Information provided in these news updates is collected up until the end of July and includes professional sources, news releases, weekly and daily newspapers, television and other media.
Northern Idaho
North central Idaho
Southwestern Idaho
South central Idaho
Southeastern Idaho
Eastern Idaho
NORTHERN IDAHO
Benewah, Bonner, Boundary, Kootenai and Shoshone counties
Regional news
Kootenai County
- Construction is underway on a large new mixed-use project in Post Falls. Named ‘Nonna,’ the project includes a 50,000 square-foot building with four stories, including commercial space on the ground floor and 33 apartment units on the upper three levels. Commercial tenants will include a ground-floor brunch restaurant. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- A new food truck court, called Eats On Spokane Street, is open in Post Falls. The location includes a new open-air building which houses MelFit Healthy Kitchen and Nachos Cantina, with four food trucks including Charcuteria, Angel’s Eats and Treats, Woody’s Smoked Salmon and Taco Works. There are three remaining spaces for additional food trucks. Source: Coeur d’Alene Press
- Northwest Specialty Hospital opened additional operating rooms in its Post Falls medical facility. The new rooms are the latest in a series of expansions which have increased the hospital from four to 12 operating rooms. The new operating rooms can handle a wide variety of procedures including orthopedic, spine and minimally invasive surgeries. Source: Journal of Business
- A new veterinary hospital, named One Love Animal Hospital, is being built in Post Falls for approximately $1.1 million. The 2,600 square foot facility will include examination rooms, a surgical area and a kennel. Source: Journal of Business
- Construction is underway on a new 100-resident senior living community in Coeur d’Alene. Named “Hemmingson Senior Living at The Trails,” the project will consist of five single-story buildings with assisted living units for up to 80 residents, in addition to 20 duplex units in an independent living section. The community is expected to be fully completed by mid-2027. Source: Journal of Business
Samuel.Wolkenhauer@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2353
NORTH CENTRAL IDAHO
Clearwater, Idaho, Latah, Lewis and Nez Perce counties
Regional news
- Drought conditions for most of north central Idaho were downgraded from moderate drought (D1) to severe drought (D2) at the end of June. They were then further downgraded to extreme drought (D3) in early July. Source: drought.gov
- Lewis-Clark State College closed its Adult Learning Center outreach offices in Moscow and Orofino. Adult basic education and GED testing remain available in the main office in Lewiston along with a single outreach site in Grangeville. Source: Lewis-Clark State College
Nez Perce County
- Lewiston’s Rite Aid is scheduled to transfer ownership to CVS Pharmacy in September 2025. The deal is a result of CVS acquiring 64 Rite Aid stores in Idaho, Washington and Oregon following Rite Aid’s bankruptcy liquidation. The Rite Aid store in Moscow has closed. Source: Lewiston Tribune
Latah County
- Lightcast has acquired professional data provider Rhetorik, based in the United Kingdom. Source: Lightcast
- The City of Moscow was awarded a $584,000 grant from the National Park Service to create walking paths, sidewalks, new lighting and paved parking at Lola Clyde Park. Construction is expected to begin in 2027. Source: Lewiston Tribune
Lisa.Grigg@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2256
SOUTHWESTERN IDAHO
Ada, Adams, Boise, Canyon, Elmore, Gem, Owyhee, Payette, Valley and Washington counties
Regional news
Ada County
- Boise State University is upping its new entrants into its nursing program beginning this fall. The starting classes for both fall and spring will be 100 students larger to address the unmet demand for registered nurses across the state. Source: Idaho Business Review
- Boise School District will be short $1.5 million for its 2025-2026 school year budget due to allocated funds held for review by the new federal administration. Source: KTVB News
Groundbreakings
- The College of Western Idaho (CWI) hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for its new academic facility in Boise that is coined The River District. Source: Idaho News 6
- West Ada School District broke ground on a new elementary school in Star. The new school is estimated to cost $20 million with funding from the newly passed house bill that provides funds for facilities. Source: Idaho Education News
Jan.Roeser@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2172
SOUTH CENTRAL IDAHO
Blaine, Camas, Cassia, Gooding, Jerome, Lincoln, Minidoka and Twin Falls counties
Regional news
Blaine County
