege against the Portland ICE facility. Rioters repeatedly assaulted officers, lobbed incendiary devices, and engaged in sustained attacks on federal personnel and property.
Texas: In March, nine members of a North Texas Antifa cell were convicted on terrorism-related charges — in addition to seven others who pleaded guilty — for their violent, armed ambush on an ICE detention facility.
Washington: In May, multiple Antifa insurgents were convicted on federal conspiracy charges for their roles in a violent attack at a Spokane ICE facility.
New Jersey: In May, an Antifa thugs violentlylaidsiege to a Newark ICE detention center, resulting in dozens of arrests and federal charges.
California: In December, Antifa extremists were charged in a coordinated bombing plot targeting multiple businesses, ICE agents, vehicles, and other sites across Southern California.
Indiana: An Antifa-linked terrorist was sentenced for threats to bomb government buildings and assassinate prominent politicians.
The Trump Administration has made it clear: Antifa terrorists and their networks will be investigated, disrupted, prosecuted, and neutralized with the full force of federal law. There will be no safe harbor for those who attack law enforcement, obstruct lawful immigration enforcement, or wage campaigns of political violence against the American people.
President Trump’s leadership has already produced results — and this is only the beginning.
(Pocatello Police Department Press Release, June 19, 2026)
On June 19, 2026 at 12:04 a.m., Officers with the Pocatello Police Department responded to the area of Jefferson Ave. and E. Cedar St. for a vehicle crash.
Witnesses reported observing a vehicle driving at a high rate of speed. This vehicle struck two unoccupied parked vehicles and left the roadway. The driver of the vehicle had to be extracted and transported to Portneuf Medical Center by EMS. The driver later succombed to her injuries. There were no other occupants in the vehicle at the time of the crash and no one else involved.
This crash remains under investigation by the Pocatello Police Department and Idaho State Police. No further information will be released at this time.