- American Airlines has announced seasonal flights from Chicago and Phoenix to Friedman Memorial Airport from Dec. 18, 2025 to April 6, 2026. Source: Idaho Mountain Express
Twin Falls County
- The College of Southern Idaho is continuing their Fire Science Program, with the goal of increasing the population of qualified applicants for local fire departments. Source: KMVT
- A new Les Schwab Tire Center has opened in Kimberly. Source: Magic Valley Times News
Seth.Harrington@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2364
SOUTHEASTERN IDAHO
Bannock, Bear Lake, Bingham, Caribou, Franklin, Oneida and Power counties
Regional news
Bannock County
- The Bannock County Veterans Memorial Association sought public assistance in meeting a $100,000 donation minimum to qualify for a matching donation promised by an anonymous donor. The funds would go towards repairing flood damage from the end of 2024. At the time of writing, the association raised $43,000. Source: KIFI News
- The Mystic Realms Fantasy Fair saw over 4,000 attendees in its third year. The event offered food trucks, vendors and various live performances including a magician and live combat. Source: East Idaho News
Bear Lake County
- Bear Lake Memorial Hospital earned an accreditation from the Emergency Medical Services for Children. The hospital is now recognized as an Emergency Medical Services for Children Pediatric Capable hospital. Source: The News Examiner
Bingham County
- The Blackfoot Community Center was renamed the Blackfoot Rec Center under new ownership. The new owners have restricted access to a single gym as repairs are underway. Source: East Idaho News
Power County
- East Idaho’s Frends of the Children in American Falls raised $68,000 and paired 16 at risk youth with mentors. Major contributor, Intelihub, provided a $12,500 grant. Source: Idaho State Journal
Brandon.Duong@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 236-6715
EASTERN IDAHO
Bonneville, Butte, Clark, Custer, Fremont, Jefferson, Lemhi, Madison and Teton counties
Regional news
- The Idaho National Laboratory (INL) will serve as chief digital officer for a new national SMART USA (Semiconductor Manufacturing and Advanced Research with Twins USA Institute). The project aims to enhance domestic computer chip (semiconductor) manufacturing. INL was tapped for its expertise in digital twinning, high-performance computing, digital engineering, artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing. Source: KIFI
- The College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) began its inaugural Peace Officer Standards and Training Patrol Academy for its first recruits. The 18-week program is designed to expand workforce training, including firearms safety, emergency vehicle operations, physical training and arrest techniques. Source: CEI
- The Wyoming Department of Transportation completed final paving for the reopening of Highway 22, connecting Teton Valley, Idaho Highway 33 to Jackson Hole, Wyoming. Just over a year ago, the Teton Pass thoroughfare catastrophically failed due to a landslide, affecting key commuter and tourist connections between the two communities. Experts say it is rebuilt to last 75 years. Source: Buckrail
- Idaho State University and the College of Eastern Idaho announced an updated partnership to improve accessible pathways in high-demand fields, including education, engineering, business, health sciences, nursing and associate and bachelor’s degree programs. Credit transfer equivalencies are also included in the partnership. Source: Post Register
- Yellowstone National Park hosted 928,250 recreation visits in June, an increase of 1% from June 2024 and a 1% decrease from June 2021, the busiest year on record. Year to date, the park has hosted over 1.69 million visits, this is a 4% increase from last year and an increase of 6% from 2021. Source: National Park Service
- The newly paved 22-mile Yale-Kilgore Road was completed. It connects Clark and Fremont counties to Caribou-Targhee National Forest, including Island Park, for recreation, hunting and fishing. The project also meets travel safety and commercial needs due to the popularity of the area. Source: U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration
- Alturas Academy, including three schools in eastern Idaho, is receiving new grant funding to pay for school resource officers. The Idaho Legislature and the Millennium Fund awarded it to 21 state education agencies for three years. Source: KIFI
- Idaho Falls hosted the 22nd International Sport Fly Fishing Federation World Youth Championship. Competitors from 12 nations competed at Snake River-Henry’s Fork, Hebgen Lake, Warm River, Sheridan Lake and Grey’s River venues. Source: Post Register
Ryan.Whitesides@labor.idaho.gov, regional economist
Idaho Department of Labor
(208) 696-2347
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